Page 27 of His Christmas Wife

“Jennings.” Once he was inside the vehicle, he leaned forward and gave his instructions. “I need flowers.”

In the rearview mirror, his driver nodded. “I know just the place.”

A few minutes later, he pulled to a stop. Though the shop wasn’t open yet, when Jennings joined Frost and knocked on the window, a woman glanced over. A quick smile curved her lips and lit her eyes.

“Sam!” she exclaimed after letting them in.

The burly man picked her up and swung her around.Well, well.

When he finally put the squealing, giggling woman back down, Jennings offered the introductions. “My employer, Evan Frost. Mr. Frost, meet Miss Lila Leblanc, owner of Blooming Bayou.”

“My pleasure.”

“Same. Anything to get Sam to stop in at my shop.”

If Frost wasn’t mistaken, his driver flushed, but he cleared his throat and turned his head.

“Are you looking for an arrangement? Or perhaps a plant?”

He glanced at Jennings who managed to pull himself back together.

“An arrangement,” the man responded on Frost’s behalf.

“Is there a special occasion?” When he didn’t answer right away, she went on. “An apology, perhaps?”

“No.” Not that Kaylee didn’t deserve that for the long hours he demanded of her. But it had never occurred to him before. In the past, he’d ensured that his girlfriends received flowers on birthdays and dating anniversaries—if they reminded him in advance, which most of them did.

“A budding romance?” Ms. Leblanc suggested.

That wasn’t right either. Was it? “We had an enjoyable evening, and we have a big day ahead.” One that would end with his ring on her finger.

“Any budget I need to be respectful of?”

Again Jennings answered for him. “None.”

“Free rein? Always my favorite.” With a quick nod, Ms. Leblanc crossed to an enormous, industrial-type refrigerator and began putting together all kinds of flowers, most of which he’d never seen before.

In less than a few minutes, she’d created a beautiful arrangement. “I think she’ll like this.”

“Anemones?” Jennings pointed to an off-white bloom. “And I’m guessing peonies?”

“Yes,” she confirmed.

“The tall ones are eucalyptus.”

Frost blinked. What the hell was it with the people around him being full of surprises?

“You’re learning,” Lila said.

Jennings beamed.

Sam Jennings was a flower expert? With a romance of his own? How much of what went on around him was Frost unaware of?

In short order, they were back on the road, and he’d still be a couple of minutes early.

When they arrived, Jennings took the box from the back and handed them to Frost.

“Can you ensure we have mimosas waiting?” he asked the chauffeur.

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