“Only because I was worried I might have to perform the Heimlich on you. Safety first.”
“Your favorite motto,” she teased.
“Don’t you know it.”
“They’re in the back,” she said, feeling a sudden rush of warmth fill her cheeks.
“Just give me one second.”
She needed the secluded moment away from Mitch’s presence to collect herself. It was as though every time she interacted with him, he unwound just a piece of her composure, unspooling her confidence until she felt dizzied to the point of vertigo. What did people call this feeling? It wasn’t nerves, necessarily, but a sensation that hovered between dread and delight.
A crush.
Oh no. No, no,no.
But that’s exactly what it was, no matter how vehemently Faith wanted to deny it.
She had a crush on Mitch Abernathy, and that revelation was startlingly unsettling.
The oddibles were right where she’d left them in a crude, crumbly heap of imperfection. Plucking an oblong cookie off the top, she broke off a bite between her teeth as she evaluated the unwelcome epiphany.
She couldn’t have a crush on Mitch. He was her neighbor, for goodness’ sake. And he’d said he only planned to stay in Snowdrift for six months. He’d admitted it was a trial run of sorts. Faith absolutely did not want to fall for someone with an expiration date.
But the craziest part was that the timeline for his departure wasn’t the relief it should be. The thought of Mitch leaving did something to her, creating a strange tug of immediacy that was about as peculiar as the misshapen cookies in front of her.
CHAPTER 15
He was almost ashamed to acknowledge it, but Mitch had never stepped foot in a floral shop before.
He liked flowers. Appreciated their smell more than their beauty. But he’d never had a woman to buy them for. Even when he was actively dating in his younger days, he never saw the same woman long enough to the point where it would be appropriate to gift her a bouquet. In his mind, that was reserved for true love.
Or as a thank-you gift.
Today’s bouquet buying mission fell into the latter category. He knew he owed Josephine. After Faith had returned with the irregular yet still delicious mocha coconut crinkles, she’d shared with him that she had gone ahead and accepted the position to chair the soiree. And from what he could tell, Josephine hadn’t given away Mitch’s involvement in that decision-making process. The woman was discerning, even while being bandaged and broken and dealing with her own troubles.
He was indebted to Josephine for her discretion, and a bouquet of flowers seemed like an appropriate gesture as informal payment.
Joyful Blooms was located just behind the main street in town, a cheery little space filled with bold color and the fragrant aroma of freshly cut blossoms. Mitch hoped Trinity might be working; he was clueless when it came to flower selections and could use her expertise. So, when he paced down the walk and finally met his destination, he was happy to see the woman on the opposite side of a big rustic table, meticulously assembling a bouquet from groupings of flowers spread across its surface.
“Well, if it isn’t my new friend, Mitch.” It was encouraging to have someone greet Mitch in such a familiar way. He hadn’t realized how much he’d wanted to assimilate into small-town life until that very moment when Trinity recognized him as more than just a casual acquaintance. With every interaction he had with locals around Snowdrift, he could feel himself fitting into the town’s population more and more. It was a comforting place to be.
“What a lovely surprise to see you here,” she said with one hand curled around the bundled green stems while the other plucked stray leaves from the arrangement until it was to her liking. “In the market for a bouquet?”
“I am.” He came up to the counter, careful to avoid the bookcases and small tables displaying shiny glass vases and ready-made arrangements. “Is that something you might be able to help me with?”
“Absolutely.” She slipped the flowers into a vase half filled with water and placed the finished arrangement to the side. “Who’s the lucky lady?”
“Not so lucky lady. I’m looking for something I can take to Josephine Major at the hospital. She took a bad fall from her horse.”
Empathy coated Trinity’s features and her eyes pressed closed briefly. “I’d heard, poor woman. She sure loves thatAlpine, but I’m of the camp that believes horses are best appreciated from the ground.”
“Same.” He’d seen the aftermath of enough wrecks during his time as an EMT to keep his feet solidly on the pavement when in the presence of equines.
“That’s really sweet of you to take her flowers,” Trinity added, giving Mitch an encouraging grin. “I know she’d love that.”
“It’s a bit of a dual-purpose bouquet. Both a ‘get well’ and a ‘thank you.’”
He could see the curiosity growing in Trinity’s eyes, but she was too polite to ask for more information.
