Elliot flushed red to the tips of ears. Daisy clapped a hand over her mouth with a wince. ‘I’m so sorry. That was areally shitty thing to say. I didn’t mean for it to come out that way.’
‘It’s okay.’ He shrugged, that shy grin returning. ‘Let me know if you figure it out.’
Daisy laughed. ‘Will do.’
‘So, I had a thought. Something that might help with uh… business.’
‘Is it us making out in front of the town hall?’ Oops… that just kinda slipped out. It was possible that not having sex for so long was making Daisy’s brain not function at full capacity.
Elliot’s eyes widened behind his glasses, his ears turning even redder.
‘I’m open to trying that,’ he said, his grin growing and Daisy flushed hot everywhere. ‘But I was thinking more about flowers for the inn.’
‘Oh?’ Daisy shook herself off.Focus, Daisy.
‘Yeah, I was there today, and Jack had muffins from the bakery, and I was thinking it would be nice if he had flowers at the front desk as well. He could put some in thesitting area in the lobby—and we’re hoping to turn the sunroom into a breakfast area, so maybe some flowers for the tables? You’d need to keep them replenished somewhat regularly. It could be a decent amount of…’
He didn’t get a chance to finish his sentence before Daisy threw her arms around his neck and hugged him.
‘Elliot, that’s brilliant,’ she breathed.
‘Oh… uh…good.’
She was so thrilled by this idea, this keep-the-lights-on idea, that she didn’t realize he wasn’t hugging her back. Until his arms wrapped around her, firm and solid and warm, and he was hugging her back. She noticed the heck out of that.
Daisy couldn’t help the sigh she gave; she couldn’t stop herself from tucking her face into the side of his neck. She breathed him in, and she could feel him doing the same. Hesmelled like soap and sunshine. She wanted to burrow into him. She wanted to live here pressed against him.
She wanted…
Uh-oh.
‘Sorry,’ she said, disentangling herself from a stunned-looking Elliot.
‘That’s… don’t be.’
He looked so flushed and mussed. Jesus, why did he look like they’d done so much more than hug? She scurried back behind the safety of the counter, keeping the big scarred wooden surface and several dozen calla lilies between them before she could do something crazy like fling herself at him again.
‘That’s a really good idea. Thank you,’ she said, tucking her hair behind her ear in an attempt to compose herself.
‘You’re welcome.’
He continued to stare at her until her face heated all over again.
‘Did you need anything else?’
Elliot blinked. ‘Oh, right. Yeah. I actually found some history about the shop… Uh, your shop. It’s one of the oldest buildings in Dream Harbor. Did you know that?’
‘No, I mean I knew it was old, but not really the specifics.’
‘I could tell you more about it. I found some old photos when I was doing research for the inn, and I just thought you might like to… uh, see them.’ He shook his head like he was being ridiculous. ‘But if you don’t want… You know what… you’re probably busy. I’ll just head out.’
‘Elliot,’ she stopped his sudden progress toward the door. ‘I’d love to see them.’
When he turned back, his smile did something to her heart that she refused to accept.
Her heart was an idiot.
Her heart had led her astray too many times.
