Bella’s expression turned serious. “She has,” she reminded him in a sorrowful whisper. She got out and walked into the flower shop.
Behind the counter, sat an older white woman. She glanced up from something she was reading and seemed instantly offended by Bella’s presence. “Can I help you.”
The way she’d greeted her didn’t suggest an intention to be overly helpful. Bella smiled and walked up to the counter.“I’m looking for an arrangement that has white orchids and lilies.”
“When do you want it?” she asked without looking up. The woman’s tone suggested boredom.
Bella admired a vase that was on display. “I was hoping I could take it with me today.”
The woman sucked her teeth and closed the magazine she’d been reading. She looked up at Bella as if she were trying to snatch flowers from her backyard garden. “Maybe you should try 1-800-Flowers because I don’t work that way.”
Bella’s wrinkled brow caused a tightening in her forehead. “I beg your pardon?”
The woman leaned back in her seat and looked Bella up and down. “What are you, some kind of Indian?”
Bella leaned over the counter. “Something like that.”
The woman turned her nose up at Bella like she was musty. “You clearly ain’t from around here.”
“I am not,” Bella confirmed. “Is that a requirement to buy flowers.”
The woman stood and got closer to Bella’s face than she should have. “Why don’t you just leave, Pocahontas?”
This woman didn’t deserve her money. Bella chuckled. “How original.” She turned to leave just as Lucas entered the flower shop.
“Is that you, Lucas Creed?” the woman squealed with delight. “What are you doing here?”
Bella’s jaw dropped. She was looking at a completely different woman than the one who had greeted her. Lucas walked behind the counter and hugged the woman like they were family. “It’s good to see you, Mrs. Harvey. How’s tricks?”
The woman grinned. “I’m happy to say that your wedding has got me back in the black.”
Bella raised a brow and touched Lucas’ arm. “Wedding?”
Lucas turned around. “Oh, yes! Well, when you put my mom in charge, she hired Mrs. Harvey to do the flowers.”
Bella took pleasure in the horrified look on the florist’s face as she pieced together exactly where she had fucked up. “Is she your--”
“Fiancée,” Bella finished for her. She offered her hand to shake. “Pocahontas. Nice to meet you, Mrs. Harvey.”
Lucas squinted with obvious confusion. Mrs. Harvey had the nerve to reach for Bella’s hand to shake, but Bella snatched hers away and moved toward the door. “Lucas, this woman willnotbe doing the flowers for our wedding.”
Lucas frowned and turned to Mrs. Harvey. “Well, it looks like you're fired. I don’t know why, but I guess I don’t need to.” Lucas hurried past her in order to open the door for Bella. “What the fuck?” he muttered on the way out.
“Nasty old bitch!” Bella spat. “Where did y’all find her racist ass?”
Lucas shrugged. “It’s a small town. I guess we’ve never been in a position to see how she interacts with people of color.”
“Well, who’s gonna break the news that we need a new florist to your mom?”
Lucas threw his arm over her shoulders. “My mom wouldn’t knowingly employ a racist. She’s not gonna care.”
As they walked toward the townhall, at least four women greeted him with a smile, and two gave her the I-fucked-your-man grin.
Bella laughed. “Lucas, I almost forgot you were a fuck boy.”
Lucas gasped. “Fuck boy? How dare you! I’m a normal red-blooded American man.”
“Red-blooded man-whore,” Bella muttered with a chuckled. “Didn’t you have a thing for blondes?”
