Page 60 of Disavowed

Children’s laughter greeted her as she entered the shop’s showroom. “Miss Daisy, Miss Daisy!”

Erin and Emily Dobson ran toward her, and she crouched to hold her arms wide as the little girls flew into her embrace. The children were just what she needed, bringing a heartfelt smile to her face. They’d come in with their parents every Saturday for the last two years to pick out two flower stalks, and Daisy looked forward to their visit as much as they did.

“Hello, Daisy.” Marilyn Dobson smiled, as did her husband, a nice-looking man who stood off to the side, wearing an amused expression.

“Good morning, Marilyn, Bill.” Daisy laughed over her shoulder as each of the girls took one of her hands, dragging her to the cut-flower cooler. “Now what kind of flowers would you like today?” She pulled the sliding glass door open so the girls could get closer.

Erin was two years younger than Emily and had difficulty seeing the pails of flowers on the top shelf. Daisy picked her up, cradling her to her chest, giving her a better view.

“I like that one.” Erin pointed to the pail of large orange Gerber daisies.

She held Erin closer to the brightly colored flowers so that the child could reach out and grab the one she wanted.

“An excellent choice, as always.” She set the girl back on the floor, then crouched next to Emily. “And for you, Em?”

The little girl’s face was adorable as she scrunched up her nose, deep in thought. “I can’t decide. They’re all pretty.”

“Yes, they are. That’s why I love working here.”

“Someday I want to work here, too,” Emily declared.

“Maybe someday you will.” Daisy winked. “When you’re big enough.”

Emily finally plucked a stalk of purple and white dendrobium orchids from the pail in front of her. “Pretty,” she whispered, holding the flower tightly to her.

“C’mon, girls.” She ushered the children back to their parents, who handed over six dollars to Marjie.

“G’bye, Miss Daisy!” Emily said, while her sister waved.

“See you next week.” She waved back and continued watching them through the shop window until they were out of sight. Exhaling a long sigh, she turned to see Dom with his hands jammed into his pockets, watching her with a soft, thoughtful expression on his face. She’d never seen that look on him before.

“Ahem.” Marjie coughed. “I hate to break up whatever this is, but if Dom doesn’t get moving, he’ll be late for the church.”

“Right.” He grabbed the stack of white flower boxes from the counter, then headed toward the back of the shop to load up the van.

She watched him go until he disappeared out the back door. A snicker had her turning to find Marjie watching her, smirking. “What?”

“Nothing.” Marjie threw up her hands and began paring off thorns from a large bucket of blush roses.

With a groan, Daisy stomped back to her office and slammed the door shut. In the hallway, she heard the clomp of Dom’s boots as he went back and forth two more times to pick up more delivery boxes and load them into the van. When she finally heard the van’s motor crank up and shift into gear, the sigh she uttered was one of pure relief. Having him around was like being on an emotional roller-coaster ride. Although he’d inadvertently given her total clarity where Jack was concerned.

There would be no second date with him. It wouldn’t be fair to lead him on when he didn’t elicit the same passionate responses from her that Dom did. Every time Jack touched her, or kissed her, she would always be thinking of another man.

With an even louder groan, she threw down the pen. OMG, what am I going to do? Would she spend the rest of her life comparing every man to Dom?

The answer to her dilemma was painfully obvious. “I’ll enter a convent.” She laughed bitterly. Sarcastic though that solution may be, it did present one very painful reality.

While she couldn’t have Dom, she still wanted what he did to her—what he made her feel.

But she’d rather live her life alone than compromise on a man who wasn’t her soul mate in every way.

Chapter Sixteen

Dom pocketed his last tip of the day and got back into the van. It bugged him that Jack was at the Piazza today without him. He wanted to stick close and try to get a bead on Smith and the weapons, but if he objected too much Daisy would get suspicious.

Despite the seriousness of the operation, he’d actually enjoyed himself today. He’d made over fifty dollars in tips, plus one turkey sandwich, five chocolate chip cookies, and a grab on his ass from the seventy-year-old mother of the bride. A stark difference from the usual reception he got on the job. Normally, when he showed up on someone’s doorstep it was because of seriously bad shit. A homicide, a kidnapping, a robbery, to name a few. But aside from funerals and hospitals, flowers were always associated with a happy occasion. Like birthdays.

Today was Daisy’s birthday.