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He wasn’t going to say too much on the phone. He knew the phones weren't bugged except for the ones they had installed to catch the traitor.
The thought of someone listening to him in his office made him rub his temples. He felt his insides rebel, and a sick feeling twisted his gut.
He rubbed his head, hoping she understood. He didn’t want to see her flinching away from him.
Chapter 2
Harper
“Okay,” she replied.
Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling of doubt. In the laptop screen, she noticed her reflection and the thin lines she disliked so much and wondered if she wasn’t enough for him.
Maybe he didn’t mean to hurt her? Was it possible that he felt sorry for her? Unfortunately, maybes and what-ifs never led to anything positive.
With the exception of a few moments of self-doubt, where she was hit with conflicting feelings that left her wanting to pull her hair out and fall to the ground sobbing, she was pretty sure Nick liked her.
When she heard a clink of glass on glass followed by liquid trickling out, she knew he was drinking from the liquor cabinet in his office.
The stress from his day hadn’t put him in a positive mood, and she felt awful for being so needy. “Nick, I’m sorry. Don’t worry about me. Take time. If anyone knows about doing things when the time is right, it’s me.”
“I promise to rearrange as soon as possible,” he said with a heavy sigh.
The sound of a repetitive tap on his desk sounded like he was frustrated.
While biting her lip, she shifted back and forth, her stomach fluttering as she asked, “I’ll see you soon, right?”
She tried hard not to let hope leak into her voice, but it did. She couldn’t help herself. The excitement she felt all day had made her ignore her tingling limbs and fluttering stomach. Slumping over her work bench, she pouted. She touched her lips and frowned.
“Yes, you will,” he reassured her once more, and the line grew quiet as they held onto each other. Despite the distance between them, it was as if she could feel him over the phone.
As if he were beside her and breathing on her neck, goosebumps ran down her spine. The silence held a wealth of unsaid words, a wealth of needs and unspoken secrets.
The beast sat up and took notice of the male, panting like a dog begging for a treat from its owner. Her heart raced as she heard him thud his glass and utter a solemn, “Bye, Harper.”
She replied, “Bye,” and placed the phone on the garden counter.
She felt emptiness swallow her whole as if she had suddenly been gutted and left with nothing. The forest echoed with chirping birds, but the wind swiftly carried the sound away. She blinked rapidly, wondering at the mournful whine of her beast.
She snapped out of it when a ping crashed into her sense, telling her she had an order.
She had a website where customers could place orders and see live samples of what they would receive from her garden. Her floristry business benefited greatly from video calls because they brought in a lot of business. As a result, her helpers were rushed off their feet.
The site’s success enabled people to see her face without having to be in touching distance. For some time, she hadn’t been prepared to deal with humans, so that was a bonus.
She recalled a conversation with Isla when she was surprised at the site's popularity.
“We’re backlogged,” Isla commented, her eyes wandering distractedly across a list on the screen.
She whirled around. “The business has become so popular over the years.” She bit her bottom lip, then shook her head.
“You’ve got tons of brides and grooms requesting you personally instead of just your assistants,” Isla muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes before tapping furiously.
She shuddered. Meeting them all was a step too far for her.
The look Isla gave her was equal parts commitment and humour. “Most of them are appeased when I reveal that your assistants are Numbers, with a few security guards thrown in.”
“Still can’t believe it…” she murmured, clutching her throat.
