"For the charity ride. Someone named Havoc ordered centerpieces."
Ghost’s brow lifts. "Really? He did that?"
"You didn’t know?"
"No." He blinks, then huffs a laugh, clearly caught off guard. "Thought you were just making up excuses to see me again."
"I thoughtyouwere behind it."
He smirks. "I’m not. But you can come with me."
"Go with you?"
He leans on the counter, arms crossed. The pose pulls the fabric of his shirt tight across his chest. The faded SEAL trident near his ribs peeks out, and I forget how breathing works.
"Ride on my bike. Deliver the flowers. Meet the guys."
His tone turns gruff. "I don’t like the idea of you showing up alone. They can be rough."
"Like you’re not?"
He inclines his head. "Difference is, I know you. They don’t."
He doesn’t wait for an answer.
"Be ready at noon."
His bossy tone would annoy me if it came from anyone else. With him, it does something else entirely.
My stomach flutters.No, it burns.Heat pools deep and low.
"Fine," I say, just to see the smug tilt of his mouth.
When he leaves, the shop feels emptier. I step into the doorway and watch him cross the street.
The sun catches the silver in his hair. He stops at Murphy’s truck, grabs a cinnamon roll, takes a bite, then glances back at me over his shoulder.
He winks.
I cover my face with my hands and laugh.
Maybe this is the worst decision of my life.
Or maybe it’s the start of everything.
Chapter 4
Nya
It’salmostnoon.
The arrangements are packed. The truck is loaded.
Murphy already teased me about riding off into the sunset with a biker like it’s some Hallmark special dipped in leather.
I reminded him that noon isn’t exactly sunset... and that I’ll be using the truck. Because, you know—flowers. Unless Ghost planned for me to juggle six vases on the back of his bike like some floral daredevil.
Still, I haven’t stopped daydreaming.
