Page 4 of Love in Bloom

Miller stood as Mrs. Nelson left the room. This case was shaping up to be a good one. He didn’t like cheating spouses, but he did like making them pay. And he liked the additional billable hours this one would bring.

He hoped it would placate the penny-pinching partners when they reviewed his pro bono work. While Miller billed a lot, he also gave away more hours in free work than the partners liked. Miller couldn’t help it. If someone needed his skills, he didn’t want to turn them away just because they couldn’t afford Anderson, Anderson & Swanson.

This case also gave him a good reason to visit Wallflowers. He had a hunch, however, that Wren would not be happy to see him.

Miller turned to watch the sheets of rain blow past the front windows. Luckily, Wallflowers was in the same downtown building as Anderson, Anderson & Swanson. He shouldn’t get too wet running next door and he didn’t think God would strike him down, even though he was a lawyer.

Miller hurried as the cold, fat drops pelted him. He pulled Wallflowers’ front door closed behind him and looked around. The only thing the two businesses had in common was the wall they shared. Anderson, Anderson & Swanson reeked of staid, conservative professionalism while Wallflowers was light and whimsical and smelled of spicy carnations. There was color everywhere he looked.

Wren’s small flower shop was perfect. There was a cooler in the corner with ready-to-go arrangements and small bouquets, and the opposite wall had locally made gifts: fragrant candles, note cards featuring the beauty of Haven, jewelry, chocolates, and other items. It was warm and welcoming, unlike the lady scowling at him from behind the well-worn counter separating the retail area from the work area.Yep, not happy, so probably not agreeable, either.Best to treat her like a hostile witness. I’ll ask simple yes or no questions, if necessary.

“Hello, Miller,” she greeted coolly as she set down the small knife in her hand. Her fingers were slim and quick as she pulled a pen out from her stubby ponytail and picked up an order pad. “What can I help you with today?”

Find common ground.“When was the last time you inhaled?” Miller asked, hoping to thaw her out and build some rapport.

“Excuse me?” Her eyebrows almost hit her hairline.

“The last time I did was at Bobby Jenkins fourteenth birthday party and we all had headaches afterwards.” Miller smiled.

Wren followed his gaze to the helium tank used to fill the Mylar balloons and the look of relief on her face was priceless. He bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing.

“I’d like to say it was that long ago, but I think we each took hits off of it last Christmas after we’d closed. It made us sound like elves.” The corners of her full lips itched upward. “Since it’s close to closing time, I’ll throw in a free drag of helium if you buy a balloon bouquet. If you buy a dozen roses, I’ll give you two drags.”

Not quite common ground, but close enough. Now let’s see if she’ll help my client. Miller strode over to the counter and leaned down so his elbows rested on the surface. He hoped meeting Wren eye to eye instead of towering over her would help. She leaned toward him, chewing on her pen’s top.

“Now tell me, Counselor,” she all but purred, “will it be one drag or two?” She sounded certain of a sale.

“Unfortunately, neither.” Her voice had shot through him like a shot of well-aged whiskey. He straightened up and braced his palms on the countertop. He needed some distance so he could think clearly. “I need a favor.”

Wren stopped chewing her pen and narrowed her eyes. “Go on.” She set the pen and order pad down on the counter.

“I’d like you to give me a customer’s purchase records.”

“No.” She crossed her arms in front of her Wallflowers T-shirt. Miller focused on her tight smile instead of the way her shirt pulled tightly across her bust.

“You don’t even want to know who?”

“No.” Wren turned and busied herself straightening up behind the counter. Miller didn’t say anything as he studied her. She’d rolled her low-cut baggy jeans above a pair of canvas flower-patterned sneakers. The jeans were more serviceable than fashionable, but they still didn’t hide her assets. Her movements were quick and fluid as she ignored him. He hoped he wouldn’t have to wait too long for her to give him an opening. Wren just kept cleaning.Tighter than Fort Knox.Miller broke first.

“We’ll compensate for your time and expense.” Miller knew money convinced most people. She stopped cleaning and turned toward him. Miller kept his face neutral, not wanting to show that he knew he’d won.

“No, thank you. If there’s nothing else, please leave, Counselor.” Was it the air conditioner kicking in or Wren’s icy tone that gave Miller the chills? He needed the records. Pictures were damning evidence, but showing that the Nelson affair had been going on for a while and that Mr. Nelson spent joint-account money on the mistress would be the final nail in the coffin. He needed Wren to cooperate.

New tactic. Let’s try an easy leading question.

“How about a compromise? Can you tell me if Don Nelson has ordered flowers from you? He’s about—”

“Late fifties, full head of salt-n-pepper hair, trim, likes to wear polo shirts, and has a smile so bleached the astronauts on the space station can see it?” Wren leaned back against the counter and acted bored.

“So, you do know him,” Miller confirmed.

“No. I just described about five of my regular clients. Listen, Counselor—”

“It’s Miller. Remember?”

“I’m not giving you information. People trust me with their orders. Ordering flowers is not like ordering from Amazon. People give a bit of themselves with each order. They send their heart. If they can’t be there for their uncle’s surgery, the flowers make a good stand-in. I’m sorry. I’d like to help you, but I can’t, and smooth talking won’t help you.” She crossed one denim-clad leg across the other and crossed her arms as though she didn’t have a care in the world. She even had the audacity to look sorry about not helping him.

“Doesn’t sound like a can’t to me. Sounds like a won’t,” Miller pointed out.

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