“I’ll get it for you.”
My gaze didn’t waver from her. For a moment, I forgot why I was in the flower shop.
A sales associate with blonde hair approached me. “Can I help you, sir?”
I was grateful for her presence. It severed the invisible tie that connected me to the mesmerizing woman.
“What are those flowers called?” I pointed to the vase of purple flowers.
“They’re passionflowers. Aren’t they gorgeous? They sell out fast.” She held up the display. “Do you want them? Or do you need something else?”
“I needher.” I jerked my chin toward the woman who had me glued to the floor.
The sales associate flicked a look at her coworker and turned back to me with a smirk. “Eva will be right with you.”
Eva.The sound reverberated throughout my body like some mystical force. Like an echo from the depths of the ocean with the power to affect the entire ecosphere.
What the fuck?I blinked at the inanity spewing from my mind.
Eva glanced over at me as she rang up the man with the red cap. I didn’t smile. I didn’t nod. I didn’t do a damn thing except stare at her like a fool. My heart thundered so loudly that I feared the entire store might hear it.
When the last customer left, Eva stepped away from the counter and looked at me. “How can I help you?”
Something in me cracked a little. Maybe it was my bones thawing from being frozen in place. Or maybe I was hearing things.
The door chimed, and a shirtless teen with messy brown hair wearing sweatpants, barged in, singing Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.”His eyes zeroed in on Eva. Fear splashed onto her face as the kid darted toward her with his arms stretched out as though wanting a hug. Horrified, she dodged him and bumped into a metal display case. It wobbled, and I ran over, clasped a hand over it, and held it upright, shielding her from the danger. Several vases slammed into me and crashed to the floor.
The kid grabbed Eva, sniffing her. Scared, she pushedhim away. As I straightened out the display case, an old woman rushed into the store, looking concerned.
“Oh my God, Milo!” She hurried over to the teen, draping a coat over him. Then she opened a small bottle and held it under his nose. “Inhale.”
Milo did as she asked and appeared calmer. Then he burrowed into her, whimpering. His demeanor was that of a toddler, not a teenager.
I stepped in front of Eva, creating a barrier between her and the unpredictable teen.
“It’s all my fault. I’m so sorry,” said the woman with tears in her eyes. “I only left him for a moment to do the laundry. Milo didn’t mean it. My grandson is harmless.”
Eva stepped up to the boy and, to my surprise, patted him on the arm. “It’s okay. I’m not mad.”
“He’s been through a lot.” The grandmother glanced at the broken vases on the floor. “Let me pay you for the damages.”
An associate hurried over with a broom, sweeping the debris to the side.
“Don’t worry about it.” Eva offered a warm smile. “It was an accident. You should take him home. He’s trembling.”
Grateful, the grandmother nodded and thanked Eva several times before leaving. A quick glance at the damage told me the loss would be somewhere in the low thousands. Those fancy vases and fresh flowers looked expensive. She could probably write them off. But this was a small flower shop that didn’t have a generous budget to play with. I understood because I’d been there when my business first started.
I helped Eva pick up the damaged flowers, placing them on the counter.
“Thank you for your help.” She gestured to the metal display. “I would’ve been injured if it weren’t for you.” She raked a gaze down my body. “Are you hurt?”
I plucked some leaves and petals from my coat. “I’m good.”
I should have left and let her tend to her shop, but I stayed and helped her fill up the display again.
“I’ve got it.” She smiled, and my heart did strange things in my chest. “Are you looking to buy flowers for someone?”
I glanced at the passionflowers. “Can I get a bouquet of those?” Then I turned to four potted plants on the floor. “I’ll take those too, including the three succulents.”
