Page 43 of Ashes of the Past
The cooler is still humming along, and the shelves are neatly organized, just the way I like them. I grab a fresh bucket of lilies and set them on the worktable, letting the familiar rhythm of arranging flowers soothe my frayed nerves.
But even as I work, Jack’s face keeps popping into my mind. His stupid smirk. The way his eyes crinkle at the corners when he’s amused. The way his voice gets all low and rough when he’s being serious.
“Arrogant piece of…” I growl before finishing the sentence. “The audacity of that man to accuse me of trying to pay for his coffee to one-up him. I was simply doing a nice thing, but nooooooo, he has to take offense to it like a….”
I let out another growl, frustration taking over. My movements are jerky, and I’m muttering under my breath about what a pig Jack is.
Get it together, Brynn. Get him out of your head.
I shake my head, trying to focus on the arrangement in front of me. The lilies are for a young couple celebrating their anniversary, and I want them to be perfect. I add a few sprigs of greenery and step back to study the effect.
It’s not until I hear Tabby’s voice calling from the front that I realize how much time has passed.
“Brynn? Someone’s here to see you.”
I glance up, wiping my hands on my apron. She walks into the back room with a wide grin.
“Who is it?” I ask.
She shrugs. “Some hottie in a cowboy hat. Said he needed to talk toyou.”
My heart skips a beat, and I don’t have to ask who it is.
“We don’t refer to customers as hotties, Tabby. What if he hears you?” I ask in a loud whisper.
“I don’t care,” she says with a grin. “He is gorgeous. It should be illegal how hot he is.”
I can feel my cheeks turning pink, and then my eyes immediately go wide, realizing that Tabby can see my embarrassment. I quickly turn away.
“I’ll be there in a second.”
“Ooookay,” she says sassily.
I roll my eyes. I take a deep breath and square my shoulders before heading out to the front. Sure enough, there he is, leaning against the counter like he owns the place, his hat pushed back just enough to reveal his messy hair.
Damn it, whyyyyyyyyy does he have to be a cowboy?
“Jack,” I say, crossing my arms. “What are you doing here?”
“Needed some flowers,” he says, his tone casual.
“For what?”
I take in a slow breath. My stomach drops.
Does he have a girlfriend? And I just made out with him this morning?
No, oh my God. I think I’m going to be sick.
Please don’t have a girlfriend. Please don’t be that guy. Please.
He shrugs. “I forgot that it’s my mom’s birthday, and while my being back home should be enough of a gift, I thought flowers would be a nice touch. I thought you might be able to help me out.”
I narrow my eyes at him, trying to decide whether he’s serious or just messing with me.
“You could’ve gone to the grocery store,” I point out.
He grins, and it’s the kind of grin that makes my stomach do a little flip, even though I hate it.
