Page 5 of Wallflower in Bloom

Violet stood still as he picked a leaf from her hair that had likely been there for hours.

He lifted it with a smile as she straightened.

She cleared her throat. “Th-thank you.”

Maybe she could dig a hole and crawl in it.

How long would it take? Several hours? Several minutes if she used both hands?

She’d cover herself with soil, plant some hydrangea bushes while she was at it, and then wait until Jack left so she didn’t have to face him again.

“Hazard of the job, I guess.” She managed a half smile at him.

He peeked into the greenhouse. “Are you a gardener?”

She dusted off as much dirt as possible while still sweating buckets in the humidity. “Former landscape designer. Now I grow plants for our flower shop.”

“Ah.” He looked around at her yard. “That’s why your place looks like it’s out of a picture book. I’m a sucker for traditional English gardens. Your yard looks like the manicured wildness I miss from home.”

Could one burst from a happy ego? “It’s nothing special. I mostly garden for therapy now.”

He nodded sagely. “Nothing quite so soothing as putting your hand in a bunch of soil and chucking it.”

She laughed. Lord, he was charming.

She was doomed.

Better get this over with. “Should we get you and Todd settled?”

“Oh, yes. Gray, I’ll see you Tuesday morning.”

“Can you show him how to get to Pop’s diner, Vi?” Gray asked as he gave Jack a bro hug.

Violet sent him a thumbs up while she mouthed, ‘I’m so mad at you.’ Gray sent her a brotherly wink.

Jack pulled away and turned to Rose. “Rose, I hope you’ll let me make it up to you. I feel terribly about all this. You know how much I adore this guy.” Jack put his hand on Gray’s shoulder. “I’m so proud of you, mate, and I mucked it all up.”

Gray thumped Jack’s chest companionably. “You worry too much. It’s fine. And remember what I said.” He sent Jack a long look Violet didn’t understand, and Jack rolled his eyes.

“I’ll see you Tuesday morning.” Jack shoved him away with a smile.

“Violet.” Rose patted her on the head, leaning in to whisper to her. “You’re far too dirty for me to hug, but I love you. Just consider this payback for all the teasing you gave me about accidentally falling for Gray a few months ago.”

Violet stuck her tongue out at Rose.

“I’ll see you early tomorrow before we go to the Wine Festival headquarters.” Rose picked her way back along the stone walkway.

Nerves roiled in Violet’s stomach. “Are you sure Lily can’t cover it?”

“We need you, Vi. Lily and I know nothing about plants or grapevines, and we need to wow them. You’ll be fine.” Rose smiled and shrugged, almost convincingly.

Almost as if she didn’t know high school speech class was the only F on Violet’s otherwise straight-A transcript.

But that was fifteen years ago. Maybe I can do this. They needed large events and partnerships like the Wine Festival to keep their new flower shop afloat.

“Have fun, you two,” Rose called but shrieked as Gray swept her into his arms and walked her across the grass.

God, they were so adorable it hurt to look at them.

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