My friends share another of those looks that are starting to get on my damn nerves, and Marcus’s lips twitch. “Why do you even care what her lifestyle choices are? It’s not like you’re going to marry her or something. People have vacation flings all the time, and as long as both of you are on the same page, you should be fine. Whatever she does on her own time is her business.”
“You’re right,” I agree as hope fills my chest. “I need to go talk to her and try to explain.”
“Maybe she would understand if you explained…everything?” Lane suggests pointedly, and I try not to grimace.
“I’ll see how it goes.” I give them a grateful smile. “Thanks, guys. I think I just needed a fresh pair of eyes and ears. I appreciate you both, but I really need to run. I’ve got some groveling to do.”
“One last thing,” Marcus says before I disconnect.
“What’s that?” I ask, a little impatient as a plan begins to take shape.
A sly smile creeps across his face. “Remember that groveling is best done on your knees.”
I bust into the gift shop as the clerk is counting the money in her register.
“Oh, Mr. Swain,” she says in surprise, her eyes dropping to my torso. “Is there something wrong with your shirt? It seems to fit well.”
I glance down at the hot-pink shirt I’d thrown on after the quickest shower in history.
“No, it’s fine. I just need some flowers.” Gesturing to the cooler in the back, I ask, “Is it too late?”
The woman, whose name tag reads Karissa, smiles. “Not at all. Are these for Juliette?”
My eyebrows lift in surprise. “Oh, uh, yeah.”
“I thought they might be. I saw you two having lunch together. She is such a sweetheart. Always a smile for everyone she meets.”
Except for me right now.
We head to the glass case at the back and cool air hits my face when she opens the door. My eyes scan over the floral arrangements. They’re all nice but not what I’m looking for.
“Do you have anything… bigger?” I gesture with my hands.
Karissa’s lips twist to the side. “Hmmm, no, but what if we combine a couple of these into a bigger vase?”
“Yes!” I practically shout in agreement.
She giggles. “I just got some new ones today. Hold on.”
I inspect the arrangements and choose two multicolored ones I really like before the clerk returns from the storeroom with two glass vases.
“We have this red one, which is super elegant, and then this aqua one with a pearlescent finish.” She holds them both up for my perusal, and I point at the aqua one.
“That one. It matchesher eyes.”
Karissa flashes a knowing smile. “Fantastic. And which flowers would you like?” I point them out, and she beams at me. “Those match her personality perfectly. Just all bright and full of sunshine.”
I help her carry everything into the storeroom and watch in fascination as she goes to work, rearranging the flowers and making a new bow with shiny purple ribbon.
“How’s that?” she asks, stepping back and tilting her head in appraisal.
“It’s a masterpiece,” I assure her. “Thank you so much for staying late and doing this. Can you charge it to my room? Cottage five.”
“Certainly, and I’m happy to help. I love seeing new love blossom.”
Her brown eyes go all dreamy, and I don’t have the heart to tell her these aren’tloveflowers. They’re more likeI’m in the doghouseflowers.
I pick up the vase and give the sweet clerk a side-hug. “Thanks again, Karissa. This is even better than I imagined.”
