I walk down the street,coffee in hand, and the best damn thing that’s ever happened to me by my side. While the weather has been cooler, the sun is shining today, igniting the fire inside the blue-green eyes and sunshine curls that bounce around her head.
After a stop at Betty’s Beans, we decided to shop around for some things because Sunny’s hosting family dinner tonight for the first time. Her apartment is still practically empty, save for the few things she purchased when she arrived.
So here I am, helping her scour stores, clinging to that tether of hope that it’s indication she’s considering staying. Prior to her, I was a man with a reputation who didn’t give a damn. Now, I can’t stop fucking caring about this little fire, despite the fact she’s burning every wall I ever put up straight to embers.
She’s talking a million words a minute about her last few shifts, and I’m standing here, unable to take my eyes off her completely mesmerized.
I fell.
I fell fucking hard.
Flat on my face.
I sit in a mess of love for this girl. I never thought I would know love, but then I found her. She’s here, standing right next to me. My ever-growing weakness, yet greatest strength all at once, shining her light across my dark soul, making me want to be a better man for her.
Fuck.
Sam buzzes around us, weaving in and out of shops, basically leaving me and Sunny alone for the majority of the day.
“Oh my god, a crystal store. Let’s go in!” Sam says, running inside before we can even answer.
“Crystals don’t help family dinner, Sam!” Sunny calls, shaking her head as we continue walking. “I have a question.”
“Ask me anything.” And god dammit there goes my mouth pulling into a too wide grin again.
“Have you ever had a desire to take over the company?”
“Yes and no. Either way I had no choice. Once I’m able to take on the company outside of Mitchell’s reach, I’ll lead a new era with it.” I sip my coffee as the business plans I’ve built conjure through my mind. “I’d be a leader, not a puppet master. I’d change the way things are run. Sure, I’d get hate for it, but I don’t care. I want to be a man who makes even better men. Who helps where help was never given.”
She gives me a soft smile. “That’s admirable. I know you’ll do it.”
I almost got afullone there.
“Tyler,” She breathes as she approaches a flower shop, examining the sea of flowers that engulf the entrance. The glass doors are open, welcoming in customers. “Look how adorable this little flower shop is!” She glides a hand over the flower petals. “Maybe I can get some for family dinner tonight.”
Sunny tucks her hair behind an ear as she bends down to smell the flowers. Her pert, freckled nose touches the petals and her eyes close. My god, I am so stupid in love. My obsession has grown so much deeper, and I’m not sure what to do with it.
“How about we go inside?” I ask, placing my hand on the small of her back.
She looks up at me and fuck, it undoes something in me, making my knees buckle. I’m about to make an idiot of myself if she keeps doing this to me.
“I’d like that,” she says. “But what about Sam?”
“She’ll know where to find us.”
Smiling, I watch my little fire waltz inside one of my best kept secrets.
SUNNY
I’m captivated by the aroma of florals. The store is painted in a rainbow of flowers. The perfect little Boston flower shop packed with people. Standing behind a desk is a woman beaming as she arranges flowers and helps customers pick what they want.
Glancing up, her eyes lock on Tyler, her already beaming smile radiates. “Tyler!” She exits from behind the counter and wraps her arms around his neck in a hug. He gives me a crooked smile as he embraces the woman back.
She looks to be in her forties. Her blonde hair is up in a clip and her body wrapped in an apron to catch the excess water from the florals. Something in her screams motherly, nurturing, and kind that reminds me of my own mother.
“Oh Tyler!” She cradles his face in her hands. “I’m so glad you are here. It isn’t already time for family dinner, right?”
Standing confused, I watch the interaction between the two. Tyler’s family is well known, but I wasn’t expecting him to know people in a random flower shop.
