Chapter 3
Chapter
Three
One good thing about guilt is that I tend to pour all my efforts into work.
I’d sat down with my team a few days after everything happened, and we’d come up with a promotions calendar and new designs for Valentine’s Day.
No one had found out about our relationship blip, so business was still booming.
Now that V-Day was fast approaching, we expected to get slammed by forgetful partners desperate for bouquets, so we’d made twenty-five percent more than we expected to need.
Moira lounged on the couch, her long dark hair in a messy braid.
She held a cup of tea in one hand and her e-reader in the other.
Recently, she’d gotten into this niche romance thing.
When I asked her a couple of weeks ago what she was reading, she said something about tentacles and swooned, and that was all I needed to hear before I switched topics.
She was dressed more casually than normal today. Wide-legged cotton pants, a tank, and a long cardigan completed her chic look, but the polka dot fuzzy socks toned down her elegant facade. A pair of lace-up boots sat near the couch end.
Tess was floating near Ash’s shoulder, peering at something the dryad was bent over examining.
He was patiently explaining something as he held up a leaf with a pair of angled tweezers.
Over the past few months, her wardrobe had gone from drab to bright and sunny.
Even though we were into February now, she was still wearing cheery and loud holiday sweaters topped with leggings and boots.
Ash looked like he always did. Handsome and well-dressed in browns and greens. His tousled chestnut hair was messy around his face as he focused on the greenery he held before him.
My cell pinged.
You’re still marrying me.
A smile tugged my lips up. Absolutely.
How about three weeks from now? You, me, someone with the authority to sign off, and an enormous catered feast?
Sold.
The bell over the door rang. I turned and sucked in a breath as a new customer entered.
A stunning woman stood just inside the door, tugging off her leather gloves.
She was small and curvy, her long hair tumbling over her shoulders in a shiny sheath of amber brown.
Her eyes were green and slightly turned up at the edges, reminding me of a cat.
An adorable, perky nose, full lips, and high cheekbones coalesced into what seemed like the perfect physical package.
She wore a chocolate brown turtleneck sweater and a pair of cream-colored pants, topped with shiny brown leather ankle boots.
Gold jewelry, glittering with the occasional diamond and a bare left ring finger told me this woman was single.
Something twisted in my stomach because my instincts were telling me something else. This woman was also here for trouble.
Moira untangled herself and set her e-reader down. She gave me an odd look and smiled at the woman. “Welcome to Little Shop of Florals. How can I help you?”
The woman’s gaze flicked up and down Moira’s body, immediately dismissing her.
“I am visiting a powerful ally and former…” She smirked.
“Lover, though I expect to rekindle things very soon. I’m looking for a gift that is befitting a Shifter Lord.
” She spoke with accented English, French.
Of course, the stunning woman was French.
You could have heard a pin drop in the shop. Ash’s tweezers clattered to the table. Tess thumped to the floor with an unusual lack of grace. I stood speechless, my fists clenching by my sides. Moira, as usual, was the first to recover. “You’re here to see Lord Caelan?”
The woman nodded. “Yes. What do you have in stock right now?”
She glanced at an expensive golden watch on her left wrist. “I’m in a bit of a hurry if you don’t mind.”
Moira’s eyes narrowed just a hair. “Of course.” She motioned her over to the worktable.
“If you’d like to have a seat, I’ll bring out some of our most popular and some of our more unusual displays.
Lord Caelan is an occasional patron of our shop and seems to have a preference for a more… violent sort of flower.”
Moira’s smile could have cut through diamonds.
Ash coughed.
My feet were still rooted to the floor. Why does the universe hate me so?
My phone pinged again. I reached down and read the screen.
I love you.
My fingers trembled. Trust. I have to trust him.
The woman sat down. Moira gave me a warning look before hurrying to the walk-in. I finally shook off the numbness and smiled. “Would you like a cup of coffee or tea?”
She turned to me. “You wouldn’t happen to have any champagne?”
I shook my head. “Sorry. Fresh out.” It was ten in the fucking morning, you wretched lush.
She sniffed. “Nothing, then.”
My phone pinged again.
“I’ll be right at the register if you need me, then.”
The woman looked away and studied her freshly manicured fingernails.
I pulled my cell out again.
Do not murder her. And take a deep breath. You don’t know where this is going yet.
She’s beautiful, I wrote back to Moira.
So? Did you see her turtleneck? She’s probably covered in warts.
A smile tugged at my lips.
The door opened. Moira came out holding two large displays, set them on the worktable, and went back in for more.
When she finished, the table was so full of flowers that the woman’s face was concealed. Which helped a little, but I could still smell the deep musk of her perfume.
I turned away and let Moira help her, hoping she upcharged her by at least thirty percent.
When no other customers came inside, I hopped out of my seat and went to Ash’s table. Tess was in the back, after she passed by the woman with a stare that could have frozen a vampire with fear.
“Hey,” he said, his voice so low it was almost inaudible.
The woman wasn’t human, but she wasn’t a wolf either. Some kind of shifter, but I couldn’t peg the type.
“You okay?”
I hadn’t texted Caelan yet, and I wasn’t sure I would. This was none of my business. Yet.
I gave him a reassuring smile. “I’m fine. I went to see him yesterday, and we’re in a good place.”
Ash’s gaze flicked to the woman. “Alright. You’ll let me know if that changes?”
I nodded. “I’m sure you’ll know without me saying anything.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.”
Thankfully, the woman didn’t stay long. She chose my least favorite of Moira’s selections, one I knew Caelan would hate, and breezed out the door, her sleek hair rustling in the wind when she stepped outside.
No one spoke for a long moment.
“She’s cheap,” Moira said. “The bitch took the one with carnations.”
The horror in her voice broke the tension.
“Did you tell Caelan?” Ash asked.
I shook my head. “He’ll find out soon enough.”
Moira’s lips thinned. “You can’t catch a break.”
I lifted a shoulder in a weary shrug. “Either the universe hates me or my father isn’t done trying to break us up.” Both were likely scenarios.
Ash shook his head. “I’m sorry, Evie.”
“Not your fault. No one’s fault.” I slapped on a smile. “We’ll see how it goes, I suppose.”
All I could hope was that I could power through this disaster without losing my mind or my temper.