by Toni Aleo
I shoot her a dry look. “I don’t like him. Or find him handsome.”
“Liar.”
“I don’t—” My words fall off when I see Reed coming out of the bank across the road. “Shit, there he is,” I say, rushing around the counter, almost tripping over myself to get to the door.
I move aside the curtain and watch as Reed tucks some cash into his pocket, shaking his head. His other hand is holding a long brown leash that is tethered to the collar of a young-looking basset hound whose ears are already brushing the ground as his tongue hangs out of his mouth. Reed bends down, cuddling the puppy’s head into his chest before giving him a kiss.
That lucky dog.
Shit. No, I did not think that.
“Yeah, you aren’t attracted to him at all.”
I roll my eyes. “Shut up, Gen.”
I’m met with her laughter as Reed slowly stands, his body long and lean. His shoulders are so wide, and I want nothing more than to grab on to them before I press my lips to his. God, I’ve always wanted to do that. My heart picks up pace, and chills run down my spine. Even from where I am, I can see his large hands, and of course, I want to feel them on my body. This stupid crush of mine needs to go on somewhere. It’s well beyond its expiration date. Especially when Reed doesn’t like me. Which is beyond me.
I’m a freaking delight.
I watch as Reed looks around the town, a scowl on his stony face. People walk by him, and he doesn’t miss them whispering as they walk away. He rolls his eyes, letting out a long breath before he looks to the flower shop. I squeal and shut the curtain quickly. “Shit, I think he saw me watching him.”
“Oh no,” Gen says dryly, and I glare back to her. “He saw the person who is stalking him.”
I look out the curtain once more, and he’s coming toward the shop. “Shit! I think he’s coming here!”
“Whatever will you do?”
“Gen! Seriously.”
As I run to her, Gen holds up the magazine. “Seriously, I think I want purple lilacs in my bouquets.”
“Shh,” I demand as I fix my hair, making sure it frames my face. Gen watches me, shaking her head as the door opens, the little bell signaling a visitor.
Reed’s rough voice fills the shop. “Hey, Mrs. Williams, can I bring my dog in here?”
I look at Gen wide-eyed, and she looks back at me. She then rolls her eyes before leaning over on her stool. “Come on in, Reed. Mrs. Williams won’t mind.”
“Oh, hey, Gen.”
“Hey there,” she says sweetly as he comes around the corner, his sweet pup in his arms.
He stops when he sees me, his eyes narrowing. “Oh, hey.”
“Hey,” I say, my body shaking with anticipation. Of what, I have no clue, but I’m trembling. “Cute dog.”
A little grin pulls at his lips as he looks down at the pup. The pup looks adoringly up at him before licking his chin. “Thanks. His name is Wilbur.”
I turn to goo. “Wilbur? How sweet.”
When he looks back to me, his grin is gone and his eyes are dark. “Thanks.”
His eyes meet mine then, and gone is the goo, replaced by blistering hot fire. My nipples go hard, and my thighs tremble at the thought of him touching me or giving me that grin he just gave Wilbur. When he brings his lip between his teeth, I swallow hard.
Oh. Oh my. He needs to leave.
“Yeah, okay,” he says, and Gen smiles over at him. “Looking for flowers for the wedding?”
She nods. “I am. Heard you finally agreed to be the best man.”
He shrugs. “He wouldn’t leave me be until I did.”
“Well, you made him incredibly happy.”
“Good,” he says as he rewards Gen with a little grin. That pisses me off. He scowls at me but grins at Gen. He doesn’t even know her!
“So, um, where is Mrs. Williams?”
“She’s home. Broke her hip, so Del has been covering for her in the mornings.”
He looks back to me. “You work here too?”
I nod. “Yeah.”
His face twists in a mixture of disgust and confusion. “Why?”
“Why not?”
“Don’t you work at the bar?”
“I do,” I say with a shrug. “And the bakery, the diner, the clinic, and then here. Sometimes the library if Ambrosia is swamped. Really, I go wherever anyone needs me.”
He looks annoyed. “So, you don’t have a career?”
God, he’s such a jerk! I glare. “Mawmaw says my career is this town.”
He rolls his eyes. “Not surprised at all.”
Oh, I want to kick him. “What do you need?” I say, and it comes out sharp. He notices.
His eyes are full of mischief, but then sorrow fills those green depths as he says, “I need flowers for Mom and Ambrosia. Something to bring a smile to their faces.”
My heart clenches in my chest. “Oh.”
“Yeah. Can you help me?”
“Of course,” I say, and I flash him a huge smile, hoping it will bring some joy to him.
He just glares at me, though.
Ass.
Gen looks up at him as I go to the flower chest to see what we have. “How are they doing?” she asks, and I try not to listen, but it’s hard when Reed speaks.
“Mom is struggling. Ambrosia is being strong but only when Mom is around. I figure since I’m leaving Monday, I wanted to make them a little happy.”
“That’s nice.”
And it is, but what bothers me is that he’s for sure leaving. I sort of hoped he would stay, which makes no damn sense, I know. I roll my eyes as I look back to him. “We don’t have anything I think they’ll like here. I’ll be back.”
Not giving him time to answer me or turn me down, I head to the back and get to work with the supply that was supposed to be put together for tomorrow’s orders. I’ve been helping Mrs. Williams for almost six years now. When she lost her husband, she was desperate for help. Mrs. Williams and Mawmaw have been close my whole life. She gave me my first job as a teenager. She’s always been kind to me, so of course, I was here to help. I love it here too. I love pulling bouquets together and bringing people joy. Weddings are my favorite, though. We don’t have many, but when we do, Mrs. Williams and I have a field day.
“Too bad you don’t want to stay and visit.”
I press my lips together as Reed says, “Yeah, I have to get back to work. My mom isn’t too happy about it.”
“I bet not. She misses you dearly. I know your dad always told me that. He loved you very much.”
Oh, did he. Old Man McElroy loved his children, but there was always something about Reed that brought a special little twinkle to his eye. I think he may have blamed himself for Reed leaving, when really, it was no one’s fault. Reed just wasn’t meant for this town.
“Yeah, I loved him.”
“Me too,” Gen agrees. “He always made everything so much more fun. When he offered to let me have my wedding on his grounds, I actually cried.”
“I thought you two were getting married at the Blu.”
“We are, but I almost changed it ’cause Mr. McElroy wanted me to have it at the distillery.”
They share a laugh, and Reed’s deep, throaty laugh shakes me to my core. I swallow hard as I pair some sunflowers with white and red daisies before wrapping them in gold paper with a big yellow bow.
“Well, wherever it is, I’m sure it will be a beautiful day.”
“I hope so,” Gen says, and it will be. With me as the maid of honor and the florist, Gen’s day will be perfection.
I inhale deeply before I look down at the bouquet. I’m nervous, actually sweating as I glance at the flowers one last time. They’re beautiful, and I know Mrs. McElroy and Ambrosia will love them. But I want Reed to love them.
Why? You shouldn’t like him!
I’m insane.
Finally, I pick them up and head to the front. Gen and Reed look to me as I come around the counter and hand him the bou
quets. “Here. I hope they like them.”
He takes them from me, his eyes widening as he looks them over. “Wow.”
“I thought the sunflower would be best to bring a smile, but then the red and white are to signify an honest love for your mom and sister. I think they’ll love them.”
“They will. These are beautiful. Thank you.”
His eyes meet mine, and my mouth goes dry. I swallow hard as I lift a shoulder. “No problem.”
“How much do I owe you?” he asks, and then he starts to fumble since his hands are full.
I hold up my hand. “They’re on the house.”
He narrows his eyes. “I have money.”
“I don’t doubt that, but your hands are full.”
“You can reach into my pocket for the cash I just pulled out.”
Oh, hell no, I cannot. “It’s fine, Reed.”
His eyes burn into mine for a moment, and he must realize that I won’t take his money. I don’t want it; I want his mom and sister to smile. To love the bouquets I made for them. That alone is payment. “Fine.”
“Good.”
“Thank you,” he says, and I can see it’s a struggle.
“You’re welcome,” I say sweetly.
He doesn’t move, and neither do I. His eyes glide along my face as mine do the same. He looks so different, so much sexier, that it leaves me drawing in a deep breath. I wonder if he likes what he sees, ’cause I sure do like what I see. When he clears his throat, I swallow hard. “It was good seeing you.”
My heart skips. “You too.”
He slowly nods and then presses his lips together before glancing at Gen. “I’ll see you for dinner.”
“Yes,” she says with a grin. “Have a good rest of the day.”
“You too,” he says, turning and heading to the front.
I follow behind him since I know he’ll be unable to open the door. Quickly, I move in front of him and reach for the handle to open it for him. When I look up, his eyes fall to my lips.
“Thanks.”
My heart pounds in my chest as I somehow get out, “Of course. Have a great day.”
“You too,” he says as he sets Wilbur on his feet. When the pup comes toward me, I bend down, cupping his sweet face and scratching his long ears.
“He is just perfect.”
“He’s spoiled rotten,” Reed says softly as Wilbur jumps up on me, licking my face.
“Aw, he loves me,” I gush, kissing his muzzle. “I love you too. Yes, I do. Aren’t you the sweetest!”
Reed clears his throat, and I glance up at him. “Yeah, he knows a pretty lady when he sees one.”
I pause, my jaw dropping slightly as I stare up into his dark gaze. His eyes are such a fresh grass-green and breathtaking.
He presses his lips together before he pulls on Wilbur’s leash. “Come on, boy. Let’s get out of here.” Wilbur follows, but before they walk off, Reed looks back at me. “See ya, Delaney Kate.”
I swallow thickly at the sound of my name falling from his lips like warm honey. I feel this unwarranted need to ask him to dinner. Not only does he have plans with Theo and Gen, but who am I to ask him? Yeah, he just said I was pretty, but then he was talking for Wilbur. He was only being nice. Which is weird, since he is never nice to me.
But I was nice to him.
“See ya, Reed.”
He doesn’t even turn around or spare me a glance. Nope, he just walks away. I drink in his long legs, his round ass, and those worn Levi’s that hug his thighs. This may be the last time I ever see Reed, and that makes me incredibly sad. I want way more.
Going back into the shop, I shut the door and fall against it, running my hands down my face.
“Yeah, you don’t like him at all.”
I groan slightly, but Gen just laughs.
Yep, I’m pathetic.
Chapter Six
Reed
When my dad’s lawyer, Austin Evans, enters the kitchen, I’m studying the flowers I brought my mom the day before. Of course, she’d gushed over them, but I wasn’t listening. No, my mind was flooded with thoughts of Delaney, wearing a pair of ripped-up jeans that hugged every curve on her and a loose-fitting tank with a flowery flowy cape-looking thing over it. I wanted to tease her for it, ask if she was going to be flying away anytime soon, but I couldn’t. Not with the way her eyes met mine. She hadn’t been wearing the dark makeup she wore at the bar. Instead, her makeup was soft, a light pink covering her plump lips. Her long hair was down in curls, and I had this ridiculous need to wrap her hair around my fist and smash my mouth to her glossed-up pink lips.
My thoughts are irrational—and insane—but there is something about older Delaney that has me wanting to extend my trip and find a way to get her to like me. I’ve spent most of my life being a dick to her and hating her for everything she is that I’m not. Yet, she continues to be kind to me. I shouldn’t be surprised—she’s good to everyone, but there was something in her eyes that told me it was more with me.
Maybe it was all in my head, but she used to give me those little looks when we were younger. Her eyes would darken, her breathing would kick up, and she couldn’t look me in the eye. It didn’t happen a lot, but when it did, it was usually when it was just us. After school or church, waiting for Theo and Holden so we could head out to the lake. I almost felt like she wanted to kiss me.
She never did, though, and I’m glad she didn’t.
I don’t think I could’ve handled it.
I almost couldn’t handle gazing into her eyes after she gave me the flowers for my mom and Ambrosia. It felt like I was knocked back fourteen years. Her eyes were so dark as she looked up at me, her breasts moving with her breath. But like I did when we were younger, I ignored the signs. I got out of there as fast as I could, but I couldn’t help telling her how pretty she is. I didn’t even mean to, but after she went out of her way to make something nice for my mom and sister, and then watching her gush over Wilbur, the words left my lips before I could stop them.
It doesn’t matter, though. I’m leaving in a matter of hours, and I won’t be back until the end of the summer for Theo’s wedding. I probably won’t even see her again this trip, and that’s okay. Because like before, she is staying, and I am leaving. I need to keep my distance from Ms. Delaney Abbot. Especially if she keeps looking as hot as she has been looking the last couple of times I’ve seen her. I can only control myself so much around someone so gorgeous, which I usually don’t have to do. I hardly ever meet anyone, which is why I’ve been sleeping with the same girl occasionally for years and I’m not worried about commitment. With Delaney, though, it would be different, and that can’t happen. I wish I hadn’t even seen her, but like always, this town keeps rolling out the punches.
“Reed, honey, we’re going to gather in Daddy’s office,” my mom calls to me, and I nod as I run my fingers through my hair. I’ve already packed, and I’m ready to go. I’ve just got to get through this, then I’ll be out of here. I know Noah is waiting on me, and it will be good to get back to my normal. Just have to get through this first.
I get up and head with my mom into my dad’s office. I haven’t been in here since I’ve been home. Devin has, but I didn’t want to. I wish I had, though, because once I enter and the scent of leather, whiskey, and cigars hits my nostrils, tears rush to my eyes.
Man, I miss my dad.
Austin sits behind the desk, and my brows come in when I see a tube TV. Only my dad would still have a tube TV. Jesus, I didn’t even know they still made those. I fall onto the couch between Bryce and Ambrosia as Devin and Mom take the two wingback chairs. The room is beyond quiet, all of us holding back our own emotions as we watch Austin. He takes in a deep breath before threading his fingers together and sending each of us a smile.
“First, I am incredibly sorry for your loss. Mr. McElroy was one of my favorite clients.”
Mom smiles before moving a tissue along her eye. “Thank you, Austin.”
“Second, th
e reason why he was my favorite client is because he did everything with a bang. A simple will didn’t work for him.”
I let out the breath I’m holding as I perk my brow. “How do you mean?”
He grins over at me. “He made a videotape instead.”
Ambrosia shakes her head. “Of course he did.”
“When?” Bryce asks, and Austin answers.
“About five years ago.”
My heart clenches in my chest as I glance to my mom, who is hanging on by a thread. Devin clears his throat, and I look at him as he says, “Well, can you hit play, please?”
“Of course,” Austin mutters before hitting play on the VCR. I wish I were kidding, but I’m not. The screen goes fuzzy for a second, and then my dad appears. Just like the moment I found out I’d lost him, my heart breaks in my chest. I take in a deep breath, not able to look at his face as his deep, throaty laughter fills the room.
“Is it working?”
“Yes, sir. Go on.”
Dad laughs once more as the tears burn in my eyes. “I bet this is a surprise, huh, guys? I hope all of you are there, because you’ll need each other if I’m gone. Surely you guys aren’t too surprised I’m dead. I eat like shit, I don’t exercise, and I drink more than I should. Sorry, Shirley, but I never did give up those cigars.”
A sob breaks from Mom, and I close my eyes. He’s such a fool of a man.
“But you guys know I loved you until I took my last breath. You five are my heart, my soul, and my being. I love you, and it sucks that I’m gone. But then, we all know I’m with the good Lord, and hopefully he has some whiskey around.”
Bryce laughs beside me as Ambrosia leans her face into my shoulder. “He’s insane.”
I smile, and then Dad’s voice fills the room once more.
“So, here is the deal. I have a sum of money for each of you, okay? And if Mom died with me, which wouldn’t be so bad—well, for you guys, not me. Shit, maybe I should have her in this?”
Austin’s voice fills the room. “That’s up to you.”
“Nah, she’s a good girl. She’ll outlive me.”