Chapter 13

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

NICHOLAS

"Have a beautiful day," I call after some customers as they exit the store. I've been grinning from ear to ear all morning, and I'm celebrating my good mood with pop superstars and tulips.

I've got a hookup planned with Clay on Thursday, and no one in town has a clue there's something between us.

"What are you smiling about now?" Kavya asks.

I turn into the workshop, where she's assembled piles of cut flowers. "I'm always smiling."

"Not like this you aren't."

"It's spring. It's another warm and sunny day. Beyoncé is on the speakers."

"And you're having dinner with Finn tonight," she remembers. "Is that it?"

I return to the work station with her. "I always look forward to seeing friends. But you're right. Finn and I have both been busy lately, so it's overdue."

Kavya shrugs. "It puts me in a good mood to see Finn, too, but I still don't think that's the whole story. It's like you're extra shiny or something."

"Shiny?" I laugh, dismissing it easily because I know that's not it. I don't feel shiny about Clay, just excited. "Maybe I need to turn up the AC."

"If you say so. I was hoping you had some marvelous news to share. Maybe a new crush?"

"I have nothing to contribute to the gossip mill. How about you? Did that woman with the fancy car ask you back out?"

"My executive top, Ava. She did, but I think I'm done with her. Corporate life isn't for me. And she's only free on Friday nights, so it's not going to work out, anyway. I'm signing up for a sculpture class at the community center on Fridays."

"I love some good arts and crafts gossip," I say brightly. "A scandalous rumor about a bird feeder? Sign me up."

The bell rings above the door, and when I turn, I see it's Clay. He's got his tool belt on, and he's wearing a white T-shirt, which is pornographic on him.

I'm excited to see where we go next. I've never had a thing for hairy chests, but now I want to rub my tongue all over his pecs.

"Morning," Clay says, and I snap out of it.

"Morning," I reply. "What are you working on today?"

Clay nods to Kavya respectfully. "Good morning," he says before turning back to me. "I'm taking a look at the siding along the house. Might crank out some repairs. It's simple beveled siding, should be quick. But wasn't sure if the noise would be a bother in here."

"Thanks. We can let you know if it is."

He nods, and his hand goes to his tool belt. I hold his eye a second longer, enjoying the simmer of attraction beneath the surface, but make sure to pull my gaze away before I betray anything to Kavya.

"Cool," Clay says. He looks at Kavya. "Enjoy your day."

She raises up half of an amused smile. "You too, Clay."

When he leaves, I turn back to her. "He's a pretty decent guy, I think."

She shrugs. "As long as he follows through on his promise and doesn't sell to a developer."

I've been enjoying a private fantasy where Clay's decision had something to do with me, or how he feels about me, at least. That he's decided to save the building because he cares not just about the gorgeous old woodwork, but the people and history inside of it, too.

It's silly, and I remind myself not to lose track of reality, that Clay is doing this for exactly the reasons he stated. But the idea still brings a smile to my face.

The next person in is Zooey, pulling a cart of flowers behind her. I rush over to help with the door.

Zooey works at Starlight Fields, the farm where I source many of our best flowers. Her mother started the business a couple of decades ago, and Zooey runs the operations as she prepares to take over one day.

Dressed in cargo shorts and a dirty hoodie, she's got her sleeves pulled up and her hair tied back in a pony tail. "Hi, Nicholas," she says. "Kavya."

"Look at this week's payload," Kavya says, eyeing the flowers. "Nice."

Zooey mumbles something as she messes with the delivery, but I don't catch it. Before I can ask, she turns back to me.

"Hey, remember I told you how I had a great ranunculus crop coming in?"

"Of course."

"We had someone calling, interested in the whole crop. My mom said to make sure we told you. I know you don't have an official order in, but—you know."

"I do know. Without your ranunculus, I'd be in deep trouble. I'll make sure to give your mom a call. Thanks for the heads-up."

Who wants all that ranunculus?

She nods, and I catch her eyes drifting toward Kavya.

"You've got a good ranunculus crop?" Kavya asks, arching an eyebrow but stoic as ever.

"Yeah. I think I've really perfected the growing conditions," Zooey answers, but the motion of the shop stirs back up before they can extend the conversation.

The rest of the day flies by. I occasionally hear a bang or a clatter from outside, and I spot Clay walking by the window, hauling a ladder or a power tool. But the shop is busy enough that my mind doesn't have much time to wander, except to notice how nice it is to see him. By the end of the day, I have to rush out the door to get home and prepare for dinner with Finn.

I go with nice trousers and a collared pink shirt, worn casually undone at the top. Dressed up a bit, but nothing formal. On the walk over to the Italian restaurant we both like, I wonder what's been keeping him so busy these last couple of weeks. He recently finished culinary school, and I expected him to enjoy some free time after the heavy workload.

I hope there's nothing to be concerned about.

I find Finn waiting outside the restaurant, and he's as charming and kind as ever. His curly black hair is getting longer, and he's sporting stubble, handsome against his dark brown skin. Finn is also in trousers and a button-up shirt, and seeing him, I immediately resolve not to let so much time pass without a friend-dinner on the books.

We do the most basic catching up while we're getting seated. Our families are good; Blossom is doing well. It's not until the food arrives that I finally get around to asking what has been keeping him so busy.

Finn twirls spaghetti on his fork. "About that. It's been kind of a whirlwind, but an opportunity fell in my lap a few days ago, and I had to make a big decision fast..."

I raise my eyebrows. "What's that?"

Finn gives me a confident nod. "I'm opening an ice cream shop. Right here in the neighborhood."

I blink, totally surprised but instantly in love with it. "An ice cream shop. That's great!" I grin and raise my wine glass. "Of course you are!"

Finn chuckles. "You like the idea?"

"It's amazing. I love that there will be another small business in the neighborhood, and I especially love that you'll be running it. That's wonderful, Finn."

"You'll remember when I took a class on making ice cream, and I was a bit obsessed. Correction. I remain very obsessed."

"This is so good," I tell him. "You're going to devote your life to ice cream, and I get to eat the results."

Finn gives me his nod, this little bob of his head that he does when he's pleased.

"Have you picked a name?"

"Not yet." He takes in a deep breath. "But hold on. There's one other thing."

"What's that?"

"The shop is going to be on the other end of the neighborhood from Blossom, in the old hardware building. When I signed the lease this afternoon, I learned that the second half of the building was just rented out, too. There's going to be a flower shop there, one of those online chain ones. Flower Hub."

I nearly drop my fork. "Are you sure?" I ask through a strangled breath.

"Shit. I figured you haven't heard yet, but I was hoping you did. Sorry to bring bad news."

"No, thank you for telling me." I take another drink from the wine. "Flower Hub. That's very not good."

Blossom has plenty of competition for customers across the city of Buffalo, but a cheap chain store right down the street represents a whole other kind of pressure.

My mind flashes back to the news from Zooey earlier, that someone had been placing large orders at her farm, and I click my tongue against the roof of my mouth.

"Extremely not good," I mumble.

Finn offers a sympathetic smile. "If it helps, I can speak loudly about your low prices and incomparable bouquets from my ice cream counter."

"Careful, before I take you up on that."

We both laugh, and the conversation flows on. But for the rest of the night, there's a worry lodged in the back of my head, waiting for me to confront it.