“I’m so excited to have you all come to work with me,” I continue, making my way back through town. “I hope you all love it there as much as I do.”
The Philodendron reaches over the back of my seat, and I smile as it touches my shoulder, letting me know they’re pleased with the arrangement.
I knew this was a good decision.
I unload the plants in front of the shop, then drive around to the staff parking, and cut through the building from the back to bring them in, peeling my sweater off and tossing it on the counter on the way. I swear these plants are all heavier now than when I first loaded them into the car, but maybe that’s just my energy waning. Breakfast was a while ago. I should probably eat something soon.
Setting the Lipstick Plant next to the Philodendron, I visualize them hanging on the perimeter of the entry space.
Shoot, I’ll need the drill for the ceiling to put in the hooks, and I’m not sure where the studs are. I’ll probably need to go to Clayton’s and get a stud finder.
My to-do list is growing, but I’m not daunted by that.
In fact, I can’t help smiling as I snag a wheeled plant caddy and head back out front to get Beatrice. It feels good to have problems I can solve. Not that any of these things are actual problems, but still.
I love the fact that I’m finding nuances I wouldn’t have encountered if I hadn’t bought this place. And needing supplies gives me a good excuse to visit the mercantile again. That place is a hoot.
I’ve never seen so many disparate things all in one store.
You can buy everything from dried pasta and other shelf-stable groceries to housewares and clothing for the whole family there. They have hardware and arts and crafts supplies at Clayton’s Mercantile too, amongst other random yet useful things like playing cards, reading glasses, and fishing tackle. It’s definitely eclectic, and I love it.
It takes a bit to get Beatrice situated on the caddy, and I swear, she’s heavier now too.
“Have you put on weight, Bea?” I ask her jokingly. “Bulking out those roots?”
She preens in the sunlight while I take a step back for a breather, swiping a bit of hair that’s escaped my ponytail back from my sweaty face.
Now that I’ve situated her pot on the wheeled caddy, she somehow looks even bigger than before, despite nothing having actually changed about her dimensions or her pot.
“You’ve got this,” I cheer myself, getting back to work.
Even though I just hauled her out of my car earlier with no problems, rolling her through the threshold is a bit of a challenge. The extra height from the caddy means I have to angle her climbing pole just so to clear the door when I lift the wheels—
“Here,” a deep voice says. “Letme help you.”
I freeze, my cheeks heating as I imagine what I must look like right now with my back to the street, bent over like this. Great, some random stranger probably just got an eyeful of my jeans-clad butt.
Before I can dwell on that thought too long, I straighten and turn, sucking in a breath at the sight that greets me.
Surely the Goddess is playing with me right now.
The dreamiest man stands on the sidewalk outside my shop with one of those to-go coffee cups in his hand, smiling at me.
Smiling.
Even with that beard, he’s breathtakingly handsome—all tall and athletically lean with dark hair and espresso-colored eyes that are crinkled at the edges with his breath-stealing smile. He’s wearing jeans and a flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up, but with that physique, I’ll bet he’s a firefighter or a police officer or some other do-gooder on his day off.
And here I am, gaping at him like a freshly caught fish.
“Um, hi,” I say, nervously wiping my sweaty palms on my jeans before awkwardly thrusting one out to him. “I’m Holly. Just moving in.”
He takes my hand, his smile widening, and I swear I feel an energetic pulse from the connection.
One I staunchly try to ignore.
But could he be any more handsome? And could his aura be any brighter? He’s definitely one of the good ones.
The too-good-to-be-trues.
