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19
Ana
“Roman, we need to talk,” I announce when I get inside his office.
“Nice to see you too, Pet,” he says, standing up.
I sigh and then walk into his arms, hugging him. “It’s always nice to see you, Roman. You know that. I’m just upset.”
Roman—being Roman—takes me into his arms and pulls me down with him as he sits in his chair. He kicks out from the desk enough that we have room, and then settles me in his lap. I lean against him, still hurting from my conversation with Allen.
“I knew this was coming,” he says.
“You did?”
“Ana, of course I did. We’ve been together for a while now, Pet. I don’t want to brag, but I think I know you pretty well these days.”
“I never could pull the wool over your eyes,” I tell him, reaching up to smooth the wrinkle on his brow.
“Except for that time you were trying to destroy my empire,” he jokes and even after all this time I blush.
“That wasn’t exactly what I was doing,” I grumble.
“No, you were too busy becoming my empire,” he murmurs so sweetly while kissing the side of my face. His fingers push through my hair and I close my eyes at how good this feels.
Allen was right; Roman is my miracle. He saved me, found me when I didn’t even know I was lost. I want that same miracle for Allen. I have a sneaking suspicion that Jessie can give my brother that.
“I love you, Roman.”
“I know, Ana, and I love you, more every damn day.”
“Me too.” I grin and reach up to kiss him.
“So, you want to go back to St. Augustine,” he says, proving that he did indeed know what was coming.
“Well, yeah.”
“Pet, I know you love Allen, but this is something he has to work through.”
“Allen won’t, Roman. He’s recovered a lot over the years, but inside he’s still that same twenty-two-year-old you found who doesn’t think he deserves any good in his life. He feels…”
“I get it, Pet, I do. But you need to let him work it out with that girl. You can’t fix everything. Relationships are complicated. It needs to be the two of them that work this out.”
“Are you forgetting how I was delivered on your doorstep?”
“Ana—”
“Or in what shape you were in?”
“Damn it, Ana,” he growls, because he knows I have him. He remembers—we both do.
“Or that Allen was one of the men who helped us work things out?”
“I can’t get away from business for at least a couple more days, Pet,” he says resignedly.
“Send Bruno with me.”
“You know I don’t like you going anywhere without me, Ana.”
“It’s only a five-hour drive, Roman. If I leave now I’ll be back late tonight. I can have Maria watch Rome,” I tell him, trying to soothe him.
“It’s a ten-hour drive if you count coming back to me.”
“Exactly, but I can leave in the morning and like I said, I’ll be back before you even get in bed, my love.”
“Damn straight you will. I told you once long ago, I’m not sleeping in a bed without you. I can’t.”
“I’ll hurry, I promise.”
“You go straight to the shop, and you come straight home. Understand?”
“No shopping?” I grin, knowing I’m pushing it.
“You can shop with me, or in Miami when you’re not hours away from me—hours that I can’t get to you if you need me.”
“I’ll come straight home, worrywart,” I laugh.
“Good,” he answers, clearly not happy. He picks up the phone and I turn to look at him.
“What are you doing?”
“Calling Bruno,” he growls and I smile. My man is overprotective but I wouldn’t have him any other way. I squeeze him to me and close my eyes, drinking in the smell of his aftershave.
The truth is, I hate being away from him too. If I didn’t think that Jessie was truly Allen’s future… I wouldn’t.
20
Jessie
It’s been four days without Allen. I know I’m stupid for counting and trust me, I feel like a fool every day. Today I woke up determined to forget him. If he can’t be bothered to even call me…
I might have been a virgin, but I’m not naïve. If a man takes you to bed and then disappears without a trace, it’s time to realize you got played. Okay, so he didn’t make me any promises and I pushed things in the direction they went. I can own up to that. But, still, he could have called. Just to say…
Shit. What could he say? “Thanks for your virginity, Jessie, it was swell.” Yeah, it’s probably best he didn’t call.
I get to the door of my shop and there’s a long rectangular box on the doorstep. I frown. I wasn’t really expecting any deliveries. I grab it, unlock the door and go inside. The side of the box reads 1-800-Flowers. I don’t know anyone that would send me flowers and my first thought is it was delivered to the wrong address, but it has my name and the shop’s under it. When I take the top off, there’s a huge bouquet of flowers in the box. They’re assorted variety. They range from irises to hydrangeas and I even see a morning glory or two. The only thing they have in common is the color blue. There are different hues, but basically all blue. There’s a card on the top and I open it first, confused, a little excited, but definitely intrigued.
Jessie,
I have no idea what the florist sent, but I asked her to send flowers that reminded me of your eyes. Meeting you was something I didn’t expect. You’re very special. Thank you for our time together, it meant more than I could make you understand. Be happy, Mouse. Be happy.
Allen.
I read the note again…and again. The hand holding the card starts shaking and I read the note yet again. I look down at the flowers and slowly all of my emotions bleed into one—anger. The flowers are gorgeous, the gesture was even nice, I suppose. Yet, they all boil into one thing. They’re a goodbye letter. Something sent maybe to relieve his conscience. Though, maybe not. Maybe this is a game he plays with all women. Or maybe sending flowers almost a week later is some kind of rule of thumb for one-night stands these days. I gather the flowers up and throw them in the trash, just as the front door opens.
“Hi again!” a voice chirps out, airy and happy. It’s not like I get many customers, and it really pisses me off that I get one right now.
I turn around to look and color drains from my face as I see Allen’s sister standing there. I look around, but she’s alone now—except a huge, bulky guy standing outside by the door looking like he might melt down in the hot Florida sun because he’s wearing a dark suit.
“Hi,” I murmur.
“I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d come back by. I really loved that shampoo I bought here a few days ago. I was thinking of getting a couple others.”
“The display is in the same spot. I did add a few different fragrances,” I tell her. I give her my back and go to the main counter. It’s rude—and deliberately so, but she’s lying. She didn’t buy anything the other day. Plus, the timing of her visit sucks, considering I’m still feeling like I’ve been punched in the stomach by her brother.
“Pretty flowers,” she murmurs, and when I turn around she’s looking in the trash.
“I suppose.”
“From someone you don’t like?”
“I’m sure you already know who they are from,” I mumble, sitting on the stool I keep behind the counter while wondering again, what exactly is going on with her and how she just happened to show up now.
“Why would I know?” she asks and she takes a blue tulip out of the trash. Her fingers move over the petals as she looks up at me.
“Because they’re from your brother?”
“They are?” she asks and it would be impossible to miss the pleasure in her voice.
“Listen, Mrs.—”
“Call me Ana.”
“Fine. Then listen
. Ana, if you’re here to buy something then that’s great. But if you’re here just to make sure your brother’s message was received and then pump me for information, you can just turn around and walk out now.”
“With a sales personality like that, I’m starting to see why your store is always so crowded,” Ana murmurs, and I guess it was deserved, but it was still a bitchy thing to say.
“Try the Walmart in the next county over. I hear they greet you with a smile at the door,” I tell her, and I open up a ledger, pretending to be completely engrossed in it.
“Okay, what did Allen do?”
I look up at her, because her voice has changed dramatically. I’m shocked because she’s leaning against the counter looking at me intently.
“Excuse me?” I ask, and this time I’m really confused.
“You’re pissed off. That’s a feeling I remember well with Allen, and now just because I’m married to a man who can do that easily. So c’mon, tell me. What did Allen do?”
“You don’t know?”
“Why would I know?”
“I just assumed the two of you discussed it and that’s why you’re here. To make sure I understood I was getting the brush-off.”
“Allen gave you the brush-off?”
“Well… I mean I thought so, but maybe not. Maybe sending flowers and a C-Ya-Never note is the proper etiquette for a one-night stand. I’ve never had one before, so I couldn’t tell you.”
