Zach: Meet you there.
Bowie: Better be, Steve.
Zach: Steve?
Bowie: Yeah, crikey you’re dangerous.
Mack: That’s better than what Collins called him.
Collins: Hey! I thought Skip was good.
Johnson: Yeah, you would.
Bowie: We gossiping or we meeting for beers?
Zach: Beers!
Bowie: Good. You’re buying first round, Steve.
These guys thought they were hilarious. They weren’t, but they thought they were. At least they amused themselves.
Dragging my tired ass upstairs, I showered and changed into the first clean shirt and jeans I could find. Rubbing some gel in my hands, I pushed my fingers through my hair, shoved my phone and wallet in my pocket and headed out.
“Did you drive?” Bowie asked as I climbed out of the car.
“Yep.”
“Not up for a big one then?”
“I’ll be lucky to have two beers before I fall asleep on the bar.”
“Come on then you pussy. Let’s get you some dinner before bedtime.” Bowie draped his arm over my shoulder and led me inside.
For a Wednesday night it was busier than I was expecting. Booths were full and there was a crowd gathered around the pool tables. Heading straight for the bar, we managed to catch Dan’s attention. I didn’t come here often but when I did, Dan always took care of me.
“Out on a school night, boys?” Dan taunted as he wiped the bar with a wet rag in front of us.
“Yep.”
“The rest of the troublemakers are over there,” Dan pointed in the direction of the back booths where I could see Grady throwing his head back and laughing loudly.
We grabbed our drinks and ordered our burgers before heading over to where everyone was already relaxed and laughing. I slid into the booth next to Grady.
“Cheers,” he greeted, lifting his own glass to mine.
The jukebox was playing old-school hits, the burgers were mouthwatering even if they were missing the beetroot, the beer was cold, and the banter was funny as fuck. At least it was when it wasn’t aimed in my direction.
Two beers later and I wasn’t as sore or tired as I had been and was actually having a pretty decent time.
“That fire the other night was rough. You okay?” Collins asked, stealing Grady’s seat who’d run home to his wife the moment she called. Lucky bastard. Dylan was dynamite, and he was damn lucky he’d claimed her before I’d arrived in town.
“Yeah, fine.” I shook off his concern not wanting to dwell on it.
It might not be the right way to handle it, but it was my way. For some reason bush fires and scrub fires got to me in a way house or building fires didn’t. It was crazy. Where I didn’t think twice about running into a burning building, standing in the middle of the paddock with a wall of flames coming at me, scared the shit out of me. Maybe it was because of the devastation back home. Australia had some of the worst bushfires, and for six months of the year, it felt like we held our breath praying for the best but preparing for the worst.
Last week when the call had come, I was first in the truck. I might be shit scared and prefer to face anything else, but there was no way I was letting my boys, my brothers, go in without me. As we got closer and closer, I could see the bright orange flames licking the inky black sky. Smoke filled the air, and you could taste it on your tongue.
We were still waiting on the final outcomes from the investigation but from what we’d seen and found, it looked like kids had been playing in one of the paddocks with some firecrackers when things had gone off track. It’d taken hours to get the blaze under control and by the time we trudged back into the fire house, I was dirty, sweaty, smelly and all I could think about was a tall glass of water, but we’d won. This time.
“Hey!” Johnson nudged Collins before pointing over my shoulder to the bar. “Isn’t that Lily Evans?”
“Lily Evans?” Collins replied, having no idea what he was on about.
At her name, my ears perked up, and although I tried to remain casual, I was pretty sure I was doing a shitty job.
“Yeah. She was a couple of years below us at school. Cute girl. Owns the flower shop.”
“You know what flowers are, Johnson?” Bowie stepped in.
I reached for my beer and took a sip. I needed to hide the smile that was threatening to break through, and my glass was doing the trick.
“Of course I do. They’re those things you buy a chick when you want them to suck your…”
Bowie clamped his hand over Johnson’s mouth and just in time. We all knew how that sentence ended. We’d all seen Johnson trudge into the station before a shift wearing last night’s clothes and lipstick that didn’t match his skin tone.
My eyes narrowed. Shifting slightly in my seat, I turned to spy Lily at the bar looking more than a little uncomfortable. Damn that woman was adorable. Here she was on a Wednesday night wearing a navy-blue dress, cinched at her waist showing off her incredible figure. Her hair was pulled back in a sensible braid, a braid I knew could have many, many beneficial uses. On her feet were silver sandals with a tiny almost pointless heel. But it was what was in her arms that had me vaulting from the seat and making a beeline for her.
“Lily?” I called out as I approached her.
She turned, and I watched with fascination as her face morphed from wary and uncomfortable to a genuine smile that made her hazel eyes light up.
“Zach.”
My name fell like a breathless plea from her lips.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“Am I not allowed to be? I’m pretty sure I’m over twenty-one and by Californian state law that means I can be here if I want to be.”
Wow! I’m not sure who pissed in her Cheerios this morning, but for someone wearing a pearl necklace and clutching at a lace handkerchief, her panties were sure in a twist.
“Calm your farm,” I held up my hands in surrender and took a step back, not before peering over at the beautiful baby girl in her arms.
“Sorry,” Lily apologized quickly, her cheeks blushing.
“Here you go, Lily. Sorry about the wait.” Dan handed a plastic bag over the counter and before Lily could juggle Ava, I accepted it for her.
“Can you just sit it on the counter for a second? Actually, would you mind holding Ava too? I just want to run to the bathroom.”
She didn’t even give me a chance to answer. Not that I was going to turn her down, especially when it came to Ava. A moment later I was standing at the bar nursing the most gorgeous girl in the world knowing that this kid completely owned me. I didn’t even give a toss if I looked like a chump about it either.
When a fiery redhead slid in beside me, her hand resting on my bicep, I took a step back. I’d never met her before, and I was certainly not interested. But from the predatory gleam in her eye, the skintight flannel shirt she was almost wearing and could use a few more buttons on, it was obvious she was on the prowl.
Over her head I saw my mates watching the show, amused. I was too far away to know for certain, but I was willing to bet from the way they were throwing money down in the middle of the table there were bets being placed. Bets I didn’t even want to know about.
With a wriggle in my arms, Ava gurgled before looking up at me with the biggest, brightest, most captivating blue eyes I’d ever seen. When she cracked a smile, at least I think it was a smile, it could’ve just been gas, I immediately turned, looking for Lily. She couldn’t miss this. This was huge. She needed to see it. I needed her here to see it.
I spotted her in the same moment she spotted the redhead. Her smile dropped and was replaced by a scowl, and I watched as she balled her hands into fists before hiding them in her poofy skirt. I never thought I’d be attracted to a fifties housewife. But there was something about the way Lily wore it that had me imagining turning the good girl bad.
“Lily! You’ve got to see this! Ava… Ava, she smiled,” I gush
ed, sounding like a proud dad.
“Obviously not because of the company you keep,” Lily retorted tightly as she wove the handles of the plastic bag on her arm before reaching for Ava.
I didn’t want to let her go.
She was so freaking cute, and she smelt so good, I just wanted to snuggle with her and see if I could convince her to flash me another one of those gummy grins.
“It’s getting late. We have to get going.”
“Oh. Okay.”
I wanted Lily to ask me to come with her. I wished I had the balls to ask her if I could walk her home. Or to her car. Or anything. Instead, I said nothing, letting Lily’s eyes bounce between me and the chick whose boobs pressed up against me, pissing me off.
“Have a good night, Zach. And remember if it’s not on, it’s not on.”
And with her final parting retort, Lily and Ava left me standing there, gob smacked. Did she really think I was the kind of guy who’d pick up some chick in a bar and take her home? I wasn’t that guy. I might’ve been, once upon a time in another life, but things had changed. I’d changed. I had responsibilities now. Responsibilities I took seriously. And I didn’t give a rat’s ass how long it took me to prove that to her, I was going to show Lily who the real Zach Higgins was. And she had no idea what she was in for.
8
LILY
“I know. I know. I’m late. Ava wouldn’t settle and then she threw up all over me, so I had to get changed or I was going to smell like Ava’s breakfast all day. Shit! I’m so sorry, Sage. How busy are we today?” I babbled without taking a breath.
“Firstly, stop. Sit. Breathe,” Sage instructed, nudging me onto the stool behind the counter.
Normally I’d be annoyed by her bossy attitude, but today I found myself thankful for it. I needed someone to just make decisions for me for a minute. Until recently, I’d considered myself doing alright in the adulting side of life. I could cook for myself. I knew how to sew on a button. I could do my own laundry without shrinking my sweaters or turning my white clothes pink. I paid my bills, mostly on time. And I’d never had a motor accident. Not even a fender bender or scratched my car in the parking lot. But now, everything felt like it was spiraling so far out of control, I wished I had someone in my life who’d just take control, even if it was only for a minute.
While I’d been caught up in my head, Sage had unclipped Ava from her stroller and was bouncing back and forth on her toes, having a full conversation with the infant in her arms. I hope she wasn’t expecting to get any words of wisdom from her. While she was completely adorable, Ava wasn’t exactly the best at expressing what she wanted. Or maybe I just couldn’t figure it out. She’d scream and I’d be convinced she needed to have her diaper changed only to find her completely clean but hungry. I promised her I’d get the hang of this and sooner rather than later. Most parents had nine months’ notice that their life was going to be upended, I’d had nine minutes. Not that I’d change a thing. I was still dreading the moment Child Services called. A call I knew would come before I was ready. A call, I don’t think I’d ever be ready for.
“Right. Now, Mom.”
My heart stopped. It was the first time someone had referred to me as Mom. Wow! That’s what it felt like.
“Are you listening, Lily?”
“What? Yeah. Sorry. What were you saying?”
“Ava, your silly Mom would forget her head if it wasn’t screwed on today.”
“Isn’t that the truth.”
“Right. Well, why don’t you walk down the street and see about getting us a couple of coffees. You look like you need one, and I wouldn’t turn down a coffee and maybe a donut.”
Sliding off the stool, I pulled my bag out from under the stroller and swung it over my shoulder. “Donuts aren’t a breakfast food.”
“No. But they’re a haven’t-even-been-to-bed-yet morning snack food. So, scoot. I’d like a glaze and a chocolate. Thanks.”
I’d made it all the way to the door, pulling it open and hearing the tiny little bells hanging from the handle jingle before I remembered Ava. Damn, I was really bad at this today. “Ava…”
“Is completely fine here with Aunty Sage for ten minutes. So, get. I need my donut!”
Watching them, I realized Sage was right. They were completely fine. Ava was staring up at Sage like she was from another world, not that I could blame her. I’d known her for a while now and some days it took me a while to adapt to her new hairstyle. Sage was one of those funky young women who didn’t give a toss what people thought about her or who she offended. She wore what she wanted. Spoke her mind. And wasn’t afraid of offending anyone. Today her hair was a deep purple, and I kind of loved it. Part of me wished I had her confidence to do something like that, running my hand down my pleated skirt, but it just wasn’t me. I was who I was, and it was going to have to be enough.
It took forever to get our coffees. Everyone was out and about this morning and wanted to chat. Even though it was the last thing I wanted to do, Grandma had raised me better than to be rude, so I stopped, smiled, exchanged hugs and small talk before excusing myself to rush back to the shop.
Crashing through the door, I ran into the back of a tall, broad back, splashing our coffees all over us and dropping the paper bag to the floor.
“Sh—” I started to cuss, before stopping myself.
“I’m so sorry…” I began apologizing, checking out the back I’d walked straight into and a little lower. I just couldn’t help myself. That denim-clad butt was mighty fine.
He spun around, snapping my eyes up to his stubbled jaw. Damn, this guy was good looking. “Hey, Lil. Are you okay?” he asked, the deep timbre of his voice doing things to me that it really shouldn’t, especially not in public.
“Zach?”
Of course it was him. Why couldn’t it have been anyone else? Seriously! Like, why was he even in here? Did he even know the difference between a rose and a daisy? Probably not. Guys like him don’t need to buy flowers, not when they looked like that. I’m sure he could just click his fingers and the girls dropped to their knees. They probably didn’t even care about being given flowers and having the car doors opened for them or being walked to the front door at the end of the night. All they cared about was what he could do to them between the sheets or on the back seat of his truck. I doubted location was a deal breaker.
“Are you okay? You didn’t burn yourself, did you?”
Burn myself? What was he on about? I must’ve taken too long to figure it out, because he was pointing at the huge wet patch on my chest. At least that’s what I’m choosing to believe he was pointing out. Not the fact that in my haste to get dressed, the second time, I’d misaligned the buttons and there was a gape in the middle of my top showing off my boring beige bra underneath. Yeah, if the ground could just open up and swallow me right about now, that’d be great.
Waving away his concerns, I said, “I’m fine. Nothing a few napkins can’t fix.”
Moving past him, I caught the scent of smoke on his skin and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I couldn’t imagine doing something so dangerous, but I was glad Zach was here. That meant he’d made it through another shift safely.
“If you’re sure?”
“Absolutely. Now, how can I help you? I’ve never seen you in here before.” And trust me, that’s not something I’d ever forget.
Ignoring the smirk on Sage’s face, she started dancing with Ava in the corner near the buckets of roses waiting for me to start turning into something worthy of delivery. Glancing down at Grandma’s gold watch wrapped around my wrist, I realized the time and my heart sped up. At least I was choosing to believe it was the late hour that was making me sweat and not the man standing in front of me, watching my every move.
“So this is where the magic happens. It’s nice.”
“It’s old.”
“Old’s not necessarily bad.”
“It needs a new coat of paint. The sign needs redoing. And the shelv
es out the back need to be fixed before they come crashing down on my head. But it’s all mine and I kinda love it.” I was babbling. And I was embarrassing myself but I couldn’t stop. For some reason, Zach fried my brain.
Reaching out, he took hold of both my hands, stalling my fidgeting. “It’s great, Lily. It really is. You should be proud of yourself.”
Straightening my shoulders, I refused to let his cute smile and that adorable dimple in his left cheek knock me over. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Now, did you need something?”
“Actually, I did.”
Okay. Wasn’t expecting that, but whatever. I could be professional. At least I think I can. “What are you after?”
“I’m not really sure. Flowers?”
Behind him, we both heard Sage snort. Not that it could be ignored. I was pretty sure it was deliberate. “Well, this is a florist, so you’ve come to the right place. Any idea on color? Type of flowers?”
“Ah…”
“Okay. Let me make this a bit easier. Is it for an occasion?”
“Kind of.”
This was going so well. NOT! “Is it for a birthday? In sympathy? For an older woman? For a younger woman? For a guy?”
Zach’s cheeks turned red as I threw options at him, and I should’ve felt guilty that seeing him looking awkward and unbalanced made me feel a bit better. It meant I wasn’t the only one. “A woman. Definitely a woman. No occasion.”
“Okay. No occasion flowers for a woman.”
“Perfect.”
“Anything in particular you’d like?”
“Whatever you like. If you could just make me a bunch of whatever flowers you’d like, or someone like you would like, that’d be great.” Zach rubbed the back of his neck and looked everywhere but at me. Poor guy. He wasn’t the first guy to walk in here and have no idea what it was he wanted, and I doubted he’d be the last, but I had to admit, he was the first I was enjoying watching squirm. For some reason, one guys hadn’t quite figured out yet – flowers meant something. They said something. They gave women hope.
Fallen: An Everyday Heroes World Novel (The Everyday Heroes World) Page 5