Page 11 of Trial Run

“Of course.” He took a big step backward, relief loosening his throat as soon as the door shut behind her.

She stood still for a moment, her eyes wide as she took in his kitchen, which was state-of-the-art, but also pretty bare, truth be told.

Her eyes landed on the daffodils. “You kept them.”

“I didn’t want to waste them.” Ben set the potted plant on his countertop, next to the flowers. “And how is your son?”

Her gaze swung around to him. “Better. He’s hardly ever sick, but when he does catch something, he gets over it fast. I’m lucky.”

“Good. That’s good.” Now that she stood inside his house, looking up at him with eyes as luminous and complex as he’d remembered, his train of thought eluded him.

“So. The tip.” She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned a hip on his counter. She wore a white T-shirt and black joggers today, her hair in the same high ponytail.

“You want to know why I left it for you.”

“I do. And I also want to know why last night, my boss called and told me you placed an order for 174 flower arrangements. You told her I sold those flowers to you, but I didn’t.”

“She told me for larger orders, like weddings, her employees earn a commission. So I gave her your name.”

“But I didn’t sell you anything,” she repeated.

Ben folded his arms over his chest, mirroring her posture. “You did, in a way, the other day. You convinced me that flowersare good for people’s mental health. So I sent flowers to my therapy patients.”

“You’re a therapist. I thought you said you were a doctor.”

“I am. I have a doctorate in psychology. I can even prescribe medications for my patients.”

Nell processed that for a moment. “And the flowers are … to cheer up your patients?”

“Yes.”

“But why me? Don’t answer that.” She pressed a hand to her forehead, looking embarrassed. “I know you felt sorry for me the other day. I said too much about my situation. But I’m fine.”

“You said your landlord—”

“Really, we’re doing okay. I’m looking for another job, and I know something will work out for me. I wish I hadn’t said all that.”

She dropped her hand and met his eyes again, dead serious. “Nobody gives someone a five hundred dollar tip and a commission worth another two thousand if they don’t want something in return.”

“What? No—”

“What do you want from me? Because I don’t date, if that’s what you were hoping for. I won’t.” Her chin went up a notch.

Outrage climbed up his throat. “That isnotwhat I meant. I’d never ask for that in exchange for a gift.” He filed her statement away for later, though, because the therapist in him needed to know why she didn’t date.

“Then why?”

Ben searched for the right words. “I wanted to help you. Partly because you needed it. But also because you helped me.”

And I couldn’t get your face out of my mind.

Nell stared at him, her expression shifting from disbelief to confusion. “I didn’t help you very much. I sat with you for five minutes.”

“It helped.” Best to keep the explanation simple. No need to tell her that no one else in his life knew how bad he’d gotten. “And this was something I could do in return. Something that would benefit both of us. My patients get flowers, and you get a commission.”

“Yeah, but it’s too much. I can’t take it. I can’t be indebted to you like this.”

“You need the money, though.”

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