Page 35 of Vow

Haven paid the cab, but even as she said goodbye to the man who had been regaling her with stories about his toddler-aged granddaughter, her attention was on something else. Or rather … someone else.

A man stood at the end of the walkway leading up to Haven’s small Brooklyn home. She recognized him immediately even though she had only seen him in passing maybe once or twice. She’d had a single conversation with him on the side of a street not very long ago when he’d been tasked with diverting her attention so that she didn’t run into Andino’s mother coming out of his restaurant.

Pink, she thought the man’s name was.

All she knew about him for sure was that he looked like a goddamn linebacker—which in itself was a bit intimidating—and that he worked for Andino. That was it.

It wasn’t so much that Pink was standing on her walkway that bothered Haven as it was the why. Why the fuck was he here, and what did he want? Not to mention … why did he have a small bouquet of winter flowers in his hand? It all made Haven think Andino was somehow involved because how could he not be?

And she didn’t like that at all.

It got her irritation spiking all over again.

Stepping out of the cab, Haven took a minute to fix her coat, and watch the black and yellow checkered car drive away. It was only once she couldn’t see the cab anymore that she turned to greet the man standing on her walkway with the flowers.

“Pink, right?” Haven asked.

The man nodded. “That’s me.”

Haven eyed the flowers in his hand. “Let me guess—Andino sent you?”

“You would be right.”

Great.

“Do you often run flowers to women all over the city for him?”

Ouch.

Even she could hear the heat in her tone. Haven had no reason to believe Andino was running around with multiple women. In fact, she believed that he wasn’t simply because he told her that. Even so, she couldn’t resist taking a cheap shot just because the opportunity presented itself.

Maybe she was a little petty.

Pink lifted a single brow, saying, “This is the first time I have ever delivered flowers for him, actually. He thought you might appreciate a familiar face rather than a random delivery man.”

“Well, he thought wrong.”

Not that she didn’t like Pink. She didn’t have a reason to dislike him, as far as that went. That was not where Haven’s problems originated. Her issues all stemmed right back to Andino, and the fact the man seemed to be playing some kind of game with her. She was not up for that at all.

He wasn’t giving her a choice, either.

“My apologies,” Pink said quietly.

Haven let out a sigh, and crossed her arms as she came closer. “It’s not your fault. I know you’re just doing your job.”

“I am. Would you like me to carry the flowers in, or …?”

“I can handle it.”

“Lady’s choice.”

Pink carefully handed the flowers over, and Haven didn’t miss the small card sticking out from the top. This time, it was Andino’s handwriting staring back at her. A simple, single sentence with his initials attached at the end.

I thought your other ones might be starting to wilt. —A.M.

“Thank you,” Haven said.

Pink nodded. “Have a good day, Haven.”