Page 89 of Flowers Near Me

“It looks like you bought a bakery.” Overloaded with buttery pastries and glazed masterpieces, the box was stuffed, each treat more enticing than the next.

Hades wiped crumbs from his hands, then leaned down to squeeze her to his side and plant a quick kiss on her cheek. A soothing warmth flooded her from the touch and the faint headache she’d woken up with dissolved. “I didn’t buy the bakery. I opened it a long time ago. Eat what you can. I think you’re not eating enough and that’s why you’re losing energy so quickly.”

Missing meals wasn’t the problem. For the past few months, Hades brought a revolving buffet of every variety of food a goddess could hope for.

“I think I’ve been eating just fine. This is way too much food. Can we give some away?”

Hades grabbed two plates and motioned his head towards the sitting area. “Whatever we don’t eat, I’ll send to the developer’s break room. How are you feeling?” He set down the plates, and they sat at arm’s length from each other on the couch. Persephone’s knee touched his hip and from the point of contact, another cozy rush of energy thrummed in her veins.

“I’m okay, I think. I still feel weak, but that’s got to be from my body’s lack of use.”

“Do you feel like you could take a walk or do yoga?” he asked before biting into a croissant. Crumbs fell towards his lap but disappeared into thin air. Persephone made a mental note for him to show her how to do that when she was feeling well again.

“Maybe? It’s worth a try. I wouldn’t mind some work. Answering emails, phone interviews, things like that.” If she could ease back into things, she’d be more prepared when the live events resumed.

“I have something I could use your clever mind for. NotFlowers Near Merelated, but a new acquisition I want to explore.” Hades set his croissant down and picked up a cup of coffee she hadn’t seen him bring over.

Persephone perked up. “How can I help?” She hadn’t stretched her strategic business muscle in too long.

“With the app launching soon, it got me thinking about community gardens. Underworld Unlimited’s buildings could house micro gardens and rent plots to schools and individuals.”

Possibilities raced faster than Zeus’ chariot in Persephone’s mind. Underworld Unlimited owned tons of real estate throughout Olympus. “Do you own the rooftop of all of your buildings?”

He shot her a curious look. “Yes. Is that not how it works when you own a building?”

Persephone shook her head. “There are companies that buy rooftop space so they can sell them to telecommunications groups that build cell towers. The intermediary company facilitates the rental agreement and even gives a cut to the building owners.”

Tapping one finger to his mouth, Hades nodded along. “Use our rooftops.”

“Any outdoor space, really. I follow a few gardeners who try to bring homesteading practices into the city. They’d be good consultants for choosing the locations and then spreading the word.”

Persephone pulled out her phone and brought up an account she’d been looking at the day before. “He’s set up container gardens with plastic bins from the trash. He grows enough produce that he doesn’t need a weekly grocery trip.” She swiped to another account and held up the photo. “Here they’ve grown trailing nasturtium. They sell the flowers to a local restaurant and the vines hide the HVAC equipment.”

“May I?” Hades gestured at her phone.

“Please.” She handed it to him, then scooted closer to watch her screen over his shoulder. His piney scent smelled so inviting that she ran her fingers over his dark gray cashmere sweater. The touch was a subtle invitation for more, yet still on her terms. He couldn’t reach her easily and his hands stayed on her phone, but his slight lean into her body made it clear he liked the contact.

Hades thumbed through the accounts, taking screenshots which he forwarded to his phone. “This is an entire world I knew nothing about.”

“You were thinking about it, though. Community gardens are great for people who don’t have a yard.” A nagging, sinking feeling tugged at her chest. For all of her life, she’d lived on her mom’s estate and never once thought about bringing the vibrancy and energizing force of nature into the city. A few months into owning a flower app, and Hades had the idea all on his own. Why hadn’t she thought of it before?

Hades handed her phone back and smirked as he motioned for her to sit on his lap. “Tell me more of your ideas.” He laid one arm across the back of the couch.

She sat across his lap with her lower back against the couch’s armrest. Hades pulled her tight to his chest for a short hug, then kept his arm around her waist. A tinge of her poppy magic prickled under her skin and she imagined the sensation flooding back to her heart. Confident she had subdued the threatening burst of flowers, she smiled back at Hades and leaned into him.

“When she was a high school student, Laura worked for a food bank that partnered with a community garden. They donated fresh produce twice a week and the food bank agreed to send volunteers to tend the garden. For those who rented plots, they got a discount if they contributed.”

Hades’ fingers trailed up and down the side of her leg. “Do you remember which food bank it was?”

“Laura lived with her father in the city at the time and said she could bike there. Northern Olympus Food Bank, or something like that.”

“Interesting. I assumed she’d volunteer at one of your mom’s food banks.”

Persephone shook her head. A follower, Laura was not. Her sister had never wanted to pursue her mom’s interests and went to great lengths to find a place to volunteer at where Demeter had no influence. “Laura was looking for more independence from Mom. But I have no clue who owns it.”

The smirk on Hades’ face said everything.

“It’s yours,” she said in realization.

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