“So have you heard back from him? Have you set the appointment yet?” Sophie asked, sipping on her cocktail.
“They’re coming for the weekend so I’m meeting them this coming Friday,” I informed her.
“That’s only two days away,” she whispered.
I wasn’t sure who was taking this revelation worse.
“Did you know his older brother is the lead singer for that huge band, Crimson Strings?” Nick asked, spinning a paper coaster with his index finger.
“I have no idea who Crimson Strings is.” I glanced at Sophie, who shrugged. Obviously, she didn’t either. I remembered Cole’s older brother, Anthony, as being a real sweetheart. It was actually kind of weird to picture him as a singer in a rock band. In fact, I remember how kids teased him endlessly, calling him Ant Hill for short. He hated the nickname, but who was laughing now?
“Are you serious?” Andrea yelped, bringing me out of my fog. “You don’t know who Crimson Strings is? Like the most badass band of this year, and you have no idea who they are, and you used to date Anthony Hill’s brother?”
It looked like Andrea’s head was about to explode, and maybe that would be better for us all if it did.
No.
That was wrong. Nick liked her and so did we.
“What kind of music do they play?” Sophie asked.
“Indie music,” Andrea answered, sliding her fingers through her ponytail. “I wonder if Anthony will be there.”
“Where?” I asked, furrowing my brows.
“At the appointment with his brother to discuss flowers.”
“Brothers of the groom don’t usually show up to pick out flowers,” I laughed and shook my head.
Nick slid his phone over to me, and I glanced down at a picture recognizing Anthony Hill immediately. He didn’t look much different than when I’d last seen him. His brown hair looked a little more styled, but other than that he looked like the same old Anthony. I wondered what Cole looked like. I’d done such a good job of never looking him up. I didn’t even know what he did for a living.
That was how over him I was.
“I saw the band at the Paramount a few months ago,” Andrea continued. “Their music is amazing live. The band is phenomenal.”
“We saw the band,” Nick corrected.
I didn’t like how Andrea seemed more interested in Anthony than Nick.
“It’s got to sting extra now,” Andrea chirped, stretching.
Nick flashed me a funny look and I smiled.
“No, not really.”
“Do you know what Cole does for a living?” Andrea asked.
“Nope, and unless he mentions it during our flower consultation, I plan on leaving it that way,” I warned her.
“So you haven’t ever looked him up?” she pried.
I shook my head.
“Not once?”
“Not even once, and that’s how it’s going to stay.”
Andrea didn’t seem satisfied with that answer, but I didn’t care. The truth was that I didn’t think I could handle looking Cole up. What good would that do anyway? It had been eight years. Why would I make things worse on myself by looking him up? I knew how my mind operated. First, I’d casually look up his name, and then I’d start thinking about him. Then, I’d look him up again, and I’d start wondering about Cole, formulating questions I’d never have answers to. I’d give him a resting place in my brain that he didn’t deserve. The process didn’t sound like a fun one. In fact, merely thinking about Cole and his brother made my stomach turn into a knotted mess, and I doubted my decision to meet with him about wedding flowers.
“Maybe you could give back Pickles,” Nick half-joked.
“Pickles and I have made it for this many years, we might as well go the whole stretch. Besides, she’s getting up there in age.”
“You’ve barely made it this many years. You do remember why she no longer lives at home with you and is the shop cat, right?” Nick grinned mischievously.
Even though Pickles didn’t like me, I’d grown to understand her and she had a place in my heart. Granted, that place in my heart was wrapped with Kevlar, but she had one.
“You were afraid to even go home at night,” Sophie chimed in. “Remember that one time she was hiding on top of the bookcase by your front door, and when you came home she pounced on your head and clawed your ear?”
“She left a mark on that one.” I grumbled, touching the puffy scar on my ear.
“What about when she’d hide under the couch and wait until you took your shoes off before attacking. She’d wrap her paws around your ankles and sink her claws into your flesh. You couldn’t even shake her off.”
A shiver of fear swam through my body at the memory. How could I forget?
“Or what about the time you had to barricade yourself in your bedroom?” Nick asked, wagging his finger in my direction. “It took Sophie and I to come over with a can of tuna fish to get Pickles away from the door and you out of the bedroom.”
“And you’ve kept this thing?” Andrea hissed.
“It’s not a thing. It’s a living being with some sort of troubled past. That’s the only thing I can come up with. I’m sure she had kitten trauma or something. I can’t just turn my back on Pickles.”
“Not to mention she was a gift from the love of her life,” Sophie muttered under her breath. I shot her a dirty look and she shrugged.
“That cat would be out on its ears if I’d had to deal with it,” Andrea continued. “I wouldn’t care who gave it to me. Even if it was from the brother of Anthony Hill. No way. No how.”
“His name is Cole,” I reminded her.
“Whatever. I’d never let a fur ball call the shots.”
“Well, Pickles doesn’t call the shots. She simply prefers to live by herself at the shop so everything has worked out perfectly fine.” I glanced around the restaurant, which was hopping with customers now. As the ferries unloaded, this place tended to be the first stop for many.
“In other news, I won a huge bid,” Nick informed us.
“For what?” I asked, grateful he shifted the topic away from the Hill brothers. I didn’t think I could handle another second.
“The Loxxy hotel down on the waterfront loved my designs, and when they start their remodel in the summer, my furniture will be in the lobby and the suites. Eventually, my furniture will cover every floor, every room. But there’s only one of me, and I’ve got to quickly find a way to scale up for this.”
“Oh, my gosh. You’ve got to be kidding,” I squealed, nearly knocking over my beer as I threw my hands in the air. “That is the best news ever.”
And it really was. Nick had worked so hard on his furniture business. He had good months and bad, good years and bad years, but he kept at it, and now his perseverance was finally paying off. He had the most beautiful and functional designs I’d ever laid eyes on and he so deserved this. It wasn’t easy making a go of things on the island. I glanced at Andrea to see her thoughts on the good news, and it looked like she was still daydreaming about meeting the lead singer of Crimson Strings.
“Loxxy is our swankiest hotel. That’s where all the celebs stay. I should know.” Sophie winked. Working at the Loxxy in the housekeeping department was Sophie’s other job. Not to mention, she’d help me out here and there at the shop.
“And I wanted to say thank you,” Nick said, grinning at Sophie.
“For what?” she looked perplexed.
“For putting in a good word.”
“Don’t think I had a thing to do with this. I just clean rooms at the Loxxy. They don’t even listen to me when I tell them a repair needs to be made. But thanks for thinking I have that much pull.”
Nick patted Sophie’s arm and Andrea stiffened. She needed to get a grip.
“So this winter and spring I’ll be buried in work,” Nick continued.
“Well, if you need any help, you can count on me,” I offered. “Not that I’m good with woodworking, but I can bring
over plenty of mochas for you.”
“Then he might get too fat.” Andrea finally came to life.
A chill ran through my blood as my gaze fastened on Sophie’s. She seemed to be wondering the same thing as me. Why did Nick like this girl?
“I don’t think Nick could put on pounds even if he tried,” Sophie said softly.
“And even if he did, he’d be extra cute.” I smiled.
“When I first met him he had a couple of extra pounds on him, and I can tell you there’s nothing cute about—”
“Okay, I can’t. I just can’t any longer,” I interrupted, my gaze flashed to Nick’s before landing on Andrea’s. But before I had a chance to unload and do something I’d regret, Nick stood up and yawned loudly.
“Our movie starts in twenty minutes. We need time to get over there.” He threw some cash on the table and held out his hand to Andrea. She hauled herself up and kissed Nick on the cheek, completely oblivious about what I’d intended to tell her.
“It was nice to see you again,” Sophie said, grinning.
I bit my tongue and smiled in pseudo agreement.
“You too, girls.” She bent down and gave us each a hug and pranced out of the restaurant with Nick.
“What in the world does he see in her?” Sophie asked.
“I can’t for the life of me figure that out and believe me, I’ve tried.”
“He is so good-looking and has the best heart. I honestly don’t get why he always picks the wrong ones.”
“Maybe because the right ones have no interest.” I twisted my lips and stared at her.
“Hey, the same could be said about you.” She wiggled her finger at me.
“I guess the heart wants what it wants,” I sighed.
“Haven’t heard that before,” she chuckled. “So I had no idea there was a famous Hill brother.”
“Me either.”
“I honestly think if Andrea could get with him, she would.”
“You don’t say…” I crossed my arms and shook my head. “Well, hopefully Anthony Hill doesn’t put on any weight or her fantasy will be shattered.”
“Can you believe she said that? Nick has never been anything but ripped. All he does is tow huge chunks of wood around and work giant equipment. The man never stops moving.”
“Agreed. I’m glad you said that. I wondered if I was being too sensitive.”
“Not at all.”
“Speaking of weight.” I bit my lip. “I’ve put on like twenty pounds since Cole last saw me.”
“In all the right places.” Sophie scowled. “Don’t tell me you’re letting Andrea get under your skin. You’re beautiful.”
“No, you’re right. I’m being ridiculous and what does it matter? Cole is getting married and I’m merely supplying the flowers.”
Sophie gave me a sympathetic smile and nodded.
“Do you want me there on Friday? That’s my day off at Loxxy, and I don’t work at the restaurant until four o’clock.”
“I’m a big girl. I can handle it,” I assured her.
“I know, but I’m just sayin’…”
I thought about it for a few seconds. Sophie might be onto something. Maybe it would be easier if I had back up.
“You know what? You’re right. What if I miss an important detail about their vision of their wedding because I’m too rattled?” I started to see the light of the impending fiasco.
“Exactly what I was thinking.” She nodded in satisfaction. “And as a bonus, I can tell you my wholly biased opinion of her.”
“Don’t you mean unbiased?” I grinned.
“Not at all. I’ll be coming into this thing completely prepared for battle, but I do think it’s time for me to walk over to the gym. You wanna come?”
“Nah. I’d rather go home and catch up on my DVR, or do the dishes, or vacuum, maybe paint my bathroom, or clean the lizard tank… do just about anything other than stare at a wall while huffing on a treadmill, really.”
“Since when did you get a lizard?” She eyed me suspiciously.
“Maybe I didn’t.” I winked. “But you do you and go have fun. I’ll get my exercise walking home.”
And then I heard the most startling and amazing melody in the world. Cole Hill’s laughter filled up the entire restaurant. My heart stopped, and my breathing stilled as I listened for more signs of Cole. My gaze darted to the entrance and around the room, but I didn’t see him. He was nowhere to be found.
Maybe I’d imagined the sound.
I had to have imagined it.
“What’s up?” Sophie crinkled her nose and eyed me.
“Nothing. I think I’m hearing things.”
“You sure you’re okay?” she asked.
“Totally.” I leaned in. “I just thought I heard Cole’s laugh.”
Sophie looked around the restaurant and shook her head.
“All clear,” she promised. “I’ll call you tomorrow, and we’ll work out the details for Friday.”
I nodded and watched her slip out of the restaurant.
And then I heard it again.
I glanced around the restaurant, still not spotting any sign of him.
I closed my eyes and promised myself I’d get through whatever was thrown my way, and Cole Hill and his bride would have the most beautiful wedding flowers when he walked down the aisle. I only hoped I wouldn’t crack along the way, but his familiar laughter wrapped around me once more, and I realized it was too late. I already had.
I stood in the flower cooler and slowly swept up the dried leaves and abandoned flower petals into a tidy pile. I only had fifteen minutes before Cole Hill and his fiancée showed up. The mere thought of standing face-to-face with Cole after all these years made my hands shake, my pulse hammer, and my head spin with regret for ever agreeing to do their wedding flowers. I wished him nothing but the best with his fiancée, but this was turning out to be more than I could handle. I’d turned into a hot mess.
Literally.
The moment he popped into my head, sweat began trickling down my hairline, and my breathing turned into gasps. My only saving grace was that I could hang out in the flower cooler to chill out in between my panic attacks.
My backup squad of one—Sophie—had arrived right on time this morning, and she’d noticed the puddle of a person I’d become. Taking control of the crisis at hand, she pushed me into the flower fridge while she manned the counter. I’d been afraid to leave the safety of the cooler ever since.
Things were off to a great start, and I was sure they’d only get better as the day rolled on.
I bent my head down between two tubs of hydrangeas and looked through the glass to check the time.
Ten more minutes.
I could do this. I took in a deep breath, letting the crisp air fill my lungs as I thought about the possibilities.
Maybe time wasn’t as kind to Cole as it had been to his brother.
Maybe he didn’t look anything like I remembered.
He’d played soccer all through school, which did amazing things to his body.
Maybe he stopped playing.
Not that it mattered one way or another.
I was so over him.
He’d left me, and I’d never reduce myself to fantasizing about a man who didn’t want me.
Exactly! Why was I the one hiding in the cooler? He should be the one locking himself up in a freezer. I felt the surge of angry adrenaline push the nervousness right out of my veins.
I would no longer let the memory of Cole turn me into something I’d never been.
He was the one obviously missing out.
Not me.
Amazed I’d grown so much as a human being while I hung out in this fridge, I patted myself on the back determined to rewrite my future. I was the woman he missed out on, not the other way around.
No longer able to feel my fingertips, I placed my broom in the corner of the cooler and decided to take control of my emotions. I felt fabulous. Probably because I knew I was abou
t to regain feeling in all my extremities and was ready to face my past head-on.
I swung open the cooler door and shivered as the warm air infused my system.
“I’ve meditated long enough in the fridge, Sophie. I’m officially over Mr. Hill.”
Sophie spun around, her mouth gaping, as she waved her hands under the counter to get me to stop. Her gaze locked on mine, her eyes wide, silently pleading with me to shut up.
I took in a slow and steady breath as I felt the energy in the room shift. I didn’t need to see Cole to know he was in my shop.
I could feel him. Every ounce of him penetrated my shield. My knees weakened with the thought of standing in front of the man who’d turned my world upside down and left me to right it again.
Shutting my eyes, I took in a deep breath and cleared my throat before walking toward the counter where Sophie stood helpless.
It felt like I’d done a cannonball dive right into the center of my own flower shop, only there was no water to cool me off. Oh, how I wish I hadn't left the safety of my cooler. Good things happened inside of it, bad things outside of it.
“Is my next appointment here?” I asked Sophie, attempting to erase what words had tumbled out of my mouth moments before.
Sophie’s lips parted but nothing came out. Instead, his voice stopped me in my tracks and nearly took my breath away.
“Natalie?” The gravelly rumble demanded something from me I didn’t expect.
He no longer sounded like a kid in college. He sounded like the man I’d planned on marrying.
How was I going to get through this?
My eyes locked on his, and it felt like I’d been punched in the gut. He was gorgeous. Even if I had allowed myself to fantasize about him, my imagination would never have created such an amazing specimen. I glanced next to him and behind him.
He was alone.
I leaned toward the counter to brace myself as I took him in. Everything about him screamed sex.
And it couldn’t. He was completely off-limits. I would never cross that line.
Never.
“Hi, Cole,” I cooed.
Where did that come from? I’d never been a cooer.
Love Redone in Hidden Harbor (Island County Book 2) Page 2
