“You have been misinformed.” Stevie’s smile looks forced as she straightens her spine.
“Oh, I don’t know about that.” Her colleague licks her lips as she continues giving me a thorough once-over. “I’m thinking a hottie discount is in order.”
“Ahottiediscount?!” Stevie splutters, her eyes popping wide as she stares at the pint-sized woman like she’s sprouted an extra head. “Please tell me my ears are deceiving me and you didnotjust say that.” Pink colors her cheeks.
“Said it. Meant it.” The blue-haired pixie nudges Stevie with her hip, pushing her to the right a little, and then she grabs my hand and pulls it toward her. “Such manly hands. Firm and strong and powerful.”
A chuckle filters from my mouth.
Her fingers explore the back of my hand before moving to my palm. The fine lines at the sides of her eyes crinkle as she grins at me. “These hands are solid and steady, and they create magic. I bet you know how to put them to good use too. Am I right, or am I right?”
“Oh my god, Sharon.” Stevie slaps a hand to her brow. “You are legit insane. I feel like I should call Tim this minute and tell him he needs to take you in for a psych eval.”
Ignoring Stevie, she clings to my hand and pins me with a naughty look. “If this idiot won’t go out with you, I will.”
Stevie rolls her eyes. “You’re married.”
“Tim will understand,” she fires back, showing no signs of letting my hand go.
“You’re acting like a creepy stalker. Let his hand go.”
Amusement bubbles in my chest as I watch them face off. This is priceless, and I love it. I also love that she told Sharon about me. It’s got to be a good sign she is talking about me, right?
“I’ll release his hand when you agree to a date with him.” Tearing her gaze from mine, Sharon flashes Stevie a mischievous smile. “There is only one legit insane person around here, and it’s not me! If anyone’s getting committed, it’s you!”
“I like you, Sharon. You talk a lot of sense.”
“That’s what they all say. Among other things.” She winks at me, and I roar laughing.
“I deserve a bonus for all this additional stress. Employers are not supposed to harass their staff,” Stevie says, fighting a smile as she finishes taping the bouquet they were working on when I walked in and interrupted them mid-flow.
“Pfft.” Sharon lets my hand go, albeit reluctantly. “It’s not harassment. It’s life advice, missy.” She prods Stevie in the chest. “Advice you’d do well to listen to before this fine specimen of a man is snapped up by some other lucky woman.”
“You’re incorrigible, and quit it. You’ll give Garrick a big head.”
I kid you not, but Sharon, matriarch and employer, leans across the counter and ogles my crotch. “No sign of any big head yet, but the evening is young.”
“Oh my fucking god.” Stevie buries her head in her hands but not before I see the laugh dying to break free. “I just can’t with you.” Her face is flushed when she lowers her hands and pins her boss with a stern look. “Go out back and work on the accounts before I permanently quit.”
“You wouldn’t dare.” Sharon squeezes her arm. “Give the poor guy a break, and go on a date with him. If I was younger and Tim-free, I’d be scaling that mountain and conquering the peak in record time.” Tossing one last flirty wink over her shoulder as she walks off, she sashays her curvy hips and wiggles her ass before disappearing into the room at the back.
I bend over, clutching my stomach, as I convulse in fits of laughter. Stevie joins me, and we’re both cracking up and wiping the dampness from our eyes. “Damn, she’s a hoot. I only came in to buy flowers!”
“Sharon is insane in the best possible way,” Stevie says when she’s composed herself. “There is never a dull moment around here.”
“I get that. She’s a cool boss.”
“She is, and she’s been very flexible with my hours, which I appreciate. Today’s my last shift till school is back, and I’m going to miss her.” Stevie leans in closer, pressing her delectable mouth to my ear. “Don’t ever admit I said that though. I like to keep her on her toes.”
“Your secret is safe with me.”
We trade a mutual grin, and there’s a definite shift in the air the longer we stare at one another. “You look very pretty with your hair like that,” I say, shoving my hands in the pockets of my jeans before I do something reckless like grab her to me and plant one on her. Her hair is wrangled in a messy bun on top of her head, and wispy strands frame her stunning face, only serving to showcase her exquisite features. She has barely a lick of makeup on, and she’s flawless.
“I’m sure I look a hot mess, and you’re clearly biased, but thank you.” Propping one hip against the counter, she clears her throat. “Did you actually come to buy flowers, or was there another reason you dropped by?”
“I came to buy flowers.”
She straightens up, losing the easy demeanor, and I can guess why.
