Page 69 of Hats off to Love

We bow to you, Rosie May.

Just exquisite.

25

Today feels like the last day.

All day it has. I’m not sure if it’s because business is slowing down, or if it’s the fact that I know, for me, the season is officially over.

Tomorrow the shop will be closed as I have fifteen delivery orders to take to various hotels around Louisville for travelers coming into town, and then after that I have to get ready for the Bourbon Ball. It’s a ball I’ve never gone to but have long dreamed of.

It’s two minutes to four, almost closing time, and as I cross off the second-to-last day on my calendar, the bell over the door rings.

Looking up, I find Stokes walking directly toward me. Excitement bursts through my veins at just the sight of him, but then suddenly I’m doused with alarm at the murderous scowl stamped on his face.

“What’s wrong?” I ask as I move out from behind the counter to greet him. Like usual, he wraps his arms around me and hugs me tight while dropping his head and breathing me in. He’s still in his work clothes, so he must have come straight here. The fabric of his suit is cool from the air outside.

“Do you think you could close a little early today?” he asks.

I pull back. “Of course, but why?” I scan his expression, looking for any tell.

Stokes runs his hand over his face and then looks at me; I’m lasered with hazel.

“I got a call from the security team and then Grayson.”

A gasp slips past my lips. “No. Way.”

“Yes, way.” He reaches up, tucks a loose piece of hair behind my ear, and then walks away. He walks from me to the tables with his hands on his hips and then comes back. He’s full of energy and can’t help the pacing. Stokes is angry, and his brain is running twenty-five miles an hour.

“Is Ace okay?” I’m suddenly sick with worry; this must have to do with him.

“Yes, but I’m headed to the farm, and I wanted to know if you’d like to go.” His tone is almost pleading.

“Absolutely. Just give me five minutes to close up and run up to change.”

His gaze sweeps over me once before he nods, retraces his steps, and takes my chin between his fingers as he bends down to press his lips to the corner of my mouth. It’s sweet and not urgent, even though I know he’s ready to go and get there as fast as we can.

The ride to the farm is silent. He’s stewing as he drives, those two little lines are present, and I know Stokes well enough to just let him be. He’s ditched his suit jacket and tie, having left them lying across the seats in the back. Today he’s wearing a navy pinstripe suit with a white shirt. He’s rolled up his sleeves, and more than once, I find myself staring. At one point he does reach over and take my hand, but I don’t ask him any questions, even though I have a million of them.

Ace is fine, I repeat to myself to attempt to settle my nerves. I’ll find out the details soon enough.

We pull onto the farm, and it’s eerily quiet as the guards wave us through. Stokes drives us straight to the security team’s house, where they keep their headquarters, and outside are several golf carts, three trucks, an unknown vehicle, and two police cars. My stomach dips, and I try to sneak a peek into the back of the cop car. I can make out the shape of someone, but I can’t see who it is.

Oh my God—did they catch the saboteur?

Stokes takes my elbow as we walk into the house, and the room goes silent.

My anxiety skyrockets.

I’ve never been in the security house, but it’s about what I would expect: function over aesthetics with an open floor plan. There’s the standard kitchen with a table and there are couches in the living room, but the dining room has three long tables set up in a horseshoe shape, complete with twelve flat-screen monitors. Images rotate on them from various locations around the farm.

“Mother.” Stokes greets her first, walking over and kissing her on the cheek.

“I’m glad you both were able to come.” She glances from him to me, and I just return her greeting with a friendly smile.

In the room, there are four members of the security team, two police officers, Grayson, his mother, and now the two of us. All eyes are on Stokes, and the mood is mainly somber.

Weird.