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“They’ll do just fine.” He takes them from me, then tosses them behind him, back into his house, as if he couldn’t care less about the roses.
I feel bad for whoever bought him something he obviously cares nothing about. “So, not a fan of flowers then?”
“Not really.” Running one hand through his thick mop of dark hair, he looks me up and down.
His action sends chills through my body, and I hug myself, feeling like he’s undressing me with his dangerous gaze. “If you don’t mind me saying, I’ve never seen you bring a woman home with you.”
“Do you like to watch me, Lisa?” No smile on his full lips, but the hint of one in his eyes tells me he’s being funny.
The idea of him thinking that I like watching him makes something deep inside of me pulse. “I didn’t mean it like that. I don’t want you. ” I clamp my mouth shut when I realize the slip I made. “I mean watch you. I don’t watch you.”
“I’m no psychologist, but I think that was a Freudian slip. So, you watch me, and you want me too. This is an interesting visit.” Taking a step forward, he moves out of the doorframe and onto the porch.
I haven’t been this close to him before, and his size is a little intimidating. He’s more than a foot taller than I am, and his chest and biceps are massive. A black T-shirt hugs his upper body, enhancing the firmness of the muscles he has more of than I believe most humans do.
Despite feeling a bit intimidated by his size and demeanor, I don’t take a step back. “You should remember that I’m not here of my own accord. Someone ordered flowers for you, Frank.” Saying his name makes goosebumps jump onto the surface of my skin.
I rub my hands over my forearms to try to make them go away before he notices them.
Something about him makes it feel as if electricity is bouncing around us. Or at least around me.
It’s kind of exciting in a scary way.
“You had to deliver them yourself?”
“I’m the only one working today. My grandmother had to go out of town to see one of her sisters who’s sick. She’s my only employee, and she’s part-time at that. I do most of the work on my own.”
With a slow nod, he looks toward my floral shop. “She doesn’t live with you,” he states rather than asks, which I find kind of odd.
“No, she has her own home. My parents built a place in the back of the flower shop for us to live in. They passed away in a car accident a couple of years ago. It’s just me now.” It occurs to me that I shouldn’t be telling him so much about how I’m alone most of the time.
Looking over his shoulder, he says, “I live alone too. I like it that way, but I bet you get lonely.”
The idea of him thinking I’m lonely makes me wonder if he wants to solve that situation for me. And I must say I like that idea very much.
“Are you suggesting . . .”
I can’t finish my question because he cuts in and says, “I’m suggesting nothing, Lisa. I’m merely making small talk. Isn’t that something neighbors do? Make small talk?”
“Sure.” I nod, knowing I might be coming off as weird, not at all what I wanted. “So, anyway, I guess I should get back to the shop. I had to close it so I could make the delivery to you.”
“You locked it up then?”
With a nod, I answer, “Yeah. I never leave it unlocked when I’m away. You can’t really trust anyone these days.”
“When’s your grandma coming back?” he asks, looking up and down the street.
“I’m not sure. Like I said, her sister is sick, and she went to take care of her. She had no idea how long that would take.” I bite the inside of my cheek, knowing I’m telling him too much. “You must think I’m like a society reject or something.”
“Why’s that?” he asks as he shifts his weight.
“Because I’m alone so much.”
“Nah. I’m alone a lot too. The funeral business is a lonely job. I suppose the flower business is as well.” He takes another step toward me, closing the distance between us, making the crazy electricity around me spark a bit more.
He’s right—my business is pretty lonely. “It’s not like people are coming and going from the shop all day. It’s mostly online or phone orders that I deliver myself or use a service to deliver for me. Mostly, I make flower arrangements and do the bookkeeping. Gotta keep the bills paid so I don’t get shut down.”
He crosses his arms over his chest, and his biceps bulge. “So, you mentioned my lack of female companionship. What about you? You got a guy, Lisa?”
