10. Trevor
Chapter ten
Trevor
F loral aromas washed over me as I stepped into Petals & Blooms. My heart hammered against my ribs like I was heading into a four-alarm blaze rather than Amelia's flower shop.
Amelia looked up from arranging a vase of vibrant sunflowers, and a delicate blush crept across her cheeks as we gravitated toward each other, an invisible force pulling us closer.
Our lips met in a tender, slightly awkward, but very real first kiss since agreeing to explore our feelings. Electricity sparked through me, igniting every nerve ending. I leaned in, craving more, my eagerness causing the tray of coffees to wobble precariously. A choked laugh escaped me as we broke apart, our foreheads touching so much for maintaining my cool, firefighter composure.
"Good morning." Amelia's voice was soft, a hint of amusement dancing in her warm brown eyes.
I cleared my throat, holding up the tray and paper bag. "Sustenance and ideas. I thought you could use some fuel for another long day of flower whispering and budget planning." Hero walked behind the counter to a bed Amelia had put there, and if I had to guess, there were probably a couple of dog snacks waiting for him.
I glanced around the shop bursting with fresh flowers—tulips, roses, lilies, daisies. Their sweet fragrance mingled with the earthiness of the soil. "Wow, the shop looks incredible today."
"Thanks. I made several new arrangements and tidied up a bit." She winked playfully. "So, you mentioned ideas?"
"I did.” I grabbed a folder from my backpack and pulled out a folded-up sketch I had drawn up last night.
"I've been brainstorming ideas to expand the shop's potential." I unfurled the large sketch across the counter, my finger jabbing at the empty area toward the back of the property.
"I was thinking, what if we cleared out this area? We could create more garden space for you to grow more of your own flowers. And maybe even build a greenhouse for some specialty varieties."
Amelia leaned in closer to study the roughly penciled lines. "That's a fantastic idea, Trevor! It would save me so much money in the long run. I have wanted to expand, but I haven’t had the money or the time."
"I'd be happy to help with the labor." I flexed my biceps jokingly. "These muscles aren't just for show, you know."
She rolled her eyes, a smile tugging at her lips. "Oh, I'm sure. The big, strong firefighter to the rescue."
I hesitated with my next suggestion, unsure how Amelia would respond. "I could pay a little extra for rent to help ease your financial burden."
Amelia's brows furrowed, and she shook her head. "Trevor, that's sweet, but I couldn't ask you to do that."
I placed my hand on hers, marveling at how perfectly they fit together. "You're not asking. I'm offering."
She chewed on her bottom lip, a habit I found incredibly cute. "I don't know, Trevor. It feels like too much."
"Hey," I said softly, tilting her chin with my finger. "We're in this together, remember? I want to help in any way I can."
Amelia's eyes searched mine, and I could see the internal battle raging within her. Her independent nature warred with the desire to accept my support.
Just as Amelia opened her mouth to reply, a loud growl erupted from her stomach. We both burst into laughter, realizing we'd been so engrossed in each other that we'd forgotten about the croissants.
I grabbed the bag of croissants, handed one to Amelia, and pulled another one out for myself. I took a bite and then sipped my coffee.
A dollop of whipped cream from my coffee had found its way onto the tip of my nose. With a mischievous grin, Amelia leaned in close enough that I could make out the subtle shimmer of lip gloss on her full lips. Her fingertips, tantalizingly soft, grazed my cheek as she wiped away the cream.
Our faces were mere inches apart now, close enough to share the same breath. I wanted to pull her into a kiss, but judging from my lack of control earlier, I felt like that wasn’t the best idea.
"You know," I said, trying to distract myself from the temptation. "I just had a brilliant idea for a fundraiser."
Amelia cocked her head, curiosity piqued. "Oh? Do tell. The suspense is killing me."
"Picture this: a firefighter calendar. Twelve months of Rivermint Cove's finest, shirtless and glistening. I bet I could get the guys to agree."
Amelia's eyes danced with amusement as she gave me an exaggerated once-over. "Trevor Phillips, are you volunteering to be Mr. July?"
I puffed out my chest, striking a ridiculous pose. "I mean, I wouldn't want to deprive the good people of this town of these abs."
Amelia's giggles continued. "You're incorrigible."
"You know you love it," I countered, my heart skipping a beat at the unintentional slip.
Her eyes softened, and she opened her mouth to respond, but the sharp chime of the shop's bell interrupted her.
I turned to see a tall, impeccably dressed man stride in like he owned the place, his unexpected arrival sending a jolt of unease through me.
He strolled up to the counter with a bouquet of exotic orchids. "Amelia, darling! I brought you a little something to brighten your day."
I watched Amelia's smile falter slightly, a polite mask slipping into place. She graciously accepted the bouquet, but I noticed the way she angled her body away from his overly familiar touch.
"Thank you, Liam. That's very kind of you." Her tone was cordial but lacking the warmth it held moments ago.
Liam's gaze flicked to me, and I saw a flash of something in his eyes—surprise, perhaps, or annoyance at my presence.
"Trevor, I presume." The way he drawled my name grated like nails on a chalkboard.
I offered him a curt nod, keeping my expression neutral. "Liam, I assume. Can we help you? We were discussing some ideas to help Amelia's business."
"Ah, well, I have a few thoughts on that myself." Turning his attention back to Amelia, Liam launched into a stream of ideas and suggestions for the shop, seemingly unaware—or uncaring—that he was dominating the entire conversation. Whenever I tried to interject about the greenhouse plans, he'd smoothly steam ahead, talking over me with that rich baritone voice.
My irritation levels spiked as I watched his perfectly manicured hand come to rest boldly on Amelia's shoulder in a too-casual gesture of familiarity. She flinched almost imperceptibly, and a muscle ticked in my jaw.
My body became ramrod stiff, fists clenching at my sides as I struggled to contain the surge of protectiveness welling up inside me.
“I think what the shop needs is a complete rebranding," Liam declared, his hand now on her arm. "Something sleek and modern to attract a higher-end clientele."
I bristled at his condescending tone. " Amelia and I were discussing ways to showcase the shop's charm and history. It's part of what makes Petals & Blooms so special."
Amelia shot me a grateful look, but Liam waved off my suggestion. “Nonsense. The future is all about innovation and change."
As he continued to speak, I felt my patience wearing thin. I knew I needed to keep my cool, for Amelia's sake, but the urge to put Liam in his place grew stronger with each passing minute.
Liam flashed her a smile with sparkling white teeth. "Amelia, I'd love to discuss this further with you over dinner. Just the two of us, somewhere intimate and quiet."
My blood boiled, and before I could stop myself, the words tumbled out. "I'm sure your intentions are purely professional, right Liam? Because it sure sounds like you're trying to take advantage of Amelia's situation."
Liam's eyes widened, taken aback. Amelia shot me a look, confused and uneasy. "Trevor..." she began, but I didn't let her finish.
"I don't appreciate you manipulating her. She needs help, not some sneak trying to wine and dine her under the guise of ‘business advice’. We both know you're just in this to get her shop. Or maybe you want more than just the shop." My tone was icy, my accusation hanging in the air like a challenge.
Amelia gasped, her eyes widening in shock. The room fell silent, the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. I immediately regretted my outburst, seeing the disappointment on Amelia's face.
"Trevor, I can't believe you just said that." Amelia looked between Liam and me, her voice trembling slightly. "Liam is trying to help, and you're acting like a jealous teenager."
Before I could dig myself any deeper, my pager beeped. A three-alarm blaze. Talk about saved by the bell. "Fire," I explained grimly. "A big one."
Amelia's expression morphed from anger to worry, her bottom lip caught between her teeth. The sight twisted my insides into knots. “Go. I’ll take Hero up and put him in the apartment before bed.”
With one last anguished look at Amelia, I turned to leave, promptly smashing my hip into a display table. A potted succulent clattered to the floor, a perfect metaphor for how spectacularly I'd just wrecked things.
I dropped to my knees, frantically gathering the scattered pieces. Amelia was beside me in an instant, our fingers brushing as we reached for the same fallen plant. My pulse skyrocketed at her touch.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean-" The rest of my apology died in my throat as Liam loomed over us, smug satisfaction radiating off him in waves.
I straightened up, meeting Amelia's gaze one last time. The hurt in her eyes felt like a punch to the gut. Swallowing hard, I turned away, forcing myself not to look back as I hurried outside.
As I arrived at the station the acrid scent of smoke hit me. I climbed into the truck. We tore out onto the street, siren wailing, but it couldn't drown out the voice in my head screaming one torturous question:
Had I just committed the ultimate rookie mistake and let the best thing in my life slip through my fingers?
As we rounded the corner, the monstrous inferno came into view. Waves of scorching heat washed over me, but nothing could burn as deeply as the fear that I might have just incinerated any chance I had with Amelia.
I tightened my grip on the truck's safety railing, leaning into the danger ahead. Because no matter how formidable this blaze might be, I had a sinking feeling that the real trial by fire was yet to come.