by Fifi Flowers
“Waking up next to you is like the first spring rain that kisses the flower buds signaling them to bloom and flourish.” I smiled at his unsimple wording.
“I love the way everything smells after a spring rain… so fresh and clean.”
“I agree and I hope that you will enjoy our day together,” he said pulling away from me and leaving the bed. What a body! Tan, muscular, and lean standing in fitted cotton briefs. He smirked at my roaming eyes that were less than obvious. “I’m going to hit the shower, get dressed, make you breakfast, and then take you to your place for a change of clothes… Or you can join me in the shower, go commando with your jeans and wear one of my t-shirts knotted up?” He raised a sexy eyebrow at me.
“No, a… I think…” I stammered over my words thinking about showering with him, “my own clothes will work better,” I uttered to him as he smiled and disappeared. Covering my face, I shook my head at my silly shy behavior. It wasn’t as if I hadn’t just spent the night practically naked in his arms, making out like teens. Not to mention, I had sex before with other men, and even a couple one-night stands, but he had me thinking long term, relationship and more. That was it! I was officially out of my mind, drunk on all of his poetic words.
Hearing the shower water turn off, I quickly reached down to the side of the bed, grabbed my clothes up off the floor, and began to put them on—minus my panties which I rolled down my long legs and stuffed into my front pocket, laughing. Then on my feet, I quickly made my way out of his room, down the hallway and stairs, heading for his kitchen to make coffee to go with the breakfast he promised.
Chapter Six…
Committed to spending the day with Basil, we left his house in the Northern part of San Diego and made a scenic journey back to the downtown area after a delicious scrambled egg dish made with fresh vegetables from his garden, of course. Stopping along the way, he showed me several industrial landscapes where he had provided their foliage from trees and grass to flowers. He had been interested in gardening since he was a young kid; mowing his first lawn for his mother’s father with a push mower. He had grown up in his grandfather’s house for the most part since his parents were always on the road doing theatre. The house had lush landscaping that was maintained weekly by hired gardeners, but his grandfather didn’t like the length they cut his lawn and always clipped it short after they left.
“It had me looking closer at what they were doing to the rest of his yard. I found that under the bushes weeds were hidden, they only cropped them with a weed-wacker. Once I had pointed those out, I made a deal with my grandfather to get him to pay me to cut the grass to his preference and pull the weeds. I knew how particular he was about how his garden looked.”
“He sounds like a real character.”
“He was. We lost him when I was away at college learning about agriculture. He left me his house and money which I put into the garden center.”
“The house? You still have it?”
“You were just in it.” He turned to look at me. “It looks nothing like when he had it. Downstairs was a series of closed off rooms and I opened it all up, adding exposed beams to replace bearing walls.”
“I love the beams. They make it look inviting, cozy. You’d never know that it wasn’t like that to begin with—great job! Funny that you spent so much time with your grandfather, I never saw my grandparents much on my mother’s side and my father’s parents were gone before I was born. My grandparents are old hippies. They were rock band festival promoters in the sixties and seventies, experiencing free love and having children while they traveled around the country in their own custom tour bus. Named their three daughters: Sunrise, my mother, everyone calls her Sunny; Joplin, after Janis—no one understood why she didn’t just name her Janis—everyone calls her Linny, and then there was Tambourine who they called Moreen because the two sisters couldn’t pronounce her name. When my mother got pregnant with me, her mother talked her into having me, no lie, in the garden with midwives. And once I came into the world with no complications—pleasantly—my grandmother said that with my tiny nose and smiling face surrounded by nearly black hair I looked like a pansy. My parents had not planned to name me Pansie, but it stuck.”
“Your eyes are like a delicate, ruffled-edged blue pansy.”
I laughed. “I’ve never heard that before. My grandmother would love you!”
“What about you, could you love me?” My heart leapt into my throat stilling my speech as I turned to stare out the car window. I had only known him for a few weeks, how did I answer that without sounding stupid one way or the other. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to put you on the spot, but Pansie I know you’re the girl… woman for me.”
I turned to look into two spring-green eyes that told me that he was sincere and I realized that it wasn’t such a crazy thing to say. I was having some pretty intense feelings for him too, but I wasn’t sure I was ready to make a bold statement of love just yet. Luckily, we arrived at my apartment building.
“This is me,” I pointed to an empty slot. “You can park in my assigned spot. I haven’t gotten around to buying a car.”
Parked, we rode the elevator to my floor. Once we were inside my unit, I quickly excused myself and hopped in the shower. Within minutes, I was a fresh new person dressed in a pair of jeans, a tank top, and closed toe sandals.
“You have a great view of the harbor, but not a good exposure to grow anything on your windowsills. Nothing like your patio planters.”
“I told you… I knew it! You planted the herbs and pansies on my patio. How?”
“Marzi let me in.” His smile was like a kid that got away with something.
“So you waited for one of my late mornings?”
“Nope, it was a Monday. A very early one. My head lamp came in handy. Now, are you ready for our adventure?”
“Yes, and by the way, I love the planters filled up.”
“Next task, get you to love me as much… more.”
How could he say things like that to me? He caused my breathing to become difficult and my heart felt like it was going to explode, pounding so intensely in my chest. I had no idea how to respond to his comments about loving me and loving him. He was the most interesting, up front man I had ever met, and combined with his tall, dark and handsome features—I was in trouble! He was either sincere or he was going to break my heart because there was no way to stop me falling for him in a hard way. And I thought that if I wasn’t careful at that very moment, I would’ve opened up my petals to him. However, he seemed to sense my unease once more—so attentive to details—and suggested we get going. Agreeing, I allowed him to take my hand in his to walk me out the door, to the elevator, and to his car. I missed his hand when he left me to get in the car and drive.
Back on the freeway, we only went a few exits south before we turned off and headed up a hill a couple blocks to his garden center that had a spectacular view of the bay and ocean beyond. However, I quickly forgot all about the Pacific as we parked in a gravel customer lot and slipped out.
“Normally, I would pull around to the back of the property but I want you to experience Bay Breeze Gardens as a first time visitor.”
“That’s a great name but somehow I imagined a name straight out of a famous poem.”
“It was that name when I bought it and I did think about changing it. Instead, you will see that I have signs around with poetic references; limericks and berries, verses and vines, sonnets and sums, odes and ends…”
“…Hey, I see poems, pansies, petunias… oh, my! on that sale sign.”
He laughed, gently pulling me along. “Many more to be seen.”
When he said garden center, I envisioned maybe the size of the ones you see at a Home Depot—I shouldn’t mention that store, my parents would kill me bringing up their competition. However, they had sold the business off so it shouldn’t be a problem yet it still sounded like a couple of bad words. Bay Breeze was more like a park or botanical garden with gravel pathways meand
ering around lush greenery, vibrant colors, and water features; streams and ponds with fish and turtles. The largest one was filled with gigantic—I exaggerate a bit—koi in a variety of colors, so pretty. The pond was divided into three areas by two natural stone bridges with an inviting redwood deck where two dark green painted Adirondack chairs sat at one end shaded by a matching green and white striped canvas market umbrella. I could see us sitting and relaxing there all day, I thought, until a group of small children arrived excitedly begging for handfuls of food to feed the fish. It was obvious that the spot was well-known and I was sure parents brought their kids along just for a bit of entertainment, besides shopping.
“Quite a feeding frenzy,” I said watching the fish practically jumping up to take the food right from the tiny hands reaching out or tossing the pellets.
“The afternoon crowd is even rowdier after they suck down free sodas from an old vending machine and are hopped up on caffeine. Loudest shrieks you’ve ever heard.” He laughed, turning around and guiding me further onto the grounds.
Passing a white shuttered, minty green check-out shack with a hand-printed sign that read sonnets and sums, I smiled at his poetic touch. Weaving around raised wooden tables, painted the same color as the little shack, millions of flowers greeted us from flats on top and below.
“I’d almost hate to buy anything from here. Afraid I’d take away from your displays.” He smiled at my comment, shaking his head.
“We have several replacements housed in other locations on the property as well as growing in the greenhouses. Everything is easily regenerated, most of the time.”
“And the wrought iron patio furniture is for sale?” I asked running my hand along a daisy shaped table top with seats the same pattern, so whimsical.
“You’ll see different table sets and benches scattered about and they are all available… and replaceable.”
“I love them.”
“Love is a strong word. Filled with deep emotion. Everlasting. Best directed to a person rather than an object. I really like that table, but I love you… much better don’t you think?” His spring-green eyes burned into me as he brought my hand to his lips. Pitter-patter went my heart as tingles danced and swirled throughout my body. “Speaking of love, we have an aviary of lovebirds.”
Walking under a covered structure for shade plants, a rock bed stream flowed from a small boulder formation to a large screened area with several branches at various heights and on them were beautiful birds happily chirping. So colorful with fluffy, soft looking feathers; peach, lime green, turquoise, black, lavender, pink, yellow. Some were down below playing together or bathing in the waterway which went through part of their aviary and some were eating what looked like fruit, vegetables and seeds. It was the ones that sat together closely on branches nuzzling into each other that really had me sighing and swooning a bit. Although, that may have been due to the addition of one incredibly sexy poet mimicking their antics against my neck with his warm lips and teeth. Oh my! I caught myself moaning, leaning into him and nearly forgot where we were until the sound of several running feet (little ones I imagined) on gravel signaled a crowd drawing near. Time to move on.
Hand-in-hand. Out of the shaded area, heading toward the back of the property we walked past four greenhouses; one with gardening supplies on sale and three filled with plants in various stages of growth. Beyond the structures and some gardening equipment, groves of trees were spread; fruit trees, flowering trees, nut trees, palm trees, pine trees, and more. I noticed that it was so quiet except for wind chimes that made their own music in the serene environment. Coming to the end of the fenced property there was a gate and then a gravel driveway before another fenced in area. Inside, several rows of plants were laid out in all different patterns, layouts mapped by different people according to Basil who seemed to beam as he looked out over the land.
“This used to be were the previous owners grew vegetables that they sold at farmer’s markets and to local restaurants. I didn’t have any desire to do that but I did think I’d like to grow produce for some local shelters and somehow word got out and other people wanted to help. Then someone asked about growing their own vegetables. I loved the idea and began offering space for a nominal monthly fee per square footage and it’s a win-win situation since most of them buy plants and seeds from my nursery.”
“You donate to shelters? I’ve been wanting to do something like that. Marzi, my cousin, and I thought that we’d be happy to provide coffee and cookies. I know that doesn’t sound like much, but we thought it could be helpful.” I shrugged.
“Are you kidding, that would be great. If you’re serious, I’ll put you in touch with a lovely lady named Jolie. She actually lives rather close to you and volunteers regularly with a shelter in the downtown area.”
Of course, I was serious and told him so and then I wondered about the woman he was telling me all about. Jealous feelings hit me, remembering that he knew where she lived besides knowing where she volunteered. Another factor that may have played with my mind was the fact that so many very friendly attractive women were in the field tending to their own plants. Then as we walked back to his sport utility vehicle to head out for lunch, I noticed that most of the people working the front grounds were women. I also realized that everyone called him Baz, instead of boss as I originally thought they were calling him, some in a flirty tone.
So was he really into me or were all of his poetic words just how he was with everyone? Was I really special to him? Did I need to protect my heart? Something told me no, but I told myself don’t be naïve, stay on your toes. Which wasn’t so easy when he was always touching me tenderly and saying things like, “I miss your lips,” as he moved his over mine before closing the passenger door, and moving to the driver side.
Chapter Seven…
A short drive later, he pulled into a partially paved lot and parked to the side of a little dingy building filled with people standing in a line out the door.
“I hope you like seafood—the freshest and best in town—and don’t mind noise… and nothing fancy.”
“I love fish and shellfish. I’m also not afraid of charming, off the beaten path places. They usually have the best food. Lead the way.”
Getting in line, we waited for our turn to walk through the door to place our order… or for Basil to place our order, and it all sounded like a feast. Then we weaved our way through small tables with our order number attached to a table stand. Exiting out a backdoor to a large patio with more small tables and stools pulled up to a bar that surrounded the deck that had a million dollar view out to the Pacific Ocean. “Wow!”
“It’s a hidden treasure,” he said pulling out a stool for me. “You must swear your allegiance to only telling select people.” He climbed on a stool next to me. “As you can see, it’s not easy to get in. I’ve waited a half hour to an hour on a weekend.” Then he leaned forward and tucked my hair behind my ear. I prayed that my body would not give away the shiver running up my spine. “Most of the best things in life are worth the wait.” There were his panty-dropping words spoken perfectly. I needed to keep my wits about me.
“I noticed you have a lot of women working your nursery…”
He didn’t let me say more and seemed excited to answer me. “…I hire moms who want to work hours while their children are in school and they are helpful with pitching in for people who can’t get to the public garden as often as they would like to…”
So maybe he wasn’t a player with a stable of women at his disposal. I knew that not everyone interested in me was a smooth talking womanizer, but my ex-boyfriend had done a number on me. He told me everything I wanted to hear; I was special, no one compared… I was the one! Then I caught him spouting some of his signature words to someone at a high walled booth next to one I was sitting in with Marzi and a couple other girls. The girls tried to tell me that maybe it wasn’t him, and I shook it off as his voice faded. But when I made a trip to the bathroom later in the nigh
t I got a full view of him relaxing into a leggy, big breasted girl trying his moves on her too. I laughed it off, making a point to not look bothered to him while inside I was breaking. “Watch out for that one, he’s used those same lines a few times to a few of us,” I warned and then headed to get my girls and leave. I hadn’t given anyone a chance at wooing me since then.
What had I been thinking comparing Basil to my ex with his slick words? Basil’s were tender, gentle and poetic. He spoke about life and people with such love as he told me about employees who worked for him. Even allowing a woman to work in the office with her child in a playpen a couple days a week.
“Office? I only saw the sales shack.”
“That’s because you were too entranced by my body wrapped around you as you watched the love birds.” I looked at him puzzled. “There is a little cottage that I turned into an office and lounge for employees. It kind of blends in with the landscaping…”
