“Hi,” I said, my voice going chirpy.
“Good to see you Trixie,” he said. “How’s the flower business?”
“Oh, it’s—blooming,” I said and then put my face in my hands. “Why did I say that? Ugh! It’s fine. The flower business is fine and not completely cheesy like what I just said. I—guess I’m tired or something. I usually answer questions like a normal person.”
I was babbling like a thirteen-year-old faced with her crush. Then he smiled at me kindly.
“You were probably real busy when I came in, and I just startled you is all. Now I was hoping you could help me pick out some flowers for my little sister. Laura’s having a baby.”
“That’s great! Her and Brody make a real cute couple,” I said.
He smiled again. “Yeah, they really are. It’s super weird still that my best friend is married to my little sister, but they really are happy. So I’m happy. I just want to show them that.”
“Well, I seem to recall ‘say it with flowers’ was a slogan way back when. You can’t go wrong with roses, but if they seem too serious, daisies are a sweet choice.”
“Roses do seem a little formal,” he said, “I never thought about it that way, but I always thought roses were for lovers.”
“And funerals,” I pointed out. “Sorry. I don’t know why I don’t have a filter today. It’s just that a lot of people order roses for casket arrangements—partly because they symbolize love and partly because they’re showy and expensive.” I said. Why did I keep talking? Why?
“If you don’t mind my saying so, you’re awful cute when you’re embarrassed,” he said with a wink.
Oh my God. Damon said I was cute and winked at me. I wanted to do a fan girl squeal like a total moron, but I’d save that for later. I was shocked that I managed to keep from humiliating myself further and just smiled at him a little shyly.
“So embarrassment’s a big turn-on for you?” I blurted out.
Jesus. Why? Why did I go there? I was so awkward that I wished there was a Socializing Police that could come by and shoot me with a tranquilizer dart to put me out of my misery.
He grinned, looking a little bashful himself, “I didn’t mean it like that,” he said. He was doing his adorable Southern gentlemen routine now.
“I’m sorry. I cannot be held responsible for what I do with my mouth today.”
His eyebrows shot up.
“What comes out of my mouth, I mean. I won’t blame you if you just turn around and walk out, I swear. Damon, I’m sorry.” I was blushing red as a beet, and I knew it.
This was why I never had a chance in hell with the man. I acted like a fool every time he spoke to me, always had. It was like my IQ fell out or something. I was so embarrassed I wanted to crouch down and hide behind the counter with the ribbon. Maybe if I did that, he’d just go away. I was about ready to burst into humiliated tears.
Then he laughed. He had such a good laugh. It vibrated through me and made me feel less miserable.
“I haven’t had a laugh like that in a good few weeks, Trixie. I’m sure glad I came in here today. There’s nobody who makes me smile like you do, I swear.”
I felt myself just glow when he said that. Even if it was something you’d say to make a really awkward kid sister feel better, I was going to take the compliment with more grace than I’d done anything else thus far.
“Thank you, Damon. That’s kind of you since I’m making an idiot of myself today.”
“You’re not an idiot,” he said, and his handsome face, those aqua blue eyes looked so sincere that I started to melt under that gaze. “You’ve got a real way of making people comfortable. I bet that’s part of why your shop is doing so well. That, and your flowers are almost as pretty as you are.”
I leaned on the counter, placing me about four inches away from where he leaned on the counter. I blinked fast, trying to absorb the impact of Damon saying I was pretty. I didn’t preen or touch my hair. I just looked him square in his eyes and wished he’d kiss me when the fact was it crossed my mind that he was close enough that he could. I could feel the warmth coming off his skin, but it made me shiver for some reason. A few seconds of silence, and it was like electricity was zinging around between us like lines of lightning trailing all over the shop. I wasn’t sure if that was chemistry or if I was just that attracted to him.
I was close enough I could see that he’d shaved, that his perfect square jaw was smooth. His eyes looked tired, I thought. There was tightness at the corner of his mouth that I wanted to smooth away. I thought wildly of touching him, pressing my fingertip to the corner of his mouth, maybe leaning closer to see if he’d kiss me. Thirty seconds of eye contact and the man could melt my panties right off. As it was, I shifted back a little, broke the moment off, my thighs pressed together.
“So can I get you some daisies for Laura?”
“That’d be real nice,” he said.
“It was nice of you to come get flowers here when the grocery store’s got them right by the checkout. I get a lot of funerals and some weddings, Valentine’s Day, but most people, they just buy the ten-dollar mixed bouquet when they’re getting ground beef and toilet paper,” I said.
“That doesn’t seem very special. If you’re gonna say it with flowers that kind of says, ‘I’m lazy.’ I don’t buy my beer at the grocery store because I want something good. I go down to the liquor store because it’s worth the trouble. Just like this.”
“So my flowers are like good beer,” I said wryly.
“You could say that. But I stand by what I said earlier. They’re just about as pretty as you are.”
“I—I’m not great with compliments. Or with talking to people apparently. But thank you.”
“No need to thank me. I’m not the one that made your face that way. I just pointed out the obvious. You probably hear it all the time.”
“Not really, no. I mean, I was an awfully awkward kid.”
“I might remember you running around with skinned knees and a ponytail a long time ago,” he said with a smile that was almost fond. “But that’s been a few years. You had that killer smile. You still do,” he laughed.
I thought he was so adorable I could die. Also, if fourteen-year-old me had known he even looked at me twice I would’ve died of a heart attack. I blinked at him, needing to change the subject before I totally geeked out.
“I’m glad your dad is doing better. My mom said that your mom told her his new medicine was really helping. I know he’s had a hard time.”
“Yeah. It’s been a big help. And those flowers you sent when he was in the hospital were real nice. And my mom really liked that wax melting thing you sent along with it.”
“I’m glad. Hospitals always smell bad, and you can’t burn a candle cause of the oxygen, so those wax warmers let you have a little cinnamon smell to make it more homey.”
“Well she uses it all the time at home. I got excited the other day, thought there was apple pie. Fooled me, too,” he said, shaking his head.
I wrapped a bunch of daisies in tissue paper and passed him a card that said congratulations. He signed it and then paid me the total.
“I bet she’ll really like these,” I said. “It’s sweet of you to do that for your sister.”
“Thanks for your help. You have a good day,” he said. Then he gave me the panty-melting smile one more time and left.
I sagged against the counter and wondered if I wanted a cigarette or a new vibrator after that encounter. Maybe both.
2
Damon
The diner was always packed on Saturday morning. Rachel’s pies were excellent, but her pastries were incredible. Her apple Danish was legendary, and if you didn’t go early, you’d miss out on them.
So Brody and I drank our coffee and waited for the final batch to come out of the oven. We had already eaten our eggs and sausage, and both of us were usually in a hurry. Him because he wanted to get home to my sister, and me because I had a shift at the fire statio
n or I was going to work out or check in on my parents. But we had decided to loiter until we could score those Danishes this time.
“You think we’ll find somebody good enough to replace the Gibbs kid that moved last month?”
“Yeah. He was a great shortstop, but there are kids around here we can teach to do a good job.”
“I hated to lose him, but when his dad got that new job in Overton—”
“We’ll have to play against him. You know he’ll play in Overton,” I said.
“They have travel ball. He’ll probably do that instead of Little League.”
“That costs a fortune. Hope Dad got a good job,” I said.
“Our lineup’s looking strong though, going into the season.”
“When are you thinking to do tryouts?”
“Couple weeks maybe, depends on the weather. If it stays clear,” Brody said.
“In a few years we’ll be coaching your kid,” I said, taking a sip of coffee.
“It’s crazy,” he said, but he was smiling. “So when you gonna settle down? Give our baby some cousins?”
I shrugged, “I guess I just never found the right girl.”
“You’ve sure tried a lot of them on to see if they’re the right one,” he chuckled.
“I’m glad for you guys, really,” I said, “but it’s not for everyone.”
“You don’t want a family?”
“Sure I do. But with the right person. Not just whoever’s nearby,” I said.
Then I lost my train of thought. Trixie walked into the diner and went right to the register. Rachel waited on her, scooped a hot Danish into a paper sack and handed it to her. My mouth watered, but not from the sight of fresh pastries.
She was petite but curvy, her dark hair rippling glossy over her shoulders and halfway down her back. She and Rachel chatted. Something made her laugh, and even in the crowd, I could pick out her giggle. She had a great laugh, and I felt a rush of just wanting to be close to her. She took her coffee, her bag, and left. My eyes followed her all the way to the door. She never looked up, never waved or even saw me. Not that it mattered. We didn’t exactly travel in the same circles even though our moms were very close. I saw her a lot growing up, but years had gone by as we’d hit adulthood. Until I went in the flower shop the other day, I had only seen her in passing. Like this. I always saw her, always took notice.
Startled, I looked at Brody, who had just flung a sugar packet at me.
“What?” I said.
“You were staring. No one over the age of thirteen should be that obvious,” he laughed.
“Staring? I was watching to see if Rachel brought out the rest of the Danishes. Obviously.”
“Bullshit. You should ask her out already. You’ve only been mooning over her for years.”
“I am a firefighter. I do not moon,” I said hotly.
“You were staring at her ass like it was—”
“Shut up,” I said.
“Why don’t you ask her out? She’d say yes. You’re not the only one who stares. I’ve seen her watching you, too.”
“Bro, my mom and her mom go way back. So if I want my mom all up in my business, that’s one sure way to get her attention. If I ever considered asking Trixie out, my mom would be all over it. Trust me, it’s better left alone.”
“If you say so. But it doesn’t look like you’re leaving well enough alone. I saw where the flowers came from, the ones Laura liked so much.”
“What? Flowers come from flower shops,” I said.
“Right,” he said, but his look said ‘bullshit.’
The fact was, I liked her. I always had. I wasn’t pining away or anything, but she was beautiful and voluptuous, and I’d imagined having her in my arms more than once over the years. Still, I was reluctant to get involved with her. If we did get together, our families would expect us to have a serious relationship. Then if it didn’t work out, both families would be uncomfortable around each other. I could conceivably ruin my mom’s lifelong friendship with Trixie’s mother. They’d take sides, and it would turn out messy and unpleasant. So I could keep my recurring fantasies about Trixie to myself and avoid complications.
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Thank for you taking the time to read my latest release.
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- Natasha L. Black
Books by Natasha L. Black
Freeman Brother Series
Millionaire Boss
Millionaire Daddy
Millionaire Crush
Millionaire Hero
Millionaire Best Friend
Forbidden Lovers Series:
Billionaire Boss
Date Your Brother’s Best Friend
Falling for my Enemy
Forbidden Crush
Damaged
Complete box set below:
Forbidden Lovers: A Contemporary Romance Collection
Secret Daddies Series
His Secret Baby
CEO’s Secret Baby
Boss's Secret Baby for Christmas
Daddy’s Secret Baby
My Ex’s Secret Baby
Bad Boy’s Secret Baby
Complete box set below:
Secret Daddies: A Contemporary Romance Box Set
Alpha Male Collection:
Forbidden Daddy
Redemption
Protecting Her
Saving Sky
Protecting Sasha
Complete box set here: Men in Charge
Reverse Harem/Ménage Collection:
Double Dirty
The Cabin
Double Trouble
Training the Rookie
Cuffed to my Roomies
Complete box set here: One Lucky Girl
Fake Marriage Collection:
Pretend You’re Mine
Pretend I’m Yours
Let’s Pretend
Faking It
Complete box set here: Playing Pretend
Other stories you may enjoy:
Back To You
Brother’s Best Friend
Forbidden Protector
Sweet Tooth
Connect with Natasha L. Black
Natasha L. Black is an Amazon Top 100 bestselling author. Dreaming and fantasizing ever since she was a young teenager, her love of writing flourished from a very early age. After working for 15 years as a veterinarian, she now follows her passion in writing for a living. She currently resides in a lovely country home in a rural area of Dallas, writing steamy novels to fulfill her readers' desires.
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The Lumberjack's Nanny: A Forbidden Romance (Rockford Falls Romance) Page 19
