Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
Eva
The next day, Kain ordered breakfast for us. I stared at the table full of waffles, muffins, eggs, sausages, yogurt, fruit, and banana bread.
“Is someone else joining us?” I held the cup of cappuccino he’d gotten me.
“No.” He sipped his coffee. “I just want to feed my woman.”
“This is enough food for the week.” My eyes widened at the gluttony.
“Stay here with me this week.”
“I can’t.” I broke off a waffle. “Grandpa might need me.”
“Then three days out of seven,” he negotiated. “How’s that? You don’t have to worry about your grandfather’s food. I’ll place an order for him. He’ll get three healthy meals a day, every day.”
Though I appreciated his generosity, our relationship was still too new for this. I didn’t want to appear as if I was taking advantage of him.
While thoughts churned in my mind, he said, “I bet you if I call your grandfather and suggest you stay here with me for the week to help me with an investigation, he will agree. I can invite him over to give him a tour of my living space if he wants.”
I leveled a look at him. Based on past experience, Grandpa would absolutely agree.
“You cast a spell on him.” I chewed on the waffle, loving its fluffiness. “He doesn’t even know you. I don’t know why he likes you.”
Smirking, he lifted his shoulder. “What’s there not to like, baby? You enjoyed me last night, didn’t you?”
I rolled my eyes at his negotiating tactics. “I’ll think about it and let you know.”
“By the end of the day?” He leaned into the table and fed me a piece of his banana bread.
“No promises.”
“Want to battle it out? You know some self-defense now.”
“Not enough to defeat you.”
“I’ll surrender to you like the last time.”
The memory of us in his office, bedroom, and bathroom aroused me. It was too early in the morning for this, so I shook the thoughts away.
Kain wore a satisfied expression as though he could read my mind.
His phone buzzed, and he glanced at it. “I’ve got a few meetings to attend.” He looked at me. “What’s your plan for today?”
I still had a few more days off and planned on working on my future flower shop.
“Maybe work out, practice self-defense, and check up on Grandpa.”
“When you’re done working out, can you look at the renovation? Give me some ideas of what shops could go there. Maybe a larger café or restaurant? Can you also see what kinds of plants I can add to improve the environment at the gym and tattoo parlor?”
He trusted me enough for my opinion on his business. Joy burst within me.
Plants would soften any space, making it more welcoming. “I’d love to.”
As soon as Kain left, my phone rang, and Morgan’s name popped up on the screen. Nerves twisted in my stomach. With her current situation, I always wondered if everything was okay.
“Hey,” I said.
“Sorry to bother you on your vacation, Eva.” Sadness stirred in her voice. “Can you talk?”
“Of course. What’s up?”
She heaved a sigh. “I’m going to sell the shop.”
“No . . . Why? What happened?”
“A lot of things. I’m going to move back to Florida to be closer to my mom and sister. This divorce is hell. Frankly, I just don’t have the energy . . . or the love for the shop anymore.”
My heart bled for her. She’d worked so hard to start the shop and see it grow in the last few years.
“I’d like you to take it over. You’re a great florist, and I know you love working at Happy Flowers.”
I didn’t know how to respond. It was my dream to own a flower shop, but I wasn’t sure if this was the right time for me. Plus my heart ached for Morgan. The shop was her dream. I couldn’t understand abandoning it. Perhaps her family could help her heal from this life crisis.
My mind swerved to practical matters. Numbers.
“I’d love to, Morgan, but I’m not sure I can afford to right now.”
We talked about numbers, sales, inventory, and projections for the year.
Sales had increased from last month, with the numbers still climbing.
I knew Happy Flowers would continue to profit, but my savings wouldn’t be able to cover all the expenses.
She said she’d sit with me to go over everything tomorrow, so I would know exactly where the store stood.
After our conversation, an estimate of three hundred thousand dollars floated in my mind.
That number included the takeover, with enough wiggle room for changes tailored to my vision and so on.
I had hoped to have a sizable chunk saved so I wouldn’t need a massive bank loan.
Would a bank even give me that amount right now?
Morgan had other potential buyers in mind, but she made me the offer first. I asked Morgan to give me a week to think about it.
Was I ready for this change? I decided a walk would help me juggle the pros and cons. This was a huge decision, and I didn’t want to make a mistake.
I wandered around Coolidge Corner and back to Etched Square, browsing the adorable shops and imagining myself as an owner.
The freedom to create thrilled me. I could make all the decisions and offer mini floral arrangement classes for people.
A collection of plants in unique pottery would be fantastic gift ideas for men.
Most of the gift items in flower shops were geared toward women, so I wanted to look into that angle to increase profits.
Just thinking about it excited me, but the numbers. Ugh.
Before I knew it, I was glancing at a flower shop called Helena’s Flowers.
It was at the corner of Etched Square. A customer exited, carrying a bouquet of colorful gerbera daisies.
From the window display, this store embraced a country flair.
It differed from Happy Flowers, which was more sophisticated and elegant—more my style.
A series of ideas bloomed in my head, making me smile.
I can do this.
Focusing on the joy, I entered the shop, thinking about finances and how I’d been frugal trying to save up for my dream.
Every extra dollar counted, and I was proud of myself for what I’d accomplished.
Even if it wasn’t as much as someone like Kain.
He was a billionaire who didn’t have to worry about these financial things.
Could our relationship survive this difference? I hated this nagging insecurity.
His words echoed in my head, reminding me that he came from humble beginnings. He worked hard for his accomplishments, and the horror of his past drove him to success. What drove me was a simple dream. I wasn’t kidnapped and forced to do heinous things.
My heart ached, longing to remove that nightmare from him.
In today’s world, people measure your value based on your bank account. It was how things operated.
Stop sabotaging yourself. You’re worth more than numbers, Eva.
I browsed the beautiful rustic decor filled with flowers and plants. I smiled at the barn display, holding a selection of vases filled with sunflowers. Cowboy hats and boots were also used in the decor. Overall, I felt the southern charm that stood out in the New England town.
“When will the new bleeding hearts shipment arrive?” asked a man who sounded familiar.
He looked like the man who had ordered bleeding hearts from Happy Flowers, but I couldn’t recall his name. He wore a navy tracksuit and a red baseball cap.
“Maybe in a month or two,” said the woman wearing a floral dress with a brown leather belt.
Her auburn hair was tied in a ponytail with a leather strap.
She tied a bouquet of bleeding hearts with a red ribbon.
“These came from my cousin, who lives in Georgia, but she’ll be busy with her new baby for the next few months. ”
“Ah, I see.” He tucked his hands into his pockets.
“Are these for your girlfriend or wife?” asked the associate.
“Girlfriend.”
“I have to admit, not too many people buy bleeding heart bouquets.”
“They’re just boring.” He laughed. “The flower represents a powerful emotional expression—extreme love or pain. All things we experience in life. Sometimes the heart bleeds, no?”
“You’re right. Most people associate the rose with love and sometimes heartache. Maybe the bleeding heart is the new thing.” Her face brightened. “I’ll definitely include more bleeding hearts in my assortment from now on. Thanks for the inspo.”
“You’re welcome.” He paid with cash, grabbed the bouquet, and turned.
I held up a pot of calla lilies, blocking my face from his view.
After meeting Kain and hearing details about the Black Rose Killer, I couldn’t help but suspect this man who had bought bleeding hearts from my shop too.
I’d look up his contact information when I got back to Happy Flowers.
I recalled he had a wife, but now he said he was buying flowers for his girlfriend.
Was he a despicable cheater like Dennis?
Why was he going to flower shops, gathering up bleeding hearts?
Could he be the murderer?
He left the shop, and I stepped out and followed him, keeping my distance. My hands trembled as I kept my gaze on him while he maneuvered between the crowds on the street.