Page 24 of A Heart in Bloom

He hesitated for a moment, releasing his anger before turning back to her, wrapping her in an embrace that had become almost second nature. Her tears soaked into the front of his shirt as his hand gently stroked her hair. His voice was low and steady, a grounding presence amid the chaos.

“You are loved. You are safe. You are not alone. I’ve got you. He’s out of your life for good. You’ve got this, sweetheart.”

Cammie had been calming when his last words registered. They were new, and she pulled back to meet his gaze. The tenderness in Allen’s gorgeous blue eyes tugged painfully at her heart—no one had ever looked at her that way before. Could he have fallen in love with her? In only a month? Was that even possible?

Doubt crept in. Could she trust her judgment after the disaster with Judson? She had once thought him a good man, only to realize too late how wrong she had been. Judson had been a mistake—unquestionably.

But was Allen truly different? Or was she blinded by his kindness, by the way he had been there for her during her most vulnerable moments these past forty days?

As she looked into his eyes, all she could think about was kissing him. The longing she saw there mirrored her own, and she wanted nothing more than to feel his lips pressed to hers. Slowly, she leaned in, tilting her face up toward his, but he pulled back slightly, cupping her cheeks instead. His rough thumbs brushed her skin with a tenderness that made her heart ache as he said, “Not now. Not like this. When we kiss for the first time, it won’t be to erase the bad taste of a horrible ex. It will be because you want me, and I want you— with no doubts clouding our intentions. Trust me, Cammie. If we kiss now, that memory will be forever tainted by Judson. I want better for us.”

He pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead, the gesture soothing her swirling emotions.

Cammie closed her eyes and breathed in the comforting scent of Allen—sandalwood and musk, mingled with the natural essence of a hard day’s work. Judson had always reeked of overpriced cologne, sharp and cloying, often leaving her with a headache. Allen’s scent was different. It was something she could sink into, something that made her feel safe. He was right; her judgment tonight had been off and could have ruined everything.

When Allen asked if she was ready to lock up and head to dinner, she shook her head, claiming exhaustion after the ordeal with Judson. A bath and bed sounded far more appealing. Allen didn’t press her, only kissed her tenderly on the head, wishing her goodnight.

Sleep didn’t come easily. Her mind was in chaos over her relationship with Judd, her friendship with Allen that teetered on the edge of something more, and her history of poor choices. She needed Allen in her life—at least for now—while she acclimated to her new life.

She couldn’t risk losing him, not like tonight, when their almost-kiss had threatened to complicate everything. She had to pull back, go back to arm’s length. No more lingering embraces. No more head kisses that made her toes curl and insides warm. And those longing looks into his mesmerizing cornflower-blue eyes? They were dangerous. Too dangerous.

Starting tomorrow, Allen Calhoun was officially in her friend zone.

Chapter Twenty-One

Everyone felt the chill in the air on the 13th when they arrived to help with the final preparations for the Valentine’s Day rush—and it had nothing to do with the snow falling outside. Lauren, Kate, Missy, and Vanessa were surprised by how much Cammie had already accomplished. The dark smudges under her eyes said it all: she’d been up all night.

No one commented. They simply took their stations and got to work. Thanks to Allen’s suggestion of a trial run before the grand reopening, the team ran like a well-oiled machine. Gwen kept everyone fueled with perfectly timed food deliveries.

Other than a few close calls while adding completed arrangements to the coolers or taking flowers out of the walk-in, Cammie managed to keep her distance from Allen. Aside from a polite “good morning” and brief answers to his occasional questions, she barely spoke to him.

At one point, Missy took over the Bluetooth speaker, filling the shop with a playful variety of kissing songs. Cammie didn’t notice until Thompson Square’s“Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not”played a little too loudly. Without a word, she booted the giggling teen off the speaker and started her own playlist—one she knew wouldn’t spark any ideas. The uplifting mix of Mercy Me, Casting Crowns, For King & Country, Lauren Daigle, Ann Wilson, and other favorite artists soon filled the space.

Lauren caught her eye with a knowing smirk but said nothing, her expression carrying the quiet understanding of a woman too perceptive for her own—or Cammie’s—good.

Tim Adler arrived at 9 p.m. to drive his family back to Sweet Valley, as the weather had worsened throughout the day. He promised to bring them back first thing in the morning, and everyone hurried out to the waiting Sheriff’s vehicle.

Anna, who had come later in the day to assist Allen with the balloons, was tying off one of the final bunches when her father, Bill Adler, arrived. He walked to the back of the shop and peeked into the walk-in cooler.

“Everything working okay with this beast?” he asked Cammie.

“Yes, sir,” Cammie replied with a grateful smile. “Phill did a great job installing it. It works like a charm. Thank you for the help. He wouldn’t accept payment, but I’m more than willing to pay a fee. I know you lost work hours with the four men you sent to help him disassemble and reassemble it.”

“Nope, we’re all square,” Bill replied with a friendly smile. “That’s what neighbors do. You’ve done us all a favor, helping Miss Betty ease into her retirement and opening this great shopto keep our ladies in bouquets. My boy knows how to run a business and would have sent an invoice if it was necessary. Actually, no—he’d have roped in his cousins and handled it after hours,” he added with a chuckle. “But don’t get any ideas. You keep your prices fair. We don’t do tit-for-tat around here.”

“Speaking of which, can you check your schedule and make sure my wife is on the list for tomorrow? I’ll be out of town until late, and I don’t want her to think I forgot. Our first date was on Valentine’s Day, so it’s a pretty big deal for us.”

Cammie nodded and turned to the computer to verify the delivery schedule. By the time she confirmed the twenty-five crimson roses for Bill’s wife, Allen had tied off the last balloon bunch, and Anna was bundled up, ready to leave. Cammie handed her an envelope with payment and thanked her for her hard work.

Allen was shrugging into his jacket when he asked, “Feel like grabbing a cup of coffee before Gathering Grounds closes?”

Cammie shook her head with a tired smile. “Thanks, but I think I’ll pass.”

He nodded and headed down the street alone, snowflakes clinging to his coat and lashes by the time he arrived.

As expected, Gwen and her gaggle of girls were holed up in the back sitting area. When he knocked on the locked door, Gwen jogged over to let him in. “It’s about time you showed up. Some of us have to get up early tomorrow,” she teased.

“You’re telling me. I promised Cammie I’d be back at 4 a.m. What’s so urgent that I had to rush over here tonight? I still need to go over the delivery logistics for tomorrow,” Allen groused, allowing his frustration with the day to show to his friend.

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