Page 28 of A Heart in Bloom

Shrinking back, he raised his hands, trying to fend off any further attempts to help. A mighty shiver wracked his body as he clenched his fists against the chill.

Tim charged into the room with Lauren, Missy, and Kate close behind, only to halt abruptly at the scene. Cammie stood frozen by the cooler, hands clasped over her mouth, the nearly empty bucket at her feet. Water streamed across the angled floor toward the drain. Allen stood a few feet away, jaw clenched, visibly shivering.

A loud guffaw broke the silence as Tim doubled over in laughter. “Tim!” Lauren hissed, pounding him on the back. “Stop it! He’ll catch his death like this.”

Tim straightened, still chuckling. “I’ll check your truck for spare clothes,” he said, heading for the door. “And grab my gym bag if I can’t find anything. You should fit—especially after that shrinkage.”

Lauren slapped his arm, glaring as he left. His laughter echoed all the way into the parking lot.

A few minutes later, Tim returned and tossed two duffle bags toward Allen’s chest. Allen caught one, but the other slipped through his hands and hit the wet floor with a thud. “You should find something between the two of us,” Tim said. “If you need to head home and change, I can help load the vehicles after lunch.”

They made their way upstairs, and after much insistence from the women, Allen relented and took a hot shower. When he returned to the lunch table, Tim started chuckling again.

“What now?” Lauren demanded, arms crossed. “And please, keep it G-rated for the young ears at the table.”

“Oh, come on, Lauren. I have brothers,” Missy replied, rolling her eyes in mock offense.

“You might,” Lauren shot back with a sharp look, “but Katie doesn’t, and I won’t have my ogre of a brother ruining her innocence before the wedding.” Her glare was so pointed it could have cut glass, and Tim immediately sobered.

“I’m sorry, Katie, for my earlier comment,” Tim said earnestly, taking his girlfriend’s hand. “Sometimes, when I’m around my army buddies, I forget to consider the women in the room—and Lauren doesn’t count. I promise I’ll do better.”

“It’s fine, Tim. I know you were joking, and it went right over my head,” Kate replied with a warm smile. “You can explain it to me later if it’s worth it. But as for Lauren, I know how protectiveyou are—I don’t believe you for a second. So, what was so funny this time? If it’s appropriate, of course.”

Tim grinned sheepishly. “I was just going to tease him about smelling fresh as a daisy. It’s an old joke from boot camp—sounds worse than it is. I wasn’t really making fun of him, but I’ll keep it to myself.”

Allen chuckled. “Pretty sure it’s lavender, actually. Cammie has a thing for it—color and scent. As for daisies, I’ll stand by what I’ve always said: they don’t have a fragrance.”

Tim finished his last bite and dusted off his hands before turning to Cammie. “Let’s settle this once and for all. You’re the expert—do daisies have a fragrance?”

Cammie raised a brow. “What variety are you asking about? If you don’t know the name, you can describe it.”

“Any daisy,” Tim replied with a grin. “I feel like you’re dodging the question so you can stay neutral—or side with Allen—but you know I’m right.”

Cammie turned to Allen. “When you say daisies don’t smell, what kind are you thinking of?”

“The white ones with the yellow centers—the kind girls in movies pull apart to figure out if their man loves them. I’ve smelled them, and they don’t have a scent. Bees like them for the bright centers, not for fragrance,” Allen said confidently, arms crossed over his chest.

“If that’s the daisy you mean, Tim, then Allen’s right,” Cammie agreed. “The everyday daisy most people think of doesn’t have a detectable fragrance. You’d need a pretty sensitive nose—or specialized equipment—to notice anything.”

“I hear a ‘but’ coming,” Tim teased. “Be honest, Cammie. The whole truth and nothing but the truth.”

“Tim, you’re a pilot and a cop, not an attorney,” Lauren called, starting to clear plates as Kate joined her. “You lose, Allen wins. Now, let’s get back to work.”

“No, I’m man enough to admit when I’m wrong,” Allen said, smirking as he leaned back in his chair. “But even if there’s a ‘but,’ I’m still right because the daisy I’m thinking of doesn’t smell. And Cammie,” he added, with a teasing glance her way, “feel free to educate my friend here on floral scents. He’s got a woman now—he’ll need all the help he can get to keep her.”

Cammie playfully slapped his shoulder. “Be nice. But if you must know, Gerbera Daisies can have a subtle, sweet fragrance. So, to keep the peace, I’ll call it a draw—you’re both right.”

She turned a beaming smile on Allen as she stood and whispered, “And for the record, you’re right—you smell like lavender, my favorite. Old Spice makes a scent called Wilderness that uses it. You should check it out.”

As she headed to the kitchen to help clean up, Allen’s chair legs hit the floor with a thud. His eyes stayed locked on her retreating figure, confusion, hope, and anticipation flickering across his face. Tim burst out laughing at his friend’s predicament—he’d been in the same place with Kate not long ago—but Allen barely noticed. Had Cammie just flirted? Hinted at the future? Something had shifted, and he couldn’t stop his mind from racing ahead.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Cammie backed into her parking spot long after the sun had disappeared below the horizon. With the snow finally stopped, the last hour of deliveries had been almost pleasant. Most customers were gracious about the late hour, understanding the challenges of hazardous roads. A few even left generous tips to show their appreciation for her perseverance.

Stepping into the dim shop, she smiled at the noticeable dent in her inventory. All the long hours and combined effort with her new friends had paid off. At the register, she powered down the system and removed the cash drawer. A pink heart at the bottomof the drawer caught her attention. Written in elegant script, it read:It’s the little things about you that make the world a much better place.

On the counter, a yellow sticky note in different handwriting added another message:Enjoy your night, boss,with a sketched heart beside it.

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