The Wrong Woman

"Thank you," Rick said to Elio and Candice as they walked away. "I'll arrange for the delivery right away."

Elio led Candice outside to the quiet street of the garden center. He turned to face her with frustration in his eyes.

Candice's heart pounded as she sensed his irritation. She swallowed hard, staring at him.

With his frustration barely contained, Elio lowered his voice. "Candice, let me make this clear one last time. I'm Jasper's uncle, not yours. I have no familial connection to your parents. Do you understand?" Confused by his upset tone, Candice quickly apologized, "I'm sorry. I understand now. It won't happen again."

Elio sighed, his expression softening as he gazed at her, who stared back at him. For a moment, an unusual connection seemed to spark between them.

Summoning her courage, Candice asked, "Elio, are you and Josie truly not together?"

"No," Elio replied.

Candice's heart pounded as she continued, "Do you have a girlfriend?"

"No."

and she bit her lip to hold back a smile. Striving to

back. You could help me figure out where to place

"I'll be going

explained, "We'll simply figure out where to place them. After that, I'll drive you

lowering her head to hide

to ask about Elio's thoughts when they slept together. However, she decided against it, finding the topic too awkward. She thought men and women were different, after all. Sometimes, loneliness and desire

by the time they reached Hillside Villa. The truck delivering the plants arrived just as they

under Candice's direction. Once everything

looked like a cozy little botanical

filling his heart as he admired Candice's handiwork, His emotions were

Elo and said awkwardly, "I'm sorry, Elio. I might have gone overboard with the plants. It

It looks great," Elio responded with

a smile at

dining table, he added, "Dinner's ready. How about