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Rock entered Arrangements By Gertrude and stopped. Flowers of every color, shape, and size filled the florist shop two blocks away from Allison’s townhouse. Where the hell should he start?
“Can I help you?” a grandmotherly sort, who didn’t even reach his chest, wearing a pink apron, approached him.
“I need a bouquet of flowers, ma’am.” Since he stood in a joint surrounded by flowers, his need should be obvious to the employee.
“Please call me Gertie.” She pointed to her nametag and smiled. “What did you have in mind?”
Beats me. “I’m not sure.”
“Well, are they for a special occasion?”
Did it really matter? “A night out. Can you put together something you’d like to get?” Gertrude might be old enough to be his Nonna, but she was the only woman around to help him at the moment. Hopefully, if she made something she liked, Allison would too.
Gertrude rubbed her hands together and gave him a smile that made him suspect this little gift was going to cost him a pretty penny. “Certainly, does your lady have a favorite flower I should include?”
He should’ve asked his sister about Allison’s favorites. “She likes just about everything.” No way was he telling Gertrude here he didn’t know what Allison liked. “Don’t put in any roses,” he added before she got to work. Every well-dressed suit Alliso
n went out with probably brought her roses. He wanted something that would stand out.
“Give me a few minutes and I’ll put together something perfect,” the florist said, eyeing the refrigerated cases of flowers as if she was about to lay siege to them.
A woman with a mission. He watched Gertrude go from one case to another, plucking out colorful flowers and adding them to the growing bouquet in her hand. Occasionally she’d put something back and then pick out something else.
A few minutes turned into ten, but when she handed him the final product, even he recognized what a beautiful arrangement she’d put together for him.
“Your lady friend is going to love this,” she said, handing him the bundle she’d wrapped in clear plastic before tying a dark purple ribbon around it.
He hoped so. “Thank you for your help, ma’am.”
“Enjoy your night out,” she called as he walked toward the door, “and stop back in anytime.”
He intended too enjoy it, but he didn’t see himself stopping in again.
Rock bit down on the cherry flavored candy in his mouth and circled around the block. On his first pass, there hadn’t been any open spots in front of Allison’s townhouse. If he didn’t see any now, he’d park on the next street over and hoof it. Turning the corner, he noticed the sliver sedan flying up behind him. At the last moment, it slowed down, but it continued to ride his bumper all the way down Washington Street. Driving so close during rush hour traffic he got, but not now. If the guy wanted to be a jerk, he could be too. Rock slowed his speed, forcing the other driver to either slow down too or plow into the bed of his truck.
What’s it going to be, jerk? Thanks to the other car’s dark-tinted windows, he couldn’t see the driver’s face, but Rock doubted the dude was happy as he backed off. As he turned onto Cameron Street again, the silver sedan did the same while still maintaining a decent distance.
Had everyone in Alexandria decided to park on this street tonight? Cars still lined Allison’s side of the road. He’d have to park on Washington and walk. Once again he turned a corner and checked his rearview mirror. Whoever had been behind him turned in the opposite direction.
He pulled into the first open spot he saw.
He eyed the bouquet as he opened his truck door. Not bad, but not worth the money he’d dished out for something that would be dead and wilted in a few days. Women, he’d never understand them.
A steady stream of traffic zipped up and down the street, forcing him to wait. At the first break in the traffic, he stepped off the curb and paused, his gut telling him someone or something was out of place. Crossing the street, he assessed his surroundings. Several people walked on the sidewalks but none sent up any red flags. He checked each of the parked cars. As far as he could tell, they were all empty.
He’d learned to listen to his instincts. They’d saved him more than once. So what was he missing? He glanced at the parked cars again as he approached Allison’s door. Nothing. “Merda,” he muttered another of his favorite Italian curses as he climbed Allison’s steps. Until he identified the who or what, he couldn’t do anything about it. In the meantime, he’d keep an eye out.
Ringing the doorbell, he waited and assessed his surroundings. Or he did until the door opened.
How he’d gotten so lucky, he didn’t know and didn’t care. Damn, how could a woman dressed so casually manage to look hot and sophisticated at the same time?
“Come on in.” Smiling, she stepped back.
How long would it take to kiss off her lipstick? Would she even let him? Now might not be the time to find out, so instead, he held out the flowers. “These are for you.” Brilliant thing to say, Raimono. Of course she knows they’re for her. You just walked into her house carrying the stupid things.
Accepting the bouquet, she closed the door and approached him. “They’re gorgeous. Thank you. Let me put them in water and grab my jacket.” Rather than walk past him, she rested her palm on his shoulder, her fingers brushing against his neck as she kissed his cheek, sending his blood into a low simmer. “I hope you’re hungry. Cooper’s Smokehouse has the best barbecue.”
