Page 22 of Forever Love at Fleur's Flower Shop

‘I’ll take that as a yes. Even if I only stay to get you out of that habit.’ Placing his hand over hers, he gently pulled her thumb away from her mouth and held it in his grasp.

She shrugged and tried to keep as still as she possibly could as she answered, not daring to move a muscle in case it meant he took his hand away. ‘I had. I stopped at new year. And then...’

‘And then I turned up?’

She nodded.

‘Then I’ll take it as my responsibility for helping you stop again then.’

She smiled as she looked down at their hands, his skin warming hers, the familiar tingle of electricity sparking between them. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if he did stick around. Maybe they’d even be able to become friends.Eventually.

‘I know why you did it.’ His voice was soft now, almost too quiet to hear.

She nodded. Maybe he’d always known. Heck, he’d probably worked it out long before she had.

‘And you are worthy, you know. You’re worthy of love and I would have loved you with everything I had.’ He squeezed her hand.

She blinked. She couldn’t stop the tears now as they streamed down her cheeks. She knew he would have. She knewhe would have loved her, but back then...’I just wasn’t brave enough to take that chance.’

‘I know.’ He nodded slowly. ‘But I hope now you know you’re worthy of anything you could possibly want. I hope you know that you’re enough. You’re more than enough. You always were.’

‘I’ve never been enough.’ She shook her head.

‘Oh, Fleur, the only person who thinksthat is you.’ Shufflingalongthe kerb so hisshoulderwastouchinghers, hewrapped his arm around her, drawing her close. ‘Please believe me.’

She leaned her head against his suited shoulder and closed her eyes. She was so tired, exhausted, that she could almost just fall asleep right here, sitting on the kerb. As long as he was next to her, holding her, she could probably sleep anywhere.

‘I’ve missed this.’

Lifting her head up, Fleur looked at him. ‘You have?’

‘Of course I have.’ He chuckled softly as he removed his arm from around her and used the pads of his thumbs to wipe her cheeks before hugging her again.

Leaning her cheek back against his shoulder, she smiled. She’d missed it, too. She’d missed him.

Chapter Sixteen

‘So, how did it go? Your meeting with Matty last night?’ Bea helped Fleur pack the chrysanthemum buttonholes into the box open on the large table in the chilled back room of the flower shop.

‘Good.’ Fleur could feel her cheeks flush despite the cool air surrounding them.

‘Good?’ Bea raised her eyebrows. ‘Do I detect something going on there?’

‘What? No.’ Fleur rolled her eyes. ‘I think we can both agree I well and truly burnt that bridge a long time ago.’

‘Umm, I’m not so sure. Never say never.’

Fleur shook her head, her ponytail bouncing against her shoulder blades. ‘I think we can say never in this instance. No, seriously though, he was really sweet. He told me he wasn’t expecting an apology.’

‘Or an explanation?’ Bea placed the last buttonhole in the small remaining space in the box.

‘Nor an explanation.’ Fleur closed the box, omitting to tell her that he’d admitted he’d known all along why she’d walked out. Picking up the box, she stacked it on top of the larger box of bridesmaid bouquets. She still didn’t know how he’d known herreason for leaving him at the altar before she herself had worked it out. She frowned. No, that wasn’t right. She must have always known on some subconscious level, but she hadn’t been able to form a coherent answer to the question before.

‘Are you meeting up with him again?’ Bea rubbed her hands together before blowing on them.

Laughing, Fleur pulled open the door into the shop and ushered Bea out of the chiller. ‘Come on, come and get warm for a minute.’

‘Thanks. I don’t know how you do it. Not that it’s much warmer in here.’ Bea grinned.

---