Chapter 5 #2
“Then maybe chocolates are a better idea,” he mentions. I nod once and feel my mouth tug, wanting to smile gently. The air between us is peculiar, neither tense nor calming. He clears his throat.“Truthfully, you’re the item on my list that I came here for.”
Heat swells in my body, and my brows raise in surprise. “Whatever do you mean?” I say, playing coy.
His jaw flexes side to side as he grins. “Since flowers for Brielle are a no-go, then maybe you can arrange something else for me? Can you have something delivered to the Dizzy Duck Inn?”
“As in what?” I’m curious. I watch as he picks up a small square card with my logo from the pile on the counter, and he flips it between his fingers.
“Any flowers will do, they’re even optional, but the card is kind of crucial.” He tips his head gently to the side and hands me the card.
An audible breath escapes me. “Sure. What am I writing?” I click a pen and pose my fingers, waiting for him to dictate.
“‘About last night…’” He pauses when he notices that my fingers freeze mid-sentence, and I stop writing. Something inside of me boils. This man has some nerve, asking me to deliver flowers to some woman he spent the night with. “Shall I continue?” he asks.
I swallow, debating if I should throw him out of my store now, but something inside of me tells me to go on. It’s the tone of his voice. “Next sentence.” I remain defiant.
“‘My answer is yes, Violet.’”
“What?”
“No, I mean, the card is from you, so you’re signing your name.”
I wave my pen between my fingers and look at him for answers. “I don’t follow.”
He stands confidently, and a pleasing smile graces his lips. “You’re going to answer a question that I’ll ask at the BBQ and send me the card one day real soon, flowers optional.”
“Why the hell would I do that?”
“You’ll see.” It sounds like a delicious threat. He clears his throat as if he wants to switch topics. “I thought it would be good to clear the air.”
I notice a wilted rose on my counter that I forgot to clean up earlier. Picking it up, I pluck one petal off. “Oh?” I pretend to be surprised. “Nothing to clear.” I grip another petal, this time with a little more force.
Take the high road, Violet.
Declan’s eyes squint to study me as I continue to tear. “Yeah, not sure that’s true.”
I grab the scissors. “Do you mean leaving before sunrise? Or the note folded as a bird that said Coffee machine is ready, door will lock on your way out, thanks for a good night, Declan.” I cut the stem rather ceremoniously.
“Something like that.” He reaches forward with a grin, cautiously wrapping his fingers around the scissors, causing our hands to touch and my body to jolt with electricity. “How about you put these down.” He takes the scissors and sets them back on the side.
“Why apologize now? Are you worried you hurt my feelings? Never fear, I knew what I signed up for.”
He runs his thumb along his chiseled jawline with a little bit of stubble, bringing my attention to his mouth that I want to kiss.
“Still… I’m not sure I would have left had it not been for the fact that I needed to meet with my lawyer to finalize the paperwork to become owner of the Spinners.
” My spine straightens at his admission, because that is a crucial meeting.
He seems to notice, as he angles his head to enable his eyes to catch mine. “I had a great night.”
“Really? You only mentioned good in your little note on your pillow,” I say rather dryly.
Declan chuckles from my humor. “I’m not one for notes. Anyway, I’m in town and thought I would stop by.” He scans the room around him. “It smells like you. This place, I mean.”
“Flowers do tend to have a fragrance.”
His fingers glide along the countertop. “You did well here.”
“Thanks.” I stare over his shoulder and notice the old lady from the knitting club peeking into my store. “The town gossip is here. She spreads stories like wildfire but ensures they never leave the Lake Spark bubble.” I wiggle my fingers at her with a bright smile which causes her to scurry off.
“If only she knew our little secret.”
My eyes whip to Declan who has a sweltering gaze.
A brief pause floats between us. The air turns into a giddy awkwardness, but I’m not sure what I was expecting. I only know pieces of him; he’s a mystery in some way still.
“I’m staying at the Dizzy Duck…”
A smile forms on my lips. “You mentioned when you had me writing a card that apparently I’m going to send to you.”
My eyes narrow in on him, and I cross my arms over my chest. I wait for him to further explain, because I have no idea what he’s up to. I mean, there are many reasons why he mentioned where he is staying, but none of them are good for me.
“I really should apologize.”
I roll my eyes. “It’s fine. I mean, you have your protocol, and you’re the one who is a pro at these kinds of things.”
“Violet, you’re not just anyone.” He sounds near adamant.
Frustration fills me to the brim. “Yeah, I know. I’m Ford Spears’s little sister and have been branded as off-limits to any guy who plays any sport for a career.”
The corner of Declan’s mouth hitches up. “That, and you are… memorable.”
It’s impossible trying to interpret his words without feeling a twinge of hope. But I’m going to run in circles, and I’m positive Jolly Joe’s has maple pecan ice cream today that is calling my name. Untangling from my untied apron, I hang it on the hook behind me.
“So why do you have me sending you flowers with a card?”
“I haven’t decided yet, but it’ll be good.”
My eyes go bold at his suggestion. “Trouble?”
“Maybe.” He’s playing coy.
I huff a breathy laugh. “I’m not going to answer to that,” I say firmly.
“Yet,” he adds.
“If we’re done here, then I think we made our peace and can move on.”
I grab my purse and circle around my counter, only to find that Declan hasn’t moved an inch. In fact, he gets even more comfortable in his lean against my property, with one foot crossed over his ankle.
“We’re all good for your brother’s BBQ? You’re not going to look at me and think of my cock inside of you?” The words flow off his talented tongue so casually.
I feel my cheeks burn. “Really, you’re off the hook. We had a night of fun, it is what it is. I’m sure you’ve enjoyed many parties since then.” I motion with my arm to the door and hold my keys with my other hand.
He propels off my counter, following my cues. “I really appreciate your attitude with all of this, especially since I haven’t been to any parties since.” His tone is flippant.
My eyelids flutter as I look at him with disbelief.
He hooks his finger and glides it along my cheek in passing, touching me as if he is catching a distant memory. He smirks smugly, proud that he caught me off guard.
“You leave an impression and know the score—”
He’s hinting at something, and I scoff a sound between my stretched lips, stopping his sentence. “You’re kind of unbelievable. Gutsy, at that. Goodbye, Declan.” I walk to the door and open it, with the bell making a noise, and wait for him to get a clue.
I’m not sure how I feel about the last few minutes, nor do I particularly want to question why my thighs feel tense in a good way or why on earth the mere touch of his finger against the curve of my face still feels like it may haunt me the rest of the day.
I don’t dare look up at him as he leaves, and I think his swaggered walk out of my shop is from accomplishment.
He wants to occupy my thoughts, have a sense of hold over me, and simply feel like it’s his doing that I toss and turn later.
But the joke is on him.
Because he didn’t need to put in the effort.
I haven’t been pining over him, yet I sure as hell haven’t forgotten that I have the ability to make that man beg.
And that’s what I intend to make him do.