Page 293 of The Trouble With Bad Boys

I’d always wanted a relationship with someone I could trust to start a family. The previous relationship forced me to take a break from men. My heart didn’t have the energy to deal with drama again. Dennis Novak had made me believe we had something special until his wife came in to pick up a flower arrangement for her mother-in-law who was visiting from out of state. I only made the connection because of the delivery address.

The pain of that shocking discovery forced my inner witch to emerge. I added a little note to the arrangement, revealing his extracurricular activities. Last I heard, his wife wanted a divorce. He had the nerve to come into the florist shop to apologize to me, giving me a stupid excuse. I couldn’t forgive him for that.

That had been six months ago. My unstable heart had found its stability again. I didn’t need a man for me to be happy.

Right now I was saving up to start my own business. I’d always wanted a flower shop that differed from all the others. My business degree and experience working at Happy Flowers would help me manage it.

When the T stopped to let people off and new passengers on, I glanced toward Etched Street, a lively and adorable retail district. The Etched Building housed several shops I’d wanted to visit, but hadn’t had time. It was a fresh development that was popular in Brookline, a town adjacent to the crowded city of Boston.

It would be exceptional to have a flower shop on Etched Street. The property lease was probably twice the amount Morgan paid for Happy Flowers. The only shop I visited on that street was the Coffee, Tea, & Poetry café with my friends Stori and Kelly.

As the train moved, I watched the cars driving alongside on the road. My eyes went to the sidewalk and spotted the man who had asked me out months ago at the flower shop. I’d been flattered, but I didn’t know him. Caution flared, and I had to say no. He seemed older, but my body had tingled all day thinking about him. Though handsome, I had to be extra careful with my heart.

He strode down the sidewalk like he owned it. He wore a knit top with the sleeves pushed to his elbow, revealing tattoos on his arms. When I couldn’t see him anymore, I settled myself back into the seat. What would it be like to date him? Even though I wasn’t going to date him, I could pretend. It was a safe way to indulge without getting hurt.

When my stop arrived, I got up to leave. The woman with the tattoo on her face looked sad as she exited the train with her man. He gripped her hand tight, and they strode off. Maybe she was having trouble conceiving. Poor thing. I’d worked with a girl who had tried for two years until she finally got pregnant. I could only imagine the stress it put on a woman.

My stomach growled as I rushed into my building to have lunch with Grandpa. After that, I’d show him around town.

Two

KAIN

My meeting with Grayson Wu went well regarding the renovation of a new building I’d just purchased. I’d met him a few years ago at a banquet. In the business world there were few people I considered friends, but I didn’t mind Grayson and his boys. The ideas he presented matched my vision perfectly.

I glanced at my watch, wondering if I should visit the flower shop once more today. I’d visited the shop a few times after that initial meeting when I made a fool of myself by asking Eva out. Still, that didn’t stop me from coming back. But each time I visited, she’d just left or wasn’t working.

Get your timing right.

Bat wings flapped in my stomach. What the fuck? I’d never experienced nerves like this.

Eva from Happy Flowers had occupied my thoughts since I’d set eyes on her months ago. I’d tried to shove her out of mind, but she kept coming back.

Maybe she was working today. It wouldn’t hurt to come in and say hello, right?

Just do it.

I didn’t have any training scheduled at my gym so I could stop by the flower shop to purchase some plants for my office. My office needed an update, but I didn’t have time to call an interior designer. But live plants would definitely enhance the atmosphere. If only my mom were still alive, she could help me choose the perfect ones.

I hadn’t dated much. Hadn’t met anyone who kept me interested. Fucking wasn’t dating, and I’d done plenty of that. No strings attached were my requirements, and those women didn’t seem to mind. We got what we’d wanted.

Walking from my Etched Building to the flower shop was an excellent form of exercise.

Excellent idea.

I knew I had it bad when I started making excuses to go to a flower shop—something I had only done once a year until now.

Twenty minutes later, I opened the door to Happy Flowers. Sadness and disappointment whirled in me when I discovered she’d just left.

Gotta work on your timing.

I bought two potted plants. One with a stalk and long leaves, and a money tree. The sales associate with the curly brown hair named Erika said those plants were easy to take care of.

“What are her hours?” I asked, giving her my credit card.

Erika glanced at the chart on her desk. “She’s usually here from nine to five on the weekdays.”

“Thanks.” I took the two pots of plants to my office, placed them on the floor, stared at them as though they were aliens invading my office space.

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