Page 7 of A Heart in Bloom

Taking another bite, Allen clicked a few keys on his laptop, then turned the screen toward her.

“This is perfect timing. I just finished your drawings. Take a look and let me know what you think. If everything looks good, I can get the permits submitted right away.”

Cammie blinked, leaning closer to the screen. “You finished already?” she asked, incredulous. That seemed impossibly fast.

“Well, the shop space doesn’t require any major structural changes. We’ll be building a wall with electrical, so that needs permits, but the rest is mostly cleaning and refinishing,” he explained, his tone casual but confident. “Since you want to keep the old-world elegance, we won’t be doing much more than scrubbing off the decades of grime. If you approve the apartment design, I can pull those permits, too, and get that process started. That’s a bit more involved, but nothing too complicated.”

He nodded toward the laptop. “What do you think?”

Cammie marveled at the 3D rendering on the screen, her anxiety easing as the design came to life before her eyes. It was exactly what they had discussed, down to the smallest details. She’d always been a visual person, and though Allen had tried explaining it earlier with chalk outlines on the floor, this was different. Now, she could see it—and she loved it.

“This is amazing,” she said, her voice tinged with awe. “How did you do this so fast and so… professionally? Is this how all contractors work?”

A chuckle escaped Allen before he could stop it, and his stomach sank when he saw Cammie’s face fall.

“Hey, I wasn’t laughing at you,” he said quickly, his tone earnest as he leaned forward. Without thinking, he reachedacross the table, his hand gently grasping hers. “I promise. I would never laugh at you.”

Cammie stared at his hand tenderly covering hers, his words sinking in, but a flicker of doubt still shadowed her eyes. She wanted to believe him—wanted to trust that his intentions were genuine—but the echoes of past hurt clung stubbornly to her thoughts, whispering reminders of why she had built her walls so tall.

Allen’s chest tightened as he watched her hesitation. He didn’t know the details, but he could sense the weight of whatever she’d endured. The realization settled uncomfortably within him, stirring a quiet determination to understand her better—to be the kind of person who wouldn’t add to her burden.

Her guarded expression softened slightly, though uncertainty lingered. Allen let his hand fall away, careful not to push her further but not retreating entirely. He’d meant to put her at ease, but instead, he’d inadvertently reminded her of some wound he couldn’t see.

Not what he’d intended at all.

Chapter Seven

“I’m sorry for laughing,” Allen said, his tone solemn. “I don’t know why I did. Maybe because I wish all construction firms offered this kind of service. It’d save a lot of headaches if customers knew exactly what they were getting before they signed a contract—and would avoid many of those dreaded change order fees. Unfortunately, it’s the exception, not the rule.”

He leaned back, his gaze steady on her. “I’m in school to be an architect, so I have access to this program. Zach has me create these types of drawings for all our major projects—it makesthings easier for everyone in the long run. Your job is actually pretty straightforward since most of what fills the space will be on your end, not ours.”

Finishing the last of the food, he pushed the plate aside and leaned back slightly. “Does this meet your expectations, or is there anything you’d like to adjust? Take your time to think it over if you need.”

Cammie studied the 3D rendering again, her mind painting a vivid picture of herself walking through the space. The lighting, the layout—it all felt right. She could see herself very happy in the environment he had designed and hoped that the dimensions of her shelves worked with it.

“It’s perfect,” she said, then hesitated. “But if my shelving doesn’t match your estimates, can we make adjustments later?”

Allen nodded. “We can tweak minor details without needing to resubmit permits, but major changes could delay inspections. If you send me the exact dimensions, I can add your shelves to the layout now and avoid surprises later. That said, I’ll submit the permits tonight—I’m confident the current design errs on the generous side. The sooner we get approval, the better.”

“That’s a great idea,” Cammie said. “I’ll send you the measurements tonight or tomorrow.”

“Great. If it’s okay with you, I have a cleaning crew scheduled for tomorrow. The space will be off-limits for a couple of days while they work, but by Thursday, we can start putting up walls and running electrical. If you choose a paint color from the local Ace Hardware, I see no reason we can’t have you operational by Friday.”

Cammie’s eyes widened. “Friday? Really?”

Allen grinned. “Really.”

Her excitement bubbled over, and before she could stop herself, she threw her arms around him. “Thank you, Allen. This is more than I could have hoped for.”

“You made it easy by keeping things simple,” he said, chuckling softly.

A tinge of embarrassment colored her cheeks. She folded her hands to stop from fidgeting. “Now I just have to figure out how to get my coolers and shelving moved in the next three days. I honestly don’t know where to start. Dare I ask if you have any suggestions on that monumental task?”

Allen leaned forward, arms crossed on the table. “Actually, I have an idea,” Allen said, leaning forward. “While the cleaning crew works, I can rent a truck and round up some help. We can load your things Wednesday night and move them in Thursday morning once the air purifiers are cleared out. By Friday, the workspace should be ready, and we can slide the coolers into place. That way, you’ll be operational by the weekend. I’m confident when I say you can be putting your next bouquet together in your new space by Monday. Sunday if you like to work on weekends and know how to hustle.”

Cammie stared at him, her mind racing to catch up. She wasn’t used to people stepping in to help without an ulterior motive. It was unsettling and unexpectedly... comforting. This wasn’t just ambition—it was a thoughtfulness she hadn’t dared to hope for.

“Does this timeline work for you?” Allen asked

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