Luna laughed at his mildly perplexed expression. “It’s the Saint Jollify Fair. Didn’t you notice?”
He cast her a short, sideways look. “I don’t pay all that much attention to goings-on outside the shop. What is Saint Jollify?”
“Apparently, it’s a citywide celebration.” Cups and saucers still in hand, Luna moved to stand beside him. They watched together as a series of trucks rolled down the road, carting those enormous metal posts and gears and bearings. “My roommate tells me they celebrate Saint Jollify here in Ballycastle as part of the lead-up to Green Yule. According to legend, Jollify was the herald of the Green Mother, you see. He went before Her into the world, bringing joy and bounty and the promise of the Green Mother’s presence in the depths of winter. Bryony says the harbor is the main festival center in Lower Eastside.”
“Bryony?”
“My roommate. She says there will be games and rides down by the water. We should see lots of foot traffic passing on Addle Street. It’ll be a profitable day for the shop tomorrow!”
Mr. Grimm turned to look at her. She felt his gaze on the side of her face. “Don’t you want to attend the festivities?”
She glanced at him quickly then looked down at the teacups in her hands. Truth be told, she would very much like to go. Bryony claimed it was quite the thing, with delicious food, and dancing, and games, and raffles, and spectacles from Foreign Parts. “I wouldn’t want to leave you to manage the shop on your own,” she said. “Especially when it’s likely to be busy.”
“Oh, yes, of course.” Mr. Grimm rubbed the back of his neck and tilted his head away from her. “Yes, but, you see, I was . . . I thought perhaps, since business has been so good lately, we might just . . . close up the shop for a day. Then you could . . . we could . . . that is to say, if you like, we might . . .”
Luna realized she was holding her breath.
Was Mr. Grimm about to invite her? To go to the festival? With him?
Not just with him but . . .withhim?
Obviously, she’d have to turn him down. The last thing she should do was step outwithher boss. What would that look like? Auntie Arabella would tell her she must mind appearances, and Auntie Aurora would entreat her to pray most prudently before making any rash decisions. Only she didn’t have time to pray just now, did she?
Of course, it might be nothing. Merely a casual, let’s-see-the-sights-together sort of thing. That was fine, right?
Right?
The silence lingered. Too long. And Mr. Grimm still hadn’t uttered an actual invitation. Luna swallowed, her throat uncomfortably tight. She should probably laugh it off, make an excuse, find some way to relieve the tension, and get out of there.
Instead, she found herself murmuring softly, “Yes, Mr. Grimm?”
He turned to her, blue eyes wide and searching. He’d gone quite pale, and his mouth was parted around some unspoken phrase. “Miss Talbot,” he managed at last, “I was wondering if perhaps you would like to—”
The shop bells rang.
Luna, startled, nearly sloshed the tea dregs. She turned to the door, heart jumping. Who just walked right into a shop when the sign was turned to CLOSED? Opening her mouth, she prepared to dismiss the impertinent customer with a stern word.
And stopped short.
Officer Ward.
Luna had not seen the tall wardsman, not so much as a glimpse, these last two weeks. She’d all but given up looking for him, and half-wondered if he’d been assigned to patrol some different part of the city. Just as well for her if so! The last thing she needed was a wardsman showing too much interest in her place of work.
But there he was. Larger than life, striding into the shop. Radiating all the masculine confidence and power which had so impressed her at their first two meetings. He cast his gaze slowly over the flowers and little tables and finally brought it to rest on Luna, where she stood fortified behind the counter.
His face broke into a smile.
He had dimples. One on each side. And shockingly white teeth.
Luna set the two teacups down with a clatter of porcelain. “I’ll deal with this!” she whispered hastily and pushed open the hinged portion of the counter, darting out onto the floor. Only then did it occur to her how it might look to Mr. Grimm. Like she was rushing out to greet a . . .a beau.Or something. Not that it mattered how it looked to Mr. Grimm. Or what he thought. Or how he interpreted things.
Carefully tugging her left cuff to make certain it covered her wrist, Luna composed her face into demure lines and glided down the center aisle. Did Officer Ward’s smile grow the nearer she drew? He should be more careful with that thing—it was downright blinding!
“Good afternoon, officer,” she said crisply. “On the trail of another black market flower seller?”
“Not today, no.” He swept the cap from his head, letting his dark curl fall free over his brow. His green eyes glinted. “I’m on my break, actually. And I’ve heard so many rumors about this being the finest teashop in Lower Eastside, I thought I’d check it out for myself.”
Somewhere behind her, Mr. Grimm muttered, “It’s aflowershop.”
