“I know you could’ve, but I didn’t want you to.”
Even I’d heard about the infamous glucose test and how bad the drink tasted from my cousins, and that was how Iknew about the alternative: The Sweet Stuff. Frankie found the powder for her second pregnancy and told me where to order it online. I’d overnighted it on Tuesday so it would arrive in plenty of time for today. All Daisy had to do was mix the powder with some cold water and drink it an hour before her appointment.
“Well, thank you,” she said, adjusting her dress over her legs. “How’d everything go in Boston this morning?”
“Good.” My chin dipped, and I turned onto the local highway that led to the hospital. “Really good. It’s been a few months since I’ve been to the hotel to see all of our displays. It’s always a little surreal to walk in and see my flower arrangements everywhere.”
The Copley Place Hotel was an icon in the city, and a huge win for MaineStems when I’d secured a three-year contract last year to provide the hotel with fresh flowers every week. When they asked me to curate the floral arrangements for the annual pancreatic cancer foundation fundraiser, I knew they were happy with my product, and I was happy to offer my services at a nominal fee for such a good cause. Not to mention, it was a huge visibility opportunity for my business.
I’d already divvied up the deliveries to other drivers for today because of Daisy’s doctor appointment, so I figured it would be a good morning to head into the city and review the final arrangements with the hotel manager.
“Maybe it wouldn’t hurt you to slow down and savor everything you’ve already accomplished.”
“One dinner and you’re already starting to sound like the rest of my family,” I said before I could stop myself. At the brief mention of that night, the way Daisy tensed sent a shockwave through the confined space. Quickly, I admitted another half-truth. “I’m not sure I know how to slow down.”
The other half of the truth I kept close to my chest: if I stopped and slowed down, all I would see was how everything I’d accomplished wasn’t enough to make her mine.
The irony was, right now, Daisy was both more mine and the least mine than she’d ever been. She was my wife, but not mine to love.
“Sure you do.” Daisy’s head tipped, and a small smile toyed with her lips. “Of all people, you should know how to stop and smell the roses, right?”
I chuckled and painfully admitted, “Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I walked through the flower fields on the farm and actuallysmelled the roses.”
“Well, soon you won’t have to go very far. I gave Erica the first batch of the fall perfume this morning. She was just dousing the whole shop with it when I walked out.”
“Perfect.”
“She…also gave me samples last week of the flowers you’re using for the fundraiser. I thought you could spray it at the event, but then your sister suggested putting the perfume in those little sample vials they give out at beauty stores and using them as favors. I know they usually give out little thank-you bags at these things…”
I gritted my teeth. “Daze, you really don’t have to?—”
“I want to help,” she insisted and then admitted, “It’s not just a distraction anymore. I’m really enjoying making the scents. Matching them to your arrangements. It makes it feel special.”
And how was it going to feel when she was gone?
“If you’re sure,” I grunted, ever a glutton for punishment when it came to the woman beside me. “When did you see Harper?”
“Yesterday. She dropped off the last jar of blueberry honey,” Daisy replied.
So that was why my sister had popped in…or at least the excuse she gave.I was sure part of the reason was to poke around my relationship with my new wife, and I was sure our brother put her up to it.
“She’s excited to go to the gala with you,” Daisy added.
“Oh, yeah?” Harper had asked to be my date months ago, almost right after I told her about the contract. “I’m glad she’s excited, but I’m not convinced it’s the fundraiser she’s excited for.”
Daisy’s brow creased, the effort wrinkling her nose. “What do you mean?”
“Wade’s brother is going to be one of the speakers at the event.” It had been hard to miss when Blaze’s face was on almost every marketing poster they had ready to display.
“His brother?”
“Blaze Stevens,” I filled in the blanks. “Movie star. Former Hollywood Casanova. Harper’s high school crush.”
Daisy mouthed anOthat made my dick tighten. I quickly cleared my throat and continued to speak so she wouldn’t notice how I adjusted my seat. “Pretty sure I’m low man on the totem pole compared to Blaze.”
I pulled into the lot for the Stonebar Ridge hospital and followed the signs to the other side of the building for the OB wing. For the middle of the afternoon, the parking lot seemed relatively quiet.
“I don’t think you could be the low man on anyone’s totem pole,” Daisy said, her light laugh stifled when she realized how it sounded. “I had no idea she had a crush on Blaze. She never said anything…”
