Between Him and Us

by Nicole Richard

  “You look beautiful. This really is a good place to start.”

  “You did a great job.”

  She squeezed my shoulders and then undid the snaps on the cape. I stood and gave her another big hug, making sure to squeeze her extra tight.

  “Thank you again,” I whispered before taking a step back. “All right, what’s my damage?”

  “No damage, I’m glad I could do this. That’s what sisters are for.” She gently grabbed my arms and squeezed, silently telling me she would always be there to help me in any which way she could. That is what sisters are for.

  “I appreciate this, Leez . . . a lot.”

  She nodded in a don’t-mention-it kind of way. “So, what do you have planned next?” she asked while walking us toward the front. “Tamra, this one’s on me.”

  “You got it, boss,” Tamra answered, sporting a huge grin. “You look stunning, Lilly.”

  “Thanks. Leeza did a great job.” I turned back to my sister. “Maybe I should hit these little shops and find something cute to wear, even though I have nowhere to wear it to.”

  “Lilly . . .”

  “Hey, don’t worry about me. This . . .” I said as I combed my fingers through the ends of my hair. “This is the start to the new and improved Lilly. I’m gonna be okay; it’s just going to take a little getting used to.” I could only hope it would be okay.

  “Why don’t you stop by Mrs. Wilkes? I bet she has more sunflowers in stock and would love to see you.”

  “I’ll do that. Maybe I can find some tulips or something for the house. Does she still keep that little bucket of lollipops with the bubble gum in the middle on the counter?”

  “Sure does.” She gave me that knowing smile.

  Those lollipops had always been the highlight of our days when our mother dragged us along for her weekly trip to the flower shop. Leeza smiled, sensing I wouldn’t miss stopping by now. “We should do dinner or something this weekend, maybe next?”

  “I’d like that.”

  I really did want to try.

  “Good.” She smiled, and we hugged one last time.

  I stepped out onto the sidewalk, turned my face toward the sky, and closed my eyes. The warm sun kissed my cheeks, and I allowed myself the briefest of moment to imagine it was Tyler’s warmth. Then I turned my attention straight ahead and strolled down the sidewalk.

  Cars lined the street, the cobblestone sidewalk was uneven beneath my feet, and I held my breath as I passed the coffee shop. Seconds later, I pulled the door open to Mrs. Wilkes quaint corner store flower shop and stopped in my tracks.

  The place was a mess.

  Hydration buckets were scattered about, and stacks of boxes took up quite a bit of floor space. It was either they got a large shipment in or they were packing to close up shop.

  Back behind the counter, Mrs. Wilkes was busy wrapping a bundle of calla lilies while talking to her customer. Another patron waited patiently in line with her head buried in her phone, so I decided to wander around, careful not to bump into anything as I took in the inventory.

  I bent to smell a bunch of pink roses, smiling and taking in a deep breath. They had always been Leeza’s favorite. I moved about, smelling some of my favorites until a loud popping sound made me jump. What I assumed was a motor to one of the two refrigeration coolers fizzled to silence.

  “Shit!” a deep, voice cursed, and Mrs. Wilkes gasped.

  “Easton,” she scolded. “We have customers.”

  “Sorry, Aunt Millie,” the man’s voice called, and it sent a tiny shiver down my arms. I waited to see if I would hear him again. When I didn’t, I craned my neck back a bit to see if I could put a face to that voice.

  Sticking halfway out from behind the cooler was a guy in faded blue jeans. His T-shirt had risen up, leaving a few visible inches of muscular tanned skin and a deliciously lean waist.

  “Looks like I’m going to have to make a trip to the hardware store,” he called, still hiding. Not wanting to get busted checking out the guy, I turned to face the vast selection of flowers again.

  “All right, let me get you some money.”

  “It’s okay, Aunt Millie, I got it.”

  The voice was exceptionally close, and when I turned, I ran smack dab into hard muscle, smashing the bouquet of tulips I had just picked up. I hadn’t realized I was falling until strong hands were saving me from face-planting the hard floor.

  “I’m so sorry.” The words rolled smoothly over my skin.

  Being this close made me understand why I was drawn to that voice. If I opened my eyes, I bet I would find a man who had a particular shade of eyes that hypnotized me.

  “Miss?” He spoke low, and I held my breath.

  When I opened my eyes, my knees buckled slightly, and I was thankful he still had a hold of me.

  “I’m sorry,” I apologized, sounding like an idiot. “I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.” I stepped to the side, missing his strong hands the second they left my skin.

  “Sunflower girl.”

  “Sunflower girl?” I repeated, confused.

  “Sorry.” He shook his head. “The other day . . . I never got your name.” He held his hand out. “Name’s Easton.” I played his name over in my head, and by the third time around, I had convinced myself that I liked it.

  He held my hand, and I reveled in the warmth while my eyes traveled from his chest to those damn eyes.

  “Lilly, dear, are you all right?” Mrs. Wilkes called.

  “I’m okay!” I called out without taking my eyes from Easton’s.

  “Lilly, huh?” His lips grew in a slow and blinding grin. “I think you might be my favorite flower,” he said only loud enough for me to hear.

  It took a second for me to register his corny pick-up line, and when I did, I shook my head, rolled my eyes, and scoffed. That was the most stupid, not to mention ridiculous thing, I had ever heard.

  “That bad, huh?” He gave a quick, deep laugh. I bit the inside of my cheek and nodded.

  “Very.” I tried not to laugh. I didn’t want to offend him, but I failed.

  Today was turning out to be full of surprises. I hadn’t laughed this much in what felt like years.

  “Damn.” Still smiling, he squeezed his fist in his palm. When he stepped aside to give me room, he asked, “Is there anything I can help you find?”

  “You work here?”

  “Is that hard to believe?” He cocked his brow.

  I hadn’t expected a man who looked like him to work in a place like this. If this were a hardware store or a construction site maybe, but not a flower shop. I thought about it for another second and concluded that it actually was hard to believe, but I wouldn’t be rude and admit to it.

  “No, I guess not.” He chuckled, obviously not believing me. “It was nice to meet you, Easton, if you’ll excuse me.” I picked up the smashed bunch of tulips from the floor and walked them over to the counter.

  “Hi, Mrs. Wilkes, I’m sorry about these.” I set the flowers on the counter and pulled the bucket of lollipops closer to me before grabbing two. When Mrs. Wilkes eyed the candies with a smile on her lips, I grinned.

  “One’s for Leeza.”

  “Of course, dear, and don’t worry about the flowers. I’ll probably be dumping a lot of these anyway if Easton here doesn’t get that dang refrigerator fixed.” She huffed. “If I didn’t have all the flowers for the Burton’s wedding taking up almost the entire walk-in cooler in the back, there probably wouldn’t be a problem, but . . .” She huffed one more time, making the lines around her mouth wrinkle. “Sorry about that, why don’t you go ahead and grab another bunch.” She took the smashed flowers from me and discarded them in the trash.

  “Thank you. I also wanted to thank you for the sunflowers. They were beautiful. ”

  “You’re welcome, dear, anytime.”

  My mother was such a good customer of Mrs. Wilkes that, on occasion, she was kind enough to extend her generosity to Leeza and me.
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  I turned on my heel and was unexpectedly met by Easton, who was holding a fresh bunch of white tulips in one hand and a bunch of pink roses in the other.

  “For you.” I cocked one eyebrow. “I kind of saw you smelling the roses,” he admitted sheepishly, but this time he didn’t smile. Instead, he pinned his gaze to mine and analyzed me. I should have felt like running far, far away from that look. But I didn’t, and I couldn’t figure out why this man unnerved me—in a good way.

  “Thank you,” I forced out, reaching for the white tulips.

  “How about having a cup of coffee with me?” he asked, still holding on to the other bunch of flowers.

  “Thank you, but I’ll have to pass.” I managed a half-hearted smile.

  “Wow. That was the quickest let down in history.”

  “It isn’t you,” I rushed out. “It’s just, well, coffee—” I made a show of my dislike for the drink, and he laughed.

  “I understand, maybe a drink sometime?”

  “Thank you for the offer, but I can’t.” I didn’t want to explain myself any further. I turned to face the door, and he let go of the flowers. “Thank you, Mrs. Wilkes.” I held both bunches above my head and didn’t look back.

  “Lilly!” I called, trying not to yell as I rushed down the sidewalk. “Hey, Lilly!”

  How the heck did she get that far and so quick?

  “Your wallet.” She stopped and turned around. “You forgot this.” I came to a stop and held the wallet out to her but didn’t let go. “Have a drink with me.”

  Her eyes searched mine for a second, and she sighed. “Easton, I shouldn’t.”

  “Why not? Do you have a boyfriend, a husband, someone that would be upset if you and I had a drink together and shared in conversation?” I didn’t see a ring on her finger and both times I saw her in the cemetery, she had been alone.

  “Don’t you have a trip to the hardware store to make?”

  “I do. What about after?” She glanced over her shoulder, and when she turned back, she made me one happy man.

  “Maybe one drink?”

  “One drink,” I played back. My grin spread, and I finally released her wallet. “Did you want to have that drink tonight or—”

  “Is tomorrow night okay?”

  “You aren’t going to try to find a way to cancel on me, are you?”

  She took a second before she shook her head.

  “Perfect. Did you want to meet here?” I threw my thumb over my shoulder. “Well, not right here, but at the shop?” By the way her eyes narrowed and her lips parted but no words came out, I could tell the wheels were turning in her pretty head. “I live in the apartment above the shop.”

  “Oh, of course.” She shook it off. “What time should I meet you?”

  “Does six work for you?”

  “Six is good. Tomorrow. I’ll meet you at the flower shop,” she confirmed, pointing to the front door.

  “Good. Buzz me, and I’ll come down and let you in.”

  “Okay, then. I’ll see you.”

  “See ya, Lilly.” I took a few backward steps, grinning like a fool.

  “See ya.”

  I spent the remainder of yesterday and today searching for that part and by the time I was done running around town and made it back to the shop, still with no part in hand. After a quick shower, I barely had enough time to pull on jeans before the buzzer rang. Not wanting to make her wait, I grabbed the first clean shirt I could find and rushed down the stairs. Weaving through the buckets of flowers, I threw my shirt over my head and turned the lock.

  “Hey, glad you could make it.” I stepped to the side, welcoming Lilly in. “I need to grab my phone and wallet. Did you want to come up for a second?”

  “I’ll wait here,” she rushed out and looked away.

  “Okay. I’ll be right back.” I raced up the stairs and made quick work of grabbing my wallet and phone before locking up and taking the stairs two at a time. As I neared the bottom two steps, I brought myself back to earth and behaved. Lilly stood waiting next to the door, lost in thought as she gazed out the window.

  “What do you think about the sports bar two blocks over?”

  “That works.”

  “Perfect.” I held the door open. “After you.”

  “Thank you.”

  We walked the first block in an awkward silence, which was understandable. Looking both ways, we entered the crosswalk and my hand went to the small of her back. It felt natural to be touching her, and if it made her uncomfortable, she didn’t show it.

  “So, Lilly, are you from around here?”

  “I am. Born and raised. What about you?” She smiled.

  I didn’t get a chance to answer. I held the door to the sports bar open, and she walked in ahead of me. I couldn’t stop my eyes as they traveled the length of her back, over her hips, and down to her ass. I turned my head to the side, hoping she couldn’t hear my groan.

  “Thank you.” She looked back with a smile on her lips and held her eyes on mine. There it was again. The unexplainable way she looked at me that pulled me in. That didn’t allow for me to take my eyes off her. I sucked in a deep breath and let her lead me into the bar.

  “Is this good?” I said loud enough for her to hear me over the other patrons and the din of the twenty-something televisions. “Or would you rather a booth?”

  Lilly shook her head and sat on a worn stool. I took the one next to her. “Your hair. It’s pretty.” I stopped myself from tucking a strand behind her ear. I didn’t need her thinking I was some kind of freak. Or worse, ruin any chance of getting to know her better.

  “Thank you.” A light blush spread across her cheeks and she pulled at the ends. “My sister does amazing work.”

  “I definitely agree.”

  “What’ll it be?” the bartender asked, wiping the counter in front of us.

  “Miller Lite,” Lilly answered.

  “I’ll have the same. Could we get an order of nachos, too, please?”

  “Good choice, coming right up.”

  Resting my elbow on the bar, I swiveled my stool and set one foot on the brass foot rail. I set the other on the base of her stool. “So, tell me about you.” She flicked her eyes to my thighs and how they enclosed her. “Is this okay?”

  “You’re fine, but I would rather hear more about you.”

  “It’s like that, huh?” A deep chuckle filled the space between us.

  “And that is supposed to mean, what exactly?” She eyed me for a quick beat, and when her tongue peeked out wetting her bottom lip, I had to catch my breath.

  “I just get the feeling you’re not one to share so easily.”

  “Here you go.” The bartender slid two pint glasses our way. “Did you want to start a tab?” she asked as she tapped away on her computer screen.

  “Please,” I answered. Sure, Lilly agreed to one drink, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to try for two.

  “Holler if you need anything else.” The bartender tapped the counter and moved on to the two guys in the corner.

  “So sure of yourself, aren’t you?”

  “Prepared would be a better term.”

  I was merely thinking ahead. We could hit it off and be there for a while, which was what I was hoping for. Or we could have one drink and part ways. Either way, I would leave it up to her.

  I held my glass up. “Is it safe to cheers to a new friendship?”

  “To a new friendship.” Lilly smiled cautiously, tapped her glass against mine, and then took a long sip. When she set her glass down, she licked her lips and asked, “Why haven’t I seen you around before?”

  “Maybe you weren’t looking hard enough.”

  “You are too much, you know that?” She shook her head and huffed out a laugh.

  “I’m just messing with you.” I patted her thigh, and I didn’t miss the way her eyes traveled the length of my arm and then back up. “I’m originally from upstate New York, moved here a little over a year and a half
ago.”

  “I’m surprised you don’t have an accent.”

  I smiled, knowing exactly the accent she was referring to. “The Noo Yawk accent . . . that one?” I laid it on thick. The smirk on her face and her eye roll told me all I needed to know. I sounded exactly as ridiculous as I meant to.

  “Yes, that one.”

  “That’s not real, unless you’re Fran Drescher from The Nanny.” I goaded her. The accent was very real if you were from the greater New York Metro area.

  “And what do you know about The Nanny?”

  “That my sixteen-year-old self thought Miss. Fine was fiiine as hell and Mr. Sheffield was either blind or dumb.” I winked.

  Not expecting my answer, Lilly almost spit her beer across the bar, which had me rolling with laughter. Still, I managed to pat her back. I couldn’t have her choking to death.

  “Oh my goodness, you definitely are ridiculous.” She held her stomach as she leaned toward the bar, laughing.

  She was absolutely stunning when she smiled. There was something beautiful and raw about the sound of her laugh, and somehow I knew. If things continued the way I hoped they would, I might have to rethink a lot of things about my life.

  “So what brought you south?”

  “My grandmother wanted to move here and since my Aunt Millie was already here, I figured, why not?”

  “Is your grandmother originally from New York?” I couldn’t resist watching her thumb as it moved up and down, stroking the side of the glass, absentmindedly smearing the condensation.

  “She was born in Virginia but moved to New York after getting a job as a nanny. About a year later, she met my grandfather. Shortly after that, they were married, and she never left.” I drank my beer. “She never indented to make New York her permanent home, but I guess that was a sacrifice she made for love.”

  The noise grew louder, and I had a half mind to ask the bartender if she would mind turning down the volume on the televisions. I didn’t want to miss a single word this woman had to say.

  “So how are you related to Mrs. Wilkes? Is she your mom’s side or your dad’s side?”

  “She’s my great aunt, actually. On my dad’s side. Aunt Millie and my grandmother were sisters.”