“You’re what?”
The voice on the other end cracked. “I’m sorry, Beth. I really am. I tried, but it just isn’t for me. And when Blake called today and asked me to spend the day with him, I knew it was a sign. The universe is telling me it’s time to move on. You understand, right?”
No. No, she did not understand. “It’s Valentine’s Day, Sierra. We’ve been prepping for this day all week. I need you. Please, just today, then you can quit. I’ll pay you double.” If that didn’t wreak of desperation, she didn’t know what did.
“I’m sorry, I just can’t. Good luck.”
A click and the call ended.
Panic sunk its claws into her throat. What was she going to do? She had no help. No one. Had her mom been in town, she could have called her.
Tilly was busy at the restaurant.
Maddie, of course, had the babies.
Rachel would be busy at her own job all day.
Allie had called her a few days ago, squealing about the surprise romantic, kid-free weekend away Stew had arranged for them. Reuben and Allie’s mom was watching their kids.
All the other girls from her bowling team worked day jobs too.
Oh, this was bad. Very, very bad.
Well, sitting here and complaining was not going to complete any flower orders.
Grabbing the stack, she started on the first one as the phone rang.
“Good morning, The Flowering Petal.” She let out a sigh as she picked up her notepad and started scribbling out the order.
It was going to be a very, very long day.
***
“I think you’ve been stood up.”
Garrett looked from the now-cold plates of food to his watch. An hour late. He waffled between being irritated and worried. His phone calls to her cell had gone unanswered. It just didn’t make any sense.
He wasn’t even sure what he was going to say to her, but his gift was burning a hole in his pocket. It wasn’t anything huge, just a charm bracelet. But he’d hoped if his feelings were reciprocated, even just a little, that it might help draw her out.
No way to find out now that she hadn’t even bothered to show up. “I think you’re right.”
Tilly sent him a sympathetic smile. “I’m sure she just got busy.”
“I tried her cell, and she didn’t answer.”
“Listen, the lunch crowd died down. Stephen and the crew have the kitchen covered for the next while. Go check on her. I’m worried myself, honestly.”
“You sure?” But he was already unbuttoning his chef’s jacket before she nodded.
“Go. Text me when you talk to her, though, okay? It’ll make me feel better.”
“Will do.”
He went into the back and grabbed his car keys. When he returned, Tilly was waiting with a to-go box. “She’ll be hungry. Make her eat.”
He smiled his thanks and headed out. Five minutes later, he pulled into a parking spot behind The Flowering Petal. He knew it was busy, but surely she could have at least let him know she wouldn’t make it.
But nothing prepared him for the Beth he met when he let himself into the back of the shop.
Flowers and ribbons and leaves were everywhere. Vases in various stages of arrangement dotted the normally meticulously organized workstation.
Beth stood amongst it all, her hair in her traditional ponytail but strands flying out of it, refusing to be tamed. Her apron was drenched in what looked like spilled water, and her fingers fumbled with a ribbon. “Dad gum stupid—”
“Beth?”
She jerked up, almost knocking over the vase. Her eyes widened at the sight of him. “Garrett. What time is it?”
He chose not to mention the late hour. “I thought I’d bring lunch to you. You look—busy.”
She brushed hair out of her face with her sleeve. “Sierra quit this morning.”
“You okay?”
Her fingers went back to fumbling with the ribbon. “I have to be. Too much work not to.” Her hard gulp told the true story.
Setting the box of food down, he took two steps toward her, grasped her hands and pulled her to him. After resisting for only a moment, she wilted against him like a flower deprived of water, her arms clutching his back and her face burrowing into his jacket.
As her shoulders shook, he squeezed her tighter and rubbed her back with his hand. “Shhhhh, It’ll be okay.”
When her body finally stilled, she pulled away, pressing her fists against her face to clear her tears. “I’m sorry. I just—I’m so mad at her. I kept her on, trying to be nice and help her, and this is how she repays me? There’s so much to do. I honestly don’t think I can do it, Garrett. I physically can’t do it all. There are not enough hours in the day. I’ve stopped answering my phone because I don’t even have time to take orders, even if they don’t want their flowers today.”
He squeezed her shoulders. “Well, I’m here for a little bit. What can I do to help?”
“No. You need to get back to the Emporium. I know this is your busy day too.”
“Yeah, but I have help and can spare an hour or two. Our rush is going to be tonight. Now, what can I do?”
“Honestly, if you could just man the front of the store for a half hour, that might help. Having to stop every few minutes to help a customer is what’s killing me.”
He leaned down and pressed his lips to her forehead. “Consider it done. Anything else?”
“Maybe just answer the phone if it rings and get their number for me to call back tomorrow.”
“I can do that on one condition.”
She wiped her eyes again and took a deep breath. “What condition?”
“You sit down for ten minutes and eat the lunch I brought you.”
“Five minutes.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Seven and that’s my final offer.”
Her eyes lit with that famous Beth sparkle he loved so much. “Deal.”
The bell at the front of the shop jingled. “I guess that’s my first customer.”
Brushing away his frustration over losing his last date with his pretend girlfriend, he went to help the customer, praying he wouldn’t screw things up. But Beth followed him and gave instructions on how to find the order and ring up the credit card.
Not too hard. After she had gone back to the back, he sent two quick texts. One to Tilly, letting her know Beth was fine, just busy.
The other text was to his mother. While she probably knew nothing about flower arrangements, her arm was finally out of its sling, and she could chat with customers, slide a credit card, and hand over flowers.
Her reply came only moments later, saying she’d be ready when he came to pick her up in an hour.
Fifteen
“Do I need to do the whole over-my-shoulder thing?”
Beth looked up from the daisies she was arranging to see Garrett standing at her back door, yet again. “Please don’t tell me it’s that late.”
He let the door shut behind him and sauntered in, his hands in his pockets. “Sorry to tell you, but it’s after eleven.”
“What are you doing out and about?”
“Ah, but you forget. Working late is normal for me. I saw your light on as I was driving home.”
“That’s right. Well, I’m glad you stopped in. I wanted to say thank you again for your help, and for sending me your mom. She was a true Godsend.” His mother had been a woman on a mission. She’d charmed customers in person and on the phone and had done a fabulous job. She had no clue what she would have done without her.
“It was my pleasure, and I’m glad my mom was a help.” He stepped closer and fingered a daisy she’d just placed. “Are you still working on Valentine’s flowers?”
“Just getting a jump start on tomorrow. I’ll have to be out for the brunch tomorrow, and I need to work on those flowers in the morning. These are for later in the afternoon, but this is my last one and—” she added one last daisy to the vase, “It’s officially done.”
“Good, because—” He held up a bag she hadn’t noticed he’d held. “I had kinda selfishly hoped you would still be here and brought dessert.”
She pressed a hand against her heart. “That isn’t what I think it is, is it?”
“A little bird told me you had an affinity for the Emporium’s chocolate mousse cheesecake. I made this especially for you, my dear.”
Her stomach, having not been fed since lunch, leaped in delight. “Well, I certainly can’t say no to that. Come with me.” She motioned him to follow.
“Where are we going?”
“My office.” She opened the small door to her right and flipped on a light.
A desk took up one wall and a small loveseat that had seen better days sat against the other. A few crates sat in front of it that she used for a makeshift coffee table. “I am in desperate need to sit down in something more comfortable than those stools out there. I hope you don’t mind.”
She collapsed onto the small couch and sighed as her weary muscles relaxed for the first time since she’d gotten out of bed this morning. Garrett sat next to her and opened his bag of goodies. “Take your pick. Caramel or cherries.”
“I didn’t realize they had topping choices.”
“We don’t. I made it special for you, remember?”
Oh, the man was good. Way too good. “Caramel. This is definitely a caramel kind of day.”
He pulled out a plate holding a generous slice of cheesecake, then an additional small container.
“Wait. You mean you brought an actual plate from the restaurant?”
“I had to serve you lunch in a Styrofoam box. You are getting dessert in style, my dear.” He pulled out a fork, then proceeded to drizzle the caramel concoction on top like the expert he was. He handed it to her. “Bon appetite.”
She took it gladly and, after propping her feet up on the crates, took a bite.
Oh. My. Goodness.
She closed her eyes as the creamy sweet decadence coated her mouth. Oh yes. This might just be what heaven would feel like, right here. After a few bites, she climbed out of her sugar-induced fog and glanced at him. He had leaned back on the couch and shifted toward her, watching her with a glint in his eye. “Wait a minute. Where’s yours?”
He winked. “Watching you eat that is dessert enough for me, honey.”
The pet names needed to stop. Now. Not because they annoyed her. Quite the opposite. They made her want to shove this cheesecake aside and finish that way-too-short kiss they’d had way-too-long ago now.
Now that would be a decadent dessert.
She shoved another bite of cheesecake in her mouth before her mind could go any farther.
“I take it you like it then?”
She nodded as she swallowed. “It’s amazing. Seriously. It’s always been my favorite, but this beats them all, Garrett.”
“I’m glad you like it. You deserve something good after today.”
She sat back and set the plate on her lap, taking a bit of a break from the richness. “You know, it didn’t end up as bad as I thought it would be. Busy, yes, but your mom was amazing and made it more fun than work.
“She is definitely something special.”
“That she is.”
Garrett reached over and caught a stray bit of hair that had fallen, but instead of tucking it behind her ear, he tugged on it gently. “Can I ask you a question?”
She leaned her head back, more relaxed than she felt in ages. “Sure, shoot.”
“Why do you always wear your hair up? I know you always rocked the ponytail, but you could also glam it up when you wanted to. I don’t think I’ve seen your hair down since I’ve been back.”
Beth shrugged, but she remembered the exact moment she decided to say the heck with her hair. Should she tell him?
Eh, they were breaking up soon. It didn’t matter, right?
“I was—oh, I don’t know. Twenty-five I think? Something like that. Tilly set me up on a blind date, and I was beyond nervous. All the guys I ever dated were just—I don’t know. There was always something missing. That night, my hair wouldn’t cooperate and after an hour of trying different things, I stood in front of the mirror and decided that if a guy was going to like me, then he needed to like me, ponytail and all. I threw it up in a hairband, dotted on some lip-gloss, and met him at the door.”
“How was the date?”
“Good. He was nice, and I thought we had a good time.”
“Did you date for a while?”
“Nope. He never called me again.” She hadn’t been sad. More—resigned. Maybe it was her lot in life to be single. She hadn’t dated much after that.
Garrett was silent a moment then reached over and squeezed her hand. “He was an idiot then.”
“Thanks for that.”
“Abrupt change of subjects, I know, but it’s getting late and—” He reached back into the bag and brought out another box, this one much smaller and not food related. “I got you a little something.”
A gift? Her heart tried not to read anything into it but failed miserably. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know. But—I wanted to.”
She held her breath as she opened the square box. “Oh my goodness! It’s a bracelet!” Taking the silver charm bracelet out, she couldn’t hold back a cheesy grin.
It was so very much Garrett. “Let’s see here. We have—is this a chef?”
“Sure is. This way you’re always carrying me with you.”
“Nice.” She moved to the next charm. “A daisy, I suppose that’s self-explanatory. And—is that—a chicken?”
“That chicken is what brought us together, even though I still am very sorry for the mix-up.”
“The cheesecake makes up for it, so no worries. Okay, so this last one is just a letter P. What’s that stand for?”
“This crazy prank of ours, of course. Your idea, remember?”
Oh did she remember. “You do realize I was just joking, right? That I never expected you actually to say yes?”
“Maybe. Or maybe you were just subconsciously taken in by my ruggedly handsome good looks and wanted an excuse to be seen on my arm.” He wiggled his eyebrows at his joke that hit way too close to home.
“Oh yes. Totally it. You got me.” She took one more bite of cheesecake, then stood up and stretched. “Well, thank you for my bracelet. I love it, but I also need to get home and go to bed. Tomorrow is—” She glanced at the clock on her desk. “Already here, actually.”
He stood up beside her. “Yup. Today is the day we break up. You ready for this?”
No. Not by a long shot. “Ready as I’ll ever be. You?”
“Already exercising my vocal chords. Oh, and because I like you so much, I should let you know that you have a nice dab of chocolate on your cheek there.”
She reached up and dabbed at her cheek. “Did I get it?”
“No, down a little on the corner of your—” He reached toward her and swiped his thumb next to her mouth.
She sucked in a breath at the warm touch. The smallness of the room and how close he stood made her dizzy. She reached up and put a hand on his arm to steady herself.
His eyes narrowed in on her, heady and dark and full of—desire?
Against her better judgment, her body swayed closer, drawn by the look in his eyes and the feelings she’d become such an expert at suppressing. No. No, she couldn’t. They were not— “Garrett, I—” Her words stalled on her tongue as his hand grasped the back of her neck and pulled her to him, his lips stealing any objection she would have offered.
His mouth was oh-so-sweet and tender, probing and asking, never demanding. It was as if a kaleidoscope of deliciousness was dancing between them, unveiling all the secrets she’d kept hidden in her heart all these years.
And secrets that maybe—could it be? That he’d hidden as well?
All too soon, he pulled back, his forehead resting on hers. “I should go.”
She didn’t want him to. A
t all. But he was right. She nodded her agreement.
He pressed one last kiss to the side of her mouth, hitting her cheek more than her lips, and winked at her. “I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
Tomorrow. She nodded and forced a smile. He squeezed her hand one last time, turned, and walked away.
Tomorrow.
Oh Lord, what just happened? I thought—
A good-bye kiss. That’s what it had been. One amazing, heart-shattering good-bye. He wouldn’t have just left if it had been anything else. He still talked about seeing her tomorrow, as if nothing had changed. Tomorrow…
She’d been a fool. An absolute fool to think one kiss would change anything.
Because he was still going to pretend break up with her tomorrow.
Except now it felt realer than ever.
Sixteen
Fake it ‘till you make it.
That was Beth’s motto for today. Just a few more hours—and this ridiculous prank would be over.
She and Garrett could go back to being casual acquaintances, and she could stuff her feelings right back into the dusty corner of her heart to ignore once again, the same place they’d laid dormant these many years.
Never mind that, for a fleeting moment, she’d thought—
No. Flicking the memory away like a pesky, buzzing mosquito, she grabbed the last box of flower arrangements from the back of the delivery van and hefted them into the church fellowship hall.
Kathy, the pastor’s wife, rushed over to her. “Here, let me get the other end of that. These are beautiful, Beth. You outdid yourself.”
“They were just leftovers from yesterday.” A partial truth. The red and white rose arrangements had not been cheap — and she’d ordered extra knowing she would need them for today. But it was good advertisement and a tax write-off at the same time. Not to mention she would have done it for the church regardless.
“Still, they are lovely. Thank you.”
They set the box down on one of the cloth covered circle tables. The brunch was an annual affair the women of the church had been doing since before Beth was born. A little way to make sure single and married ladies alike felt loved during the month of hearts and romance.
A Side of Faith, Hope and Love: The Sandwich Romance Novella Collection Page 27
