A shudder races down my spine, and I stare at the order I just placed for him, wondering if his business is truly worth the risk.
Not that I know what kind of risk I’m even looking at here.
But after today’s encounter, I’m quite certain he’s not a good man.
When the bell rings a second time, I nearly jump out of my skin.
My hand is reaching for the bat stashed at my feet before I even have time to think about what I’m doing.
But if he’s coming back for more, I’m about ready to send him running—order be damned.
Then my eyes land on a face that makes my heart stutter in a different kind of way.
“Gio, what are you doing here?” I gasp, my hands finding the wood chips for my orchids and fidgeting as I try to calm my nerves.
Gio’s smile falters, his sensual lips pressing into a line. “I thought I’d stop by for a visit,” he says, glancing around the shop.
“How do you know where I work?” The question comes out more accusatory than I meant, but I’m still a bit unnerved, and warning bells continue to ring in my ears.
“You… mentioned it at dinner last night,” he reminds me, his face looking crestfallen now. “I’m sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have assumed it would be okay to drop in unannounced. But I didn’t have your number, and…” He shakes his head, his hand going to the nape of his neck as he scratches at it in discomfort.
“No, it’s fine,” I assure him quickly, my face heating as I realize just how rude I’m coming across.
Honestly, I’m flattered he would want to see my shop. “I just… I just finished with a weird customer who left me with a badfeeling,” I explain, glancing toward the door behind Gio as if Mr. Tanaka might return just from mentioning him.
Gio follows my gaze, his face darkening with concern as he scowls out at the street beyond. “Do you want me to go after him? I can warn him not to come back.”
My chest squeezes at the protectiveness of his offer, but I doubt that would improve the situation based on what I’ve observed of Mr. Tanaka’s personality. “Thank you, but I’m fine. It’s fine, really. He’s gone and won’t be back until his order’s ready.”
Gio’s light eyes meet mine, and there’s no moderate amount of worry in their hazel depths as he strides toward me. “If you’re sure, but I don’t like you being in your shop alone if someone’s giving you bad vibes.”
“Don’t worry about me,” I say, stooping to pick up my bat once more, and I hold it up for him to see. “I’ve got it covered.”
Gio’s eyebrows lift, his lips curving into that panty-dropping smile once more. “You know how to use that?” he teases.
“Test me and find out,” I warn, brandishing the tip at him with a wicked grin.
He raises his hands in surrender, making me laugh, and I drop the pretense, lowering the bat before tucking it safely behind the counter once more.
“So, what can I help you with? Or did you just come in to take a look around?” I ask, wiping my hands on the rag behind the counter before stepping out to join him.
“Actually, I came to buy some flowers,” he says, his smile turning bashful. “But I could use some help picking them out.”
“Of course,” I agree. “I’d be happy to. What are they for?”
If he weren’t already painfully gorgeous, his blush makes him adorable as well, and he scratches at the back of his neck again as he glances at me sidelong. “I was planning to ask a girl on a date,” he confesses.
If words alone could crush a person, I’d be dead on the floor.
I should have known better than to get my hopes up.
But after last night’s dinner—and that moment in the kitchen after—I thought Gio and I might be building a connection.
But it was stupid of me to read into the situation.
I learned early on that men run the other direction when they find out I’m a single mom.
So, why would Gio—who knew it from the very start—see me as anything but Jackson’s mother?
