***
I’ve managed to get quite a few orders that I’ve organized to deliver before, during, or after today. I planned my route, and if all goes well, I’ll make a profit this week. Aunt Francesca let her delivery guy go a while ago because she couldn’t afford him anymore. So she had people pick them up. But I figured out if I offer delivery and upcharge it, people are willing to pay the additional price, and it makes my margin higher. A win win.
I put a handful of bouquets together today to keep things fresh. The bouquets last a couple of days to be considered fresh, but after about three, they inevitably start to wilt, and no one wants slightly wilted flowers.
It breaks my heart when I have to toss them, so I’ve been bringing the un-purchased blooms home with me, and now the house is smells like stale flowers. I know I won’t sell everything every day, but it hurts to toss them.
The bell dings and I come around to the front to find the cowboy who was here more than a week ago, with a little girl’s hand in his.Cooper.
He glances at me and smiles widely.
My stomach drops. He has a child.
He’s married.
I mentally scream and plaster a smile on my face. At least the little girl is adorable. Her father … not so much. He was blatantly flirting with me despite being married with achild.Who does that? How far do you have to sink?
I watch them talk and point at the cooler with buckets full of flowers. Then her attention shifts to the larger arrangements I created for today.
She excitedly points to the larger arrangements and tugs on his hand. “Really? They’re huge.”
“But I think they’d like them,” she says.
He sighs and opens the cooler. “Hold the door for me, sweetheart.”
I know I should help him, but I’m too busy fuming.
She dutifully holds the door as he grabs two of the same arrangements. They’re full of purple and creamy white flowers. I thought it would be a pretty combination.
My heart lifts as she looks up at him with a smile.
He looks at her the way a father adores his daughter. I hate that I love how adorable they are together. I need to be mad at her piece of crap father.
But yet again, this confirms I need to take a major step away from the dating world. I didn’t see a ring because I wasn’t even looking. This is on me.
“Are you sure?” Cooper asks her, looking between the large vases.
She gives him a firm yes, and Cooper chuckles, carrying them to the counter. Despite the unfortunate situation, I’m excited. In my head, I jump up and down and dance around.Someone wants my bouquet!
Cooper watches his little girl bounce to the register, and I smile as she approaches the counter.
“Hello, Ms. Mae,” he says in that sexy, gravelly voice that I want to slap out of his mouth.
I ignore him and look at the adorable girl. “Hi there, how are you?” I ask her.
Her cheeks go rosy and she drops her eyes from mine.
I was like her as a kid, shy around people I don’t know. Hell, I still kind of am.
“You can say hello, Naomi, don’t be rude,” Cooper says.
Naomi lifts her head. “Hello,” she squeaks.
I glance at Cooper, and he chuckles. “Usually she’s not this shy.”
I shrug. “That’s okay, she’s a smart girl to be wary of strangers,” I tell him.
His smile drops, and I ring up the bouquets.
