by Tara Randel
Melissa noticed her drawn features for the first time. “Are you sick?”
“Just need to visit the restroom. Be right back.”
She placed her glass on a table and hurried to the ladies’ room. Once inside, she stopped before the mirror, staring at her reflection. So much depended on this night. What if she lost to Jasmine? Again? Would her parents hold true to their threat to sell the shop? Knowing what Will had done might change their minds, but there was always the chance that being away on the cruise might cement their decision to sell anyway.
And what if Dylan wanted to talk? He’d made it clear he expected to at some point. Could she look at him? Meet the strange-colored eyes that not only fascinated her, but also gave her goose bumps.
The headache she’d fought all day slowly crept up her neck to her temples. She opened her small clutch. Lipstick and keys. No pain reliever. Great. Just great.
The door opened and the heavy scent of Coco by Chanel filled the room.
“I take it you haven’t forgiven my son?”
Kady glanced in the mirror to see Jasmine walking toward her. “No.”
“Not telling you the truth was a rather boneheaded move.”
“I’m not going to argue with you.”
Jasmine set her small purse on the vanity top. “There’s something you have to understand about Dylan,” she said as she rooted through the bag. “Out of all my boys, he’s got the deepest sense of responsibility. He needs to protect. He’s hardwired that way.”
Kady sent her a sideways look. “Hardwired?”
Jasmine shrugged. “I hear my boys talk.”
“I get your point.”
“I don’t think you do. Dylan would give his life to save the people he loves. If he could have taken the bullet for his partner, he would have, without hesitation. You aren’t the only one he kept in the dark, Kady. I didn’t know his real motives here, either.”
“Doesn’t it bother you? Being lied to?”
Jasmine smoothed on dark berry lipstick, then said, “I don’t agree with Dylan’s tactics, but I understand him. In his mind, lying to us meant protecting us. He saw it as a means to an end.”
“I’m not sure if I can live with that kind of disregard for the truth.”
“Then maybe you’re the one who shows him there’s another way. You don’t have to know every single nuance of his job to trust him. He can protect and you can believe in him because you love him.”
Kady sent her a flabbergasted look.
“Yes. I can see it written all over the both of you. You love him.”
“I do.”
“Then work things out.”
“I don’t know.”
Jasmine patted her on the arm. “You’ll never know until you try.”
Kady met her gaze in the mirror again. Could she? Get over the hurt enough to forgive him?
Jasmine dropped the tube in her purse. “Come along. Dinner should be served soon and then we find out who this year’s winner is.”
At the prospect of losing to the woman standing beside her, Kady’s spirits plummeted even lower.
Jasmine watched her with perceptive eyes, so Kady pushed away from the vanity. “After you.”
As they left the room, Dylan stood sentinel a few feet away. Kady stumbled over her feet. Pain seared her chest. She’d thought she was ready to see him, but obviously not. Maybe she never would be.
Ever the protector, he reached out a hand to steady her, but she dodged him. “I’ll see you both later. Good luck, Jasmine.”
“You, too, my dear.”
Close call. She didn’t know what she’d have done if Dylan had touched her. Melted? Hit him? In her exhausted state, she couldn’t decide between the two.
She got through the next forty minutes of pushing roasted chicken around her plate and making small talk. She swore she felt Dylan’s gaze on her back, but refused to turn and give him the pleasure of knowing she was thinking about him. Once the table was cleared, the award ceremony started. She was so tense she’d snap in half.
The emcee for the night started off by thanking the hotel for hosting the convention and soon the winners of the different categories were being announced. Hands clasped tightly in her lap, Kady waited. The list grew smaller, until the centerpiece category was next. Melissa grabbed her arm and squeezed.
“Please, please, please,” her friend repeated like a mantra.
Despite the hurt, Kady smiled. And when Melissa was announced as the winner, everyone at the table jumped up and clapped. Kady, truly happy, watched her friend hurry across the room to receive her award. She caught a glimpse of Melissa’s beaming husband and her heart ached all over again.
When the bouquet category was announced, Kady crossed her fingers. Holding her breath, she waited to hear her name. Her heart pounded loudly in the hushed murmurs of the room.
The emcee finally spoke. “And the winner is...Jasmine Matthews.”
Kady blinked. Shook her head. Tried to reconcile the truth.
She’d lost. Again.
As the noise level of the room ratcheted up, her hearing dulled. Melissa spoke to her, but she caught only a few muffled words. Was she having an adverse reaction to Jasmine winning? If it wasn’t so sad, she could almost start laughing. All her hard work. For nothing. Fourth time was not the charm.
Jasmine gave her speech, but Kady could only wallow in her dismal failure.
No matter what she did, she couldn’t seem to accomplish her goals. Her parents wanted to sell the shop. Would they still after learning she lost again? Will was on board now, admitting he admired her work, but would it matter? Too little too late? And Dylan? Well, she couldn’t go there. Not now.
She had lots of thinking to do.
And she was never, ever, entering the bouquet competition again.
The ceremony mercifully ended. Folks gathered around to congratulate the winners and say goodbye to friends. As of tomorrow, the convention attendees would be heading home. The Sunshine State Florist Convention would meet again in another year.
Taking hold of her clutch, Kady eased through the crowd to pick up her bouquet. She needed to get out of here. When she neared the table, she found her bouquet next to Jasmine’s. What had been the defining factor between the two? Could she have done anything differently? No. As far as she was concerned, her entry was beautiful. And hopefully the brides who had viewed her handiwork during the day would agree and reward her by using her services when they planned their wedding ceremonies.
With a shuttered sigh, she picked up her bouquet. Sniffed the aromatic fragrance. Blinked back hot tears. She would not cry. She would not.
Taking a cleansing breath, she turned to leave, only to find Dylan standing in her way.
“I’m sorry,” he said, somber voice matching his expression.
Clutching the bouquet in front of her, it didn’t escape her notice that she held the piece just like a bride would, standing before her groom. Only this wasn’t a wedding and Dylan was far from her groom.
She shrugged. “Not in the cards, I guess.”
“You did a beautiful job.”
“Yet your mother won again.”
“If it makes you feel better, she feels bad about it.”
“No. It doesn’t help.” She lowered the bouquet. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m leaving now.”
Dylan reached out to stop her, then dropped his hand. “Can we go somewhere to talk?”
“I don’t have anything to say.”
“But I do.”
She stared at him, heartbroken. Why did it have to end like this?
Mistaking her silence for an opportunity to speak, Dylan took her elbow and steered her through the open patio doors. So empty and unsure of herself, Kady let him lead her to a quiet spot. The cold night sent shivers over her skin, but she ignored the discomfort. In the dim lighting, Dylan’s gaze, resolute and unyielding, met hers.
“We have something good going, Kady. From the moment we met there was this spark of attraction, which has grown every day since. Yes, I lied to you, but knowing why, can’t we come to some sort of understanding? I love you. I’ve never told that to another woman because I vowed to myself that when I did someday say those words, I’d mean them from the depths of my heart.”
Kady swallowed hard. Tears burned the backs of her eyelids. She believed him; she did. But her world was falling apart around her.
“I love you, too, Dylan. But I need some time. Space. To figure out my jumbled emotions. Can you understand?”
“Yes. I’m not giving up on you. On us. After I was shot I never imagined I’d have much of a future, but now, all I can think about is us, together through the long haul. No secrets, no lies, no regrets. Consider that when you make your decision.”
After his speech, Dylan leaned down and gently brushed his lips over hers. Her traitorous body reacted like she always did when he kissed her. She melted beneath his touch and knew that was never going to change.
Dylan broke contact. Stepped back. His open expression hid whatever emotion was brewing inside him.
“It’s up to you, Kady.”
As he walked away, tears streamed unchecked down her face. He’d laid it on the line. Now she had to decide what step to take next.
* * *
TWO WEEKS HAD passed since the disaster Kady would always remember as the convention debacle. She’d had time to think, time to see events from Dylan’s perspective. Forgive him, even. He hadn’t planned to lie to her. Things had spiraled out of control and they’d all been sucked up in the vortex. True to his word, he’d kept his distance. Was he back at work? Still bothered by his leg injury? She wanted answers, but held off calling him.
“I like this arrangement,” Lilli said, holding the sample book up for Max to see. “What do you think?”
“You have until the end of the month to get your wedding plans completed because I’m marrying you with or without all the festivities.”
Lilli giggled. “I love a strong man.”
The couple had finally scheduled an appointment to finalize the floral choices for their wedding. Over the chatter in Cuppa Joe, they’d discussed their options. Kady had hoped to set up an area in the shop for just this purpose, but her parents hadn’t decided a direction for The Lavish Lily yet.
They hadn’t been happy when they learned the shop had been the scene of a drug bust. Even less happy that Kady had gotten involved with a DEA agent and didn’t have a clue as to what had gone on right under her nose. Although curiosity brought in new customers, Kady acknowledged the events during the convention would have a role in her folks’ verdict.
As much as they were disappointed in Kady, they were blindsided by Will’s confession. The boy wonder had screwed up in such a big way they were clueless as to how to proceed in their relationship with him. The only bright spot was that their mother was thrilled that he and Christine were a couple.
Kady sympathized with him, knowing how it felt to be the object of their parents’ displeasure. No one in the Lawrence family was coping very well these days. But in spite of the trouble, she and Will had made time to sit down for a long, overdue talk. They were able to patch things up and move on. Kady had her big brother back.
Once she finished her discussion with her friends, she had a meeting with her family. Her stomach twisted, a chronic condition if the past two weeks were any indication. Today she’d find out her fate and that of the shop.
Kady jotted down Lilli and Max’s choices. Everyone rose. Lilli hugged her. “Thanks. You’ve been so patient and I appreciate it.”
“It’s what I do,” Kady said, knowing her big fake smile wasn’t fooling her friend.
Max’s troubled eyes focused on her. “Have you talked to Dylan?”
She stopped placing her belongings in the tote. She knew Max and Dylan had become friends during his stay in Cypress Pointe. “No.”
“He went back to Miami.”
Her breath caught. She fussed with the objects in her bag to cover her reaction. “I guess he had to tie up the case.”
Max nodded. “He’ll be back, you know.”
Lilli elbowed Max. “Why don’t we change the subject?”
“Why? He’s crazy about Kady. She should know.”
Oh, she did. His parting kiss confirmed his love and so much more. Would she be able to get over the hurt and lack of trust? Even though she truly loved him?
“Thanks for the news flash, Max.”
He grinned, knowing exactly that she was yanking his chain.
Looping the tote strap over her shoulder, Kady headed for the door. “On that note, I have another meeting.”
Lilli frowned. “Will you be okay?”
“Yes,” Kady answered, straightening her shoulders. “Yes. I will.”
The walk down Main Street took only minutes. The beginning of February had warmed up. Perfect tourist weather. She loved this town. Loved the people. Hoped her parents opted for the shop to stay in the family.
Before long she was in the back room of The Lavish Lily. She and Will on one side of the worktable, her parents on the other. Christine manned the front counter so the meeting would not be disturbed by customers.
Her father cleared his voice. “Your mother and I have had much to think about.”
Kady tried not to cringe at the censure in his tone.
“Kady. We understand that the circumstances surrounding events at The Lavish Lily were not within your control. As was the outcome of the competition. It was wrong of us to put undue pressure on you.”
Some of that undue pressure eased from her chest. So far, so good.
“Your brother came by the house last night,” her mother continued. “We had a good talk. While we aren’t happy with his actions, we understand his motives. Seems both of our children have been surprises lately. Good and bad.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your ideas have a great deal of merit, Kady. Will explained your plans and how they affect the bottom line.”
“But I explained all of that to you.”
“You did,” her father said. “But more from the angle of how you would run the shop. Not the business.” Her father drew a heavy breath. “Now, the other news. Your mother and I have an opportunity to sell our shares of the shop.”
She sneaked a look at Will. His impassive features gave nothing away.
“To Will?”
“No.”
Her heart sank. “To whom, then?”
Her parents exchanged glances. “We’ve had an offer from a serious buyer. We’d like you to meet the person and make the final decision.”
“But—”
“We think this is a positive change,” her mother interrupted. “For everyone. Will can continue with the finances and you can continue with the creative side. A new partner will also add a fresh outlook.”
Disbelief spread through her. “I don’t... So what happens next?”
“You meet the new part owner. Tell us what you think.”
“You really trust me to make this decision?”
Her parents looked at each other, then at her. “We do,” her mother answered.
Wow. Okay. “When do I meet this person?”
Her mother rounded the table. “Today.” She cupped Kady’s face with her hands. “Kady, our decision to sell is not a reflection on what happened here while we were gone. You handled the situation quite well, in spite of not having all the facts.” She frowned at Will. “Your father and I want to travel. Do things we never had time for before. I do trust you’ll do The Lavish Lily proud.”
Apparently not enough to give Kady full control.
She then hooked arms with her husband and son. “We’ll send the potential buyer back so you two can meet.”
Kady rubbed her forehead. “Fine.”
Her mother chuckled. “And get ready for another wedding. It seems your brother and Christine are headed down the aisle.”
Kady gaped at her brother.
His lips lifted at the corners. “We’ll fill you in later.”
“You bet you will.”
As her family left, nerves took up residence in her stomach. Unlike the last meeting, this time her folks wanted her opinion. But what if she disagreed with her parents’ choice? As much as she was humbled by their newfound belief in her, what if she made the wrong decision? How could she be so happy and so panicked at the same time?
Kady played with a daisy left over from an arrangement her mother had been putting together on the worktable. She lifted the stem, ran her fingers over the delicate bud. With one sweeping motion she could yank off the white petals, destroying the beautiful creation. It might make her feel better, but it wouldn’t change the circumstances. She would have to work with a partner.
“Kady?”
She dropped the flower and twirled. Her eyes grew wide. “Dylan.”
He stood in the threshold of the hallway. “I just got back from Miami and needed to see you.”
“This isn’t a good time...” She stopped, stammered over her words. How was it possible he was standing here now? She’d thought about what she’d say when she saw him again, what she’d do. But this hadn’t been in any of those scenarios. “My parents are considering selling their shares of the business. My potential new partner will be here soon.”