“I knew it! Youdolove her, don’t you?” Aunt Faith pinned him with an intimidating stare, promising not to let up until he answered.
It was time to come clean. “Yes, very much.” Because Denver had respected his friendship with Sophie so much during the past year, he was extremely careful who he admitted his feelings to. The last thing he wanted was for the town to start rumors that made her uncomfortable.
“I’m so glad you finally admitted it! Wait until I tell your uncle—”
“Please don’t.” Aunt Faith was a generous, well-meaning woman. But she had a tendency to meddle, and that didn’t always work in the other person’s favor. It was a risk asking her to create a bouquet, but she was the best florist within a hundred miles. And despite her shortcomings, Denver loved her for being so authentically herself.
“Is it a secret?” she pushed.
“Yeah.” Denver adjusted the folded reading glasses in his pocket. “She loves pink lilies. Can you do something with those? Nothing too over the top, but an arrangement that doesn’t leave room for friendship assumptions?”
Aunt Faith gave a small laugh. “You do know who you’re talking to, right?”
“Thanks, Aunt Faith. I knew I could count on you. And remember, not a word to anyone. That includes Uncle Barry.”
“Fine!” She dug deep into a drawer until she found a roll of various pink ribbons. “You’re going to be her secret admirer, aren’t you?”
“Something like that.”
“You’ll creep this poor girl out if you’re not careful,” Aunt Faith warned as she moved from around the counter and gathered flowers and greenery for her requested masterpiece. Denver was careful to stay out of her way.
“I’ve considered that,” he agreed. “I talk to her every day. If she feels that way about the gifts, I’ll come clean.”
“Gifts?” Susie raised a brow. “As in plural?”
“Yep.” The idea had started with flowers, but during the short drive back to town Denver’s writer brain had morphed it into quite the elaborate plan. Flowers, the silk scarf she’d admired in a storefront window but refused to spend money on, running headphones, her favorite book . . . “I want her to know I’ve paid attention.”
One hand filled with a variety of purple flowers, Susie reached up and patted Denver’s cheek. “Just be sure it doesn’t earn you a restraining order.”
“Right.”
“You better scoot along. I’ll see to it these get delivered first thing tomorrow.Anonymously.”
