Page 22 of Not Mine To Love

He shrugged. “I can’t think of anything.” And then he turned toward me and met my eyes. He smiled.

“You look like the adult version of a cherub in a Renaissance painting.”

I crossed my arms. “Was that supposed to distract me? Answer the question.”

“Okay. Here’s a doozey. Are you ready for this?”

I nodded. Practically salivating. Oh, this was going to be good.

“I…” he stopped. “I… are you sure you want to know?”

I sighed and gave him what I hoped was a mean look.

“Now you look like a mean cherub.”

“Julius!” I shouted, feeling like we were old friends.

“Okay. Okay.” He thumped his hand against the steering wheel. “I’m thinking… thinking…”

“Well, think faster. We don’t have all day.”

“Bossy, bossy… you look too sweet to be so bossy.”

“Yeah, yeah. Come on … spit it out. I shared, now it’s your turn.” But in my head, I was saying, oh my gosh, he thinks I’m sweet! I was totally crushing on him. Too bad he was taken. And the target of my client. So yeah… definitely no romance there. Not that I was looking for romance. Romance was overrated. I didn’t need romance. I was fine. Just fine. Then why couldn’t I stop looking at his lips?

He smiled, and I blushed. God, he totally caught me staring.

“I just want to say that you’re very cute when you blush.”

“I didn’t blush. This car is just hot.”

“So you’re saying, you’re just flushed?”

“You know what? Let’s just get out of the car.” I needed some space. It wasn’t the car that was hot.

“Don’t you want me to answer the question?” he asked, stepping out of the car and following me to the door of the floral shop.

“Nope. I don’t care anymore.”

“Yes you do.”

“No I don’t”

“Aww man, and I really wanted to tell you…”

I rolled my eyes and pushed the door open, but I wasn’t annoyed. I needed space. And I needed to not be alone with him. My thoughts weren’t exactly pure. I had to keep reminding myself that he was taken. Charming, handsome, funny, helpful, but very, very taken.

“Good morning, Julius and Ana, correct?” said the shopkeeper happily. She had big eyes that seemed even bigger behind the glasses she wore.

“Partially right,” he said as he extended his hand. “I’m Julius, and this is my friend Becca. She’s also our photographer. She’s subbing for Ana today.”

“Friend and photographer. Double duty,” the shopkeeper said with a laugh. I smiled politely.

“Let’s get started.” She came from around the desk and shook my hand. “Nice to meet you. We have the best selection in town, come on back.”

She whisked us to the back room where floral arrangements of all colors and sizes greeted us. I was instantly overwhelmed and turned to look at Julius. His eyes were comically large as he took in the scene in front of us.

“Umm… we’ll just take them all,” he mumbled.