“I need the best you have, none of those stupid carnations or all that greenery that makes it look cheap.”
“Yes, sir.” The college-aged woman behind the counter was the daughter of the owner, who I knew casually. “Would you like roses?”
“Too common. I need something exotic. Something he won’t be getting from every wolf and bear who come down the pike.”
She led him to a cooler near the door and pointed out some blooms that were several dollars per flower. I wondered what my bees would think of those. They were mostly subjected to native plantings or “common” varieties, and maybe they’d like nectar from South America or Australia. I was idly picturing setting some of those flowers down near a hive to see if they’d show any interest or ignore them, when something the lion said broke through my musings.
“That nature pharmacist is going to love these. He’s probably never even seen a flower like that bromeliad.”
Nature pharmacist?
He had to be talking about Wilder.
“Do you mean Wilder?” asked the clerk. “He has been in here a few times, and he’s gone for more traditional, local flowers.”
“See? These will blow his mind. He’ll fall at my feet and beg me to go out with him.” He started into something a little more graphic, but before I could step in and shut his mouth for him, the girl gave him a glare that shut even his big mouth.
“I’m sorry, sir, but we don’t get into our customer’s private lives. We just sell flowers.” She held up the huge bouquet, and Icould see why she didn’t just throw him out. Especially when she told him the total. “Thank you and have a nice day.”
As the jerk left with his arms weighed down by the fancy flowers, I stepped up. “What does Wilder like?”
She grinned at me. “I’ll show you.” She led me to another cooler where we selected some pink and yellow baby roses, along with a few other delicate beauties. “He really doesn’t like showy things, I don’t think. He’ll love these.”
“Can you wrap them quickly?”
“Of course.” She pulled a sheet of patterned brown paper from a roll and arranged my purchase in it. “A little greenery okay?”
“Yes. Just call me common.”
She giggled and took my debit card, rang up my much-more-modest total. Handing it back, the clerk confided, “I gave you the local discount. And I might have charged an obnoxiousness fee to Lion Boy there. What a jerk. Just don’t tell Mom.”
“My lips are sealed.” I accepted the flowers. “I hope it was a large fee.” And that Wilder truly would like my offering more than the lion’s.
Chapter Twelve
Wilder
I flipped the closed sign and turned around, intending to go upstairs, have a long bubble bath, and listen to soothing music while not thinking about Lewis.
A tall order.
I hadn’t gotten as much accomplished as much as desired, but I would catch up during the week. Everyone hoped for good business when they opened a store, but I had no idea Oliver Creek would bring in as many customers as it did. Especially other shifters. They wanted natural medicine.
The healer, Quinn, had even stopped by and wanted to have lunch and talk about things that he could sell in his clinic.
My remedies. In a clinic.
I never imagined this kind of growth.
I’d walked to the back of the store and turned to shut the lights off when I saw Lewis approaching from across the street, the alpha from before not even four feet away from him. The one who asked me if I was single.
Confusion swirled in my mind. What in the world was happening?
They couldn’t be headed this way.
Lewis didn’t really seem like the flowers and chocolate kind, even though his sunset picnic was one of the most romantic dates I’d ever been on.
The other alpha was an over-the-top flirt.
