5. Lily

Chapter 5

Lily

H aving spent the night rolling around the bed trying to get my nose as close to Jack's fading scent as possible, I eventually get up in a huff and storm to the bathroom in a foul mood.

"Why?" I ask my reflection, glaring at my wavy hair that looks like I was dragged through a hedge backwards. "Why can't you tell me what you want?" When there is no reply, I growl, scaring myself at the vehemence. I'm leaving this all up to him when maybe I should be taking the bull by the horns. Or the alpha by his huge dick, as it were.

Sighing, I freshen up, still in a foul mood.

By the time the kettle is boiling for my tea, I feel marginally better and go to the window in the living room to open the window. It's another glorious summer day, and it cheers me up. Perfect blue sky, a slight breeze, warm sun already, and it's only seven o'clock.

Smiling, I lean out the window to catch the scent of summer in the air and then frown. A figure is directly below me, dressed like it's the dead of winter. I freeze, not even breathing, as they post something through the door, the letterbox clanging as it slams shut. The figure, a woman, I think, scampers off, leaving me curious but full of anxiety about what they've posted to me that is full of cloak and dagger.

Slowly retreating back into the flat, I close the window carefully, glad the stench of smoke is gone from the incident at Fred's bakery yesterday. Stumbling back, I chew my lip. Part of me wants to race downstairs and see what it is. The other half wants to build a nest real quick and hide in it until doomsday.

Eventually, knowing I have to open up the shop, I slip my flip-flops on and creep downstairs through the shop to see a large manilla envelope lying on the floor. With shaking hands, I bend to snatch it up and sprint back to the stairs, taking them two at a time. When I reach my flat, I close the door and lean against it, my heart racing like a horse at Ascot. Pushing off from the door, I cross over to the couch and sit down. Opening the envelope, I pull out a piece of paper with a typed note on it and a wad of cash that makes my mouth go dry.

Reading the note, I frown and then read it again.

I burst out laughing and relax. This is fine. Weird, but fine. Reading out loud, I smile.

Dear Lily Bloom,

Please can you have a bouquet of red roses hand delivered to Max Hamilton at Forshaw Bank in Noletown every Wednesday at 11:00 until further notice. Please find enclosed a sum of money to cover these costs in the interim.

Yours Kindly,

Anonymous.

"Max Hamilton at Forshaw Bank in Noletown, eh? You have yourself a secret admirer." I sniff the paper, catching the scent of cherry pie and, just like that, my day brightens. I love a good cupid story, so this is going to be fun.

Stuffing the note back into the envelope with the cash, I place it on the coffee table before I stand and head to the shower. The cool water washes over me, and I feel invigorated and alive. But before I open up shop, I need to go and check on Fred and make sure he is doing okay after yesterday.

I hastily get dressed in shorts and a tee, slipping my flip-flops on again; I grab the envelope and make my way down to the shop. I stash the envelope in the back room and quickly give the infusion a quick sniff. It's coming along nicely but needs more time.

Slipping out the back door, I leave through the side gate and spot Fred standing outside his bakery with a glum look.

"Fred," I call out, waving as I approach. He brightens a bit when he sees me, though his shoulders remain slumped. "How's my favourite baker today?"

"Lily, love, you always know how to make an old man smile," he replies, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's been a rough one."

I give him a sympathetic look. "We all know how much you put into this place. If there's anything I can do to help, just say the word. Do you know what happened?"

Fred sighs deeply, looking at the remnants of his once-bustling bakery. "Faulty wiring, they said. It's a bloody mess in there. Insurance will cover it, but it'll be weeks before I can open again."

I frown, not liking the idea of our little town without fresh bread and pastries. "You know you've got all of us to help with anything."

"Thanks, Lily," he says, giving me a weary smile.

Fred trudges off, and I feel terrible. There must be some way we can help Fred after this disaster.

Turning back to Forget Me Knot, I go around the back and spend a few minutes picking a few fresh flowers to send over to Fred's cottage on the other side of the square. It's not much, but I don't have the means to help financially, or I would give it all to him. He would do the same for me; we all would. We are all small business owners in Keeley who help each other out. Noletown, which is about five miles away, is the biggest town near us where the supermarkets and banks are. Banks where Max Hamilton works. I know who he is. He is Jack and Sam's prime alpha. But I don't know know him. I keep to myself, and I've never had any reason to go to their house, a large farmhouse between Keeley and Noletown. Jack always comes here. I've never seen Max in the village, and I probably never will. If he is a banker, he needs to be where the banks are, and that's not here. We have an ATM in the post office, but that's about it.

Getting to work, I open up shop and start preparing the few deliveries I have today. I have a delivery driver who will drop off in a twenty-mile radius, but other than that, it's a ‘you come to me' kind of deal, or with the scent enhancing or masking services, I use the good old post.

Luckily, today, there are only a few deliveries, but they will keep me busy for most of the morning. I potter about, glad the shop is quiet so I can focus on crafting the perfect arrangements.

The door opens, and I look up to see Jack saunter in. His earthy scent of soil and rain fills the room, instantly calming me. "Morning, Lily," he greets with a warm smile.

"Morning, Jack. What's up?"

He chuckles, dipping his head shyly. "I need to pick up some herbs today. I've got a new client who wants an aromatic garden." His eyes linger on me as he talks, and I can almost feel the unspoken words hanging in the air between us.

"Okay," I say brightly. "You know where they are."

His face falls slightly, and I curse myself. I should go with him and seduce him over the basil, but something stops me every single time from asking the question, speaking the words. I just don't think I can handle the rejection if he doesn't want more and then cuts me out of his life completely. He brushes past me to the back, and I hear him moving about the garden. With a sigh, I go back to my last floral arrangement for delivery.

Sonya, the delivery driver, comes in just as I'm finishing up. Her bright smile makes me forget my Jack troubles.

"Hey, Sonya. Are you ready for another day of making people's lives just a bit more flowery?"

"Always," she replies, glancing around the shop with a twinkle in her eye. "Do you have anything interesting for me today?"

I gesture to the neatly arranged bouquets on the counter. "Four deliveries and this one for Fred."

Sonya grins and starts gathering the bouquets into her delivery van. Meanwhile, I sneak a peek out the back door, where Jack is still rummaging through my herb garden. His broad shoulders are bent over as he inspects each plant with care.

"Catch you later, Lily!" Sonya calls as she climbs into the van.

I wave her off, and with Sonya gone and Jack still occupied outside, I take a moment to enjoy the quiet ambience of my shop. The light filtering through the windows bathes everything in a warm glow, and the gentle hum of bees outside adds to the tranquillity.