Page 2 of Smarty Plants
“Yes. Just bring two copies of all your paperwork and smile a lot. They’re used to angry, flustered people. Trust me, if you’re friendly and calm, they’ll approve pretty much anything.”
His smile triggers an odd, shaky feeling in the pit of my stomach. My lungs feel tight, as if it’s harder to breathe. Maybe it’s because he’s so gorgeous. I’ve never been close to a man who looks like this.
“Do you work in the permit office?”
I stifle a giggle.Since when do I ever giggle? “No. But my family runs a plant store, and we’ve occasionally helped people with permits if they’re adding large planters to their sidewalks or patio extensions.”
He steps closer. Why is he looking so deeply into my eyes?
“I see. I’m Ben, of Abbot Carpentry & Renovations.”
“Iris. Of, um, Palmer’s Potted Plants.”
He shakes my hand gently, his rough palm taking its time before it eventually releases its grip. “What is a plant expert looking for here?” He waves vaguely toward the various nuts and bolts.
Do not, repeat not, tell him you need a screw.I stifle another giggle, trying to ignore the warmth that is swirling through my stomach every time our eyes meet. “I need…hang on…” I fishout my notepad and recite. “Matte black quarter-inch flathead screws.”
Ben nods, then threads his way down the cluttered aisle. “The construction stuff is always at the front. You need the fancy ones.” He holds up a packet. “Like this?”
I take a good look, but it’s hard to focus when it feels like Ben is studying the side of my face. We’re standing very close together in this narrow space crammed with boxes: if I turned my shoulders a few inches I could rest my head on his broad chest. Why am I even thinking such things about a total stranger? Did someone spike my morning coffee?
“Thank you. I assume these are right. My sister is the builder, not me.”
Ben turns over the hand that is holding the screws, examining my nails. They’re short, rounded, with a coat of clear polish. “You’re the bookkeeper.”
Laughter sputters out of me. “Correct.”
His phone rings and I step away, giving him some privacy to answer it. He declines the call with a swipe of his thumb, then catches me lightly by the elbow. “Is there anything else you need here? I know this store like the back of my hand, even during the dreaded inventory week.”
“Oh. No, I’m good. Thank you for your help.” Can he hear the way my voice is shaking slightly? This goes beyond my usual shyness. I’m flustered by the way this guy is drawing me in with his soft smile and rich voice.
His phone rings again. The second he glances at the screen, his face falls. “I’m sorry, I?—”
I wave goodbye with a smile. “No problem. Thanks, have a great day!”
Thankfully there is no line by the time I get to the front counter, so I’m on my way before Ben finishes his call.
I’m not sure what that prickly, restless feeling was when I was so close to him. Desire, of course. I mean, the man ishot. But it felt like much more.
Hmm. I don’t think I’m ready to have feelings like that for a sexy older man who would never really be interested in a quiet bookkeeper like me. It would just be courting unnecessary drama, and that would lead to disaster.
2
BEN
By the time I’ve inspected three different jobs, I’m on my third cup of coffee. This lack of sleep had better be temporary.
Six months ago, if you had asked me if I was prepared to take over my father’s company, I would have said sure. But that would’ve been based on the assumption that Dad would spend some time training me and hand over the reins gradually. Not grab my mother and a few suitcases and take off to France with forty-eight hours’ notice.
Stress and sleep do not go together. However, at least the sleep I managed to get last night was filled with incredible dreams.
Iris.Iris. I feel haunted by those stunning blue eyes. She’s honestly the most beautiful, intriguing woman I’ve ever met. Plus, she’s smart. Helpful. Even the smallest details were all to my preference – like the way her long, auburn brown hair was pulled simply over one shoulder, and that she was wearing very little makeup beyond a bit of brown eyeliner. And don’t forget her curvy figure, with lush breasts and hips that my hands needed to reach for, right there in the hardware store.
The only thing keeping her from being completely perfect was that she didn’t wait for me to ask for her number.
I noticed she wasn’t wearing any rings when I touched her delicate hand. The thought of my heart racing for an incredible woman just to find out she’s married… That would be too much.
After stopping and paying for gas, I grab my phone to run a search on Palmer’s Potted Plants.
