Page 13 of A Heart in Bloom

“But that hasn’t happened?” Allen asked suspiciously.

“No,” Cammie admitted, shaking her head. “And I don’t know why. They’ve been together for over two years now. Everyone in Glacier Ridge knows about them, so what’s the holdup? Honestly, after some reflection, I think Judson put Hunter —his best friend and boss—up to evicting me. Maybe his fiancéefinally got tired of me being around. Wedding plans probably don’t go smoothly when the ex-fiancée is still in town.”

Her voice turned quieter, weighted with exhaustion. “Either way, it was the last straw for my love of Valentine’s Day. Now, I just plaster on a smile to make sales, even though inside I feel sick. When it’s finally over, I take the 15th off and pamper myself—just to remind myself I’m worth the effort.”

As they reached the door, a subtle shift hung in the air between them. Cammie felt it—a pull, undeniable and magnetic. For a brief moment, it seemed like a kiss would fit, as naturally as a heartbeat. But the timing wasn’t right, and they both knew it.

Allen reached up and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his gloved hand lingering at the crook of her neck. His touch was steady, his voice low and sincere. “You are worth every effort, Cammie. I can’t fathom what Judson was thinking, but any man lucky enough to win your heart should cherish you every day of the year—with a few extra special ones thrown in.” His gaze held hers, warm and unyielding. “I’m glad you didn’t let him drive you out of Massachusetts. And even though the circumstances aren’t ideal, I’m grateful you came to Hickory Falls. I think you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.”

He stepped back slightly, his expression softening. “Get some rest, Cammie. Tomorrow’s another big day.”

She nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. “Thanks for tonight, Allen. It means a lot.”

He smiled, his hand lingering on the door as she climbed inside. “Anytime.”

As she drove away, her heart was a tangled web of emotions. She wasn’t ready for anything beyond friendship—not yet. But with Allen, the line between what she wanted and what she was ready for blurred dangerously. Spending time with him felt too natural, too effortless. If she wasn’t careful, she could lose her heart to someone like him.

Allen watched her taillights fade into the night, his thoughts as steady as his resolve. He saw the cracks in her armor, the hidden wounds she carried. He didn’t just want to mend them—he wanted to help her flourish. Hickory Falls was everything she needed to thrive, and he would make sure she had the chance to bloom in her new garden.

Chapter Twelve

Thursday morning dawned bright and sunny as Cammie greeted the Harrington Construction crew with hot coffee and a bag of bakery treats.

“You don’t have to bribe them,” Allen teased, grabbing a cinnamon raisin bagel and taking a hearty bite. “But they’ll never say no to food.”

Cammie shot him a playful look as she bit into her flaky chocolate croissant. “It’s not bribery—it’s appreciation. How did the cleaning turn out? Are we ready to move in as planned?”

“Everything looks great,” Allen said, his words slightly muffled as he chewed. “We unloaded the truck and set up your displays. There’s plenty to keep you busy while we tackle the electrical and the wall. If the layout doesn’t work, just let us know—it’ll only take a few minutes to rearrange things so you can start setting out your gift inventory.”

Cammie scanned the parking spaces along the street. “I didn’t even notice the U-Haul was gone. How did you get so much done this early? It’s not even seven yet!”

“I had a few of the guys stop by on their way to the cabin project up the mountain,” Allen explained, waving good morning to an elderly couple passing by who seemed curious about the activity at the old apothecary shop. “With that many strong arms, we had everything unloaded before six.”

“I didn’t realize you all started so early. Next time, I’ll make sure breakfast is here even earlier.” Cammie glanced toward the shop, a mix of anticipation and hesitation in her voice. “I guess I’d better get inside and figure out what I can do. Honestly, I don’t want to pull too much out. It’ll just get dusty with the construction, and no one’s going to want to buy anything covered in a layer of grime...”

She trailed off, her gaze roaming the space. The layout was perfect, and she couldn’t help but smile at the thoughtful addition of a few of Betty’s displays. Allen was very good at his job.

“No need to worry about that,” Allen assured her. “We’ll tape off the space to keep the dust contained, and there’s still an air purifier running outside the area to capture anything that sneaks through. You should be able to set up without any problems.”

He turned to join the men working in the back corner but paused to call over his shoulder, “Have fun, Cammie. Today’s the day you put your first mark on your blank canvas. I can’t wait tosee what you create.” With a quick wink, he disappeared behind a newly hung sheet of plastic as the crew secured it in place.

“Thanks, Allen. No pressure,” she muttered dryly, though she couldn’t help but appreciate the energy he brought to the day. Her anticipation bubbled as she turned to get started.

She was surrounded by dozens of gift baskets wrapped in shiny cellophane, fully absorbed in arranging the gift shop display, when her phone buzzed. Glancing at the screen, she saw the caller ID: Sweet Valley Blooms.

“Hello?” she answered, her voice laced with confusion.

“Miss Rodes?” A friendly male voice greeted her.

“Yes, this is Cammie. How can I help you?” she replied, a faint unease settling in her stomach.

“My name is Phill Adler. I work for Adler Construction. My crew helped assemble and install Miss Betty’s walk-in cooler. We’ve finally had time to disassemble it, and she mentioned you purchased it and need it reassembled at your new location. When would be a good time to get that done? Miss Betty has a buyer for her store, and the new owners would like to move in by the end of the week.”

“By the end of the week? As in Friday? Tomorrow?” Cammie repeated, her mind spinning.

A walk-in cooler would be a game-changer for her business. She hadn’t realized it was part of her deal with Betty. That revelation turned what she thought was a steal into outright piracy. The coolers alone, combined with the displays and supplies, were worth at least $20,000—far more than the $5,000 she’d paid. Her chest tightened. She needed to call Betty immediately.

“Um, Mr. Adler,” she said, steadying her voice, “I’ll need to check with my construction crew. They’re building the wall for my workspace right now, and I’m not sure the walk-in will fit. Can I call you back in ten minutes?”

---