Page 88 of It'll Always Be Her
“Or because it represented the man she loved.”
Bee jerked her head up, her eyes widening. “What?”
“The cone of the white pine is the state flower of Maine,” Adam said. “And the poppy is California’s state flower. Millicent was born in California, wasn’t she?”
Bee nodded. Her heart was suddenly racing. “How do you know that about the pine cone?”
“Maine is the only state that doesn’t have an actual flower as the state flower. Since it’s known as the Pine Tree State, they voted to be represented by a pine cone.”
“So that means…” Bee’s voice trailed off as she gazed at the drawing he held. “Millicent was drawingthem. And the flower is alone at the end because John never returned…oh, my god, this is such a tragic love story.”
Adam set the drawings down, then wrapped his arm around her and pressed his lips against her forehead. “But like you said, you’re discovering something about both John and Millicent that no one seems to have known before. Maybe if people do know about the story and that he built the house for her, they might be more interested in saving it. Everyone loves a good story, even a tragic one.”
Bee eased away to look up at him. “So you think I should tell people?”
“It couldn’t hurt.”
“Wait a minute.” A sudden excitement flickered through her. “What if that’s Captain Marcus’s unfinished business?”
“If what is?”
“He was planning to propose to Millicent, but he never had the chance. That’s why he’s still haunting the Gardenia House.”
He hesitated before saying, “That’s a great addition to the story.”
Bee’s excitement waned a little. Adam was all in when it came to researching and finding out the real-world elements of Captain Marcus’s life, but he’d never believe the story might continue into the afterlife. That it had to end on another plane.
Which, she reminded herself, was one of the things she actually admired about him. His unshakeable conviction in provable facts and science.
But that also meant she couldn’t rely on him to help her figure out what to do about Captain Marcus’s ghost. Adam would write the story into the script, but he’d never believe that she might have a role in the sea captain’s fate.
And while she could appreciate and even accept Adam’s scientific credo, nothing would convince him only a thin veil existed between this world and other worlds. He’d never believe that her acceptance of the paranormal was actually valid.
In and of itself, and given all the other elements of their compatibility, their opposing convictions weren’t exactly a deal breaker. But they did make her wonder what other differences they might have, whether in philosophies, belief systems, life plans, or even just where they liked to go on vacation.
She was letting herself fall hard for a man she really didn’t know much about. This was yet another reason she needed to stop any thoughts about love and risk.
“Hey.” With a slight frown, Adam brushed a lock of hair away from her forehead. “Your light just dimmed.”
Bee smiled faintly. “And your logical mind is surprisingly poetic.”
“I’m full of surprises, baby.” He pulled her against him.
“You’re full of something,” she muttered, but then he lowered his head to kiss her, and all her wary thoughts disappeared into a flood of warmth and pleasure.
He cupped the back of her head and eased her mouth open. As she slid her arms around his waist and pressed her lips more securely against his, Bee remembered they were kissing in the cupola.
And nothing—or no one—was trying to stop them.