“I am stripping,” I say, composing myself. “Stripping thorns.”
“You have a great laugh.” He leans on the counter, reaching over with his hand outstretched. “I’m Luca. I bought the garage down the street.”
I shake his hand, my small palm disappearing in his warm embrace.
“I’m Tina, and I’ve heard all about you. People are not very happy about the changes. The whole neighborhood has been getting their cars serviced at Baker Brothers for generations. Now what are they going to do?”
“Get bikes.”
I laugh, then stop abruptly. “You’re serious!”
“I am. Once we re-open, we’ll service all kinds of bikes. And scooters. You look like the scooter type.” His blue eyes break away from mine to travel back down my body.
“A scooter? I’ll think about it.”
I’m telling the truth. I’ve never considered owning a scooter, but Luca makes it sound sexy and fun. Maybe I’m a scooter kind of girl. In high school, I was on the wrestling team. I’m not afraid to get physical.
“Tina, I have a question for you.” He’s back to looking at my legs. “What do you know about women?”
“I know a few things, since I am one. Why?”
“I’ve got another one mad at me.”
My heart sinks. Luca Lowell is way out of my league, but knowing he has a girlfriend won’t help my fantasies.
“That’s why you’re here,” I say, nodding. “You need flowers to apologize with.”
“Does that actually work? I can’t believe women are that easy.”
I raise an eyebrow in response.
“Exactly what did you do?” I ask.
He snorts. “Nothing I won’t do again.”
He looks around the small shop, a skeptical look on his handsome face. He’s so big, but not in a scary way. He resembles a younger version of the tall country singer on The Voice, Blake Shelton.
I ask him, “Have you considered… not doing that thing anymore?”
“Where’s the fun in that? Maybe it’s one of my favorite things.” He grins, dazzling me with great-looking teeth.
“So, you need an apology arrangement?”
“That depends. Do you offer a money-back guarantee?”
“No, but if she kills you, we’ll do your funeral for half price.” I chuckle at my joke. “Florist humor.”
He keeps smiling, but doesn’t laugh.
“Can I get something by closing tonight?”
“Absolutely. Do you have a budget? A type of flower that holds a special meaning for the two of you?”
“Surprise me.” He lays some cash on the counter. “Is this enough?”
My eyes bug out at the money. The bike garage business must be profitable. I also notice he doesn’t wear a wedding band.
“That’s more than enough,” I say. “If she doesn’t take you back, you can marry me, and I’ll throw in my sister, too.”
“Beg pardon?”
I point my thumb toward the door to the office. “That joke makes more sense if my sister’s actually here.”
“I’m sure it does,” he says.
The door chimes with another customer coming in.
Luca gives me a funny look, and then he turns and walks back out again.
I stare at the door for a few minutes. The scent of his masculine cologne lingers in the air.
I offer the customer help, and she replies that she’s just looking for now.
I pick up the money and smell it. I expect the stack of bills to smell like Luca, but it just smells like money.
The woman gives me a funny look and then leaves.
I sigh and stare at the front door.
Luca Lowell is every bit as handsome as people have told me. And he’ll be working right down the street from me, day in and day out.
The first thing I need to do after making Luca’s flower arrangement is… purchase a scooter.
Obviously.
Chapter 3
It takes me two hours to create the apology bouquet. I consider making it ugly, just so she’ll break up with him.
And then what will you do, Tina?
Luca and I would just be friends at first, on account of his recent breakup. Our friendship would become intimate, but not physical at first. Then one day he’d walk in here, lock the front door, and take me in his arms. He’d knock all the paperwork off the desk in the office, and demand to have me immediately.
I shiver at the thought of a man like Luca Lowell touching me with those big hands of his. A real man. I’ve had a few nice boyfriends, but they were boys. When they tried to take charge and dominate, it always made me laugh.
How can you take a guy seriously when he gets more excited over video games than your new sexy underwear?