We’d just settled the tab when my phone rang again. Another unknown number.
I answered it. “Who is this?”
“Hey, I was calling about the truck for sale? I’d like to come test drive it.”
“It’s not for sale,” I growled.
“But the ad said?—”
I punched the Disconnect with a huff.
“What’s that about?” Lyle asked.
“For some reason, people seem to think my truck is for sale. As if I’devergive up my baby.”
“Why would they think it was for sale?”
My eyes narrowed. “Yeah, whywouldthey?”
I had a sneaking suspicion I knew why. It started with a Mav being mad I’d parked in the center of the driveway and ended with a bratty neighbor who was going to regret fucking with me.
A plan began to take shape in my mind, and I grinned.
“Why do you look so happy about this?” Lyle asked, sounding confused.
“Because it’s payback time.”
CHAPTER 3
Maverick
I adjusteda bunch of pale pink peonies next to vibrant orange dahlias and white jasmine blossoms. Silas was bringing in a client to choose their wedding flowers. I had a catalog with more exotic flowers that could be ordered, but I always liked to set out any popular options I had on hand for them to see in person.
While I added gardenias in shades of yellow and white, the door bells tinkled.
“Be right with you,” I called, surveying the colorful display one last time before turning toward the door.
“Oh, how lovely,” Lula Miller said with a smile. “No wonder this place is called Rainbow Garden.”
“Yes,” I said, not pointing out that it was also called that because I was gay as fuck and didn’t want to bother hiding it for the business’s sake. If someone had a problem with it, they could drive their asses over toBoring Gardenin Riverton. Its actual name was Bouquets For Every Occasion, but whatever, it wasBoringwith a capital B.
Paula Goodman stood with Lula, gazing around the shop through cat-eye glasses with turquoise rims. Glass coolers along the far side of the wall held every variety of flower I was likely to sell this time of year. I had bright, colorful bouquets of daisies with birthday messages, bunches of lilies and white hydrangeas, roses, and mums suitable for funeral services, roses and carnations for anniversaries, and more.
I tried to anticipate every occasion—as well as offering custom floral designs that were more creative—but this time of year was really all about the weddings.
“How can I help you ladies? I’ve got a wedding consult coming in a few minutes.”
Lula perked up. “Oh, is Silas working this one?”
“He sure is,” I said. “But I want to get you two sorted out before I get sidetracked with wedding fanfare. Are we just looking?”
“I wanted a summer bouquet for my next party,” Paula said. “It makes a nice hostess gift, and it brightens up the room and keeps the affair classy.”
“Classy. Right.”
I’d heard about these parties, though I’d never been to one. Paula had made a name for herself as the sex toy queen of Granville. I wasn’t sure selling dildos, vibrators, and ball gags wasclassy,per se, but I was all for sex positivity—especially when I’d heard that Paula had added a line of toys to appeal to gay men, too.
Thatwas, in fact, classy in my book.
