Page 9 of Yours to Keep

“I might know a flower guy,” I said. “If you tell me how to get through to Sullivan.”

Her eyes lit up. “Deal.”

“I know someone with a fast turnaround time,” I said. “He kind of specializes in last-minute arrangements. Is it a problem that he mostly does funerals?”

Since I used to work in hospice care, this had kind of come up a lot, but obviously, Liana didn’t know that and the question seemed to knock her off for a moment. “Does he reuse the flowers from the funerals? You know what, don’t answer that. I don’t care.”

I laughed and pulled out my phone, scrolling for the number. “Trust me, he’s really efficient and he’s emotionally resilient too. He’ll be able to handle a bride.”

I handed her the phone and she glanced at my screen like I’d just given her oxygen. “You’re a lifesaver.”

“I do what I can,” I said.

After quickly typing the number into her own phone, she handed mine back and smiled. “Great. Now tell me what’s going on with you, and I’ll tell you how to solve it.”

4

SULLIVAN

The conference room smelled faintly of printer toner, hospital food, and chemicals. I couldn’t wait until my actual office was ready, but for now, I’d made myself at home here. The sheer amount of paper spread across the table would probably terrify anyone else, but to me, this was clarity incarnate.

My graphs, projections, and reports were all aligned with ruthless precision. Every number meant something. Every figure mattered. Everything could be optimized and this was how I would do it.

A knock at the door barely registered as I recalculated staffing projections for the fifth-floor renovation. Liana didn’t wait two seconds after knocking before her voice filtered through the fake wood.

“Your two o’clock appointment is here.”

I didn’t have a two o’clock appointment. I rarely did. Afternoon appointments were for people who couldn’t manage their schedules. I managed mine like it was a feat of German engineering.

“I don’t—” I started, but the door opened before I could finish and my sister strode in, smiling innocently before turning to sweep a hand toward the open door.

“Sullivan Crowne, allow me to introduce you to Bree Bennett.”

I froze. The woman I had noticed on my first day walked into the conference room after my sister. Once again, her dark hair was pulled back into a hasty ponytail, her blue eyes like laser beams as they met mine.

There was no mistaking that it was her, the very same woman who’d stared at my suit like it was a rag and who’d defiantly refused to blink while everyone else had applauded timidly. But now, she was here, her expression smooth instead of challenging, and oddly, she was holding a clear plastic takeout container with a cannoli inside.

“What’s going on?” I asked, my voice threaded with a curiosity I refused to acknowledge. “I don’t have a two o’clock today, Liana.”

As she often did, my sister ignored the tension in the room entirely and continued as if this was a perfectly normal, perfectly desirable interruption. “My new friend here wants to discuss some of the changes you’ve been making.”

Bree gave me a look that was part diplomacy, part firecracker. “I wanted to start off on the right foot, so I brought you your favorite dessert.”

I turned slowly to Liana, knowing she must be responsible for Bree having that information. “What are you up to?”

She gave me a little shrug, already turning to excuse herself. “Sorry, I have to call my flower guy.”

A moment later, she was gone, leaving the door wide open behind her. I didn’t move to take the dessert, so Bree just stood there, holding it awkwardly, the plastic container hovering between us like a peace offering I had no intention of accepting.

“Alright,” I said finally, sliding my elbows onto the table and looking up at her. “What did you want to discuss that was so urgent you failed to make an appointment in advance?”

Those exceptionally blue eyes locked intently on mine, her chin lifting ever so slightly. “We need to talk about the paper gowns.”

I raised an eyebrow at her. “Ah. You thought you could butter me up with dessert and I would just change my mind. Is that it?”

“No. I brought the dessert because apparently you like cannoli and I was hoping you wouldn’t be a jackass if you knew I tried to come in peace.”

Surprised by her directness, I leaned back in my chair and folded my hands over my abs, not once breaking her stare. “It’s not the worst strategy anyone has ever tried, but unfortunately for you, I can’t be bought. I don’t run my business that way.”