Yes. And that look on his face as he used his magic—so confident, so powerful, so utterly and completely incontrol.
Tracing my fingers over a poinsettia, I gave a nonchalant shrug. “Maybe.”
“Yes,” Flora shouted, making the cats screech and scurry under the counter. “Say yes, because youwere.”
I clutched the basket to my chest like Flora was about to shoot fireballs from her eyes at me. “Why are you being so mean? You’renevermean.”
“I’m not being mean. This is called tough love. Now admit it, Sylvaria.” Flora slapped her hands together.
The sound made me jump, and I flopped the flower basket onto the nearest display case. “Alright, alright. Yes. It was very impressive. Happy?”
Flora tilted her head at the peacock feather before adding it to her in-progress bouquet. “Now, Jack, being the peacock in this scenario, sees that his efforts are working, and he’s that much closer. His telling you what a queen you’ll be is his reaction toyourreaction, and I find it completely valid.”
The way he commanded me to sit, to watch his “display.” Recalling it had my thighs pinching together.
The skin underneath my eyes crinkled, and a peculiar tidal wave of guilt threatened to drown me. “I take it back. Tell me what Iwantto hear, Flor.”
Grinning, her usual peppy demeanor back, she primped the bouquet with her palms. “Too late. Why are you so combative at the prospect of having a mate, anyway? I think it’s pretty great.”
Turning back to the vast array of flower selections, I jolted when I was met with a chicken cocking its head sideways and nearly upside down at me, giving a singlebawk. “Petunia, you almost startled me out of my skin.” Smiling, I patted the chicken’s head. “You weren’t there when Jack and I first met. He was cocky, elusive, and cold.”
Handsome. Confident. That tattoo. Thosemuscles.
“Cold? You really going with that one, Syl?”
I slammed the basket back down and whirled to face her. “Okay, I need you to be at least five percent on my side.”
“I am one hundred percent on your side, friend.” Flora stretched over the counter, her apple cheeks going rosy from the effort. She squeezed my forearm. “And he’s a butthead for being such a meanie, but he’s trying to turn that around now, isn’t he?”
“Sure. Now that it’s convenient.” I blew my bangs from my eyes and rubbed the tip of my ear.
Flora came around the corner now, taking the tiniest of steps that only a pixie could pull off. When she stood next to me, her head was in line with my boobs, and she gave me a side hug, her temple pressing against the side of them. “Who hurt you, sweetie? I don’t recall you having anyone recently to have made youthisjaded.”
A deep sigh rolled from my lungs, from my frustrated inner being, before I bent to rest my head on top of hers. “No one. And I’m not jaded. I’m reserved.”
“Semantics,” Flora breathed out, still pressed against me.
“What’s this bouquet for?” I squeezed Flora’s shoulder before moving to the wintry mix of flowers and accents.
“Mayor Tibbs asked me to make arrangements for the solstice ball.” Flora clapped her hands together excitedly. “Leonard asked me to go.”
“Leonard?” I blanched. “The faun?”
Flora scrunched her nose and threw her hands to her hips. “What’s wrong with fauns? It’s nice we’re the same height. He doesn’t have to touch his toes practically to kiss me on the cheek.”
Giving a one-shoulder shrug, I sprinkled my magic over the flowers, giving them a sparkling, icy glow. “I always thought that was cute to watch them work for it.”
Flora did her infamous giggle snort and admired my magical handiwork. “Youwouldsay that. Are you going? To the ball, I mean?”
“No, I don’t?—”
“Of course, she is,” Jack’s voice interrupted.
Flora and I froze, slowly turning on our heels to Jack standing in the doorway with his hands in his pockets. He wore his V-neck shirt and jeans, which were just as attractive as his finer attire.
“Wow. I didn’t hear him coming through the door,” Flora mused, whispering it to me like he wouldn’t still hear.
“Neither did I. What did you do? Sneak through a crack as a snowy backdraft?” I found myself tossing my hair from my chest as if I wanted to display my breasts for him. When his gaze dropped to them, I quickly pulled some hair back.
