Page 16 of Undone, Love Times Three

“You’re welcome,” he says with a grin. “Okay, we’re here. Let’s do this.”

He pulls up on the driveway and hops out, going to the back of the truck to get the flowers. The front door opens and Ursula, my client and Adeline her mom come hurrying out of the house. Ursula is sweet and friendly and is the one I’ve dealt with the most.

Her mom is not great, very picky and a little difficult. The annoyance is written all over her face as she charges towards Ryan’s truck.

“I’m so sorry I’m late, I got a flat tire,” I say.

“We have guests arriving and the florals aren’t here. My daughter will be here in less than an hour for her surprise and we have to get everything set up,” Adeline snaps.

“Mom,” Ursula tries to calm her down. “She’s here now, we can get this done before Daniella gets here.”

“We have paid a lot of money for these flowers. We don’t need the stress of them arriving late. They better be as we expect them to be.”

Ursula has always backed down to her mom during our appointments. I don’t think she is going to save me now. The client is always right. And I am late. I apologize again whenRyan steps up from behind me holding one of the larger floral arrangements.

Both women look at him. Ursula’s mouth drops open. I get it, he looks gorgeous in his tight white t-shirt and dark blue jeans. His dark hair was tousled when he stopped to help me and it isn’t any straighter now.

“Should we put these inside so you can get ready for your party?” he asks Adeline. His smile is tight, but it seems I’m the only one who notices.

“Well, I suppose she can be forgiven,” Adeline gives Ryan a smile as if I’m not there. “But we expect better service and a certain level of professionalism in appearance.”

She eyes my yellow Capri pants. I glance down and see mud smears on my knees. Oh hell, I didn’t even notice that. It must have happened when I was kneeling down on the road to check the tire. And my hair may be a little disheveled from running anxious hands through it. I’ve probably chewed my lipstick off too.

However, my service speaks for itself and I’m proud of what I do. Yes, I may be late but… all the fight goes out of me, my need to apologize again rears its head.

“I think you’ll find that Sylvie’s service is excellent,” Ryan steps up to my side. He nods to the arrangement he’s carrying. “Her flowers are beautiful and delivering your order is a touch you don’t get from most florists. We might be a little late, but we’re here now.”

All of us are staring at him. I can’t believe he is standing up for me like this.

“Mom,” Ursula gives me an apologetic look. “Let’s get them inside and set up.”

Ryan waits while I pull a tray of small table decorations in baby blue and pink watering cans from the back of the truck.

“Do you deal with people like that a lot?” he leans in close to ask me.

Tightening my grip on the tray, because dropping it in front of Adeline would show my lack of professionalism, I duck my head but lift my eyes to his.

“Not usually. I get the occasional bad bride or mother of the bride but normally I can handle it.”

“You shouldn’t have to handle it,” he says with a frown. “Things happen, people should be more understanding.”

I shrug, not sure what to say to that. I’m still overwhelmed by everything he is doing for me. After what I did to him, he should have driven past and left me stranded at the side of the road.

“Come on, let’s get this inside so we can leave her to her party.”

He winks and walks away. I, on the other hand bang my head on the doorframe. Classy.

Trailing behind, resisting the urge to rub my head, we go out into the huge rear garden which is decorated for the baby shower. There are a number of tables set out where the center pieces are going, so I walk around putting a watering can decoration on each one.

Ryan comes and goes, bringing in the bigger arrangements and follows Ursula’s instructions.

Two other woman have come over to Ryan to ‘help’. Others are watching with unadulterated interest. I pretend to ignore it.

We get everything inside and while Ursula thanks us profusely, Adeline is still bitching about how they have so much to do before Daniella arrives. Despite all the attention he is getting, Ryan is watching me. If he is waiting for me to say something back, it’ll be a long time.

I don’t like confrontation but I will always defend my business. Just not right now. I don’t have the mental fortitude to take on a woman like Adeline. Not today.

“We done?” he comes up behind me.

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