Page 70 of Love in Bloom

Truetohisword,Eric knocked on her door at eleven o’clock Monday morning, Labor Day. Wren had pulled her hair into a messy ponytail and had done nothing to conceal the dark circles under her eyes. Her grey T-shirt was wrinkled, but her yoga capris looked decent because Lycra stretched.I look like something the cat dragged in.She turned away from the mirror in disgust.

She’d risen early to finish packing and to meet Barb. They transferred the remaining Wallflower’s inventory, and Wren turned down the manager’s job. Barb was disappointed, but she brightened when Wren said she’d love to work holidays and weddings if they needed another pair of hands.

“Ready?” Eric asked when she opened the door. He moved past her and that’s when she saw them: Rica, Krista, Croix, and Parker. Her friends were here to help her, and on a holiday when they could be relaxing after the busy wedding weekend. She narrowed her eyes and frowned at Eric. “What can I say? I’m bad at keeping secrets.” He shrugged and grabbed the first box.

Wren rolled her eyes and laughed. She couldn’t be mad at him. Not today. Today was going to be a good day. A great day, she hoped.

It didn’t take long for them to organize themselves assembly-line style and start passing the boxes to each other. It eliminated everyone going up and down the stairs, and within an hour, they had emptied the apartment and stacked everything in the parking lot.

“Miller should be here any minute. He went to borrow Gus’s trailer,” Eric told her as he opened a bottle of water. Wren wiped the sweat from her forehead and climbed the stairs once more to do a final check, and to make sure all the lights were off.

This was it. Wren Busch, florist and halfheartedly successful businesswoman, was done. It was painful for her to admit, but if she’d really wanted to be a business owner, she would have invested back into the business. Updated the cash register and software and coolers. That was another thing Miller had been right about. Her heart was in her art, not in her balance sheet. She might tell him he was right, someday.

She locked the door behind her and tossed the key down to Eric as Miller drove up with the empty trailer bouncing behind him. He stepped out of his black SUV, and Wren’s heart leapt. Miller shoved his sunglasses on top of his head, crossed his arms, and leaned against the vehicle. He looked like he didn’t have a care in the world, but Wren saw his clenched jaw and his narrowed eyes pierced her. Their eyes met and held.He’s wound tighter than a three-day clock, Wren thought and felt a pang of guilt.

“Are you done thinking?” he shouted up at her.

“Yes.” She smiled, toying with him. Her guilt hadn’t lasted long. Miller pushed off the SUV and planted his hands on his hips.

“Where to, Wren?” he demanded.

Eric turned and answered him, “Emily’s bungalow. Dude, pay attention. I told you that already.”

They both ignored Eric. Miller had her full attention as she fiddled with her compass ring. “Courage over comfort, Ginge,” he prodded her.

“Did you mean what you said yesterday?” she shouted down at him.

“Every word,” Miller said as he placed his right hand over his heart.

“Well, then, Counselor.” Wren licked her lips. Her heart raced and her stomach felt like she was on top of a roller coaster ready to go down, but she wasn’t scared. “If your offer’s still on the table, I’d like to accept.” She saw his body relax.

“You won’t ever regret it. I promise.”

“Is that your new goal?” she teased.

“Yes, ma’am.” He smiled back.Hand over heart, that man’s smile eclipses the sun, Wren thought as she sighed.

“Are we moving or making googly eyes at each other all day?” Croix asked as he picked up a box and moved toward the trailer.

“Miller’s! We’re moving my stuff to Miller’s!” Wren shouted as she flew down the steps. Miller caught her at the bottom and her legs swung out as he twirled her around.

“When did this happen?” Rica asked when the couple broke apart.

“It’s been a slow development,” Wren admitted.

“For you, maybe.” Miller tugged her ponytail and kissed her again. “I’ve been in a relationship with you ever since we shared a chair at the Galley.”

“Sounds like a story,” Parker observed.

“We’ll tell you about it over pizza tonight, after we get everything moved to our place,” Miller promised.

Our place. Wren liked the sound of that.

Epilogue

Epilogue - Three months later

Millerchargedupthestairs and didn’t stop until he’d reached Wren at her easel. “Why do I have an appointment with Michelle Swanson on my calendar?” He didn’t sound happy.

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