I go to open the door for her, but she stops me, resting her hip against the door and crossing her arms.
“Me? What did I do?”
On the long list of people who have wronged her, I don’t know how I register.
“I got a text from Leon saying he has a draft of the contract for the store.”
Oh, shit.
“Oh, you did?”
Yeah, I’m definitely at the top of her list at the moment.
“Don’t you play coy with me, Declan Paddack. I’ve known you for too long and it’s not a good look.”
“Before you get going?—”
She cuts me off with a brisk kiss. That I was not expecting.
“Is that a good thing?” I ask.
“Yes. Why did you not tell me?”
“Because Leon wasn’t supposed to tell you until next week after I talked to you. But it’s only the first payment. I know it’s bigger than you expected, and I didn’t want you to have to worry about anything. Put your savings toward future payments, but I want you to have Enchanted Petals sooner rather than later.”
“How can I argue with that?”
“I really thought you were going to lay into me.”
“I still might.” She fists the lapels of my suit jacket. “Definitely Leon.”
“Leon was the one that wanted something in place as quickly as possible. He wanted to make sure you knew that he wasn’t going to back out.”
“I didn’t think he would.”
“He cares about you, Froggie. We both do. You can’t fault him for caring.”
“You know what this means?” she asks, a smile spreading across her face.
“Tell me.”
“That I’ll be the owner of Enchanted Petals.”
I match her smile, mine even bigger if possible. “It’s what you’ve always wanted.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“You’re my wife, Alice. I would do anything for you.”
“About that…”
A sinking feeling settles in my gut. I don’t know whereshe’s going with this, but after the week she’s had, it’s derailed my plan on asking her to make this permanent.
She starts fiddling with the buttons on my jacket, not looking at me.
“Froggie. What is it?” I knuckle her chin, tilting her gaze to meet mine.
Her blue eyes are a swarm of emotions.
