Chapter 6
Paisley
C arrying a large vase of fresh mixed flowers, I walk confidently through the mostly empty foyer of the newly renovated Alexander Hotel. Placing it on a pedestal, I make sure it’s steady before fluffing some chrysanthemums out a little further. This has been my Tuesday job since I started working at Wild Magnolia the year I left high school. And one of my favorite parts of my job, escaping the customers and catching up on the gossip around the hotel.
My morning task is to refresh vases in the hotel foyer and restaurant. Today we have gone with an all-white-and-green theme to coordinate with the crisp white walls and the royal blue sofas that now fill this space. My brother Parker is head of the fix-up crew. He’s a property developer, and this is for sure his taste. I have to hand it to him, the place looks incredible. It’s gone from dated disaster to chic beachside oasis.
Returning to the corner of the conference room, I find my dedicated workspace, complete with a workbench and a sink, which is perfectly suited for crafting beautiful floral designs for weddings, events, and corporate occasions. Irritation crawls up my spine immediately when I find Noah Harrington standing in the doorway to my space with a stupid grin on his gorgeous face.
Over the last few months, I’ve gotten used to keeping an eye out for him around this place. If I see him, I scurry away quickly in the opposite direction to avoid the awkwardness. If he knew what was good for him, he would do the same. I still haven’t forgiven Brody for giving him a job here as head of security for The Alexander, and a reason to hang around even more than he already was. When he was in Jacksonville, I could handle my emotions toward him, but having him at one of my places of work is infuriating. And if my life couldn’t get any worse, I now find his face every time I look out my living room window. This morning, he went for a run, and by the time he got home, he was shirtless and stretched using his front fence, while I was sitting on my porch trying to drink my morning coffee. It’s late winter, for God’s sake, no one is so hot they need to take off their shirt after a run around the block. I wasn’t watching him on purpose, but he takes up so much space with all those muscles. He just accidentally caught my eye right as I was imagining running my hands over his sweaty inked skin. Of course, it was at the same moment his eyes met mine, so I looked guilty as hell. I immediately looked away, but not before he had the audacity to throw me a cheeky wink because he knew exactly what I was thinking.
“Is there a security issue I need to be aware of?” I push out through clenched teeth as I shove past him into my space. Taking a big fluffy chrysanthemum out of the bucket, I place it in the next empty vase. “If you’re here to ask for your jacket back, don’t bother. I threw it in the trash.” There is no way I did, but I also don’t want him to know that.
He raises a brow like he doesn’t believe me, but I just glare back at him. “Pais, don’t you think it’s time we talked about what happened? If I’m going to be stay—”
“Don’t say it,” I cut him off with a deathly glare. “You don’t get to talk about anything with me. Nothing happened.” As I speak, my hands quiver. He makes me feel so vulnerable. I opened up to him and gave him my heart, and he crushed it, like what we had meant nothing to him.
He closes the gap between us, leaning on the flower counter beside me, making himself comfortable. In this tiny space, it’s all too much. “We both know it did,” he says, his voice low, almost caring.
My heart kicks up a beat. Despite feeling his warm gaze on me, I can’t help but fixate on the empty vase, because if I look at him it will be all too much. A dull drumbeat throbs through me, causing my chest to ache. It’s a pain that I’m well acquainted with, lingering for years whenever my brother or one of our friends utters his name. Whenever I stroll onto the beach, memories of our first kiss flood back. He invaded my life; he chased me when I knew it was a bad idea, and I stupidly gave in to him because I had always wanted to. He was too irresistible to walk away from. He was every teenage girl’s dream, her big brother’s gorgeous best friend, quarterback of the winning football team. He used to look at me like he wanted to eat me alive. Turns out he did, but once he had his fun, he fucked off, leaving me to pick up the pieces.
“Paisley, look at me,” he growls out, his words holding an edge that frightens me, because I know what will happen if I look at him right now. I will fall back under his spell.
Inhaling deeply, I attempt to regain control of my emotions. Sunday was embarrassing enough. I can’t cause another scene. But why in the ever-loving God did he have to come home? Slowly, I grip the snippers in my hand. Stopping what I’m doing with the flowers, I shift my gaze toward him. My heart hammers out of control. I’m not sure if I’m going to stab him with them or burst into tears. “You don’t deserve my attention,” I seethe before taking off past him.
This is my safe space, and now he’s invaded that as well. Running seems like the safest option. I don’t want Detective McAllister around here having to deal with another incident. Escaping from him is the only option. Anywhere but here where I can smell him and his damn aftershave. His masculine scent invades my senses and makes me feel things I buried long ago.
“Where are you going?” he calls after me. “You can’t just pretend I don’t exist. We live in the same town. We’re going to run into each other.” He keeps talking, and I can feel him behind me, so I pick up my pace.
I don’t give credit to his words by turning back. Instead, I stride across the parking lot on my way to the offices, in search of one of the girls. What did he expect me to say? Sure, Noah, you fucking broke me when you left, but now that you’re back, everything’s peachy? Let’s be best friends? Fuck no. That man needs to stay away from me if he wants his balls kept intact. Because I’m feeling stabby, and I have a pair of snips in my hands and I’m not afraid to use them.
Emerson is the first one I find. She’s making her way out of her office, but I hustle her back in there quickly and close the door behind us. My breathing rages from running. I really am very unfit and stressed.
“Paisley, are you okay?” She looks me over with motherly concern.
“Yes, of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” I suck in another deep breath, trying to get my breathing under control. “How’s your day going, girl? I feel like it’s been forever since we last caught up,” I ask like my behavior is totally normal.
She looks at me like I’m crazy. “I had breakfast with you this morning.”
“Yeah, but we didn’t get to catch up properly with everyone else there.” I tuck my snips into my jeans pocket and take her by the shoulders. “We should go out tonight. We could have a girls’ night; I’m sure Gisele and Mae would be up for it. Dancing, good food, drinks.” I nod along with my idea as it forms. This is good, yes, going out with the girls is what I need to do.
“That sounds like a lot of fun, but it’s a Tuesday, sweetie, and I have a massive week ahead of me. Two corporate events and a wedding, and Gisele needs my help to cover it all.”
I drop my head, sucking in a deep breath, trying to stop the swirling thoughts and craziness that’s bubbling up inside of me. I need a distraction, something to take my mind off him.
She smiles at me sweetly. “We could go this weekend or next. It sounds like fun.”
I drop her shoulders, realizing how ridiculous I must look about now. “That sounds nice, thanks.” I push a smile past my clenched teeth. She’s so sweet, and I’m unquestionably losing it.
“You know you can always drop by my place if you need a chat. I’m right next door,” she offers.
“I know. Thanks,” I mutter as I start to pace her office. The problem is unlike everything else that ever happens to me. This , I don’t want to share. It hurts too much. What I want to do is distract myself with something fun. Something stupid, alcohol, dancing, a man, I don’t care what as long as my brain blocks out any memories of him. Find a new vice to bury myself in, that’s what worked when he left. I move toward the door. “Better get back to work,” I say, hoping he’s not lingering outside waiting for me.
She takes my hand before I slip away, and our eyes meet. “It’s hard having him back home.” Her caring eyes assess me with so much warmth.
I suck in air, feeling like my lungs are about to collapse. “I can’t even…” Tears well in my eyes before I can stop them.
“You don’t have to. I can see your pain.” She strokes my hand, and as silly as I feel, it’s comforting to know I have her in my corner. “It will get easier, I promise. These things just take time.”
“I really hope so, Em. Right now I’m feeling like I want to flee town. Maybe I could take off into the mountains and become a hermit. I would never have to see him again.”
Her laughter fills the air, lightening the mood. “Or anyone else. You wouldn’t last a day; you need us girls too much.”
“That’s true.” I sigh heavily. Thinking on it for a moment, I wonder how I chase him out of town instead. “Maybe I could fill his house with stink bugs or something awful, like snakes. He’s petrified of the way they slither and their little flickering tongues. I could make it so awful to live there that he has to move out.” I glance back at her, hopeful.
Amused by my dark thoughts, she bites her lip. “You could do that, or maybe don’t focus on him at all and avoid a run-in with the cops. Just pretend he doesn’t exist. That’s what I do.”
My forehead creases. Thank God someone else feels the same way. “You don’t like Noah?”
She’s quick to shake her head. “No, I think he’s great. I mean, when I don’t like someone, I just block them from my mind completely. If they talk, I don’t hear it. If they walk by me on the street, I see nothing.”
Emerson is one of the sweetest girls I know. She loves everyone, and even in her hotel uniform, looks cool as a cucumber. Who’s she giving the cold shoulder to and why don’t I know anything about it? “Remind me not to piss you off.” She laughs. “That’s not a bad idea.” My lips turn up at the sides. “Tell me, Em, who do you hate?” I ask her, my curiosity growing. From what I know, my little friend has never had an enemy.
She rolls her lips, her eyes darting to the side. “No one.” She tries to laugh it off. “I just meant that’s what I would do, you know.” She scratches her neck uncomfortably, and I know I have her. My dear friend is keeping a secret from me.
“Yeah, okay. I live right next door if you ever want to discuss him. Whoever he is,” I offer, giving her the same suggestion she gave me. I open her office door, knowing I can’t hide in here all day, even if I want to. I have a job to do. Stella, my boss, is probably waiting for me to come back to the shop and help her.
“There’s no him,” she calls after me, sounding guilty as hell.
I shake my head, amused, as I walk away. She lies as well as I do. We both know there’s some guy she’s hiding from us. And I, for one, intend to find out who it is that has my sweet little friend so twisted up.
Later that afternoon, when I arrive back at our cute little flower shop, Wild Magnolia, with a van full of empty flower buckets, I find my boss Stella leaning over the counter studying a collection of papers. I lug the buckets out the back and pull up a stool beside her, passing over the fresh salad sandwich I picked up on my way back from Bay Roaster’s Café.
“Thanks,” she says, taking the sandwich, but her voice is flat.
“Sorry I took so long. You’re never going to believe what I had to deal with back at the hotel. First, he’s moved right in next door to me, did I tell you that part already? Now he’s seeking me out at work. What the hell, right?” I start my story then notice she looks upset; her cheeks are pink, and she’s clearly been crying. “Hey, Stell, is everything okay?” I ask, my stomach sinking.
My boss is the best employer a girl could have, upbeat and fun. She has a positive attitude that keeps the customers happy and us girls who work here sticking around. She saved me and gave me a job and a chance when I thought my life was over, and I will be forever in her debt for that. I love her dearly, but the look I’m getting back is scaring me. I’ve never once seen her cry before.
She lets out a deep sigh. “Mitch has been offered a promotion in Dallas. It’s a lot more money and would be better for our family,” she utters quickly.
“Oh. So, what does that mean for you?” I whisper, not sure what to say. She loves this little flower shop. It’s been her baby since way before I started here.
Her eyes meet mine, all teary. Shit. I don’t want her to be sad. She’s like a second mom to me. A first in the absence of my own mother. “I have to go with him.” Her words tremble out. “I have to.”
“Oh God. You can’t leave,” I whisper, tears welling in my eyes for her. For me. I can’t even imagine this town without her in it.
She takes my hand. “We both know I have to, Paisley. I love this place, but my marriage is the most important thing to me. I’m telling you first because I wanted to give you the opportunity to buy the place if you’re interested, before I list it.”
My eyes go wide, and my heart kicks up a beat. “Me, own Wild Magnolia?” Running my own business has never crossed my mind. I glance around the beautiful store, taking it all in with fresh eyes. Could I?
She smiles softly. “You would be the best person to take over this place. You know it inside and out.” She hands me the papers she’s holding. “The real estate listing. Have a look at it. I won’t list it until you have a good think about it. But hun, we don’t have a lot of time. I move in a month.”
I look from the listing to her, not sure what to do or say. Do I want this? I have some savings but not enough to get close to a deposit on an established business like this, and then there would be rent and utilities to cover as well. I bite the inside of my mouth as I think. “Do you really think I could run this place?” I ask, needing her advice now more than ever before.
“Most days you already do. If this is what you want, I can support you from Dallas. I don’t want this place going to just anyone.”
I nod slowly, understanding where she’s coming from. It’s taken a long time for us to get our reputation to where we want it. People trust us to deliver beautiful fresh flowers all over the Savanah region, and they trust us with their special days. “Thank you for coming to me. I’ll see what I can do.”
The two of us finish our late lunch in silence, deep in thought. The afternoon is slow, and I help out washing vases and getting ready for market run in the morning. Then I help as we pack up the front of the shop, bringing in potted plants and hanging baskets. I close off the till while Stella puts the leftover flowers in the fridge for the night. But I’m not really here. I’m trying to calculate how I make this work. Because I know I only just found out about this opportunity, but I want it more than anything I have ever wanted in my life, and I’m going to make it happen. Just not sure how yet.