Page 51 of Love in Bloom

“Everyone’s gone. Use my private door. I don’t want you wasting your energy any more than you need to.” Miller didn’t have to be told twice. Wren peeked around the wall and watched him trudge up the stairs.That man’s asset is God’s gift to women. She grinned and quickly locked up for the night, eager to join him upstairs.

Mother’sDayusheredinthe slow season for Wren and all the other florists in the area. No one ordered flowers when their gardens were overflowing. Weddings and funerals were the focus until late fall rolled around. But for now, slow was good. It gave her time to breathe and plan, a chance to regroup.

In about a month, though, she knew she’d start to worry and go stir-crazy hanging around an empty shop, which was why she was experimenting with her hours through the rest of May. She closed the shop mid-afternoon instead of staying open until five o’clock. This gave her time to paint instead of sitting in an empty shop. If her sales didn’t drop off too much compared to last summer, she’d keep the reduced hours for another month.

She was thumbing through an art supply catalog and humming off-tune when the front door opened. She looked up and her mood fell.

“Hello, Diane, Michelle,” she greeted. “What can I help you with?”

“I’ve been meaning to call you,” Michelle started, “but every time I think about it, you’re closed, so I thought I’d pop in on our way back from lunch and ask.” She smiled. Wren had to admit it, Michelle was a very nice person. She’d be good for Miller.

“Ask away,” Wren said, closing the catalog.

“Where did you get that incredible dress you wore to the AAS dinner party? It was gorgeous.”

“Michelle!” Diane exclaimed as she clutched her chest. “You can’t wear a dress like that to work unless you work on a street corner.” Michelle looked at her mother wide-eyed. “Oh, my”—Diane’s hand went in front of her mouth—“I don’t know where that came from. Please forgive me.”

Wren’s temper spiked at the dig. She didn’t think Diane was sorry at all and she was only there to cause trouble. For a moment, she thought about asking Diane to leave, but then she remembered the best way to deal with a bully was to disarm them. She’d made a mistake in wearing that dress, but she wouldn’t make a mistake in not facing Diane.

“Your mom might be right, but it would have to be an upscale street corner,” Wren said to Michelle and laughed. “That dress was a terrible choice,” she admitted to the two women. “It was too tight and I was cold all night.” She looked at Michelle’s full chest, tiny waist, and perky bottom. “We’re not built the same, but the dress is stretchy and forgiving. I haven’t destroyed it yet. You’re welcome to borrow it.”

“Well, if you do borrow it, for goodness sakes don’t wear it around Haven. I’m still having to listen to the gossip at the country club from the last time that gold disaster was seen in public. One woman named it the ‘man-catcher dress.’”Oh, good Lord,they’d named it?Diane picked up an African violet and set it down. “I bet if I’d worn a dress like that thirty years ago, Bob would have proposed without being bribed with partnership.” Diane gave a girlish laugh. Michelle rolled her eyes and wandered over to the gift section.

Diane leaned toward Wren and lowered her voice. “That’s one of the problems with being a family-run law practice. It’s almost impossible to invite non-family members into the inner circle. I know my father and uncle are very concerned about offering Miller partnership. It would be so much easier if he and Michelle were a couple.” She stopped and looked at Wren. It was easy to see the calculating gleam in her eyes. “Do you know what I mean?”

“Yes, I do. That must be challenging for everyone,” Wren agreed. She wiggled her lower jaw when she realized she’d been grinding her back molars.

“Well, I’m doing everything I can to help Miller. He’s a good attorney and I know how important it is for him to reach his goal of partnership this fall. That’s why I invited him to our family cabin over Memorial Day weekend. It will give everyone a chance to get to know him better.”

“That sounds nice. I hope you have good weather.” If Diane thought she’d shocked Wren, she was wrong. Miller had already mentioned the fishing weekend, and Wren had encouraged him to go. She’d teased him that if he caught Michelle, he shouldn’t throw her back; Michelle was a keeper.

Miller hadn’t been amused. He’d reminded Wren he wasn’t looking for a long-term relationship. “Partnership then relationship.” Those had been his parting words before he’d ended the phone call. If Diane was hoping for an intimate tête–à–tête between Michelle and Miller, she would be disappointed.

“Come, Michelle, we need to get back to work,” Diane said and Wren watched them leave. If Miller were there, she’d have been able to say “I told you so.” But she wasn’t happy about being right. Diane had just confirmed Wren’s biggest fear. Being with her wasn’t good for Miller’s career.

“You’relate,”Kristagrumbledas Wren slid into the chair next to London at BBB, which was short for ‘Bi-Weekly Babes Who Brunch’ or ‘Bi-Weekly Bitches Who Brunch,’ depending on who you asked.

“No Nelie today?” Wren asked as she poured herself a cup of coffee and added cream and sugar. She ignored Krista’s comment. It had been months since they’d all been together and Wren hoped Nelie could make it.

“We’re not sure. She said she’d be here, but she had to work until close last night at the Galley and I think she was opening this morning,” Emily explained. “I’m not holding my breath.”

“She works way too hard. As bad as Wallflowers can be at times, at least I don’t have to work until two in the morning. I don’t know how Nelie does it. I’d be dead on my feet!”

“I supervised a hotel event last night until it ended at one, and yet I still made it here on time.” Krista glared at Wren over the top of her menu.

“Sugar?” Wren asked as she held the packet container toward Krista. If Krista’s sour mood didn’t lighten up, she’d force-feed the sweetener to her.

“OK, kids, let’s play nice,” Rica warned.

“Aw, Mom, you’re no fun. It’s been a while since I’ve watched a good cat fight,” London said as she set aside her menu. Luckily for everyone, the server came at that moment to take their orders.

After she left, Rica took control of the conversation and asked what everyone had been up to during the week. London said she’d been up to her eyeballs with marketing projects for Chance Resorts, the new sister company of Hart Hotels. And speaking of Hart Hotels, Krista complained that the Haven location was at full capacity and they were short staffed. Emily commiserated with her and said it was that way at almost all the Hart locations. It kept her and Jackson very busy fighting fires, and when she wasn’t at work, she was busy sorting everything in her bungalow. What to move to Jackson’s house, what to sell, and what to toss. Rica volunteered a helping hand. She had time to spare. People didn’t want to look at their finances in the summer.

“So, what wedding planning do we need to do this afternoon?” Wren asked Emily.

“Nothing. I think we’re good for a while. Jackson and I are finalizing the guest list, and we should have it to you by the end of the month. The guys have strict instructions to be measured for their tuxes by Memorial Day weekend, and Jackson and Miller are working on ideas for the groom’s dinner.” Wren knew Jackson had hired a horse and carriage to take him and Emily on a romantic sunset tour of downtown and the river after the dinner, but she kept that secret to herself.

“When are we going to sample and select the cake and food for the reception?” Wren asked.

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