“Send him in when he gets here,” I tell her. I stand for a moment, stretching my legs and looking out my office window down at the city below. I have a stack of work I need to do, but I have no desire to do it. Normally it’s so easy for me to get lost in my cases, but that drive has been slowly dwindling since the day I met Dove. I’m not sure if I should be worried about this or not.
“Son.” I turn to see my dad walking into my office. “I hear you got yourself a woman. It’s about time.”
Fuck. I want to know how he found out. I wanted to keep my Dove to myself a little bit longer. Looks like time is up.
Chapter Ten
Dove
I keep glancing at the clock. Even though we are super busy, the time is somehow dragging. Normally I love doing the flowers and being here, but today I’m not feeling it. I wonder if Beau has something set up for Valentine’s Day for us or if it's just a normal date. We haven't really been dating more than twenty-four hours, so I’m guessing he doesn't have anything planned. It doesn't matter though. This is going to be the best Valentine's Day ever just getting to be with him.
Sue keeps winking at me and I know she knows something happened with Beau last night, she’s just not saying it. I’d even gone into the bathroom to look at myself in the mirror to see if I looked different. I didn't notice anything but I feel different. Somehow I’m really aware of my body, like I’ve officially become a woman.
“I have a last-minute order that came in and they want it delivered ASAP. They paid extra.” I glance over at the flowers she sets down on the counter. “Luke already took off with a full truck. Think you can do this delivery? It’s not far and you could take a cab.”
“Sure,” I tell her.
“Plus, I want you to get a look at this Heart man,” she adds.
“The B. Heart that’s always sending flowers to a different woman?” I ask.
She nods. “Yep. Looks like some woman is sending him flowers this time.” I scrunch up my nose. I have no desire to see this man.
I glance down at the card and read the message.
Cum be my Valentine.
Miss Barton
The miss is underlined for some reason. Gross. I wonder if she’d want to be his Valentine if she knew how many women he went through.
Sue lays down a ten-dollar bill next to the flowers for the cab. “All the orders are out for delivery. After you drop those off go get ready for your own Valentine’s Day.” She gives me a knowing smile and I blush, trying not to give anything away.
“Are you sure?” I ask.
“Heck yes, I’m sure.”
I love how excited she is about me and Beau. My mind is already racing about what dress I should wear tonight. I wish I knew where he worked, I could surprise him with a visit.
I change my mind, though. I shouldn't do that. We haven't talked about how serious we are. But the way he treated me last night and the things we did… He took my virginity. God, my face is probably on fire.
He said we’d talk about what we are. I know I have to be important to him. Him freaking out this morning when I wasn't in bed with him was actually really adorable the more I think about it. The idea of Beau going crazy over me is sweet.
I grab my purse and glance toward the back of the shop, where I notice John working. He studies me for a second and then nods at my bag.
“Heading out, ma’am?” he asks.
“Yep. Got a delivery.” He gives me a polite smile and pulls his phone out. “See you later,” I tell him, heading toward the front.
I look at the address and see it’s right next to the coffee shop. Heck, it might be the same building. I could walk it. I pick up the flowers and change my mind. It will be a quick taxi ride, but the walk might kill my arms, so I decide on riding.
When I get to the building I hop out of the taxi and head inside. I stop at the front desk, thinking I could leave the flowers there, but curiosity gets the best of me.
“Who are you here for?” the guard asks.
“B. Heart. A delivery,” I tell him.
“Your name?”
“Dove Rosetta from Love at First Sight Flowers.”
He type something into the computer then looks back up at me. “Top floor, ma’am.” He points toward the elevators.
“Thanks.” I head in that direction, thinking that maybe I can run to the lingerie store down the street and get something sexy to wear after I drop these off. All my panties are simple and plain.
I push my glasses up my nose as I exit the elevator. I glance around and see two desks, but no one is at either of them. I walk farther down the hallway and stop when I hear a voice. I glance at the door and see the name Heart engraved on it.
“I didn’t know you liked them young. Like father like son,” I hear a man say. I pause right before I’m about to knock on the door.
“Dad. Really, it’s—” My whole body freezes. I know that voice.
“Just make sure you get a prenup,” the other man interrupts.
“I don’t need one,” Beau growls, and he sounds pissed. Then it hits me.
B. Heart is Beau Heart. Beau’s last name is Heart. I don’t know why I hadn't ever thought to ask him his last name. Then it hits me again. This is the man who’s been sending flowers out to random women all over town. My heart pounds and blood rushes to my ears. Anger and sadness hit me hard. I’m such an idiot.
Like a robot, I step forward and pull open the door.
“That’s right. You don’t do marriage. It’s for morons and love isn’t real.” The man talking is sitting in a chair in front of Beau’s desk. He’s in a suit and his hair is gray, but I can’t focus on him. My eyes go to Beau, who’s looking down at his phone.
“Dad,” Beau snaps, his head coming up. Then his eyes dart to me. “Dove?” He stands up and takes a step toward me.
I hate how handsome he looks. It's then I notice my hands are shaking. I try to tighten my grip on the vase, but my hands are sweating and they slip. The crystal vase drops to the ground, hitting the tile floor and smashing into thousands of pieces. I turn around and run just as the tears start to fall. I have to get away from Beau.
I hear him yell my name as the elevator opens. An older woman steps off with a younger woman following her. I jump on and hit the lobby button over and over again. I see Beau come flying out of his office and our eyes lock. I feel the tears on my cheeks as the doors close between us.
I let myself fall back against the elevator wall, knowing that I’ll never get over the heartbreak of losing Beau. Maybe my parents were right. I was naïve to the world. Even with the heartbreak, I know I’ll cherish last night forever. I’d never felt so loved. I don’t understand how it wasn’t as real to Beau as it was to me. I thought he was the one.
As soon as the doors open, I rush from the elevator and run into someone. I stop and look up to see it’s John. He grabs my shoulders, stopping me from falling on my ass, and quickly lets me go like I burned him.
“John?” I ask, wondering why he’s here.
“Ma’am,” is all he says. I stand there shocked for a moment before realizing I need to get out of here. Beau looked like he was chasing me when he came running out of his office.
“Excuse me,” I mutter, going around him.
He calls my name, but I ignore him, slipping from the building out onto the sidewalk. I take out my phone, clearing the missed calls from Beau and pulling up a browser. I go down the stairs to the subway and jump on the first one. The doors close instantly and I don’t care where it’s going, I just need to get away for a moment. I’m worried Beau might catch up to me and I just need to be alone.
I find a vacant seat and take it as I type Beau’s name into the search engine on my phone. Tons of articles come up, all about Beau Heart, Boston's top divorce lawyer. There’s article after article of cases he’s won. Most have been for women. Then there are others about him being one of Boston’s most eligible bachelors. Other articles call him cold and calculating.
I put my phone back in my purse and let my head fall back. I never thought of Beau as cold and calculating. I guess I also didn't think he was just using me for sex either. I’m one of a long list of women he goes through. At least they got flowers. I let out a mocking laugh.
Maybe he wasn't done with me yet and I would have gotten my flowers next week. My jaw clicks and anger courses through me again. It’s not a feeling I’m used to. It’s foreign and I don’t like it. I hate all these feelings. I want to go back to the love and butterflies dancing in my stomach when I thought I’d found the perfect man. Thought I found the thing that I’d been missing and looking for all this time.
I don’t know how long I ride the subway, but when the car is somewhat empty and the evening rush is gone, I decide it’s time to get off. I want to go home but I’m worried Beau will show up there. Or worse what if he doesn’t. A part of me wants him to show up at my door and tell me he’s a changed man or something. That he’s madly in love with me.
“God, I’m pathetic,” I mutter to myself. I step off the subway, not even paying attention to where I am. I’m going to get something to eat then head home. I don’t have to worry about Tia wondering where I am. I already texted her earlier that I would be with Beau tonight. I really don’t want to tell her everything that happened. Not tonight anyway. It’s all still too raw.