Page 12 of A Very Grumpy Halloween

“I need to start charging people for coming in here and flirting with my employees,” I mumble, and Ryder snorts.

“You’d be a millionaire in no time,” he agrees as we watch them leave.

I make a mental note to interrogate Saffron about what’s going on between her and Nolan the next time that I see her.

“Are you here to cancel tonight?” I ask him as I stand, and he looks bewildered.

“Fuck no! Why? Did something come up?”

“No, I just didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”

“Oh, I just wanted to ask if you had any allergies or a preference on where you wanted to go tonight for dinner. I would text you, but I don’t have your number.”

He pulls out his phone, and I rattle off my number for him.

“No allergies, and I’m good with whatever,” I tell him.

He smiles, and I can practically see his brain turning as he makes plans.

“Okay, I’ll see you in a few hours then.”

“See you.”

He gives me a heated look before he heads out, and I let out a dreamy sigh as I watch him go.

“It looks like he isn’t the only one who has it bad,” Ginger remarks, and I clear my throat.

“Why don’t you go tell Lilou that the coast is clear?”

“You got it, boss.”

I ignore her and try to get lost in work for a few hours. I manage to put out a lot of new inventory before it’s time for me to head home and get ready for my date.

“Do you guys need anything else before I leave?” I ask them, but they both shake their heads.

“Have fun tonight! Call me if you need anything,” Ginger says, and I smile, giving her a quick hug before I grab my thing and head for the door.

“I’ll see you both tomorrow!” I call before I head out.

The walk back to my apartment is quick, and I smile as I pass all of the shops on the way and admire their Halloween decorations. Something about the cute little ghosts and bats taped to the windows brightens my spirits. I grin as I head up the stairs to my place.

I don’t have long before Ryder will be, so I hurry through a shower and then pull on a pair of jeans and my favorite knit sweater. I’m not sure where we’re going for dinner, so hopefully, this will work for whatever restaurant we go to.

I pull my hair back and braid it so that it hangs over one of my shoulders and then apply some mascara and lip gloss. I’m just pulling on my boots when Ryder knocks on the door.

“Hey,” I say as I answer it. My eyes widen as I take in the bouquet in his hands.

It’s Halloween-themed, with orange and black roses. There’s even a little pumpkin and bat on a stick in the bunch, and I grin as I take them from him.

“Thank you so much! I love them.”

“I thought you might,” he says with a pleased smile.

“Let me just put them in some water.”

“Take your time.”

I usher him in and then go to find a vase. I don’t get many flowers, so it takes me a minute to find something that will work and fill it with water.

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