Phoenix Burning(17)
It was too much for now. She needed to think about it, decide a course of action, and maybe bury herself in paperwork for a few hours to avoid the necessity of making a decision. “How about we get the flowers loaded so the wedding planner doesn’t put out a contract on my life.”
“Those wedding planners are overly dramatic.” Fox put his glasses back on his head and headed for the walk-in cooler. “I’m telling you, drama is so overrated.”
“You would know.”
They bantered back and forth as they loaded vases, wreathes, and bouquets into the back of his SUV. He might be a drama queen on occasion, but there was no doubt in her mind that Fox was an important part of hers and Chris’s life. She was reminded of what her brother had said about his partner the night before. Would Emory ever find someone to balance out her life?
Focus on one thing at a time. Find a way to put the past in the past and move forward before you start thinking about more.
They’d just closed the back window of Fox’s SUV when Donovan MacIntyre’s sports car purred its way into a spot right in front of her shop. Fox twirled his keys in his hand, the expression on his face letting her know without question what he thought of their early-morning visitor.
“Emory! Good morning, honey. Looks like you’re already busy!” MacIntyre strode around the hood of his car, swiping invisible lint from his standard issue polo and khakis. Either he’d just gotten out of the shower or he’d gone a little overboard with the gel, because his dark hair looked like an oil slick. She wondered if he gelled his beard into place too.
“Just finishing up with flowers for a wedding.” She kept her tone brisk, hoping he’d realize she was too busy for idle chitchat.
“Fantastic. I was hoping you’d have time for a little break and we could grab some breakfast.”
Fox crossed his arms, his friendly features looking downright hostile. “Em, Chris was planning on stopping by in just a few minutes.”
“Oh, that’s right. Thanks, Foxy.” She gave MacIntyre her best apologetic smile. “My brother’s coming to chat, and I’m all by myself today, so my breaks will have to be here at the store.”
MacIntyre didn’t miss a beat. “Then how about I bring you lunch?”
“Oh, that’s not necessary. I’m sure you’re busy today.”
“No, I insist!” MacIntyre headed back to his car. “I’ll see you around noon.”
She watched the pushy bastard drive around the block before addressing Foxy’s little fib. “Chris doesn’t have time to swing by here later this morning. You and my brother are driving up the river to that bed and breakfast for the rest of the weekend.”
“I’m not going on a romantic mini-vaca and leaving you here to have lunch with that asshole.” Fox sounded insulted.
“Yes, you are. My brother spent weeks planning this two-night getaway. I’ll be fine.”
“If he tries anything. You know what to do.”
She stood on tiptoe and kissed Fox’s cheek. “They’ll have to pry his family jewels out with a wrench.”
“That’s my girl.” Fox wrapped her in another warm hug before driving off to deliver the wedding flowers.
Emory headed back into her shop, hoping she wouldn’t have to put that plan into action. Defying Captain Downtown would come with a cost.
Chapter Six
Alex moved another case of liquor onto the stack in the storeroom. He felt like he’d been at it for hours, though it’d been only twenty minutes. The day was just dragging ass.
Like me.
He’d stayed in bed until the last possible moment, the remnants of his morning orgasm remaining on his stomach until he’d forced himself from the bed and into the shower. But washing it away wasn’t enough. He couldn’t scour away the memory of her eyes or her tinkling laughter.
“Are you still back here?” Jessa leaned around the corner. “The supplier is on the line wanting to know how much Connor is ordering.”
“Shit.” Alex did a quick tally in his head and jotted down a few numbers. He handed her the clipboard. “Here. This should do it.”
“Her name is Emory Banks, you know.”
Jessa’s words took several seconds to sink in. “What?”
“It took me a minute yesterday to place her because she’s never come in here.”
Why was his heart hammering in his chest? “How do you know her?”
“She runs the flower shop around the corner.”
A flower shop? Somehow it seemed entirely too apropos, a pixie in a flower shop.
“In fact, I could use a couple of hanging baskets for the house if you’d be interested in going over to pick them out. I’ve got a lot to do this afternoon.” Jessa disappeared down the hallway toward Connor’s office before Alex could reply.