With a nod, Richard stepped off the veranda and made his way around the side of the house. For two people who brought out the worst in each other, they were getting on too well. The cynical, battle-weary soldier inside of him knew their unspoken truce wouldn’t last. But the man who’d made a new life for himself and his son hoped it did.
By Sunday afternoon, Paris was exhausted. The flowers they’d provided for the two weddings on Saturday were perfect and today’s anniversary flowers were just as special. Despite working for most of the weekend, she’d returned to Blooming Lovely to double-check the flowers she needed to buy from tomorrow’s market.
With no new online orders since Saturday afternoon, she headed home. Andrea and her sons were meeting her for a walk around Flathead Lake. Later, she’d open a bottle of bubble bath and soak all her achy muscles away.
Mr. Riddley, her neighbor’s overweight Golden Retriever, barked a friendly welcome as she parked her truck in the garage. She sent him a friendly wave before heading to the front door.
Reaching into her bag, she searched for her keys, then stopped. Sitting beside a container of daisies was a gift-wrapped parcel. A silver ribbon and large bow surrounded the bright red paper. It was pretty, festive, and so not hers.
Someone must have left it here by mistake. Her birthday wasn’t for another six months and Christmas was even farther away. She picked up the gift. It was heavier than it looked.
She frowned when she saw her name on an envelope tucked under the ribbon. Looking over her shoulder, she searched the shaded front yard for Jackie or Andrea. It would be just like them to prank her with a booby-trapped gift. Holding it as far away as possible, she gave it a gentle shake to see if it exploded.
When a confetti fountain didn’t erupt from the parcel, she sat on the veranda and opened the envelope. The handwritten message in bold letters made her frown. A practical gift to last forever. Richard.
While she was wondering why he’d left a present on her doorstep, her cell phone rang.
“Hello?”
“It’s Richard. How are you?”
Panic made her breath catch. “Has something happened to the cottage?”
“It’s fine. I left a gift for you on your veranda. I thought I’d better call to make sure you’ve seen it.”
Paris looked at the pretty parcel. “I have. Work was super busy and I only arrived home a few minutes ago.”
“Have you opened it?”
A silly, spine-tingling excitement made her smile. “Not yet. I’m sitting on the veranda wondering if it’s safe to unwrap.”
Richard sighed. “Why would I give you something that could hurt you?”
“I know you’d never do that. But you might want to scare me silly with a plastic snake or a big, hairy spider.”
“Open the parcel, Paris.”
His deep, sexy voice didn’t help her spine-tingling moment. She must be more tired than she thought. If Andrea was right, Richard Dawkins didn’t want to be anyone’s Prince Charming.
“Paris?”
She jumped and nearly dropped the phone. “I’m here. I’ll put you on speakerphone while I unwrap the box.” The ribbon slipped off easily. “It’s pretty paper.”
“Jack helped me choose it.”
Richard’s muttered reply made her smile widen. “You’re not blushing, are you?”
A sound halfway between a groan and a sigh carried on the still afternoon air. “Don’t make me regret buying you a present.”
Paris laughed. “I wouldn’t dare. The last piece of tape is coming off now. I’m opening the paper.” She frowned at the box sitting in her hands. If Richard had been blushing, it would be nothing compared to the heat rushing to her face.
“Are you still there, Paris?”
“I’m here. You bought me an electric drill?”
“It’s a DeWalt 20-volt. The brushless motor gives you a longer run time on a single charge. I thought it would be better than using a screwdriver on your new shelving units.”
Paris flicked the ‘On’ switch and smiled as the drill flared to life. “It’s wonderful. Thank you.”
