The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and blooming flowers. Vivie stretched her arms above her head, tilting her face toward the sky as the golden sun bathed her skin in warmth. The idea had been resting in her mind for days now, and today, she finally decided to act on it.

“Ashton,” she called out, finding him in the training area, his hands wrapped around the hilt of a knife as he drove it into the wooden dummy. His movements were precise, controlled, as always.

He glanced at her briefly before turning back to his target. “What is it?”

“I want you to garden with me.”

The knife stilled mid-air. Slowly, he turned to face her, brows furrowed. “Garden?”

Vivie nodded eagerly. “Yes. The greenhouse out back is neglected, and I thought we could bring it back to life.”

A muscle in his jaw ticked. “And you want me to help?”

She crossed her arms. “Yes. Unless you’re afraid of getting your hands dirty.”

His lips curled into something resembling amusement, but it was gone just as quickly as it appeared. “Fine,” he said after a pause. “If it’ll get you to stop pestering me.”

She beamed. “Great. Meet me there in twenty minutes.”

The greenhouse was overgrown, vines creeping up the glass walls, soil beds dry and abandoned. Vivie rolled up her sleeves and grabbed a trowel. Ashton stood beside her, arms crossed, looking wholly unimpressed.

She sighed. “You could at least pretend to enjoy this.”

“I don’t pretend,” he responded flatly.

Vivie scoffed. “Of course, you don’t.” She turned her focus back to the soil, digging her hands into the dirt. The air between them was quiet, filled only with the soft rustle of leaves and the occasional chirping of birds. For a while, Ashton merely observed, his sharp eyes following her every move.

But then, without a word, he crouched beside her, taking a handful of soil in his palm. She watched in surprise as he ran his fingers through it, his expression contemplative.

“You’ve done this before?” she asked.

He nodded. “A long time ago.”

Vivie didn’t push for more, sensing the weight behind his words. Instead, she smiled. “Then show me how it’s done, boss.”

His eyes flickered to hers, something unreadable passing through them before he took the trowel from her hand. His hands moved with precision, smoothing the soil, his touch oddly gentle despite his usual rough demeanor.

As the afternoon passed, the tension between them softened. Ashton wasn’t talkative, but his hands worked skillfully, his movements efficient. Occasionally, their fingers would brush as they reached for the same tool, and every time, Vivie felt the flicker of something electric between them.

When they finally stepped back to admire their work, a satisfied smile stretched across Vivie’s face. “Not bad, huh?”

He hummed in response, wiping his hands on a cloth. “You did most of the work.”

She nudged his side playfully. “You helped. That’s what matters.”

Ashton’s gaze lingered on her, his expression unreadable once again. His fingers twitched slightly, as if battling the urge to reach out. Vivie took a slow breath, her heart thudding in her chest. And then, before she could overthink it, she acted on impulse.

She kissed him.

It was soft at first, hesitant. Her lips brushed against his, testing the waters. But when he didn’t pull away, when his breath hitched ever so slightly, she pressed harder.

His hands found her waist, gripping her firmly but without force. And then, the restraint snapped. He pulled her closer, deepening the kiss with a hunger that sent shivers down her spine.

The warmth of his mouth, the way his fingers dug into her hips—it was intoxicating. She melted into him, letting him take control, letting him devour her. Their breaths mingled, hearts pounding as the greenhouse, the world, faded away.

His hands roamed up her back, pressing her flush against him as he tilted his head, deepening the kiss further. Vivie’s fingers tangled in his hair, a small sound escaping her lips as his grip tightened on her waist. It was desperate, heated, full of tension that had been building for far too long.

When they finally parted, Vivie’s lips were swollen, her breaths uneven. Ashton stared at her, his expression dark with something raw and unspoken.

“This is dangerous,” he murmured, voice hoarse.

She met his gaze, unwavering. “I know.”

His fingers brushed against her cheek, almost tender. And then, he stepped back, his walls slamming back into place. He turned his back to her, running a hand through his hair as he exhaled sharply.

Vivie swallowed hard, watching him carefully. She had seen it now—the way he felt, the way he wanted her. He could pretend all he wanted, but she had felt it, the way his body reacted to hers, the way he kissed her like he couldn’t help himself.

“Ashton,” she whispered, taking a small step forward.

“Don’t,” he said, his voice clipped. He still had his back to her, as if he was afraid to look at her. “You don’t know what you’re asking for.”

She frowned. “Then tell me.”

He let out a humorless chuckle, shaking his head. “You think this is simple? That I can just—” He turned to face her, and for the first time, she saw it. The storm in his eyes, the war he was fighting within himself. “I can’t give you what you want, Vivie.”

Her chest tightened. “Why?”

He took a step forward, so close that she had to tilt her head up to meet his gaze. “Because I don’t do soft. I don’t do love. And you…” His fingers brushed against her lips, his voice dropping to a whisper. “You make me want things I shouldn’t.”

Her breath hitched. The air between them was thick, charged. She could see it—the way his fists clenched at his sides, the way his body was practically vibrating with restraint.

“Then stop fighting it,” she murmured, placing her hands on his chest. She could feel his heart pounding beneath her fingertips.

He exhaled sharply, closing his eyes for a brief moment before stepping back. “I can’t.”

Vivie swallowed her disappointment, her fingers curling into fists at her sides. But this wasn’t over. She had seen the cracks in his armor, and she knew one thing for certain now.

Ashton wanted her. He could deny it all he wanted, but it was there.

And she wasn’t going to let him push her away so easily.

Not this time.