After helping Joan clear the table, I began filling the dishwasher only to have my assistance refused, and my attention redirected to “go entertain.” Normally, I’d ignore her and help with the mess, but this time, there was nothing else I wanted to do other than entertain.
Returning to the living room, I found Lorie and Charles preparing to leave, and made my way toward the door to talk to them. Before I had a chance to tell them goodbye, I heard a phone ringing, and saw Miguel reach into his pocket, retrieving his cell phone.
“This is Miguel Sandviel, how can I help you?”
Straining to listen as he answered his phone, I told Lorie and Charles goodnight. I honestly don’t know what they said in return, my entire focus was on the deep sound of Miguel’s voice on the other side of the room. I didn’t care what he was saying, I just wanted to hear him talk.
After shutting the door behind the two, I scurried into the dining room to clean the table. Yes, eavesdrop, I know. But its sounds better to say I was cleaning.
“Yes, yes, okay.” Miguel continued speaking, pausing momentarily and sighing heavily before responding. “How did this happen in the first place?”
I could hear the confusion and anger in his words as he paced the living room floor and wondered what was wrong or if someone was hurt.
“Yes, I know.” Pause. “I’ll be there in thirty minutes.” Pause. “Yes, thank you. Goodbye.”
Thankfully, I had a dishrag in my hand and was busy wiping the table when he entered the room or I would’ve had to pretend to be ashamed of myself for listening to his conversation.
“Mel.” He walked over, reaching for my hands. Turning my body to face his, he moved closer, tenderly pulling me into his arms.
“I’m terribly sorry, but I have to leave. There’s a problem in the science department at the university, and I have to oversee it.”
Lifting up on my tiptoes, I reached up, wrapping my arms around his neck for a quick hug. To my surprise, he didn’t move away.
“I hope everything’s okay.” I said nervously, unsure if I should hold on or step back.
“Yes, it will be.” He leaned back, grinning as he looked down at me. “I’m so happy I was able to spend the evening with you and your family tonight. It’s been a long time since I laughed and had fun.”
Looking closer at the man in front of me, I saw the happiness in his eyes, but I also noticed sadness when he spoke about not laughing. I wished I had more time to discover the reason behind it.
“Surprisingly, I had fun too. Usually I just survive these dinners of Joan’s then go home as soon as possible. But tonight…” I hesitated to finish.
“Tonight was amazing.” He finished for me, leaning forward to place a lingering kiss on my forehead. “Thank you.”
Thank you? I think I should be thanking him. For what, I’m not sure, but I was definitely grateful for the way his body felt against mine. And what was with the kiss on the forehead? Don’t get me wrong. It was far more compassionate than any man had been with me in a very long time. I was only surprised by such a sweet gesture.
“You’re most welcome.” I said softly, smiling in return.
Tightening his arms around me, he embraced me again. This time quicker before he stepped away to prepare to leave.
“I’m not sure where your sister and Paul are, but would you please tell them I had to leave suddenly? I need to hurry, I’m sorry.”
“Oh, no problem. Just be careful driving.”
I didn’t want him to leave. I wanted to know more about him. I wanted to feel his arms wrap back around me, but that obviously wasn’t going to happen.
I walked with him to the front door, quietly waiting while he put his shoes on. Using the time wisely, I watched his body bend, his muscles flex, and admired the strength hidden beneath his clothes. He was honestly one of the most well built and handsome men I’d ever met. Not overly muscular where his arms were busting out of his sleeves, but well very well defined. I was easily distracted imagining what he would look like without the clothing covering his body. Something I would’ve scolded myself for if I had the ability to stop and think about it. But I was quickly learning, I was unable to fight against the desire any longer. Thoughts be damned. My body had won.
Finishing the easy task far sooner than I’d like, he stood up and retrieved his keys from his pocket, taking a step closer to me again. Overcome by my thoughts and equally puzzled how someone could cause such strong desires to surface after never experiencing anything similar before, he didn’t allow me to contemplate it much further. Extending his arm, his hand lifted to my face and slid a strand of hair behind my ear before he cupped my cheek in his palm.
“Mel,” he said softly.
The pad of his thumb whispered across my skin, shooting sparks of electricity throughout my body. Lowering his head, he molded his lips gently against mine. This was nothing like the kiss I wanted to have, the one where I jumped on top of him and ripped his clothes off. But this was the sweetest, most enduring three seconds I’d ever felt. There was no rush to move our lips. It was soft, yet filled with the promise of much more passion.
Opening our eyes slowly, his hand still holding my face, he took a deep breath and smiled.
“Bye,” I whispered.
Pulling back, his thumb glided delicately across my lower lip, tracing the wetness he left behind. With a small sigh, he turned to leave, only to pause halfway through the doorway. Looking over his shoulder, his lips curved into a devious little grin.
“Goodnight, beautiful.” And without another word, he closed the door behind him.
CHAPTER 2
Why would a doctor be interested in a florist? What could I offer someone who has traveled the world and knows so much more than I do? Why did I even allow myself to think that he was interested in me? He was probably just being a flirt and forgot about me as soon as he smirked and left Joan’s house. Heck, the smirk was probably his way of laughing at how easy I was to fall for his charm that night.
Three weeks had passed and I never heard from Miguel again. During the first week I lived in fantasyland and couldn’t stop thinking about him, wondering how and when I would get to see him again. I had given up on fighting my feelings and started to believe that maybe it was time to give dating another try. At one point, I even asked Joan to have another party. Initially, she was thrilled that I would ask since I’d always avoided them like the plague. But when she put two and two together and saw that I was hoping she’d invite Miguel, she avoided the subject. After that I realized that maybe Miguel wasn’t interested in me after all. Maybe she knew and didn’t want to tell me. I decided I didn’t want to think about it any further and spent the next two weeks scolding myself for being so stupid.
After doing such a good job yelling at myself, I remembered why I didn’t want to date in the first place. Business was busy and I was spending more than twelve hours a day at the shop plus a couple hours at home doing the books. Sleep was nonexistent and when I was able to lie down at night I barely had time to dream of those brown eyes and amazing body. Nevertheless, every night, I met him in my dreams.
When I woke up today, exactly three weeks later, I looked in the mirror and confronted my reflection.
“No more! It never happened and never will. Get your sorry ass together and focus on what’s important!”
I stood there for a couple minutes, allowing the message to settle into my brain before preparing for work. It was the day before the Fourth of July and we had fifteen weddings scheduled for tomorrow. The orders for those alone would require most of the day to complete. That didn’t even account for the memorial wreaths or cemetery blankets that we sold hundreds of each year.
Just as predicted, the day was frantic. Orders were coming in non-stop, and finished orders were being delivered just as fast. The new girl, Allyea, was doing a good job keeping up, but I regretted not hiring a second. A staff of five in the office and three delivery workers was the bare minimum to get by, bu
t I always erred on the side of caution since we never knew exactly what to expect from day to day. Today, I wanted to throw the book out the window and hire another five people. A little late for that, though. Training took a couple weeks before a person was capable of being of any real assistance, and I needed the help weeks ago.
It was nearly time for the shop to close, but it looked like I had a couple more hours of work to do. I told the three girls up front to head home because tomorrow would be an early and long day. Joan and I remained behind to close the shop in thirty minutes and then finish up the orders.
Going to the back room, I heard the front door open. The bell on the handle was jingling, notifying us of a customer entering. “Joan can get that one.” I grumbled to myself with an evil little laugh. Grabbing the roses in the cooler, I headed over to the table to prepare an order.
“Hey, Mel,” Joan called from the office. “Can you please help the customer up front? I have two people on the phone waiting to order.”
I never heard the phone ring and wondered if she was just trying to get out of working, but then remembered I was in the cooler and it probably did. The phone had been ringing off the hook all day.
“Okay, be right there,” I called back and put my supplies aside.
When I came out of the back room, I didn’t see anyone in the shop. I looked around, but couldn’t find anybody. Maybe they left? My hopes of getting back to work so I could get home at a decent hour were momentarily lifted.
I stepped to the side to check a section of the store where there was a hidden area and came to a sudden stop. Right in front of me were the big brown eyes, dark brown hair, and mesmerizing body that I’d dreamt about for the past three weeks.
Instead of his jeans and polo shirt he had on when I last saw him, he was wearing a dark grey suit with a light blue dress shirt underneath. The top two buttons were undone and his tie was missing. He looked stunning. I watched as he bent over a display of various flowers, admiring him as he breathed in the fragrance from a purple orchid. The flower was the perfect companion to his exotic looks. His chest filled with air, his eyes closed halfway, obviously enjoying the scent before him. Instantly, I began imagining the same reaction, but this time with us alone in a bedroom and I as his flower…just I had in many of my dreams.
Realizing what I was doing, I snapped out of my lustful thoughts and took a deep breath. Just in time too. Spying me out of the corner of his eye, he stood and turned toward me, smiling with the same grin I saw when he left Joan’s house two weeks ago.
“Hi,” he said tentatively, taking a few steps closer.
My brain began to revert back to the sluggish speed I felt the first time I met him, but I quickly remembered the past few weeks and told myself I wasn’t going to get lost in his charm this time. I was going to be the strong, intelligent woman I knew I was. But regardless of the outcome, I still wanted to know if anything that had happened that night was real or only my imagination.
“Well, hello. I haven’t seen you in a while.”
His look turned apologetic. “Yes, that problem in the science department became something quite large. It’s been very hectic.”
“Hectic I can relate to. So, what can I do for you?”
Yes, I was cutting out the small talk, but either he was interested in me or he wasn’t. I didn’t want to spend any more nights dreaming about someone I couldn’t have.
“Well,” he started and then paused. “Well, I need flowers.”
I raised my arms, spinning in a small circle to point out the room covered in blossoms. “Then you’ve come to the right place.”
He laughed. “Hmm, I need a little assistance and thought I knew just the person who could help me.” Once again his mischievous grin and hint of humor in his eyes returned.
“Okay, what can I help with? Is there a special occasion you’re getting them for?”
“Well,” he paused again, his eyes darting around the room. Either he was really confused by the variety of different flowers in our shop or he was nervous. I couldn’t figure out which it was. “Yes there’s somewhat of an occasion. I want to buy flowers for a friend, a lady. I’m not sure what she likes and was hoping you could help me.”
Needless to say, I wanted to grab the nearest bunch of long stem roses and thrust them into his hands…thorns first. At least now I knew why he hesitated so much.
“Oh.” I felt my eyebrows lift. I knew I was doing a poor job keeping the surprise off my face, but that was far better than letting my other thoughts flow freely.
“I was hoping you could make me an arrangement of your favorite flowers. You’re far more knowledgeable than I am, and would do a much better job than I ever could.” He rushed his words, trying to explain himself before I could refuse.
I wanted to be angry and act childishly. I wanted to throw him out of the store. But on the other hand, at least this way I could put an end to my daydreams and move on. Business was important and that vacation I had planned in a few weeks depended on every sale I made. Money was an evil necessity.
“Sure. Any particular colors?” I was proud at myself for pushing aside my desires and being able to act professional in this circumstance.
“Well…” Another pause, his feet shuffling back and forth as he looked around the room again.
I guess he really was nervous. Good, serves him right!
“I really can’t say. I just want to send something beautiful. The price isn’t important, so whatever you think is best.”
This was so unfair! I wanted to scream! I wanted to stomp my feet and throw a fit. I wanted to turn around and walk away. Instead, I collected myself and put on my most professional mask.
“Okay, let’s get started then.”
With a fake smile plastered to my face, I quickly got into designer mode and walked around the shop, grabbing about a dozen different types of flowers.
“Money’s not a problem, huh?” I turned my head to hear his response and caught him checking out my backside as I bent over to pick out some lilies. On one hand I thought, “What a jerk! Buying flowers for a woman and looking at another woman at the same time!” On the other hand, I was glad that he couldn’t resist me altogether. Yes, I was mentally unstable in this situation.
“Oh, no. Not at all. Anything you make will be perfect.” Blushing, he quickly diverted his eyes from my backside, returning his focus to the flowers in my hands.
We spent nearly twenty minutes putting the arrangement together, complete with ribbon, vase, and delivery. Although I could enjoy watching his sensual body for hours, I knew this was the opportunity to purge him from my thoughts once and for all. We moved to the register, him on one side and I on the other, and he handed me his credit card while I processed the sale.
“Here’s a delivery form. You only need to fill out the top and sign the bottom. They’ll be delivered first thing in the morning.”
“Okay, thank you, Mel.” He used my name. Seriously, couldn’t he just forget it and make this all less personal?
Feeling a bit overwhelmed by the whole ordeal, I decided to excuse myself. After ringing the sale up, I reached over the counter to hand him his card back. Ignoring the light brush of his fingers against mine and the skipped beat it caused in my heart, I took a deep breath and moved to the side of the counter.
“If you don’t mind, we’re really behind with wedding orders that need to be finished. I’m going to put this arrangement in the cooler for tomorrow and get back to work. Just leave the delivery form on the counter and Joan or I will grab it before we lock up.” There. Now he would see that he had no effect on me.
“Absolutely.” He looked up and caught my eye before I turned away. “And Mel, thank you again. I’m really glad I met you.”
Yeah, I bet he was. Now he had his own personal floral designer for all his womanizing events.
“Me too. Have a good night.” I abruptly turned and walked to the back. I’m pretty sure the scowl on my face couldn’t be mistaken for a
smile, but I tried. Unfortunately, I was limited on just how professional I could be when I felt completely used and humiliated.
Never had I been more grateful to have that door between the two rooms. I sat down, closed my eyes, and forced myself to focus on the order I had abandoned earlier.
See, I put myself through weeks of hell and for what? Nothing. Absolutely nothing! You are such an idiot! One little kiss, some flirting, and I’m ready to hand everything over to a stranger.
I was so busy on my own personal tirade, I didn’t notice Joan come in and sit across from me. Hearing the squeaky protest of a chair across from me, I opened my eyes and realized she had sat down. She tilted her head sideways and inspected me, her face all scrunched up and lips pushed out. It was her standard thinking and analyzing face. I knew she’d easily detect something was wrong, but I didn’t have the energy to even try to hide it.
“Hey, you okay?” she asked.
“Yeah, just peachy.”
“That was Miguel. Right?”
“Sure was.”
“Okay, spill the beans. What happened? I thought you’d want to see him after moping around for the past few weeks.”
“I was not moping around!”
“ Oh, honey, you were moping, trust me!”
“Fine. Nothing happened. He’s a typical male jerk. He bought some flowers and now he should be out that door and long gone.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, oh.”
Realizing I wasn’t quite ready to go into detail, she gathered her supplies from the table where she had been working on another order earlier and we both worked silently. I still held the incredible urge to throw the flowers in my hand across the room just to get my frustrations out, but I refused to allow that jerk to affect me any longer. Weeks ago I was shocked that I was feeling such an intense attraction toward someone. Now, I was thoroughly disgusted that something - that was actually nothing - could bother me so deeply.
Fifteen minutes later, we both looked up at each other and started laughing. Yes, that was the gift of having a sister. When everything else fell apart, we still had each other.
Twisted Truths & Leveled Lies Page 3
