Chapter Three
LYRIC
His voice is deep, husky, and thick like honey. I’m entirely lost in it, caught up in its smooth velvety tone. That is, until he clears his throat, and it computes what he’s actually said.
My eyes widen. “Oh… you do? That’s so good to hear.
She hopped into my truck yesterday in Naples, ate all my damn roses, then, of course, we were short for the Art Festival and I had to use store flowers to top up.
The customers were unhappy because we had nothing in stock, but what can you do?
I mean, I told them a goat ate my roses, and they were all like…
yeah, whatever, lady. Then I took Doughnut home—”
“Wait, did you say Doughnut?”
I exhale. Thank goodness he interrupted my rambling because I am like a madwoman who won’t shut up. Show me a hot guy, and I turn into a pre-pubescent teenage girl.
Get a grip, Lyri!
“Yeah, it’s what her name tag says.”
His soft lips stretch upward, but it doesn’t quite reach his stunning eyes. The way such a simple gesture lightens his entire face has me weak at the knees.
It’s gorgeous—he’s gorgeous.
Am I drooling? I casually wipe my mouth in case I am.
“Does it faint?”
“Huh?” His eyes, oh God, they’re stunning.
He smirks. “The goat? Does it faint?”
“Mm-hmm.”
Pull your shit together, Lyri. You do not need to hum at him.
He walks over to Doughnut, and she instantly cuddles into his side as if she knows him. “How did you get all the way over here, little Doughnut? They’re going to be beside themselves.”
My ears prick up, breaking me from my trance. “They?”
He nods. “His owners.”
I jerk back, a little confused. “Wait! What? She is a he?”
He chuckles. “I know the name’s confusing. The owners are a little… interesting.” He tilts his head and laughs. “Seems Doughnut chose the right person to run away with.”
I raise my brow. “You saying I’m interesting?”
“I’m saying Doughnut is picky. If he chose you, there’s a reason.”
I purse my lips, then frown. “Well, he chose my truck… but that’s mainly because it had a ton of roses in it. Seems hunger overrode everything else.”
He laughs.
Hallmark hero over here’s laughing at my predicament.
“I’m essentially here to buy some flowers. I know my bunch won’t make up for the flowers you lost to Doughnut’s stomach, but let me help. Every bit counts, right?”
Curiosity runs through me. “Oh, for your… girlfriend?” I ask before I think.
A sly smirk covers his features. “No, for my mom. Dad forgot to get her a bunch for her birthday yesterday. He’s too busy today. So, he sent me on an errand to grab them for her… thought I’d get some for her, too.”
My heart skips a beat. He’s a family man. Swoon.
“You’re close to your relatives, then?”
He dips his head like he’s pondering the notion. “We don’t always see eye to eye, but for the most part, we’re close.”
I let out a scoff. “I feel you on the not-always-seeing-eye-to-eye part.”
He tilts his head. “Your family the same?”
I roll my shoulders, sore from carrying Doughnut around. “You have no idea.”
“So, ah… you work in the florist here long?” he asks, turning to glance back at my shop.
My face alights, and I feel warmth flood through me. “You could say that, I own it.”
His eyes find mine again.
Ba-dum.
Ba-dum.
My breath catches in my throat as he stares at me.
“That’s a great accomplishment. Your shop has quite a reputation in Orange County. It’s why I came out here to get a couple of nice arrangements.”
Opening my eyes wide, I’m a little shocked. I knew business was booming, but I had no idea word had spread so far.
This is great news.
“Wow! Thanks for telling me. It’s nice to know we’re doing well.”
His killer smile greets me again, and I liquefy inside. “Well, one thing I do know is if you deliver a quality product time and time again, you will reap the rewards.”
“Spoken like a true salesman.”
He glances down at Doughnut once more.
Suddenly, I realize, Hallmark is the problem solver to my bigger issue. “So, you know Doughnut and his owners, right?”
He dips his head. “Sure do. He belongs to my old friend Rip and his brothers up in the San Fernando Valley. I can call them to come get him if you like. They’ll be worried sick.”
My stomach churns with guilt. “Oh, no, that’s not necessary. I can take Doughnut back to them, seeing as I kinda took him on a road trip. I just need their address.”
He rubs his chin, the move sexy as sin as he ponders. “Why don’t I come with you? I haven’t seen Rip in ages, and I need to catch up with him anyway.”
I tense.
Is he seriously asking to take a small road trip with me? I mean, we’ve known each other all of five minutes, and this god-like GQ cover model wants to spend time… with me?
“What’s the catch?”
“No catch. I get to see an old friend, plus I’ll personally make sure Doughnut gets back safe. It’s the right thing to do. And you get to return the goat you stole.”
I blurt out a laugh. “I didn’t steal him. He’s more of a stowaway.”
“Either way, it’s a win-win for both of us. C’mon, what d’ya say?”
I guess a small road trip will be fun. There are benefits in getting to know this mystery man in front of me. But first, I need to know a little more. I extend my hand toward him, and his eyes widen at the sudden gesture. Then his lips curve into a smile, revealing a flash of bright white teeth.
And for a moment, just a moment in time, everything stops, and it’s like all the bad in my life vanishes when he takes my hand in his.
His large hand encompasses mine completely, his warm palm slides against my skin, and as it does, a tingle shoots through me.
A sudden shot of adrenaline pumps into my veins, or maybe it’s like touching an electric fence.
There’s something about this guy that sends every cell in my body buzzing.
My breathing hitches as my eyes meet his again. “I’m Lyric… Lyric Griffin. But you can call me Lyri. Nice to meet you.”
His eyes widen, disbelief flickering across his face as he takes my hand. The moment his grip tightens, those sparks surge through me all over again.
“I’m Chase Malone, but you can call me Chase.
” He doesn’t let my hand go. Instead, we stare at each other, hands locked together as I feel this pulse.
I bite down on my bottom lip while a comfortable silence forms between us.
Chase’s thumb brushes gently across the top of my hand, a simple touch that sends butterflies stirring in my stomach and makes my breath catch in the best way.
I’ve never felt like this from simply meeting someone.
I’ve heard of instant attraction, undeniable chemistry, lust, if you want to call it that. But this? This feels like something else. This feels deeper. It’s not love at first sight, that would be crazy, but there’s something about Chase that has me under his spell.
Baa.
Both our heads snap to Doughnut, and he nudges into my side while giving off his weird goat smile.
I grin at Doughnut, finally letting Chase’s hand go.
I turn back to Chase with a small exhale.
“Road trip, huh?” I utter. The corner of his lips turns up, and it touches his eyes.
“You, me, and a fainting goat? What could possibly go wrong?”
He lets out a gentle chuckle. “Great! When do you want to go?”
I check my watch—it’s early morning. Maybe we should go now, then I can be back for the afternoon rush. “Are you free?”
He looks up to the sky, his face conveying that he’s thinking hard. I wonder if he’s going to bail on me already, then his eyes meet mine. “I’m all yours as long as you want me. So I guess we’ll be together for a long time.”
I snort. “Wow… okay, cocky much?”
He shrugs. “It’s in my nature.”
I roll my eyes. “Well, keep your nature someplace else while you’re with me, sir.”
He stifles a laugh. “No promises.”
I giggle like a damn schoolgirl. D’oh!
“I’ve just gotta tell Rory I’m gonna be out for a few. You okay to watch over Doughnut?”
Warmth grows on his face, and it’s genuine. “Yeah, we got some catching up to do, Doughnut and me.” A longing expression crosses over his features. Not in a weird way, but in a way that tells me they have history.
“I won’t be long. Don’t steal him, or I will hunt you down and cut you while you sleep.”
His eyes widen as he assesses me, but he lets out a small chuckle while raising his hands. “I promise. Nothing illegal while you’re gone.”
I bob my head once, then turn, hurrying toward the entry.
When I step inside, Rory’s grinning so wide it’s like she’s going to burst. “Oh. My. Wet. Little. Panties! Get in here, girl, and tell me how he smells.”
I quickly shut the door behind me, hoping he didn’t hear her excitement. “Rory… shh. What are you… sixteen?”
Ha, that’s rich, coming from someone who just giggled like an adolescent only a few moments earlier.
She fans her face with one of our brochures. “I’ll be whatever age that hunk of man meat wants me to be.”
I burst out laughing as I rush over to the desk, trying to avoid the topic of how utterly gorgeous Chase is.
I have to spend the next couple of hours with the man, driving to and from the San Fernando Valley to drop off a goat.
I don’t need to be thinking about his stunning face or what his abs might look like beneath his crisp, white business shirt.
Or how thick his thighs are, and what they might feel like pounding against me. Or how big his co—
Suddenly, a pair of snapping fingers is in my line of sight, and they break me out of my daydream. “Earth to Lyri. Where did you go just now? It was a sex daydream, wasn’t it?” Rory asks with the biggest of smirks as I try to catch my frantic breathing.
My cheeks heat as I shove her shoulder over the counter. “No. And anyway, a man like him would not be interested in a woman like me. He was probably flirting because it’s in his DNA. So, can we drop it? I’m in here for a reason.”
“Well, that’s good. Because if he’s not into you, then can I take control ’cause I’d love to ride his gear sti—”