Page 22 of Just Another Chance

Yeah,I think moving home was the right move for us.

Little did I know, my whole world was about to get flipped on its side.

When Wednesday morning arrives, I show up at my new job with a smile on my face and ready to start. I’m excited and I really like Heather. She walks me through the shop and explains the daily routine and workflow. She tells me when the flower deliveries arrive from the docks and who the different standing customers are and what they like.

We hit it off and I feel like Heather is going to be more than a boss– she’s going to be a friend. She’s a little older than me and I ask her all about how she started the business and I confide in her that I’ve always dreamed of having my own shop one day, too.

The day flies by. I’m scheduled 10am-6pm and around 3pm, Heather gets a call from one of her flower distributors. She talks to them for a minute then hangs up and looks at me.

“That was Raul, and he finally just got the order of peonies that I’ve been dying to get my hands on for Violet's order.”

Violet is a pernickety customer who has a standing order of fresh peonies delivered to her penthouse every week. Apparently, there’s been some sort of peony shortage lately, so Heather is desperate to get her hands on the flower or risk losing Violet as a client.

“Go ahead,” I say with a wave of my hand. “I’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure? I feel bad leaving you alone on your first day.”

I know the only other option is to close the shop and that seems silly. “I’m totally capable of helping anyone who walks in. Besides, I’ve got this anniversary arrangement to keep me busy.”

“You’re a lifesaver, Addie! Seriously! Thank you so much and I’ll be back as soon as possible.”

“Don’t worry about me,” I tell her as she grabs her purse and races for the front door.

“I’ll be back by six!” she calls out and the door shuts behind her.

With a smile, I turn back to the arrangement I’m working on and tilt my head to study it. It’s coming together nicely, but I still have ways to go. It could probably use a couple more lilies, I think, and head to the cooler.

I go inside the chilled room and can’t decide whether yellow or white will look better, so I grab a stem of each and, as I’m walking back out, I hear the bell ring above the door which means that a customer just walked in.

I turn my attention to the front of the store, a smile plastered on my face, and freeze when I see a very familiar man standing there. Unable to move, I am utterly floored to see Tanner Beckett looking more handsome than I remember.

10

TANNER

Stunned. Shocked. Rocked to my very core.Those are the only words to describe how I’m feeling right now. It’s Addie and my numb brain doesn’t quite know how to process it.

I decided to stop in the small flower shop because I always keep a fresh vase of daisies on the entrance side table of my apartment when I’m in the city. Daisies were Addie’s favorite. Maybe it’s silly, but by having her favorite flower always there and within view makes me feel closer to her.

And now she’s here, right in front of me, and I think I’m on the verge of a meltdown. For the longest moment, neither of us says anything. Then a smile curves my mouth and I step closer. “Addie. Hi.”

Completely lame, but it’s all I can manage to say. She’s even prettier now than she was when we were dating, and my heart instantly thumps harder.

“Tanner, what’re you doing here?” she asks, voice soft, almost breathless.

My heart catches. I can’t believe she’s standing right here in front of me. “I, uh, moved back to the city.”

She tilts her dark head. “I never knew you left.”

There’s a lot she doesn’t know because she took off so fast. But I don’t say that. Suddenly, I have a million questions for her, and I don’t know where to begin. But my gut warns me to be careful and to take this slowly. I don’t want to spook her.

Go with small talk,I think.That’s always safe.

“Yeah, I’ve been living upstate for a while now.”

“Oh.”

I walk closer and study her. Her dark hair is shorter– just hitting the tops of her shoulders– and those freckles that I love so much come into view. She looks curvier than I remember and, God help me, my mouth starts watering. It’s like I’m a starving man and she’s a delicious meal spread out before me. A tempting banquet spread, a feast for my hungry senses.

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