Arnie shakes my hand again, and after a longer chat, we finally part ways, and I leave his office filled with excitement. This house might not be what most people envision as a dream house, but it feels like it was built just for me.
I need to tell Diamond.
Since I returned from the rodeo, I haven’t time to fill him in. Between the appointments to get the house purchased, a vet appointment for Tater, and arranging the next rodeo school session, I’ve been massively busy.
He’s not been far from my thoughts, though.
But I need to tell him the news and show him I’m grateful for his help. Maybe I want more than that; I honestly don’t know, but I can’t get the sound of his voice on that damn video out of my head.
After parking on the street, I drop into the florist.
“Can I help you?”
“Um…yeah. I’d like a bouquet of white flowers.”
“All white? Any flower?”
“It has to have roses for sure.”
The man smiles and nods. “Do you have a price point? I can make you something in a few minutes.”
“Uh…I hadn’t thought about that. Would $50 make something nice enough to say I appreciate you?”
The florist raises an eyebrow as he walks towards a cooler of flowers. “It might say more than that if you’re not careful.”
As he pulls flowers from his cooler, my thoughts race. Diamond loves roses. He told me that. He’s also had them at his café in white one day. I remember because he smelled like roses and baking, and I liked it.
Roses are love symbols. Shit. Is that what the florist means? Is this not the right thing? This is how I end up ruining things. Maybe I shouldn’t bring him flowers.
“How will you be paying today?” The crinkle of paper, along with the man’s voice, pulls me back to the present. Too late now, I guess.
“Um, debit is fine.”
After tapping my card to pay, the florist motions to the note cards beside the till.
“You can choose a card for a note over there if you’d like.”
“Great, thank you.”
Without looking too closely, I grab a card and an envelope and rush back to my truck. Do I really need a note if I’m delivering them myself? Maybe a note would help it feel less romantic?
Grabbing a pen from my glove box, I scrawl a message on the card and tuck it inside the concealed bouquet before heading to The Thirsty Cow to meet with Hunter. It’s just flowers for my friend.
If I keep repeating that, I might even believe it.
I’ve been in my truck for ten minutes watching people come and go from The Thirsty Cow. The flowers sit on the seat next to me, and I’m about to turn around and go home when Hunter texts me.
Hunter:If you’re in town, could you come by for coffee? I’d like you to meet Alec.
I fire off a reply that I’m actually on my way and grab the flowers before I give myself another minute to overthink it more than I already have.
The low lull of voices and coffee machines doing their thing greets me, along with the scent of something distinctly banana when I step inside. My gaze instantly finds Diamond’s as he weaves his way across the café, and the smile that fills his face when he sees me is…something I don’t want to admit makes me warm and tingly.
“I love it when my coffee brings all the hot cowboys in. Especially one as fine as you. Welcome home.”
He stops in front of me and tilts his chin up. His blue eyes sparkle with the mischief I know him for, and, like a completeand utter goof, I shove the flowers into his chest and talk so fast I’m not even sure I make sense.
“I got the house. It’s mine, and these are to thank you. For your help, and, you know, the videos. You said you liked roses, and that’s what I got. Because you like them.”
