Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Bennett
I open my office door for Earl and Rosie. She takes a seat on the couch while Earl settles into one of the two office chairs in front of my desk.
“Rosie?” Earl looks over at her.
“The couch is more comfortable.” She sinks into the leather cushions and crosses her legs, clearly not planning to move.
Earl exhales a quiet huff and switches to sit beside her.
“Can I get either of you anything to drink?”
I’m already flustered from being late thanks to Wren hitting Principal North’s car door. Then I saw Delaney with her cheeks pink, a warm smile, and a bouquet in her hand, and something inside me cracked open. She looked happy, which made me happy.
Not a good sign.
“Let’s just get this started.” Earl leans back and rests his ankle on his opposite knee.
Of course, I couldn’t be late for a couple who’d just built a house and are looking for suggestions on what to plant and where.
Not that those customers aren’t important.
They are. But Earl and Rosie own Blue Prairie Country Club outside of Lincoln.
It’s members-only, and they’re in the running to host a major golf event this fall.
Landing this account would be huge. Though if I can secure it, it might mean some late nights and early mornings.
I won’t have the time I like to have with Wren during the summer, but it could earn me the money I need to build our house, even if I’m not sure whether I want to move into it or not.
I drop the projection screen on the opposite wall and queue up my computer. “You asked me to mock-up the eighteenth hole to see my vision, since that’s where a lot of the attention will go. Here are some of my plans.”
I show them the slides and sketches, 3D images of what I’d remove and what I’d replace it with.
Rosie yawns a couple times and doesn’t ask any questions while Earl hammers question after question—how long the plants will last, what happens if one dies.
We discuss the greens and the path up to the clubhouse.
“I want flowers,” Rosie says out of nowhere. “Green is boring. We need reds and pinks and orange—”
Earl gives me a look as if he’s already exasperated. “Can those be incorporated?”
“We could definitely do pockets of flowers in key areas.”
“Good. And I want that girl out there to be in charge of it,” Rosie says.
She says it so casually, as though she didn’t just lob a grenade in the middle of my office.
“Excuse me?”
“Rosie, you can’t dictate how he runs his business.” Earl shakes his head at his wife. “Just add a few of those flower bed things.” Earl waves his hand as though that should take care of it.
I swallow my pride and the urge to argue that it’s not as simple as everyone thinks to make plants blend and look natural yet beautiful. It’s not as easy as tossing in some petals and mulch and calling it a day.
“Sure, I can.” Rosie straightens and narrows her eyes as though she knows the ache that’s still alive in me for Delaney. “We’re going to pay you a lot of money. I want someone specific on the flowers.”
“I can assure you that I’m just as knowledgeable about flowers as I am with the landscaping. I can handle the whole project.”
She hums. “I like the girl.”
Earl sighs. “I guess the girl is part of the deal,” he says with a shrug.
“Just to clarify, you’re talking about the dark-haired one?” I sound desperate, because I am.
“Yes, the brunette. She’s lovely and has a real eye for flowers.”
She’s not wrong. I’m not suggesting I handle it on my own because Delaney isn’t perfect for the project.
She’s the best I’ve ever worked with, but it would put us in close proximity, and the last project we did together had that line blurring fast. It’s dangerous.
Last time we tried, I had her up against the wall of my office with my pants around my ankles.
Earl gives me a look as if it’s out of his hands. His wife has spoken. A contract of this size could change things for the business—put my firm on the map in Lincoln. Increase business and secure a better future for Wren.
“I can ask her,” I offer. I’m not going to speak for Delaney. She might say no.
“Let’s ask her now.” Rosie smiles at me.
Coming into this meeting, I didn’t think Rosie was going to run it, but she clearly makes the decisions and is a little pushy when she wants something.
“I can ask her once we secure the contract.”
“We’ll secure it today if she signs on.” She inches forward in her seat. “Should I get her or you, Mr. Owens?”
Earl just shakes his head and shrugs.
“I’ll get her.” I give her a smile I hope reaches my eyes.
I rise and step out, shutting the door behind me, then lean against it and close my eyes for a moment.
Can I do this? Who cares about my name in this industry? Working with Delaney is going to stir shit up again. We’re both unattached, changing the game.
Who am I kidding? She probably wants nothing to do with me, plus she’s coming off a mess of a relationship.
I can handle a little temptation in order for Wren to have a comfortable life.
But seeing Delaney every day, working late hours, pretending it’s only professional when everything in me still wants more?
It’s not going to be easy. I have to though, for Wren.
After my little pep talk, I push off the door and walk into the shop. Poppy and Delaney are laughing about something. They’ve always been like that, laughing and talking nonstop. It’s nice to see, for Poppy too.
“Delaney,” I call, raising my chin at her when she looks over.
“We’re busy. Get your clients’ coffee yourself,” Poppy teases, dancing to the music while arranging a bouquet for a wedding shower at The Knotted Barn. Which makes me think of my sister Romy, and I wonder why I haven’t seen her lately. I need to ask Lottie about it.
“Earl and Rosie want to talk to you.”
Delaney turns to Poppy, then to me. “Um… why?”
“You made an impression. Rosie wants you on the project.”
She hesitates, biting the inside of her cheek.
I know that look and exactly what memories are flashing through her mind.
The way we promised to keep it professional seven years ago, but late meetings turned into lingering touches, nurturing that seed of arousal until we couldn’t stand it any longer.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” She shakes her head.
“They own Blue Prairie Country Club up in Lincoln. It’s huge. This is a massive account for us.” Poppy looks between us. “She’ll do it.”
“You can’t make that decision for me.” Delaney’s forehead wrinkles.
“I can because I’m your best friend. I can because you deserve to have something for yourself.
I know we’ve been separated for years, but you should be happy I haven’t flown to California and kicked he-who-shall-remain-unnamed’s ass for what he did to you.
So yeah, you’re taking it. You love flowers, and you gave up that dream for a man who didn’t deserve you. ”
I fight the smile that wants to break out.
Poppy’s so right, and I would’ve messed it up if I’d tried to say the same.
Principal North’s words ring through my head.
I’m ashamed that the first thing I thought of wasn’t the same thing as Poppy.
I was worried that I couldn’t be around Delaney, when I should’ve wanted her to do this.
Should’ve seen this opportunity as Poppy sees it—a way to start something new in her life, build herself back up. Fuck, I’m ashamed of myself.
“It’s been so long.” Delaney worries her bottom lip.
“Flowers are still flowers,” I say.
Her head snaps toward me, eyes wide as if asking how I could be on Poppy’s side with this. “Nebraska’s different than California. The soil, the weather, what grows, and what dies.”
“You know your stuff, and what you don’t, I’m here for you.”
Her face flickers, and I remember how many times I said those words to her only to not be there for her in the end.
“I don’t know. It would take me away from Leia and—”
“I’ll do pick-ups or help with dinner, homework. Whatever you need.” Poppy urges her to say yes.
“I appreciate that.”
“My mom can get her from school. She’s there getting Wren anyway. And she’ll be happy to not have to entertain Wren until I get off work.”
Another sigh.
“Just hear Rosie out. She wants you, bad.” I hold my breath, waiting for her answer.
Delaney glances at Poppy, who nods. “Okay. I’ll hear what they have to say.”
“Great!” Poppy claps her hands. “I’ve got to run these over to The Knotted Barn. Be right back. I’ll put up a sign that says someone will be back in five minutes.”
“Sounds good,” Delaney murmurs, following me to my office.
Inside, Earl is on his phone, and Rosie is examining my bookshelf.
“She’s beautiful,” she says, pointing at the wedding photo.
Why does it feel as though the universe is trying to tell us this is a very, very bad idea?
“Your daughter has her blue eyes,” Rosie says.
Delaney stiffens beside me.
“Thank you. My wife passed during childbirth.”
Rosie frowns. “I’m sorry. That must’ve been a hard road for you.”
I shift in place. “It was. But it’s in the past.”
“Life moves on whether you’re ready or not. No one is stopping that clock.” Rosie gives me a sad sort of smile.
“All right, Rosie, enough with the philosophy. Let them live their lives.” Earl stares right at Delaney. “So, you’re on board?”
“I was just telling Earl before you came in that I felt it. But then I saw the wedding photo…” She points her index fingers at Delaney and me, then brings them together. “I can’t figure it out though.”
“She thinks she felt some kind of energy between you two.” Earl fills us in.
“Oh, no, I mean…” Delaney glances at me, and my expression screams do not give this woman ammunition to use against us. “It was in high school. A long time ago.”
“Oh? Childhood sweethearts?” Rosie’s interest is piqued, that much is clear.
Earl groans and slouches back on the couch.
“Um… I don’t know if you’d call us that.” Delaney looks at me. I want to tell her that this is her show.
“How long did you date?” Rosie asks.
“Three years. We didn’t see each other after junior year—”
“So, let’s talk about the contract,” I interrupt, wanting to steer us off of memory lane.
“Three years definitely classifies as high school sweethearts, and you know what they say about those who find their mate in high school…”
“Rosie.” Earl’s impatience shows in his tone.
“We were high school sweethearts, you know. We had this little break when Earl thought he wanted Suzy Park, but he came to his senses. And we’ve been married ever since.”
“Well, we’re not together,” I say, trying to remain polite.
“Hmm. You never know. I’m sure I felt it.”
“What exactly?” Delaney entertains her theories again.
I sigh, glaring at Delaney to stop going along with this. She ignores me.
“Unfinished business. There’s more to play out here.” Rosie waves her finger between us.
Rosie is a trickster and cannot be trusted. Noted.
“So are you in? He doesn’t get the contract without you,” Earl interrupts, thank God.
Delaney bites her lip, then nods. “I’m in.”
“Great! Let’s make another bouquet while these two handle the business stuff. It’s so boring.” Rosie pretends to yawn, hooks her arm through Delaney’s, and whisks her out of my office.
“What just happened?” I don’t realize I said it out loud until Earl answers.
“Rosie happened,” Earl says, chuckling. “She bulldozed you.”
Fuck yeah, she did.