“This is gorgeous. As gorgeous as the woman who made it.” He winked, making her blush.
It caught Sarai off guard, and she melted a bit. “Oh, that’s sweet of you to say.”
“Alright, Sarai.” He attempted to read he name off her chest.
She smiled and blushed again.
“Alright, I’ll take this one.” He tapped the page. Then he reached into his pocket for his overstuffed wallet and plucked the bills from it. He put the now empty wallet on the counter and started counting his fistful of cash.
“Awesome!” She looked around at all the work she still had to do before the weekend. “So, do you need itimmediately?”
“No. I don’t need it till Sunday. There’s a family dinner, and she will be there.”
“Oh, they’re for a special lady?” She asked as she rung it up. “If it’s a romantic bouquet--”
“I never said it was a romantic bouquet. I believe my exact word for it was arrangement.” He suddenly turned off the charm and his eyes seemed to darken.
“Right.” She rung him up. “I’ll have the flowers delivered.” He handed her the bills she asked for and waited impatiently for her to count out the change. As she was counting out the last few bills, a shrill sound emanated from her wrist.
“What is that annoying sound coming from your wristwatch?”
“Ah! It’s protein shake time.” He cocked his head at her with curiosity. “I’ve been exercising at home and using the keto diet.” He raised a brow at her. “I’m tryingto tone up for a charity race in a few months for muscular dystrophy. One of my moms has it.”
“You have two moms?” he asked with surprise in his voice.
“Yeah. I was adopted at a young age by them,”Sarai explained as she got her shake from the mini fridge under the counter.
“Two moms. How intriguing. Do you have two dads, too?” His question was one she’d heard time and time again.
“No. Just two moms.” She took a drink of her shake as he made a face.
“I am curious, why don’t you work out at a gym? Unless you have your own gym equipment and a personal trainer at home with you, a home work-out will hardly equal the proper work out you would get at a gym.”
“Gyms make me feel nervous. People at gyms can be so judgmental. I mean look at me, do I look like the kind of girl who belongs in a gym?”
“Well, maybe you’ve just been to the wrong one.”He pulled out his wallet again and pulled a card from it. “I happen to own a gym. I’m a personal trainer, in fact.”
“Really? I would have never guessed,” she said as she looked him over.This was the first time their eyes locked for few seconds, and his intense eyes madeher heart shrink.
“I would be happy to help. Two weeks of training on me. I mean, after all, you’re running for a great cause.” He handed her his card.
“Thanks!” She watched him walk out. Mickey slid over.
“Oh my gosh, what a dream!” Mickey said, still too much hunger in her eyes.
“He owns a gym.”
“Yeah, I was eavesdropping. You should go.” Mickey finished wrapping the bouquet she was working on with the floral tape and picked up the next one. Sarai returned to cutting orchid stems.
“To his gym? I don’t know. I found him a bit rough and arrogant.”
“Why not? One on one time with that hot stud? Imagine him without his shirt. I’m sure a guy like that doesn’t exercise in a shirt.”
Sarai blushed. She looked down at the card in her hand. Alastair Quentin.Oh gosh, even his name sounded arrogant.
She couldn’t stop herself from imagining himwithout a shirt. He was tanned and muscular, and she imagined he had a six pack and rock-hard abs. “You’re picturing it.” Mickey teased her.
“Am not!” she protested. “I need more lilies.” She held the tub out to Mickey. “Go! Get me more lilies,” she demanded.
