Pan's Conquest (Entangled Covet) by Aubrie Dionne Page B

much more. “Thanks.”

Chapter Seven Even Beat
    Syrinx hummed to herself while arranging a flower bouquet for Myrna Smith’s baby shower. Daisies, it must have daisies—the perfect complement to the pink roses Myrna had requested. Syrinx couldn’t remember a time when she was this happy, riding on cloud nine all the way to heaven’s gates. As much as she liked to think it was because of the morning’s sunshine and her flourishing business, the real reason lay with Parker’s experienced lips. Lips she shouldn’t kiss again if she knew what was good for her.
    Kaye propped open the front door with her butt as she held a tower of ceramic pots in both hands. “Hey, Sylvie. You won’t believe what I found at this yard sale. The blue one has a crack, but I think we can—” She stopped in mid-step. “Are you glowing?”
    Syrinx ran her hands through her hair self-consciously. “Oh, it must be the sun. Nice day, huh?”
    Kaye set the pots down by the cash register and gave Syrinx a suspicious look. “How did your date go last night?”
    Syrinx pretended to be interested in sticking the daisies around the pink roses. “It was interesting. We ate at a nice botanical restaurant and went to see that award-winning poet, Master Don.”
    “You mean the ancient-looking Asian guy?” Kaye made a sour face. “You couldn’t drag me to one of his shows with a shotgun.”
    “Why do you say that?”
    “He makes you think too much about the big questions in life. Sure, we all have to think about our future and our goals. But it’s not something I want to do on my time off. Especially on a date. Who thought of that?”
    Syrinx glanced down and fluffed the daisies sheepishly. “I did.”
    “Of course.” Kaye frowned in disappointment.
    “I wasn’t trying to be a snorefest. I had no idea what his poems were like.”
    Kaye leaned against the countertop, balancing on her elbows, and smiled. “And what did Parker think of them?”
    “He seemed to like them. I don’t know. During some of them, it looked like he was thinking really hard about something. I wish I could hear his thoughts.”
    Kaye stared her down until she thought her friend could see every lusty thought in her head. “Are you blushing? Did he try anything on you like I said he would?”
    “Maybe. But I didn’t let it get very far.”
    Kaye threw her hands up in the air. “Why the hell not?”
    “Because it’s only a first date, Kaye. I really don’t know him all that well. He could be a serial killer for all we know.”
    “I doubt that.” Kaye leaned against the countertop, looking away as if envisioning her own private fantasy of Parker Thomas. “More like serial kisser. That…I’d believe.” Kaye laughed at her own joke. “Did he ask you out on another date?”
    Syrinx shrugged. “We left it open. I suggested next time we do something fun.”
    “Well, it wasn’t a total waste of a hot guy then, was it?” Kaye patted her arm. “Good job. Not bad for such a rusty old spinster.”
    “Hey, who’s calling who a spinster? I don’t look a day older than you, and you can’t be more than twenty-five.”
    Kaye admired Syrinx’s new arrangement, touching a petal as if it were a baby’s cheek. “Twenty-six, to be exact. At least I try.” Her tone sounded a little too heavy and sad.
    “You’ll find your Mr. Right someday.” Syrinx started the next bouquet, cutting the ends of a bunch of lime-hued, button-shaped chrysanthemums. She wished she could help Kaye find someone. Her assistant deserved the same happiness Syrinx had found.
    Kaye moved on to her own bouquet. “By the way, did you knock over the pots stacked out back?”
    Syrinx froze, remembering the mess she’d cleaned up in the kitchen. “No. Why?”
    “Last night, I returned to the shop. I’d forgotten to bring in the pansies, and I was afraid they’d wilt in the cold. When I got there, some of the pots had been knocked over. The blue clay one I picked up the other day is