I stab the green insert a few more times, then drop it in the vase.
“It’s just that… if you really love someone, they’re not taking up your time. Sitting in traffic takes up your time. Waiting in line takes up your time. But being around someone you care about is a gift.”
His eyebrows bunch together, and he stares steadily into me with those sky-blue eyes.
“How did you get to be so wise?” he asks.
“I knew someone who didn’t have much time, and he chose to spend it with the people he loved.”
Luca pushes his hands into his jean pockets and looks down at his boots.
“I’ll take that under advisement,” he says softly.
The door chimes, and another regular customer comes in.
I put on my professional florist face. “When do you need the arrangement ready by, Mr. Lowell?”
“How about closing time again? You’re here until six?”
“I’ll have your order ready. Would you like anything written on a card?”
He tosses his chin upward cockily. “The usual.”
He turns and walks out.
The other customer is still looking around, so I pull out a notecard and write the usual:
SORRY I’M A JERK. - LUCA
I crease the card and tuck it into an envelope.
I wonder what he did this time.
Chapter 7
Wednesday morning, I hustle to get all the flower orders done quickly.
On my way in this morning, I bought a bag of hard candies and two trashy gossip magazines that I intend to read from cover to cover.
My flowers are all taken care of now.
With a happy sigh, I pull the stool up to the counter.
I settle in and flip open the magazine cover.
The front door chimes.
Luca comes in, looking unhappy. Handsome as always, but unhappy.
“I have a complaint to lodge,” he says.
“Your lady friend didn’t like the arrangement I made you on Monday?”
“She loved it.” He keeps frowning at me.
“And?” I wave to the magazine open on the counter between us. “As you can see, this article about the bad boy Prince of Wales isn’t going to read itself.” I lean forward and whisper, “He’s always got something going on. Right under the Queen’s nose.”
“You weren’t here on Monday at closing.”
“My sister Megan and I share all the shifts here. She took over after lunch that day. Did she do or say something wrong? She was probably just making a joke. Some people don’t get her humor.”
“She was perfectly nice, but she’s not you.”
“We do share a lot of genetic material. Therefore, she’s more like me than the other six or seven billion people on this planet.”
“Then I should ask your sister to go out with me.”
I look down and pretend to read the article about Prince Harry. Luca’s way too hot to be serious. He’s playing a joke on me, and I’m not falling for it.
“Sure, ask away. I don’t think she’s seeing anyone right now.”
“How about you? Are you seeing anyone?”
I grab my other magazine and the hard candy from behind the counter. “Just my Prince, and this bag of future dental work.”
“You’ll be finished eating those candies long before Friday. Come out with me for drinks.”
“What kind of drinks?” I keep my gaze down on my magazine. If I look into Luca’s striking blue eyes, I’ll get the giggles and agree to anything.
“We could call it networking drinks,” he says. “You were right about the people around here hating me. They’re all pissed about losing their service garage. I was thinking that since you have the remarkable ability to spot all my many shortcomings a mile away, you can tell me everything I’m doing wrong.”
“Sure. Don’t change the name of the shop.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Keep calling the place Baker Brothers. Add on a smaller sign saying you specialize in bikes. You can keep doing some oil changes on cars for a few years, until people get used to you. When you get too busy for cars, find some other places to refer the business to. Don’t just tell people to look in the phone book or online. They hate that. Go out and try some other garages, then refer people to one that you personally vouch for.”
He’s very quiet for a moment, then says, “You’ve put a lot of thought into this.”
I glance up, and I’m snared by his eyes.
“Forget drinks,” he says gruffly. “I’ll buy you dinner. Anything you want.”
“Friday’s no good. I’m busy.” This is about as big a lie as any I’ve said inside this flower shop, almost as brash as saying I like Baby’s Breath in floral arrangements.