Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Oliver Heights, Virginia
Fifteen Years Later
Lydia hurried around her classroom, putting tiny chairs on top of equally small tables so the janitor could vacuum the floor after the kids had brought plenty of the playground in on the bottom of their shoes this afternoon.
“Awards,” she murmured to herself as she headed to her desk in a pair of sage-colored wide-leg linen capris and a matching sleeveless top, grabbing the folder of colorful cardstock she needed to fill out and decorate at home.
“Knock, knock,” Camille said as she poked her head in from the adjoining kindergarten classroom.
Lydia smiled at the pretty, blue-eyed strawberry blonde, her close friend and fellow teacher, as she secured her evening project in the largest pocket of her leather bag. “Hey, you.”
“Are you heading out?”
Lydia nodded as she made her way to the windows, shutting out the warm June breeze as she closed and locked them. “I need to head to the florist. Then I have a date with my best girl at four thirty.”
Camille beamed as she leaned against the doorframe. “How is Everly?”
“Really good. Today was her last day of preschool for the year.”
“How is she old enough to be finished with her first year of preschool?”
Lydia grinned. “I know, right? She did really well. Mac and Will are thrilled. Her speech is right on par with her peers, and her fine motor skills have come a long way with her occupational therapy.”
“That’s great, Lydia.”
She grinned again as she nodded, stopping to scoop up an eraser that hadn’t made it into one of the kids’ baskets.
“Ev’s physical therapist wants her in the pool this summer, which she wants absolutely nothing to do with.
But Everly doesn’t understand my power of persuasion—that I’m more stubborn than she is.
She doesn’t know it yet, but she’s going to love the water by the time I leave Massachusetts in August.”
Camille laughed. “My money’s on you.”
“As it should be,” she said with a waggle of her brow.
Camille chuckled again. “Are you coming to book club on Wednesday night?”
Lydia headed back to her desk, tidying her already tidy space. “Definitely.”
“Some of the ladies are canceling. Our first free day without the kids, so I can’t necessarily blame them.”
“I can’t either, but I’ll be there for sure.”
“With your raspberry crumble bars?”
Lydia smiled as she shouldered her bag, purse, and the strap of her lunchbox. For as long as she could remember, everyone had always loved her mom’s secret recipe. “You know I keep the ingredients on hand.”
“Which we all appreciate.”
Lydia shook her head as she chuckled. “I really need to get out of here. Everly waits for no one.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow. Our last day.”
Lydia sighed reverently at their accomplishment. “One hundred and eighty days. Somehow, we made it.”
Camille nodded. “Somehow, we did.”
Lydia walked to the door and shut off her lights. “See you tomorrow.”
Camille waved. “Bye.”
Ty drove down Main Street in Oliver Heights’ upscale downtown area, searching for a parking spot close to the florist, knowing that his target wouldn’t be far behind. If she was anything, it was predictable, which he didn’t mind at all.
Flipping on his blinker, he maneuvered his government-issued Ford Ranger into a parallel parking space, shutting off the engine as he glanced in the rearview mirror, searching for the white Telluride that would head in his direction at any moment.
He looked toward the center console when his phone alerted him to a text and picked it up.
How’s it going?
His thumbs flew over the screen. Today’s the day. Time to make contact. I’ll let you know how it goes.
He glanced in the rearview mirror again and got out, dressed casually in dark-wash jeans and a plain white T-shirt, as he quickly made his way into the high-end flower shop when he spotted the familiar Kia pulling into a spot three cars back.
The pixie-faced blonde behind the counter glanced up and smiled as she helped a customer. “Good afternoon. I’ll be with you shortly.”
Ty nodded, not hating that the woman was busy. It would make the next few minutes easier for him. “Take your time. I’ll look around.”
He headed for a book full of floral arrangement options on the opposite end of the counter and started flipping through the pages as the door opened.
Looking over, he absorbed the instant punch of attraction, immediately dismissing his unexpected reaction as Lydia Monroe walked in.
He’d studied her in dozens of pictures. He’d been following her for the better part of two weeks, but up close and personal was an experience all its own.
She was beautiful with her shoulder-length dark-brown hair, striking hazel eyes, full cupid’s bow lips, a small button nose, and flawless pale-olive skin.
Then there were her sexy curves in all the right places on her slim five-foot-six frame.
The saleswoman behind the counter smiled. “Hey, Lydia.”
Lydia flashed her perfect grin. “Hi, Marney.”
“I’ll be with you shortly.”
“No problem. Take your time.” She met Ty’s gaze as she headed for the various buckets of mix-and-match flowers in the make-your-own section, sending him a polite smile.
He smiled back, then focused on the book again, flipping through another couple of pages, knowing that it was time to make his move. He cleared his throat. “Excuse me.”
Lydia looked at him.
“Flowers aren’t really my thing.” He gestured to the book. “I want to send my sister something. She just had a baby girl.”
“Aw, congratulations,” she said as her next smile warmed considerably.
He smiled again. “Thanks.”
“Newborns are the sweetest.”
Technically, his niece was six months old, but that was neither here nor there. “They are.”
She moved his way like he’d hoped she might. “So, you want to send her an arrangement?”
He made room for her by the book, realizing that she smelled just as good as she looked—like flowers and hints of vanilla. “Yeah, I think so.”
She pulled the book closer. “Do you have a budget in mind?”
He liked her question. Lydia Monroe was a wealthy woman, yet she was conscientious enough to remember that not everyone had millions in their bank accounts. “Nah. I just want to send her something pretty.”
Lydia nodded as she started flipping through the pages. “Does your sister have a favorite color?”
He winced. “Uh, I know she likes pink. Or she did when she was five…”
She laughed.
He grinned, listening to the rich sound, watching the way her friendly eyes sparkled. “I guess that doesn’t help us much now.”
“Well, you’re in luck because pink definitely works for a baby girl, even if your sister has moved on to a new favorite color.” She pointed to a gorgeous arrangement on the page. “This one’s lovely.”
He nodded, noting the white roses and carnations, but he had no idea what the pink and pale-purple flowers were among the green filler stuff. “Yeah, that would work.”
Her smile returned. “She’ll love them.”
“Thanks for your help. Lydia.”
Her brow furrowed slightly as she took a small step back.
He shrugged. “I heard the saleswoman say your name.” He held out his hand. “I’m Ty.”
She hesitated before she returned his handshake. “It’s nice to meet you. I think I’ve seen you at the gym a couple of times.”
It was hardly a coincidence that his workouts coincided with her use of the gym’s pool three days a week, but he nodded. “Yeah, I think I’ve seen you there, too. I’m new in town, so it’s nice when I bump into a familiar face.”
She beamed. “Welcome to Oliver Heights.”
“Thanks.”
Marney cleared her throat. “I’m sorry I kept you both waiting. Who can I help first?”
Ty took a step back. “I don’t mind waiting. Go ahead.”
Lydia adamantly shook her head. “You were here before me.”
He liked her answer again. There didn’t appear to be a pretentious bone in her body when there could be.
The Monroes were prominent and powerful—a political dynasty.
“Go ahead. I’ve got the flowers under control, but I’ll probably agonize over the card.
I don’t want it to be too cheesy, but it should say something. ”
Lydia laughed again. “Okay, then.”
Marney walked to the fridge behind the counter, pulling out a pretty arrangement full of bold shades of purple and white.
Lydia grinned. “This is great, Marney. I love it.”
“Good. I brought them out from the back after lunch. I knew you’d be in for this right about now.”
Lydia grabbed her wallet from her purse. “I appreciate it.”
Marney punched Lydia’s order into the computer. “So, school’s out tomorrow.”
Lydia nodded. “It is. I’m ready for a break, but this has been a really great group of kids.”
Marney chuckled. “You say that every year.”
Lydia grinned as she tapped her credit card to the screen. “I mean it every year. I’ve been so lucky to have amazing students.”
Marney handed off the receipt. “When do you head up north to spend time with your family?”
“At the end of the month.”
“We’ll miss you around here.”
Lydia touched Marney’s hand. “I’ll miss you, too, but I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone.
Everly and I are going to be pool buddies, and I’ll finally get to snuggle my sweet little Maverick.
He’s getting so big. He’ll be almost five months by the time I get up there. Practically a teenager.”
Marney laughed as Ty grinned while he stared at his phone, pretending to type a text while he listened to every word that Lydia said.
He’d scrutinized the dossier that his team had compiled on her, reading the articles they’d collected on the senator’s niece, and as first impressions went, he agreed with her press. From what he could tell, she was as warm, funny, and sweet as others had claimed her to be.
“I think you’ll get a chance to hold him before he heads off to college,” Marney joked.
“I don’t know. I might be cutting it close. They grow so fast.” Lydia grabbed her arrangement. “I should get going. Everly and I have our virtual date in thirty minutes.”
“What book are you reading today?”
“She’s really into The Berenstain Bears right now, so we’re making our way through the list.”
“That’s amazing that you do that with her—virtual story time.”
Lydia shrugged. “She’s my best girl. You do what you can for your best girl.”
“I’ll see you next week.”
“I’ll see you then.” Lydia turned, looking at Ty. “It was really nice to meet you.”
He shoved his phone into his back pocket as he held her pretty gaze. “It was nice to meet you, too. Thanks again for your help with the flowers.”
“Of course. Congratulations on your niece.”
“I appreciate it.” He watched her walk out, pleased that their first interaction had gone well. Tomorrow, they would be bumping into each other again. He imagined she wouldn’t be quite so friendly when he flashed her his badge.