Juliette sat down at one of the long wooden tables in between the twins. The workspace was spread with gardenia, snowy white amaryllis, and bright red dahlias. She cut stems and organized the florals into crystal vases. She formed bows from satin ribbon and added sprays of crystallized berries to each bouquet. Together, they built seven centerpieces of beautiful winter floral arrangements for a corporate event in Virginia Beach later in the week.
The best part, however, was the quality time she was able to spend with Adrienne and Vivianne. She missed sitting around a worktable, wrapping flowers, and just being with her sisters. They talked about Vivianne’s idea to expand her social media influence, not just for the shop but for herself as well. She discussed the idea of becoming a brand ambassador, of trying to discover her own niche in the social world. Adrienne weighedthe idea of becoming a full-time professional photographer, maybe even branching away from weddings, but Juliette didn’t think she would ever leave Mystic Florals.
Thankfully, they avoided any mention of Brock.
Juliette rubbed her fingers and worked out the cramps. It had been quite a while since she had worked on floral design. She reached her arms up overhead and leaned just lightly enough to stretch out her back. Stealing a glance at the iron clock hanging at the front of the shop, she sighed. “I have to go get ready.”
“For what?” Adrienne asked.
“A date?” Vivianne suggested, wiggling her dark brows.
Juliette couldn’t help the grin tugging at the corner of her mouth. “No, it’s just a work thing.” She grabbed her phone off the table and tucked it into her back pocket. “Do you guys want to come with me? It’s dinner and drinks at the Ugly Crab. Anders will be there too.”
“I’ve got to edit some photos.” Adrienne ducked her head, chewing lightly on her bottom lip. When she looked up, her gaze darted toward the back of the shop. “Did you ever ask Mama about providing flowers for the venue?”
Mama had been seemingly absent most of the day. The clicking of her heels against the wood floor was the only proof they had she was still alive. Otherwise, she’d been in the cooler, locked away in her office, or pretending to organize the front of the shop. Juliette couldn’t help but feel the avoidance had been intentional.
“Not yet,” Juliette admitted.
“Jules.” Adrienne’s voice was low but her eyes softened. She retied the knot of her blue and green flannel, adjusting it so the oversized shirt fit like a crop top instead. Then she blew a few wisps of hair out of her face. “You have to talk to her about this.”
“I know. I will.” Just not yet. “Eventually.”
More like whenever she worked up the courage.
“Viv, why don’t you go with Juliette to meet Brock and Anders for this work thing?” She drew out the last two words, emphasizing her suspicion. “I’ll clean up here and close the shop.”
“Are you sure?” Vivianne asked, nearly bouncing out of her seat.
“Of course. You two go ahead.” Adrienne waved them away, but her frosty green gaze narrowed. “Don’t forget your key this time, Jules.”
Heat seared Juliette’s cheeks. “I won’t.”
It didn’t take long for Juliette to freshen up. She cleaned flower petals off her clothing and scrubbed the greenery out from under her nails. The Ugly Crab was hardly fancy, but she still wanted to look good. And she told herself it had absolutely nothing to do with a certain man who wore Henleys like they were made for his body. She stole peeks at him while he worked, then chastised herself for it later. But there was just something about the way he shoved up the sleeves of his shirt, revealing inches of delectable corded muscle, that made her all melty. She liked to watch him, the way he carried himself, the way he moved caused her knees to soften and her thighs to clench.
While she tried her best to avoid it, any time she closed her eyes, images of them on his couch flashed in her mind. Leaving her hot and bothered. And aching for more of him.
Juliette and Vivianne pulled up to the Ugly Crab, a quaint coastal diner situated on the beach with ocean views. A stone porch and incredible balcony offered outdoor dining during the summer months, while the inside had a warm and cozy atmosphere. A brick fireplace stood against the far wall, and there were rustic tables and booths with boat lanterns for chandeliers. It was mostly known for local beers on tap, amassive bucket with steaming crustaceans, and monstrously proportioned loaded fries.
Not quite date-night material.
When Juliette and Vivianne arrived at the Ugly Crab, Brock and Anders had already gotten a table and were waiting for them.
Brock’s smile widened when they walked up, and Juliette’s heart faltered. He’d always been good-looking, but tonight for some reason, he looked devastatingly handsome. His auburn hair was swept over to one side, and his eyes were the shade of molten gold in the low light. He wore his typical attire, a fitted Henley, which showcased his irritatingly perfectly muscled arms and chest, and a pair of rugged jeans. His gaze swallowed her whole, and then he caught sight of Vivianne.
“Oh, hey Viv.” He slung one arm over her shoulder like a protective big brother. “I didn’t know you were coming tonight.”
She laughed but her sights were set on Anders. “Neither did I.”
“Vivianne, this is Anders.” Brock introduced the two of them. “He’s my business partner at Silver Eagle Construction. Anders, this is Vivianne Laurent, one of Juliette’s sisters.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Vivianne.” Anders pulled out chairs, and the four of them sat down.
There was some discussion of work, of the final touches on a few outstanding projects, and Juliette was thrilled Brock approved of all her choices for the beach house. But mostly there was laughter while Anders told them stories of Brock’s antics when they served together, and then again when Juliette went into detail about shared childhood escapades.
She had just finished her final crab leg when her phone lit up with a notification. She read the text from Anne-Sophie.
Anne-Sophie
