Chapter 9

Garrett

I push open the door to Fleurish and saunter in. I’m not supposed to pick up Olivia until eight tonight at her apartment, but I just couldn’t fucking help myself. I wanted to see her before then.

Stevie is helping a customer…some big thug-looking dude with a hangdog look on his face. I’m guessing he’s in the market for some apology flowers.

Stevie’s head swivels my way and a bright and knowing smile pops on his face. “Hey, Garrett…she’s in the back.”

The guy next to Stevie spares me a quick glance, then does a double take as he recognizes me. “Holy shit…you’re Garrett Samuelson. My girlfriend and I are huge fans. We never miss a game.”

I walk up to him and stick my hand out. He shakes it with a shit-eating grin on his face.

“Hey, man. Nice to meet you,” I tell him. “Shopping for some flowers?”

The man’s smile slides from his face. “Yeah…fucked up with my girl and hoping these will make things right.”

“Well…I kind of like those white ones there with the little yellow centers,” I say, pointing at a vase within the cooler.

“Excellent choice,” Stevie exclaims, and reaches in to pull the flowers out. “Nothing says ‘I’m sorry’ like happy daisies.”

“Okay,” the guy says hesitantly. “Sure. That will work.”

“I know something that would be even better,” I say, an idea popping into my head. Turning my back on the two, I walk over to the checkout counter and immediately see what I need. Grabbing a piece of paper from the printer that sits on a lower shelf and a black Sharpie marker, I hastily scribble some words.

Walking back over to Stevie, I take the flowers out of his hands and hold them up near my face, then bring the piece of paper up to the other side. “An apology would be even better with a personal message, right?”

They both read what I wrote and start laughing. The guy whips out his camera phone and takes a few pictures of me. I put on my most apologetic, simpering look, and ham it up big for the camera.

“Dude…you are like the fucking coolest guy I’ve ever met,” the man says gratefully, and then he pulls up one of the pictures to show me. I look like a fucking dork, but his girl will get a kick out of this.

The sign next to my face says “He’s really sorry. Please forgive him.”

Handing the flowers over to the guy, I shove the piece of paper at Stevie. “My work here is done. Good luck, man.”

Turning away from them to head to the back room, I’m brought up short when I see Olivia standing there, leaning casually against the entryway to the design area and staring at me with a smirk on her face. She’s stunning, and I wonder if I’ll ever get used to that little skitter of pleasure that floods through me when I first see her. I’ve never felt that before, and while it’s an odd sensation, it’s most definitely a pleasant one.

She’s wearing nothing more than a pair of faded jeans, running shoes, and a T-shirt that bears the name FLEURISH on it, yet she’s far sexier in this very moment than any other woman I’ve been with before. Fuck…she even has her hair in those loose pigtail braids again, and I hope she keeps them in tonight. Gives me something to grab on to when I take her from behind…and that most certainly is on the agenda for tonight.

“You’re too much,” she says teasingly.

I give her the best innocent look I possess. “What? No idea what you’re talking about.”

Cutting her eyes over my shoulder, she gives a nod. “You just ensured not only his girlfriend is going to forgive his transgressions, but also that he’s most assuredly going to get laid tonight.”

I slowly walk up to her, and her eyes are warm as she watches me approach. I was afraid she might not be happy to see me, busting in on her place of business and all, but it appears I’ve managed to charm her with my actions.

Reaching out, I dig the tips of my fingers just half an inch into the front waistband of her jeans and give her a little jerk to pull her closer to me. Whispering to her, I say, “I’m wondering if I need to get you some flowers or something to make sure I get laid tonight.”

She looks up at me through heavy, dark lashes, her green eyes sparkling with mischief. “Um…no. Your track record speaks for itself. I think you’re golden tonight.”

“Excellent,” I murmur, then brush my lips against her temple. She emits a tiny shiver, but then pulls away from me.

“So, what are you doing here?” she asks genially as she turns her back to walk into the design area. See…that’s what I love about her. She doesn’t fall all over me, desperate for my attention. Not that I’d argue if she did fall all over me…but she knows she doesn’t need to. I like that bit of cocky attitude in her.

I follow Olivia, looking around with interest at the back room where she works. A large walk-in cooler in stainless steel sits on one wall, while another has floor-to-ceiling shelving that holds glass vases, clay pots, and an entire array of stuff that I have no clue what it is. Arrangement-making stuff, I guess. A large square table sits in the center of the room, and there is a massive basket of flowers sitting on it.

“I couldn’t wait until eight o’clock to see you. Just thought I’d hang out…if that’s okay with you and Stevie, that is.”

“Sure,” she says with a quick smile, then plops down on a stool in front of the basket of flowers. “You can keep me company while I work.”