Chapter 14
Damon
I pulled up in front of Rainbow Garden, cursing myself for my procrastination. If I’d just come by sooner to place the order for my parents’ anniversary party, then I wouldn’t have to ask something of Maverick now, when everything was so weird between us.
When I hadn’t just bragged that I could be a better date than any other guy he’d gone out with. When I hadn’t told Iola to match me up with him.
What had I been thinking? There was one common trait all of Mav’s other dates had that I lacked.
They liked dick.
But you liked that dildo, didn’t you? What does that say about you?
“Fuck!” I threw open the door and got out because sitting here stewing in my thoughts wasn’t helping anything. So what if I’d liked a toy up my ass? There were straight guys into pegging.
But they probably didn’t fantasize about their male neighbor while doing it…
I yanked open the glass door and entered. Maverick was on the phone, but his eyes widened when he saw me. At least I wasn’t the only one feeling some kind of way.
I made a circuit of the shop, checking out the cut flowers stashed in coolers. There were a few premade bouquets with birthday or anniversary greetings attached. Some flowering plants, too.
It didn’t take long to make my way back to the front counter—or to hear Maverick’s end of the conversation.
“Well, how am I supposed to get all the arrangements to the hotel banquet room?” Maverick paced behind the counter, face growing red. “Oh, so I should just tell Edna to turn ninety-five on some other day!”
Maverick made a frustrated growl into the phone and threw it down onto the counter in disgust. “Fucking fuck!”
“Having a good day, then?”
He glared at me. “Whatever it is, I don’t have time for it. I’ve got to get twenty table centerpieces and a huge display with balloons attached over to the hotel—and it’s going to take a few trips in my tiny car. I’m already running late, so…”
“I’ve got the truck outside.”
He blinked. “Good for you?”
“No.” I chuckled. “I mean, I could load it up and get you over there in one trip. That would save some time, right?”
Maverick nibbled his full bottom lip, and damn it, why couldn’t I stop staring?
“It’s not the ideal transport conditions, but it’s a short drive,” he said. “I don’t really have any other options…”
“That’s what a guy likes to hear,” I joked.
He winced. “You really want to help me?”
“Well, hey, the date this weekend would be pretty awkward if I refused to help you now, huh? We might have to cancel the whole thing.”
Annnd… I’d just said that.
Points to me for yanking the elephant out of the corner of the room and tap-dancing all over it.
Maverick laughed. “Wow, yeah. It wouldn’t be the best ice-breaker, would it?”
“It would not. So…”
“Pull around into the alley,” Maverick said. “Meet me at the back entrance and we’ll load up.”
“All right, will do.”
I exited the shop and hopped into my truck. I was actually glad to help Maverick with this little snafu. It was a good distraction from my inner spiraling.
He already had the door propped open when I got around back. I pulled forward, then angled the truck so the bed would be close to the door for loading. Then I hopped out and lowered the tailgate.
I found Maverick inside, wrapping damp paper towels over the tops of floral arrangements packed into boxes. He pointed to some rubber mats piled beside him.
“Put those down so the boxes don’t slide around the truck bed.”
“Okay.”
I picked up the mats and laid them out, then took the first box Maverick brought out, arranging them close to the cab. Maverick handed off more boxes. “Don’t put them too close together. We don’t want to crush any petals.”
“Be careful with the precious cargo,” I said. “Got it.”
“But work fast,” Maverick added between handing off boxes. “The less time in this heat, the better. Crap, this is so not the way to do this.”
“Breathe, Mav. The hotel is two minutes away. These beauties are going to be okay.”
He handed me another box. “They wilt faster than you’d think, and this isn’t just any birthday party. Edna is turning ninety-five. Ninety-five. Can you imagine?!”
“I really cannot. But speaking of parties…”
Maverick picked up two more boxes, puffing with exertion. “What?”
Now was not the time to bring up my parents’ anniversary party. “Nothing. Let’s hurry and get these belles to the ball.”
Maverick flashed me a distracted smile as we finished securing the boxes so they wouldn’t slide around, which involved towels, ratchet straps, and a newfound respect for Maverick’s business.
“Thank you, Damon. Seriously.”
“No problem.” I hopped down from the truck bed, then turned and took his hand, helping him jump to the ground. “What did happen with that delivery van, anyway?”
“Transmission went out. They said repairs would be done by today. Guess not.”
It was strangely difficult to drop his hand as his eyes met mine. I froze up, staring into his eyes, wondering how I’d never noticed all the different shades of blue before.
Maverick pulled away. “We better get going.”
“Right.” I turned and slammed the tailgate, then hopped into the driver’s seat. Maverick got in beside me, and I started the engine.
“Drive carefully,” he said. “No quick corners or sudden stops.”
“I’ll drive like a granny,” I promised.
“But not too slow. It’s hot out there.”
I laughed as I started down the alley. “Fucking hell, Mav. You baby these flowers anymore, and they’re going to have daddy issues.”
“Shut up,” he said with a laugh. “This is important.”
“I know, darlin’. I’m driving like my life depends on it.”
“Okay, darlin’,” he teased. “Thank you.”
Shit. That had flown right out of my mouth without my permission—and for once, it hadn’t sounded the slightest bit sarcastic.
Well, there was no time to worry about it now.
I was going to be taking the guy on a date soon, so calling him darlin’ was the least of my problems. What happened at the end of that date, that was what was keeping me up at night.
Would Maverick want me to kiss him? Would he expect a kiss—or even more?
I shut down the messy thoughts that had been circling my brain ever since I gatecrashed Maverick’s date and insisted I could do better.
Instead, I concentrated on making the drive down Main Street to Sixth, then cutting over toward the hotel.
I white-knuckled the wheel, taking each turn cautiously, easing into each stop.
By the time we pulled into the loading zone at the hotel, I was sweating despite the A/C.
Maverick had put the largest floral arrangement in the air-conditioned cab with us. It was a big piece with half a dozen flowers in various colors and a large foil balloon with a ‘95’ on it.
He opened the door and picked it up. “I’ll go get us some help with unloading.”
He hopped out, carrying the arrangement with him, and soon two hotel employees emerged to unload the truck. Maverick stood by the door, directing them much as he had me. In minutes, the truck was emptied and everyone had disappeared inside.
I moved to a parking spot then returned to the door, unsure how long Maverick would need to stay. When I made my way in, I found quite a few people milling around.
The guest of honor wasn’t here yet, but Maverick really had been running late, because there were several volunteers helping him set up centerpieces on tables. He’d magicked a little water bottle from somewhere and was spritzing a few of the flowers to refresh them after their hot ride.
I recognized a lot of faces in the room. Lula Miller was here with her guy, Tom Moore. She was holding court with Iola and Paula, all of them giggling like schoolgirls. They were a dangerous combination when they got together.
Duke and Marilyn Lattimer sat at a table with Elmer and Agatha Hayes, a couple that had been married, divorced, then married again. Despite many bets being taken on whether Elmer and Agatha would break up again, they’d stuck it out this second time around.
Linc Tate passed by, giving me a nod. “Hey, man. Are you related to Edna?”
His notebook was in his hand, ready to take notes for an article in Inside Granville, the local news blog.
“Nah, I came with Maverick. He did the flowers.”
Linc glanced across the room, where Maverick was now talking to Edna’s family, gesturing wildly before suddenly looking directly at me and waving me over.
“Oh, nice,” he said, grinning. “I’ve always liked him.”
“Aren’t you practically married to Darren Rafferty?” I blurted. “Where do you get off noticing how nice Mav is?”
“Uh, I’m not married yet.” He chuckled. “And I meant nice for you. Mav’s a good guy.” He patted my arm. “Don’t worry. I’m not looking to steal him.”
Wait. What?
I opened my mouth to protest, but he was already gone. Damn it. What was with this ridiculous reaction I had every time Maverick got close to another guy? Did I—I mean, could I be…
Into him?
Maverick waved again, more insistently, for me to join him. Fuck. Now was not the time to freak out. I could hyperventilate later.
I pasted on a smile and went to join him.