CHAPTER FIFTEEN
April was just finishing off polishing the store windows when her phone vibrated for what felt like the thousandth time that morning.
Before she’d even pulled it out of her back pocket, she knew whose name would be at the top of her notifications.
Sure enough, Tyler was calling her for the fourth time since she’d arrived at the store.
She’d gotten there pretty early, determined to make sure it was all cleaned and ready for the stock delivery the following afternoon, and it seemed like Tyler had somehow got the memo and was trying his hardest to disrupt her work.
When she let it ring through, she immediately got a follow-up text that was somehow both pleading and furious as he begged her to talk to him and then detailed all the ways she was being unreasonable by not giving him a second chance.
April rolled her eyes as she shoved the phone back into her pocket before going in search of the vacuum.
Pushing Tyler to the back of her mind, she instead let her thoughts drift to the Spring Flower Festival as another surge of excitement shot through her.
She had met up with Izzy and Emma the night before and had spent most of the time discussing what the festival was going to look like, as well as celebrating April’s victory over Luke.
They had refined the competition idea a little, to make it clear that the decorations had to be spring-themed, but hopefully it would mean a boost in business from residents coming to check out the displays and vote for their favorite, as well as providing an opportunity each year for a new business selected by the winner to receive support from both the council and the community.
Izzy was now busy spreading the news to both businesses and residents alike, and April was hopeful that the town would get behind the festival in full force.
There was something—or, more accurately, someone—else who’d been on her mind a lot since the day before.
Luke’s gentle kiss to her temple, his worry about his own business and his thanks when she’d comforted him swirled in her mind as she ran the vacuum across the floor.
She couldn’t tell precisely when it had happened, but there was no denying it now: her feelings toward Luke had definitely moved away from dislike, toward something altogether softer.
No matter how many times she ran through the list of all of Luke’s arrogant ways, she still couldn’t stop the smile that crept across her face or the warmth that spread through her chest at the mere thought of him.
Emma and Izzy were going to have an absolute field day if they found out, she thought ruefully.
Once the dirt from the floor was all cleaned up, April looked around the store contentedly.
The green walls were vibrant and inviting, and the flower decorations Emma had painted brought an extra touch of brightness to the space.
She couldn’t wait to see it with all the real flowers, too, and she almost had to pinch herself as she realized that she’d get the chance tomorrow. She was so close now.
She decided to treat herself to a strawberry matcha from Coffee Affair before carrying on with the clean-up. After all, it had been a pretty long week. Surely she’d earned herself a little treat?
April took a slight detour back to the store after retrieving her drink, heading past the wishing fountain where the board for voting was already being set up ready for the event’s launch in two weeks’ time.
Izzy was directing some council members to help with positioning the boxes that voting tokens would be placed in. April walked over to her friend.
“How the hell did you manage to find a board for the voting already, Iz?” April sounded surprised but she had expected this to some degree. Once Izzy had a task to complete, there was no stopping her.
“Oh, we had it in a storage unit, so I got the boys here to dig it out,” Izzy said absent-mindedly, scrolling through emails on her phone.
“Walston had me do a huge survey of what the council had in storage to see if there was anything we could trash a few years back, but I said we should hold on to this just in case. And look, I was right! It’s literally perfect for the flower festival voting!
We’ll write the business names in those squares once the participants are confirmed”—she pointed to the small squares that ran along the top of the board—“and then residents can put their voting tokens in those slots under the business names, and they’ll be collected in the plastic boxes underneath. ”
“It’ll be so exciting to watch the votes literally pouring in,” April said, and Izzy nodded her agreement.
After watching the board being set up for a few more minutes, April said bye to Izzy, not wanting to interrupt her hard work.
Marveling at her friend’s efficiency, April crossed the green space where an outdoor tai chi class was taking place and inhaled deeply as she walked under the line of blossom trees that provided some cover from the sun.
The magnolia trees had slowly begun to bloom, and the sweet perfume April associated with the town had grown stronger as pink petals floated in the air and covered the ground.
The shop was looking good and wasn’t at risk of being ruined by construction anymore, her mom had started sleeping in her own bed again, and the sun was shining.
Life was good, and April wasn’t sure when she’d last felt quite so at peace.
She sipped her strawberry matcha as she opened the door to her store and took in the space in the glow of the morning sunlight.
“Someone’s in a good mood.”
She looked up and felt her lips curve in a half-smile at the figure standing in the doorway. “You look like hell.”
It was true. Luke was gorgeous, as always, but there were dark circles under his eyes and a slightly rumpled look to him, like he’d just had a nap.
“You know just what to say.” Luke grinned. “I’ve had a busy twenty-four hours. My client unexpectedly had to find somewhere else to build his condos and he was not happy about it.”
April winced. “I’m sorry.”
He shrugged. “Don’t be. I’m not.”
Trying to make sense of the words, she stared at him and only looked away when the sun slid behind a cloud.
Still, the sunlight had infused the room and April made a mental note to hang some sun-catchers like the one she’d bought her mom for the kitchen.
Rainbows on the green walls and bouncing off the blooms would look truly otherworldly.
“I think there’s something wrong with your drink,” Luke teased, leaning against the doorway in a pose that highlighted his long, lithe body as he whispered, “It’s green.”
“Just like the shop.” She took a long sip of the iced drink and let her eyes close in bliss. An intent look crossed Luke’s face when she re-opened them. “What?”
“It just looks good. The drink.”
She smirked. “It is. Get your own.”
“Oh, so I can share my Indian takeout but you won’t let me have a tiny sip of your matcha?
” He raised his brows and yet still managed to look surprised when she walked over and offered the drink to him.
The tip of the straw disappeared into his mouth and he sucked, letting out a groan so deep that it made her stomach tighten and butterflies take flight low in her abdomen.
“You’re right, that is good.” Luke handed the drink back and tugged at the sleeves of his maroon pullover, like he needed something to do with his hands lest he reach for her.
She thought she might have let him if he’d tried.
“I was just stopping in to bring you a store-warming gift.”
April raised a brow. “Is that a thing?”
Luke shrugged. “It is now.” His smile was full of mischief as he hovered in the doorway, his uncharacteristic hesitation making her antsy.
“Well? Are you coming in?”
He chuckled and came farther into the room, tilting his head to take in the decorating. “It really does look great. You happy with it?”
“Very,” she admitted. “So, what did you bring me?”
“Hm?”
“For my ‘store-warming’,” she reminded him and he jolted.
“Right, yes. Of course. Here.” He held out a small, flat, purple envelope and she took it cautiously, unsure what she was meant to do with it—it was a lot of hype to live up to for just a card. “Go ahead,” he encouraged. “Open it.”
So she did, the paper tearing easily, and a small packet fell out of the envelope into her palm. It was square in shape and when she turned it over she gasped. It was seeds for violas.
“Figured I’d get you your first ones,” he said quietly and when she looked up, she realized he’d moved closer. His blue eyes were like deep pools, swallowing her whole as he licked his lips. “I hope they’re OK.”
“They’re my favorite,” she whispered and his half-smile said that he knew. She turned away and placed the packet in the pink shelves that Noah had built for her, and when she turned back, Luke’s eyes tracked her movement, a muscle in his jaw flexing.
April walked to him, steps sure and measured, confident, loving the way he watched her closely like nothing else in the world existed right then except for them.
She stopped in front of him, looked up into his eyes and let them share the same breath as their lips hesitated, not quite touching, the heat from him jumping into her as their mouths brushed once, twice, and then deepened the kiss.