Page 10 of Love in Bloom

“Don’t worry.” Wren hefted the box to the back counter. “I’ll make sure he gets it today while everything is fresh. Go! Have a good weekend. I’ll take care of everything.” Wren picked up the phone as Sue walked out the door and called Anderson, Anderson & Swanson. She left a message for Miller with the receptionist, letting him know he had a package at Wallflowers to pick up today.

Wren returned to cleaning flowers. She grabbed a particularly thorny bunch of long-stemmed red roses. She knew de-thorning them would keep her mind focused on the task at hand and not on the good and handsome lawyer.

Cindy arrived after lunch, and her happy chatter made the afternoon bearable. The only encouragement she needed to keep talking were some well-placedahas,reallys, andwows. Wren inventoried the holiday ribbon while Cindy finished cleaning the flowers and made up a few last-minute orders for the hospital. Now that she had a list of her inventory, she’d be more comfortable meeting with the ribbon salesman when he visited next week.

Ribbons were her weakness. The different colors and textures made her feel like a kid in a candy shop. Maybe this year she’d be able to stick to her ribbon budget. She looked up from the ribbon catalog. Cindy’s monologue was now a dialog that featured feminine laughter and a voice with a deep timbre.Trouble’s here, Wren thought as she stood up and checked her reflection in the mirror above the sink before heading to the front of the shop. She could have stayed hidden in the back, but good manners dictated she say hello, even though she was still mad at him.

“Hello,” Wren greeted Miller. She hoped she sounded pleased to see him. Disagreeing with Miller over their relationship status was the last thing she needed, especially with Cindy as an audience. “Sounds like you two know each other.”

“Oh, yes,” Cindy agreed, looking Miller up and down slowly. “I had my hands on his perfect bare butt long before the other women in Haven did.”

Wren blushed. She felt like she was intruding. Cindy was a happily married woman, or at least that’s what Wren had thought.

“That never gets old for you, does it?” Miller asked Cindy without looking away from Wren.

“Nope, and it never will. I’ll be bragging about it on my deathbed.” Cindy laughed and patted his cheek. The one on his face. “Be good,” she reprimanded, and left him alone with Wren.

“You got my message.” Wren turned to get the box of goodies from the counter behind her. “I hope you weren’t expecting flowers.” She placed the box in front of him and moved to the front door, ready to open it for him. The sooner he left the better. Wren didn’t know what to think. Based on the look Cindy had given Miller, Wren knew there was a deep history between those two. But,ewww, Cindy was almost fifteen years older than Miller and she’d been married for almost twenty years. She didn’t like what this equation added up to.

“Trying to get rid of me again?” Miller asked as he dug through the box. “Looks like Sue was here.” He looked at Wren.

“I can neither confirm nor deny that, Counselor.”

“So, we’re back to Counselor?” He settled his hip against the counter and crossed his arms. Wren thought partial honesty would be the best course of action.

“I’m taking you up on your offer. I’ll be mad at you until I turn over the work orders and after that, I’ll make an effort to be friends.” It wasn’t the real reason for not using his name this time, but it was a reason. She wouldn’t verbalize her suspicions about Cindy and him. Miller tilted his head to the side and studied her.

Wren opened the door, hoping he’d get the hint. He did. Wren watched as he eased himself away from the counter, grabbed the box, and moved toward her. His eyes held hers and her heart rate sped up. She wanted to wipe her hand, but that would mean letting go of the door handle, and she didn’t want him to know she was nervous. She wanted to hide like a scared rabbit, but she was trapped holding the door for him. Her only choice was to hold her ground and act nonchalant. Miller stopped in front of her. Wren looked at the clock above the cash register and held the door open wider, willing him to get moving.

“Cindy grew up a few houses down from me. She babysat me when I was still in diapers.” Wren looked at him and noticed the red tinge on his cheeks. Miller continued, “She enjoys teasing me about it.”

“Oh, well.” Wren shifted uncomfortably. She didn’t know what to say. She felt like she owed him and Cindy an apology. It wasn’t their fault her brain fell into the gutter; Cindy had all but put it there. “Have a good evening. Don’t eat everything at once,” Wren added and cringed.

“I’ll try not to, but I might send a picture to Jackson to torment him and warn him about a longer run tomorrow.” Miller moved past her, but then stopped. “If it’s possible, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone about the box.”

“Why? Afraid it will hurt business if people found out the lawyer has a heart?”

“No. I’m more worried people will think I’m coaching for the free food, and I don’t want the other parents to feel uncomfortable. I’ve learned women are very competitive.”

“Really?” Wren leaned against the door and crossed one leg in front of the other. As much as she wanted him gone, she wanted to hear his explanation more.

“Yes. For example, post-game snacks for soccer. At the start of the season, it’s something simple, and appropriate, like orange sections. By the end of the season, it’s a flipping buffet—muffins, fruit kebabs, chip bags, sports drinks, you name it. Each mom wants to outdo the others.”

“Yeah, that sounds about right.” Wren had to agree with him. She’d witnessed the same crazy behavior in Knoxville. It didn’t matter if it was book club or Bunco, every woman wanted to be the hostess with the mostest.

“And thank you.”

“For what?”

“For accepting and watching the box, and noticing I have a heart.” He wished her a good evening and left before she could say anything else. All she could do was focus on his retreating backside.

Oh, well? Don’t eat everything at once?The stupidity that had spewed from her mouth mortified Wren. Plus, she’d admitted he had a heart. It was one thing for her to know, but a totally different thing for him to know she knew.

Yes, she would admit it. Miller Lynch was a nice guy. Some might even consider him a catch if they were breathing and attracted to men. But, and it was a big but—unlike the perfectly sculpted butt of Miller Lynch, Esquire, she thought—he was a lawyer working toward partnership within the next year.

In fact, there was even a betting pool on it. The bet wasn’t onifMiller would make partner—no one would take that bet—but onwhenhe would make it. Wren hadn’t gotten involved with the bet at all. She’d already helped one man reach his partnership goals and once in a lifetime was enough.

October

---