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The flower shop was slow that day. People usually picked up their arrangements closer to the weekend. The only time I worked during the week was for funerals. Weddings and bridal showers always took place on Saturdays and Sundays.
The bell rang overhead when a customer came into the shop. My back was to the door as I stood at the table, tying a ribbon around a vase. My shears were on the table along with chopped rose stems. My gloves were thick to protect my fingers from the thorns—a gift my father got me for my birthday a few years ago.
Heavy footfalls sounded behind me, the long gait sounding like the stride of a tall man. I set the scissors down and turned around. “Good afternoon. How can I—” Words died in my throat when my eyes locked on to the beautiful blue ones that had watched me come just a week ago. My entire body stiffened at his unexpected visit, especially since he looked even more handsome than he did last week. Today, he’d ditched the jacket and wore a black t-shirt, his forearms chiseled with thick cords of muscle. His skin was tanned, just a few shades darker than mine. A shiny watch was on his wrist, but that was the only jewelry he wore. His fitted jeans hung low on his hips, tight around his muscled thighs.
He wore that same lopsided grin he’d had when he first looked at me. “You know your way around those scissors.” He slid his hands into his pockets, his confidence filling the room just the way it filled the alleyway. He stepped to the side to examine the flower arrangement I’d just made. His blue eyes took in the flowers and the vase before he turned back to me. “Nice.”
I forced myself to recover from his unexpected visit. I was usually more confident than this, even when I was nervous. “Picking up some flowers for your girlfriend?”
He grinned at my joke. “For my mother, actually.”
I forced my eyes not to soften. Just because he was a criminal didn’t mean I should be touched by his gesture—especially if he was lying. “What does she like?” Instead of asking why he was really there and letting him see my anxiety, I acted indifferent. The last thing I wanted was for him to think he got under my skin.
“Anything.” He walked to the fridge and pulled out an arrangement wrapped in plastic. “This will do.”
“You don’t want it in a vase?” I asked, knowing that made flowers look a lot more elegant.
“No.” He carried the flowers back to the counter and set them on the surface. “Vases don’t belong in a cemetery.”
I froze at his statement, my heart immediately moving into my throat. I loved my mother so much, and I would be devastated if I ever lost her. Knowing he’d lost someone he loved, even if he wasn’t a good man, broke my heart. “I’m so sorry…”
Bosco watched my expression, his eyes showing the same hardness they did before. “I can read people really well. I can tell you mean that.”
“Of course I do.” I wrapped his flowers in an extra paper then grabbed my iPad. “Fifteen euros.”
He pulled out his wallet then set the cash on the table. “Thank you.” He grabbed the flowers and held them in the crook of his arm. There was nothing left to discuss now that he’d finished his purchase, but he continued to linger, his eyes glued to my face like my lips were a piece of artwork.
I knew he was thinking about our kiss—because I was.
I refused to break eye contact, to show any kind of weakness. When faced with a bigger and stronger opponent, you had to rise to the challenge—otherwise, they would walk all over you. If he could see through my front, that wouldn’t matter. I still had to try. At least my enemies would respect me. “Have a good day, Bosco.”
An unstoppable grin spread across his face, like every little thing I did was amusing. “I like you.”
The compliment spread through my veins and made my skin feel warm. His approval should mean nothing to me, not when he was an underground criminal. So far, he didn’t seem to be dangerous. If he’d really wanted to hurt me, he wouldn’t have let me walk away from him that night. He wouldn’t be surprising me in broad daylight at my shop. “Bones told you to stay away from me.”
His grin slowly disappeared, his stunning blue eyes shifting to a menacing stare. “Do you want me to stay away from you?”
I should immediately say yes, but I didn’t. I kept my silence and stared him down, unsure what to say in rebuttal. This was a guy I didn’t want to get involved with, no matter how good that kiss was. I didn’t mind an occasional bad boy here and there, nothing I couldn’t handle. But Bosco was a whole new caliber, someone Bones was vehemently opposed to. I deflected the question by not answering it at all. “I would listen to Bones if I were you.”
