by Brower, Dawn
All Things Valentine
Kismet Bay 3
Dawn Brower
Monarchal Glenn Press
“If I had a flower for every time I thought of you… I could walk through my garden forever.”
Alfred Tennyson
Contents
Acknowledgement
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
EXCERPT: ONE HEART TO GIVE
Prologue
Chapter 1
About The Author
Also by Dawn Brower
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
ALL THINGS VALENTINE Copyright © 2019 Dawn Brower
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
Acknowledgement
Thanks to Elizabeth for being my awesome proofreader. I appreciate all you do for me.
This book is for everyone who has someone special in their lives. If you love them, tell them. Don’t let a day go by without letting them know. You don’t know how much time you have with them.
Chapter 1
The sun streamed through the window of Blooms of Destiny and splashed across the glass of the refrigerator holding the flowers that had already been arranged. Amadea Stranger blew out an exhausted breath and brushed a stray lock of her dark hair behind her ear. She still had four more arrangements to prepare and a dozen more that had to be delivered. Valentine’s Day was one of the busiest of the year for the flower shop she owned with her cousin Ophelia.
She stared down at the order slip for the next arrangement. This one was going all out. Carefully, she added a mix of pink, purple, white, and bicolor roses with some lilies to break up the mixture into a clear vase. Amadea became engrossed in sorting the flowers and rearranging them until she created an amazing display of blooms. She sighed and finished the ensemble off with a strategically placed ribbon, then put a card in it. One more arrangement down, three more to go…
“Oh,” her cousin Ophelia said as she came to stand next to Amadea. “That’s so lovely. I envy your skill at arranging flowers.”
“It’s nothing,” she said with a shrug. “I play with them until they—mesh.”
“Well, then,” Ophelia began. “You’re doing a wondrous job either way. Don’t sell yourself short.”
Amadea was the creative part of Blooms of Destiny and Ophelia had the business sense. She kept the books and ran the day to day operations. That suited Amadea just fine as she enjoyed arranging the flowers, and repotting plants. The work soothed her. “Thank you,” she replied. Mostly because she didn’t know what else to say.
“Do you have any plans for today?”
“No.” She shook her head as she stared down at the next order. “I’ll probably have a quiet dinner at home.”
“Alone?” The tone in Ophelia’s voice bordered on disgust, but Amadea didn’t have a different answer for her. “You’re a gorgeous, successful woman. Don’t hide away in your townhouse. Go out and have fun.”
“It’s not New Year’s Eve, Phee. It’s Valentine’s Day—you know a day for lovers, and unfortunately, I do not have one.” Though she really wished she could at least claim a speed date or something. She was all right with her life most days, but Valentine’s Day always stabbed her in the heart and made her feel extra lonely. It seemed as if every couple in existence crawled out of the woodwork and smacked her in the face with their love. Of course it probably didn’t help that she worked in a place that was Valentine Central. Men ordered flowers for their significant others and she got the joy of helping them show that love to them with gorgeous blooms.
“Then let’s have a girls night,” Ophelia said. “It wouldn’t hurt. I’m sure Esmeralda would join us.”
“You don’t have a date either?” Amadea lifted a brow. Ophelia always had someone in her life. “Since when?”
She scrunched her nose up. “I can’t seem to find a man that holds my interest. All of the guys in this town are—boring.”
Amadea snorted. Trust her cousin to have gone out with all the available men in Kismet Bay and found them wanting. “Maybe if you didn’t throw them out like yesterday’s trash after one date you might find them more ambivalent.” She adored her cousin—well all her cousins, but sometimes she didn’t feel as if she belonged. Even her sister, Esmeralda seemed more at ease in their family dynamic. Maybe Amadea had a point though. She should go out and socialize more.
“If they were worth seeing more than once I would have.” She shrugged dismissively. “Why waste my time and theirs.”
“Sometimes I worry about you.”
“No need to,” her cousin retorted. “First impressions are important and I don’t give anyone a second chance at attempting one.”
Amadea finished the arrangement she was working on. It was simple dozen roses and baby’s breath wrapped in floral paper. Two more to go and she could load the truck for deliveries. “You might regret that stance one day.”
“I doubt it.” She nibbled on her bottom lip. “So far I don’t have any. It would take a lot for me to look at someone I’ve previously dated a second time.”
Amadea had a feeling one day her cousin would eat those words. She was being too decisive about the entire thing. If she didn’t stop tossing men aside like used newspapers then she might find herself alone. Not that Amadea had much to go on. She was alone too and she hadn’t had a date in, well, ages. She completed another arrangement and placed it in the cooler. One more to go and she was done. Then the deliveries would go out and be with their recipients before noon. She glanced at the last order and smiled. “This one is for Holly. I’ll have to make sure its extra special.”
“Ohhh.” Ophelia grabbed the slip of paper. “That Nicholas sure knows his girl. Our cousin sure is lucky to have nabbed him. I hear he’s loaded.”
“Money isn’t everything.” Amadea was jealous that Holly had found love. She wanted that. “He adores her and that’s far more important.”
“I know.” Ophelia shrugged. “But it doesn’t hurt either. I wonder if he has any brothers…”
Amadea rolled her eyes. “I’m sure he has lots of family you can work your way through.” They needed to change the topic of discussion. “In the meantime I think you’re right. We could use a girls’ night out. When I’m done with the deliveries I’ll stop and talk to Esmeralda at Witch’s Brew.”
Ophelia clapped her hands together. “I’m so glad you agree. You won’t regret this.”
Amadea doubted that, but she refused to become a lonely spinster who only had a cat, or several, for company. The only way she was ever going to meet the love of her life was to socialize and hope they crossed paths. One day Kismet Bay would live up to its legend and bring her fated love to her. “We’ll see,” she answered. “Now go open the store. There will probably be a ton of last minute sales today. I have a bunch of premade bouquets and arrangements already in the front cooler. Jenny will be in at noon to help.”
Ophelia nearly skipped out of the backroom leaving Amadea alone. Which was fine with her… She preferred the silence as she finalized Holly’s arrangement. It had all her favorite flowers and Amadea made sure to make it as pretty as possible for her cousin. It pleased her to make the people she cared about happy. Holly was going to love the arrangement…
Chapter 2
The chief of police came out of his office and gestured toward Percival. “Wright. In my office now.” His tone of voice was hard and the look on his face matched it. Bowen Strange was all business and didn’t suffer fools. Percival hoped he wasn’t about to be ground under his boot. Ah, hell… What had he done now? Maybe he was projecting onto himself something that didn’t exist. He slid off his chair and came to his feet. No reason to drag out the inevitable. It would be far better to get it over with. Maybe it was nothing at all…
He walked into the office and stopped in front of the chief’s desk. “Yes, Sir?”
“Close the door,” he barked out the order.
Percival did as he’d been told then returned his attention to his boss. He cleared his throat and waited for the chief to speak. He’d learned at the start how the chief liked to handle things. When he was ready to elucidate on the matter he’d start talking and not a moment before.
Bowen Strange shuffled some papers on his desk ignoring Percival as he did. Times like this he wondered if he’d survive the chief’s wrath if Percival ever got what he truly wanted—a relationship with Amadea, his daughter. Something told him that this man wouldn’t go easy on any man who dared to date one of his daughters.
“Wright,” the chief began. “I need you to work the Valentine’s party at Witch’s Brew tonight. Simpson is out with the flu.”
He couldn’t be serious… “But, sir…”
“Don’t argue. I don’t have time to deal with it. I was supposed to be at a meeting with the mayor thirty minutes ago. If I don’t leave soon I’ll never hear the end of it. Hell, I might not anyway.” He closed the file he’d been perusing. “I need someone I trust there. Valentine’s Day is like a hot keg. Either way an explosion of some sort is on the brink of disrupting the evening and since the party is happening at my daughter’s place of business one of my trusted officers will be in attendance. Feel free to take a date.”
That was the last thing he’d do. He’d given up on dating ever since New Years. Too bad it wasn’t Amadea that he’d have to keep an eye on. That wouldn’t be much of a chore. Esmeralda, on the other hand, was a pain in the ass. He closed his eyes and prayed for patience. He’d need it if he was going to survive the night surrounded by lovers and the constant public displays of affection. It would be brutal. “Why me?”
“Because contrary to what I lead you to believe—you are my best officer. Esmeralda called earlier to confirm someone would be in attendance. Especially, since Amadea and Ophelia decided to do a girls night in the middle of the Valentine’s party. Who knows what that will entail, but Amadea rarely goes out. Someone has to look out for her and that someone is going to be you.”
He had to have heard him wrong. “You don’t want me to look out for Esmeralda?”
“Well, yes, but she’s not my main concern. Amadea is a softy and I don’t need some douche bag taking advantage of her. You’ll ensure nothing untoward happens.”
Well, he’d been right. Bowen Strange wouldn’t suffer any idiots near his daughters, and apparently, he was more concerned with Amadea than Esmeralda. Did the chief understand that Percival had strong feelings for Amadea? Was that why he’s entrusted her to his care or would he be even more pissed if he found out Percival loved her? He wasn’t sure he wanted the answer to that. It might be a moot point either way. It wasn’t as if he was taking Amadea out on a date. All he’d been tasked with was watching over her while she had a good time with her cousin. Definitely nothing romantic about that.
“All right,” he agreed. “I’ll go to the event at Witch’s Brew and make sure nothing happens to either one of your daughters. Though I’ll bet neither one of them will thank me or you for it.”
“You’re probably right,” he replied. “But let’s try to ensure they don’t figure out why you’re there. Esmeralda won’t think anything of it. She’s used to one of my officers making an appearance, but Amadea isn’t. Just do your best to keep her ignorant to your presence and everything will be fine.”
Much easier said than done… “You can count on me.” He’d try to live up to the chief’s expectations, but he had a bad feeling. He sure wished it wasn’t the day of lovers. All things Valentine’s made his stomach curdle with displeasure. He doubted this one would be any different.
Chapter 3
All the flowers had been delivered hours ago and now Amadea had to prepare for her night out. Her apartment was above the flower shop. That made everything convenient for her in more ways than one. Especially, in the work department. She’d already showered and dried her hair. All she had to do was dress for the night. The problem was…. She had nothing to wear. Her entire wardrobe consisted of work clothes. Amadea didn’t have any reason to buy sexy outfits or pretty clothes. She was…practical.
A knock echoed through her apartment indicating someone was at her door. There was only one person that it could be, and Amadea wasn’t nearly ready. All right she kind of was, but she still hadn’t dressed. She’d been hoping that her dilemma would somehow be solved. But alas she still wore her bath robe and not much else. She went over to the door and looked through the peephole. Sure enough, her cousin Ophelia was on the other side of the door. She opened it up and let her in.
“I thought I might find you this way.” Ophelia shoved a dress and a pair thick strapped sandals with three inch heels in her direction. “Luck for you I have just the thing for you to wear. Take it and go finish getting ready.”
Amadea took them and didn’t say a word. She headed toward her room and once there took the time to examine the outfit her cousin had brought for her. The dress was black and made of a stretchy leather—probably not real leather, but the pleather variety. It had spaghetti straps that didn’t look strong enough to keep the dress in place. She nibbled on her lip and considered her options. Her closet was rather empty of anything that would work. There wasn’t much of a choice for her to make. She either wore the dress or didn’t leave her apartment. There was no way Ophelia would allow the latter. Amadea sighed and slid the dress on. It hugged ever one of her curves and stopped just above her knee. The bosom dipped low enough that it barely covered her breasts. She felt—naked. Maybe she could wear a sweater or something to cover part of the dress. What was Ophelia thinking? She couldn’t go out in a dress so—seductive.
“Don’t think about changing,” Ophelia bellowed.
“I’m not,” she yelled back. Damn her and her perceptiveness. How had she realized what Amadea had been thinking?
“Don’t put a sweater over it either.” Clearly her cousin knew her too well… “Now put the shoes on and let’s go.”
Amadea sighed and sat down to put the sandals on. Her cousin had been spot on with the size of both the dress and the shoes. Though the dress might be debatable. It seemed a little too tight, but that could be her. She wasn’t used to anything provocative. She exited her bedroom and mentally prepared herself for a night she probably would hate. Ophelia lounged on the couch scrolling through her phone. She gestured absentmindedly at a black dress coat on the arm. “That’s for you, but you are not to wear it all night. When we get to Witch’s Brew you will remove it until it’s time to leave.”
“Yes, boss,�
� she grumbled.
Ophelia laughed. “Quit acting like you’re about to face an executioner. It’s going to be fun. I promise.”
Amadea wasn’t so sure about that, but she was willing to give it a try. How bad could it be? “We’ll have to wait and see about that. Are you ready?” She slipped on the coat Ophelia had pointed at.
“Absolutely.” Her cousin came to her feet and came to her side, looping her arm with Amadea’s “Let’s go make this town are own.”
Amadea resisted the urge to roll her eyes. In a way the town did belong to the Strange family. It had been founded by one of their long ago ancestors after all. They exited the apartment and walked the short distance to Witch’s Brew. Kismet Bay wasn’t a large town and most of the shops on Main Street were within walking distance of each other. Ophelia opened the door and gestured for Amadea to walk in. Once inside she did as instructed and removed her jacket, then placed it on a hook toward the front of the shop.
Witch’s Brew was decorated in reds and pinks. An explosion of hearts had overtaken the entire shop. Every table had several heart balloons in the center weighed down by even more hearts. It was almost nauseating.
“You’re actually here,” her sister, Esmeralda squealed as she pulled Amadea into a tight hug.
“Can’t breathe…” She tried to wiggle out of her sister’s arms. “Let go.”
Ophelia chuckled lightly. “Let her go Esme. Are you trying to scare her off before she has any fun?”