Lyndsey Cole - Lily Bloom 01 - Begonia Means Beware by Lyndsey Cole Page B

buttons to ruin my good mood.”
    “Is that an apology?”
    “Yes. I don’t know how else to say I’m sorry.”
    Lily sipped the coffee, making Ryan sweat some more. She coyly smiled. “Apology accepted.”
    Ryan relaxed back into his chair. “That envelope wasn’t at your mother’s house.”
    “What?” Coffee spilled onto Lily’s jeans as she lurched forward. She looked down at the dark spot. Why does this always happen around this guy?
    Ryan handed her a napkin to blot up the coffee , trying to hide his grin. “Did you notice if anyone followed you last night?”
    “I don’t think so. Where did you look for it?”
    “On the coffee table. Your mom said you two were sitting in the living room looking at the papers when you got home.”
    Lily settled back into her chair. “I took them into my room and stuck them in the bedside drawer. Mom didn’t know that.”
    “Do you have time to find them for me? I would like to get them into a safer place. I think that may be important evidence.”
    Lily beamed as she stood up. “Since you asked so nicely, let’s go.”
    It didn’t take Lily long to find the papers and get back to the shop. Daisy was up to her elbows in flowers. Arrangements were lined up around the whole work area.
    “Geoffrey asked me to give you a message ,” Lily said when she got back to work.
    “When did you talk to Geoffrey?”
    “We had a nice chat when I picked up the flowers at the greenhouse.”
    Daisy looked concerned. “Chat about what?”
    “His family.” Lily moved some arrangements into the cooler. “You.”
    “Me?”
    “I think he likes you. A lot. He wants you to meet him after work. Said he’d be waiting.”
    Daisy blushed and smiled. “Doesn’t he seem normal? Unlike the rest of his clan?”
    “I have to agree with you about that.” Lily paused at Daisy’s work space. “Did you know that Clifton loaned him money to get his business going?”
    “No. We don’t talk business when we’re together.” Her face changed to a deeper shade of red.
    Lily chuckled. “Don’t tell Mom or she’ll want all the gory details.”
    “Speaking of M om, she said to remind you to meet her at the shooting range at four.” Daisy arched an eyebrow. “I thought you gave up guns after that accident?”
    “I did , but she thinks I could be in danger and wants me to brush up on my skills.”
    “You were the best shot in town. Do you think you ever forget how to shoot a gun?”
    “No. I think it’s like riding a bicycle. I’ll just do some target practice. It’s about time I get past that accident anyway. Let’s get these flowers put away. How late can you stay?”
    “Five. Will you come back to close up?”
    “I can do that. Daisy, thanks for being so reliable. This murder has me running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I have to figure this out before someone comes after me.”
    “ Are you serious? Why do you think that?”
    “Clifton was murdered in my house. Why was he there? Maybe the murderer thinks I know something. It’s a little creepy. And those begonia flowers were a warning.”
    Daisy elbowed Lily. “At least you have a cop living next door.”
    “And I can’t figure out what he’s thinking half the time. Plus, I always manage to do something stupid around him. Like shut my skirt in the car door or spill a drink all over myself. This is all getting so complicated and confusing.”
    “In my opinion? The cop likes you. Go with your instinct. That has always served you well.”
    “Yeah. It serves me well until it doesn’t.” The last flower arrangement was in the cooler. Lily shut the door. “I’m going to head to the shooting range now. See you in an hour.”
    Lily parked her minivan away from all the oversized trucks. She saw her mom’s scooter which was dwarfed by a big Harley on one side and a giant black pickup truck on the other side. Lily squared her shoulders, tossed her head back and marched to the shooting range. Iris was in the thick