Rows upon rows of shelves hold flowers in buckets. Some are wrapped, ready to go out the door. I shiver as we pass under the AC vent keeping everything cool.
“One of the places. Usually I take them back to the shop every morning, but not today. We need them fresh.”
“How long will all of this take to put together?” he asks, fingering one of the flowers on the shelf.
I smack his hand away. “Once they come in, it’ll take a few days. I’ll be pulling some long hours to get this done.”
“I know you can do it.”
I find the aisle I need, pulling out one of the ranunculus and examining it.
“Hey, that’s our flower.”
I beam at Declan. I love that he knows that.
“It is.”
“Will I get to see the arrangements before everyone else?” he asks.
I shrug a shoulder and turn down another walkway. “No. You’ll get to see them on the night of the ceremony.”
“Including you?”
I laugh. “I’ll see them before the ceremony. I have to put them together.”
“I know, but I want to see them with you. I want you to come with me,” Declan says.
I stop in my tracks. “To your ring ceremony? I assumed I would because we’re married.”
Declan grabs my hand and pulls me back into him. “I don’t want you to come for that reason. I want you to come with me because you want to. On a date.”
“A date?”
“Yes, Froggie. A date. What do you say?”
A real-life, actual date with my husband?
Butterflies swirl in my stomach. It feels like so much more than just a date. Like our relationship hangs in the balance on my answer.
I could say yes just to keep up appearances. But I don’t want to. I want to say yes for my own reasons.
And that’s exactly what I do.
“Yes.”
Chapter Fourteen
DECLAN
For the last two weeks, I’ve barely seen Alice. If she wasn’t at the shop provisioning supplies, she was buying flowers.
If I saw her, she was grabbing a quick bite before heading back to the shop.
I know what a big deal tonight is for her. Leon gave her complete control of tonight. Aside from one missing order of roses—which I heard about loudly at six in the morning—everything seems to have gone off without a hitch.
Adjusting the buttons on my cuffs, I slide into my jacket and give myself one final look in the mirror.
I decided on a navy suit with a light blue tie. Might be silly to wear Black Diamonds colors, but considering that my first season with them I won the Cup? I want a small nod to the team.
