Page 21 of Silver Sanctuary
“Hey, why don’t you come sit with us? Lily and Sloane are just a few minutes behind with Gage.”
“I’d love to, really, but I have to open the shop. Like you said, I’m running behind this morning.”
His brows furrowed, the cute wrinkles around his eyesthat she loved disappearing as the smile dropped from his face. “Are you sure everything’s okay?”
She nodded. “Just really busy.”
“Hopefully not too busy for another date one day soon?”
“I’d love to. I promise it’s not that I don’t want to see you…” Her belly did a funny little swoop at the thought of spending another evening with Nash.
“It’s just busy?” he guessed.
“Yeah.”
“All right. Well, maybe I’ll stop by with lunch?”
“I’d like that. I need to get ahead on some arrangements for this weekend.” He didn’t need to know that was because she now had to make sure she was available to pick up her shifts at Dolly’s.
“Okay. And I’ll just put it out there: I’m an excellent helper—top of my class in stem snipping and bouquet wrapping.”
She couldn’t hold back her smile. “Mm, is that what they teach SEALs these days? I just can’t imagine some of your big burly friends over there snipping thorns off my roses.”
“Careful, Lace.” He took one of her curls between his fingers and turned it before tucking it behind her ear. “I might get jealous that you think my friends are big and burly.”
“No need to be jealous. You fall into that category too, there, sailor.” She shrugged, raking her bottom lip between her teeth before continuing. “But I happen to have a bigger thing for blue eyes and salt-and-pepper hair.”
Her hands landed on his arms as she balanced on the balls of her feet, giving her just enough height to kiss his cheek.
“Yo, Wings! Quit flirting with your girl and let her get to work!” Hawk yelled across the diner, and Lacy stepped back, feeling her cheeks flood with color.
“I’ll see you for lunch?” Nash asked, hope dancing around brightly in his eyes.
“Yeah. Lunch.”
“Lacy?”
“Hm?”
“I can’t wait.”
She smiled as she turned away and walked out onto the sidewalk. Two more jobs. Another date with Nash. Maybe the day wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Seven
Nash whistled as he walked away from Davney’s. It wasn’t anything fancy, but he had grabbed a couple of sandwiches he was able to verify were allergy friendly, and some lemonades. He should have picked up a picnic blanket from somewhere, and some candles. Something to make the meal a little more romantic.
The sound of glass shattering pulled Nash from his daydream and sent him running, just in time to see a gray sedan speed past him as Lacy’s shop came into view. Oh fuck.
It was her store. The glass that broke…
Nash made it to Petals, and found himself looking at the thousands of tiny shards of glass scattered about on the floor. One of Lacy’s displays was sideways, tipped over on the floor, its contents spilled all over—water and flowers making even more of a mess over the broken glass. Nash lifted his head for a moment and watched as people continued walking up and down the sidewalk, not even turning their head to look over at the shop.
What the fuck? Was no one going to come check on Lace?
Looking back in the shop, a trail of shining red wetnesscaught his eye and his heart tripped over itself as it fell into the pit of his stomach.
“Lace? You in here?” Nash opened the door and waited for a response.
