Page 174 of Fiery Romance

But is it Clay or Taz who’ll give that to me?

* * *

My phone rings all morning.I’ve been non-stop rushing between all the different vendors.

It was like this yesterday too. Thankfully, Clay helped me out with Regan so I could focus on work.

I love that little girl with all my might, but I’m so frantic with organizing that I sometimes forget where I left my purse and my car. I wouldn’t be able to give her the full attention she needed.

“Amy, why is there a bouquet in the garbage?” I ask, strutting into the salon.

Amy blushes. “Oh, I—uh, I heard you were allergic.”

“I’m not.” My eyebrows hike. I found it strange when Taz texted me earlier this morning and asked why I hadn’t mentioned the flowers yet.

‘Do you not like them?’he said.

I had no idea what he was talking about and I was too busy decorating the ballroom to dig deeper.

With a sigh, I plunk my purse on the counter. “How many bouquets has he sent?”

She winces and lifts both hands.

“That much?” My eyes bug. “Have you thrown them all away?”

“Mr. Bolton’s orders.”

I exhale heavily.That man is lucky I don’t have time to scold him.

My phone rings again.

I give Amy a sharp ‘we’ll talk about this later’ look and put the phone to my ear, traipsing to my office.

“Hello?”

“Island, hey.” Nova’s crisp, elegant voice fills my ears. “I received your invitation to the event tonight. I’ve spoken to all the ladies. We’ll be there.”

“Thank you so much.”

“Adam and I also want to donate to the women’s shelter you work with.” She pauses. “I didn’t know that you were giving back to the community like that.”

“It’s a lesson my gran instilled in me and my brothers. A rising tide lifts all boats.”

“Your gran?”

“Yeah, I grew up with my grandmother.” I chuckle and lift my to-do list off the desk. “Because of her, I like listening to music on records, watching black and white movies and—”

“Calling people ‘baby’.”

“Huh. Yeah, I guess that rubbed off on me.”

Nova goes quiet. “Island, I want to apologize for treating you coldly when we first met.”

“It’s fine. Not all folks are going to get along at first sight.”

“I was the one who was being haughty and arrogant. If I’d known…” She blows out a breath. “Anyway, Adam and I love what you’re doing. We want to be a part of it.”

“Thank you, Nova. I’ll send you Clarissa’s information. She’s the woman who put me in touch with Ms. Phoebe at the shelter, and she can better explain what organizations need the most help.”

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