Page 87 of The Games We Play
He took both bouquets carefully, like he’d just been handed a roadmap to survival, and tucked them under one arm. Then, surprisingly, he held out his hand.
“Thanks for your help.”
I shook his hand, impressed by the simple gesture and the genuine look in his eyes. There was something sweet about a kid trying so hard to get it right.
Hell, I was a grown ass manstilltrying to get it right.
Without another word, he spun on his heels and jogged off toward the counter, hope restored and flowers in hand.
I shook my head with a quiet smile and made my way toward the counter where Logan now stood shoulder to shoulder with Ellie. The two of them were chatting easily with a customer, completely in sync. That was my cue to slip away and see if I could be more useful in the back.
My boots echoed softly against the hardwood floor as I rounded the counter and pushed through the black swinging doors into the prep area.
The air back here was thick with the scent of fresh-cut flowers—roses, eucalyptus, and something sweet I couldn’t place. Penny and Sandy stood at a stainless-steel table, hands busy snipping stems and arranging blooms. Buckets of flowers lined the floor, waiting their turn to be part of someone’s special bouquet. Penny’s back was to me, her shoulder blades moving as she worked quickly, efficiently.
“Thank goodness,” Sandy said as she glanced up, flashing me a sly smile and a wink. “Reinforcements have arrived.”
“Ugh,” Penny groaned, letting her arms drop to her sides in exaggerated relief. She tilted her head back and stared at the ceiling. “Logan, I need you to?—”
She turned and froze.
For a beat, her expression flickered from expectation to surprise. Her eyes widened, just slightly, and her lips parted like she might speak but forgot what she was going to say.
“Not Logan,” I said smoothly, trying not to grin too hard. “The better-looking, taller, and obviously funnier one. Reporting for duty.”
Penny cocked her head, giving me the kind of once-over that warmed places only she could. Then she rolled her eyes and turned back to her flowers.
“Funnier?” she said with a smirk. “That’s a stretch.”
“Oh, come on,” I replied, walking toward them. “I’m hilarious.”
She raised a brow. “Then tell me a joke.”
Just like that, my mind went blank. Completely blank. All I could think of were the worst knock-knock jokes imaginable and none of them would help my case.
“See? Not funny,” she said, grinning in triumph.
“Definitely good-looking, though,” Sandy added with a mischievous grin, not missing a beat.
Penny and I both turned to her. Penny was startled, while I was thankful. Sandy just giggled like she’d dropped a bomb and walked away unscathed.
“As much as I’d enjoy a battle of wits, we’re on a schedule,” Penny said, stepping close and giving me a playful shove to redirect me. Her hand landed lightly against my chest, and I didn’t miss the way her fingers lingered for a second longer than necessary.
I turned, and she pressed her palm to my back, nudging me forward.
“I can walk, you know,” I teased. “Or is this just an excuse to touch me?”
She scoffed under her breath but didn’t deny it.
Reaching around me, Penny pushed open the back door, and the sunlight spilled in like a warm welcome. The golden rays kissed my skin, chasing away the cooler air from inside the shop.
She bent to secure the doorstop, holding it open as we stepped outside. The delivery van sat just beyond the threshold, waiting.
And for a moment, I couldn’t decide what was more distracting—the heat of the sun, or the woman beside me. It was a no-brainer because Penny always pulled my attention.
“I’m going to need you to start loading those flowers,” Penny said, pointing to two cardboard boxes just inside the hallway. “The top box needs to be dropped at the community hall. The one on the bottom goes to the crochet club.” She turned to anearby stack of white florist boxes, each big enough to hold a single bouquet. “These are all deliveries. You and Logan need to start with the boxes on the bottom and work your way up.”
I stood there, taking in every word like it was gospel. The last thing I was going to do was screw this up, especially not with Penny watching.
