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“I didn’t say anything about anyone making a choice for her,” Emilia said.
“Miss Emilia, I don’t think we had the pleasure of meeting when you were delivering flowers to my home. I’m Hayden Lowell.”
The flower dropped from her hand and I watched as her expression fell.
“You’re Hayden,” she said.
“I am.”
“And these flowers…?”
“Are for Grace. If I knew where to take them.”
“And you’re hoping I know where to take them?”
“I’m actually hoping you can tell me where to take them,” I said.
The struggle in the woman’s face made me nervous. This was all I had. The only other option was to keep coming back like some stalker until I could catch Grace at the shop. And I didn’t want to do that to their lovely business. I didn’t want to have to stalk Grace out in order to see her. I wanted her and this lovely woman in front of me to see me for the man I was. The man I’d turned myself into so I could be with Grace.
“Please,” I said. “At the very least, she deserves an apology.”
“That she does,” Emilia said flatly. “You hurt that girl.”
“I’m sorry. But it was for the best.”
“I’d think twice before making that kind of declaration.”
“If I knew where she lived, I could explain to her why it was.”
“She doesn’t need an explanation, Mr. Lowell. What she needs is someone who can stand in her corner even when it doesn’t suit the other person.”
“Then it’s a good thing I’m standing on my own two feet again.”
Emilia raked her eyes down my form before she sighed. I watched in silence as she finished rearranging the flowers and I looked back at Zander. He was sitting in the car bobbing his head to whatever music he was listening to and I was thankful he’d driven me to the shop. I listened as Emilia tapped at her cash register, then she opened up her hand and threw her eyes back up to mine.
“Forty-five, seventy-two,” she said. “Would you like to add anything on? Like chocolates or a card?”
“That won’t be necessary, but I would like you to add a tip for yourself.”
“That’s very kind of you. How much?”
“It depends. Will you tell me where Grace is?”
“You’re not paying me for Grace’s address. You can tip me, and then if my gut is still screaming at me then you’ll have my answer,” she said.
All I had was one chance, so I figured I’d better make the best of it.
“Tip yourself four hundred,” I said.
The woman’s jaw dropped to the floor and I stifled my grin.
“We’ll do four,” she said.
“Four hundred or nothing. That’s my offer,” I said.
“You really are as relentless as she said.”
“It’s one of my many endearing traits.”
