Playing Passion's Game (18 page)

“I trust you, Juliet,” Trent whispered out of Monica’s hearing. “I’m sure you won’t lead me astray.”

Juliet decided she liked the wicked glint Trent had in her eye. It made her want to drag Trent behind the tallest trees on display and kiss her senseless. With a heartfelt groan at the burst of arousal burning in her chest, Juliet ground out, “Damn flowers.”

Trent swiftly leaned down and quickly pressed her lips to Juliet’s in a kiss that only served to make Juliet even more sensitive to her.

“Damn flowers indeed,” Trent said. Juliet was comforted to see a dazed look on Trent’s face that no doubt resembled the one she herself wore. “Come on, we’d better go before I drag you behind the bushes and end up scandalizing the nursery staff.”

Juliet loved how Trent’s mind worked.

*

Monica took the printed sheet from Juliet’s hands and slipped the pen from her unresisting fingers. She placed a check mark against one of the rows. “Conifers chosen. Now we move on to the flowers.”

Distractedly, Juliet took the list back, her attention partly on what Monica was doing beside her with the remainder fixed firmly on Trent, who was standing a few steps away typing on her cell phone. Trent had excused herself briefly after receiving a text message.

“Do you think she’s enjoying herself?” Monica asked, following Juliet’s line of sight. “She seems like she is.”

Juliet agreed. Trent had astonished them both by asking lots of questions and not being afraid to get in amid the branches to have a closer inspection of what Monica was pointing out. “She’s enjoying seeing
us
happy. I think that’s where she gets her greatest pleasure from, seeing others enjoying themselves.”

“You’ve got yourself a rare one there, Juliet.”

Silently agreeing, Juliet marveled at Trent’s lean form as she walked back toward them. “Everything okay?” she asked, drawing Trent close to her side again, having missed her closeness and the clean tangy scent that was uniquely Trent.

“I was just texting Zoe back.”

Juliet’s eyebrow quirked. “Should I be worried?” Confusion colored Trent’s face before she apparently caught Juliet’s meaning.

“Zoe has somehow managed to wrangle the afternoon off so she can hone her skill at our game, she was asking whether I’d be online this afternoon so we can double team.” Trent looked between the two women. “I said probably yes, seeing as I would only get in the way should I stay loitering in my backyard while you work.”

“You do distract my workers,” Monica muttered.

“Your
worker
is a distraction all of her own,” Trent replied, looking down at Juliet.

“Don’t you go blaming me. I’m just learning the ropes here.” She regarded Trent with a keen look. “Are you ready to pick out plants now that you’ve sorted out your afternoon game plan?”

Seemingly relieved at Juliet’s teasing, Trent made a show of bracing her shoulders. “Lead on. Show me what I need.”

Handing over the cart to Trent, Monica took the list from Juliet again. “These are the flowers that Juliet and I worked out will fit in your yard and can be left to their own devices to flourish. You need flowers that bloom long, need little attention, and can pretty much look after themselves.”

“And pansies,” Trent added decisively. Monica stopped in her tracks and turned to stare up at Trent.

“Pansies?”

Trent nodded. “I like pansies; they have little faces. I’d like pansies in my yard, please. If they’ll fit in with what you have in mind, that is.”

Juliet tried not to react as Monica’s face softened at Trent’s hopeful tone.

“When you ask like that, how could I possibly refuse? Winter flowering pansies will be perfect for a vibrant splash of color.” She gave Trent a radiant smile and carried on with a spring in her step. “We’ll make a gardener of you yet, Trent.”

Although Trent didn’t need the assistance, Juliet helped her push the cart behind an excited Monica. “So,” she said softly, “pansies, eh?”

“I like roses too, but the little ones, not the big ones. Do you think Monica will let me have some of those too?”

Juliet’s heart clenched at the undercurrent of wistfulness just discernable in Trent’s question. “I think if you show her what you like she’ll let you have anything at all.”

Trent gazed down at her. “What are your favorite color roses?”

Juliet thought for a moment. “I like the pink ones that are tightly budded.”

Nodding, Trent called ahead to Monica. “Hey, Monica, we’ve picked out roses too. Pink ones, if you please.”

Monica turned to walk slowly backward, giving Trent her undivided attention. “You don’t strike me as a pink rose kind of girl.”

“I like pink just fine. We want, maybe, the Bonica Meidomonac,” Trent very carefully enunciated the last word and Juliet’s whole being wanted to just hold her close and hug her. “Or maybe Pretty Polly, or even Sexy Rexy.” She gave Juliet a saucy wink. “That one was really easy to remember!”

Monica raised an eyebrow at Juliet. “Have you been giving her crib notes?”

“No, she knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to ask for it.” Juliet laid her hand over Trent’s fingers as they steered the cart after Monica. She hoped that Trent would never be afraid to ask her for anything because she knew, no matter what Trent wanted, she would move heaven and Earth to bring that rare sweet smile to her face.
My lover
,
and I’m here with her. So much for no strings attached
.
You’re ready to tie yourself up in red ribbon and hand yourself over to this woman.
Her face heated as her thoughts raced ahead with that particular image.

“You’ve gone awfully quiet and very red,” Trent said out of the corner of her mouth.

“It’s hot out here,” Juliet said, hoping Trent would just take her word for it and not question her blush.

“Huh-uh,” Trent said with an amused air. “If I didn’t know better, I’d swear you were thinking naughty thoughts.”

Juliet’s face flamed even more at Trent’s low tone. “You bring out the worst in me.” Juliet was flustered; she’d never had so much trouble keeping her hands and her libido in check around a woman.
Not just any woman: Trent.

“That’s strange, because you bring out the best in me.”

Juliet stopped walking and just stared. “I do?” Her heart melted as Trent flashed a look that did curious things to her chest.

“I think you do.” Trent set the cart in motion again. “Come on, try to keep up or Monica will make you push the cart on your own.”

Juliet dutifully hurried to Trent’s side. She hooked her finger through the belt loop on Trent’s jeans and enjoyed the intimacy of being able to do something so simple yet intimate. “I’m glad you came with us today.”

“Me too.”

Curiosity getting the better of her, Juliet asked, “How did you know the flowers’ names?”

“I Googled every type of flower going last night.”

“You Googled about roses?”

“I didn’t want your best friend to think I was a complete moron.”

Juliet slipped an arm around Trent’s waist and hugged her close. “You’re no moron and Monica knows that.” Her breath caught in her throat when Trent looked at her. She was drawn into the rich browns and golds that could see straight to her very core.

“And what about you?” Trent asked huskily. Juliet was mesmerized by how much Trent’s eyes revealed to her. For a moment she was privy to all Trent kept hidden from view: the curiously shy soul desperately seeking acceptance.

“I think you’re wonderful,” she replied sincerely, her body warming and melting at Trent’s closeness.

“I Googled other stuff as well. Find me some
Penstemons
or
Gypsophila cerastoides
and I promise to be the font of all knowledge.”

“I can’t believe you researched today on the Internet.” Juliet was amazed by how much trouble Trent had gone to and at her obvious exuberance to show off what she had learned.

“I just looked on it as I would a game. You learn the basics, make sure you arm yourself with the best defense, and then position yourself among the foliage and come out fighting.”

“No wonder Monica gave you full control of the cart.”

“Probably the best place for me, to be honest. I could only memorize so much before my brain kicked it out for fear of losing precious gamer space.”

“Each to their own.” Juliet was still tickled by Trent’s attempts to impress.

“Exactly.”

*

The backyard of Trent’s home was littered with flower trays, compost bags, and trees waiting to be planted. Juliet struggled to help Monica hold a conifer upright as they settled it into the hole prepared for it.

“Only three more trees and then you can make a start on the flowers,” Monica said as Juliet swore out loud when the tree shifted and nearly knocked her over.

“I think I’m less likely to lose an eye with a pansy than I am with this stupid tree that doesn’t know where the hell to stick its roots.” Juliet pushed the tree back upright again. “Just plant the bloody thing, and if it leans to the left who’ll care?”

“I want this yard to be just right, so no leaning conifers are allowed, if you don’t mind.” She tugged the tree over a little more toward her and began to cover the roots with soil and stamped down to stabilize it. Once it was finally fixed, Monica and Juliet stood back to admire their handiwork. “There you go. Perfect.” Monica brushed her hands together briskly. “Now, tell me this isn’t more fulfilling than you pushing a pen around all day totaling up gains and losses.”

“You’ve convinced me that this would be a more satisfying outlet for my energy. I am really enjoying what I am doing, it’s rewarding. I haven’t had that feeling in my job for years. But we still need something more than just passing out cards and letting people know we’re here to change their yards for the better.”

“I’m working on that. I have some contacts through the nursery that are getting in touch with me this week. And Mrs. Tweedy wants to see me later, says that someone has seen what we’ve been doing here and is very interested in talking to me. I won’t let you give up your job for nothing, Juliet. I promise you. I’ll have a solid base set up for us to work from.”

Juliet stretched and winced as a muscle twinged in her shoulder. “Speaking of work, I just have to put the finishing touches on my presentation this week for Monday’s big reveal.” Mentally she counted off the days and what she had planned for each one. “Friday evening I need to just go through it all one last time.” She caught Monica’s stricken face. “What?”

“You’ve forgotten what this Friday is, haven’t you?”

“What have I forgot?”

“I’ve got a movie night set up for my friends. Remember?”

Damn it
. “I’d totally forgotten about that.”

“I’m sorry, Juliet, but it’s been planned for weeks now. I’ve got the girls coming over for Mexican, popcorn, and
The Lost Boys
on Blu-ray.”

Juliet tried to temper the frustration she could feel cloying her chest. “I’ll make other arrangements,” she said, waving off Monica’s hesitation. She thought briefly of going to her parents’ house but knew she’d never get any peace there with Kayleigh all excited to see her. Juliet had the horrible feeling she’d be staying over at work Friday night working overtime to get the presentation over with. She caught Monica’s apologetic look. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll sort something out.”

“What do you need sorting?”

Juliet jumped at Trent’s deep voice as she appeared out of the rear of the house bringing them fresh sodas.

“Nothing,” Juliet replied quickly, her disappointment fading at the sight of Trent. She hadn’t seen her for almost two hours and she’d been feeling oddly bereft. She drank in the sight of her now.

Monica reached for a can and swiftly popped the top. “Juliet forgot that the night she needs to finish up her life’s work is the same night I have Goth-fest in our apartment.”

“Ah yes, your Keifer Sutherland clan meet. Elton said he’d been invited as the token male, but that he’ll be with
our
clan that night instead.”

Monica narrowed her eyes playfully at Trent. “Yes, he’d rather be playing some game with his buddies than participating in the delights of young vampires in high def, Blu-ray glory.”

“I’m surprised you haven’t all switched your allegiances to
Twilight
.” Trent popped the top of a soda and handed it to Juliet.

“That’s for a different evening,” Monica said.

Trent turned her attention back to Juliet. “So you need a place to work?”

Juliet shrugged. “Maybe I’ll just try to fit it in over the weekend,” she said. She had hoped to spend quality time with Trent this weekend, without the yard being her reason to be over.

“You could come stay here with me that night. It’s not like I haven’t got the room.”

Juliet’s eyes flashed to Trent’s serious face. Trent obviously read her astonishment.

“I’m busy that night too, but I’ll be upstairs playing my game so you can have the whole of the downstairs at your disposal. You won’t disturb me, and I won’t be moving much from my seat once the fighting starts so I’d say it would be the perfect solution to your problem.” Trent’s eyebrow rose in hope. “And I’d get to see you, which is always an added bonus in my book.”

“I wouldn’t want to put you out.”

“You wouldn’t be. You could sleep over too if you wish.”

Juliet tried not to let the blush flame up her throat and rush to her cheeks. Hearing Monica’s snigger, she knew she had failed abysmally. Trent held up her hands, laughing at both of them.

“It’s a purely innocent offer. I won’t sleep because we usually play until the early hours if none of us have a shift the next day. You can have my bed. If I need to, I can crash on the settee in my game room.” Trent edged closer and Juliet had to tilt her head back to see her face. “You could get your presentation all done to your satisfaction while Monica parties with her friends.”

Juliet was torn. She needed time to work on her presentation but to spend time with Trent was a gift she couldn’t pass up. If Trent was caught up playing her game online then Juliet could put it to the test just how envious of the gaming community she should be. She nodded, mind made up. “Thank you, Trent, I’d love to come over.”