and sneeze when packed in between a couple of dumpy women on the public buses.
“I can’t tell you. It’s very personal.”
“Ah, okay. Well I won’t press. Ladies don’t expose their secrets, you know.” Her blue eyes twinkled and she winked as if she understood. Perhaps she’d seen me with Shook. We weren’t exactly discreet.
“Yes, I know.”
“If you need a place to stay until things work out I have a lovely guest bedroom available. You are welcome as my guest any time.”
Sapphire looked up with a grateful smile. “Thank you so much for understanding, and I may take you up on your offer.”
“Just say the word, dear. Now I’ve got to scoot after I check on the flowers. I didn’t want anything wilting on our day off.”
“Do you mind if I hang out here today? I can mist the arrangements for you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, they always cheer me.”
For the rest of the day she worked around the shop, sweeping the floors, watering plants and tending the flowers, making sure that everything was fresh and pretty. Her thoughts drifted back to the day she and Blaze had met. She didn’t recall seeing Shook at that event but didn’t doubt his words. He had described her perfectly and she now doubted her fiancé would possess the same level of attention to anything beyond his needs.
Blaze had been charming, sophisticated and a fabulous dancer. Once she’d completed her work they had danced the entire night. He taken her on a date nearly every night since their first meeting and even whisked her off to Venice for a romantic getaway. All her friends were jealous of the handsome sophisticate with gorgeous blue eyes and a head full of brown curls. Not many men in their forties could boast as such.
He’d been divorced once long before they met and didn’t have any children so he was known as one of the most eligible bachelors in her age group. She could understand why Shook had stood back. Obviously he’d seen Blaze in hot pursuit and as his best friend, didn’t want to steal his happiness. Shook was clearly the better man and she wished he’d been the one to ask her to dance at that wedding. Maybe he is telling the truth. But can I trust him? How can I be sure they weren’t in this together all along?
Why Blaze chose now to bring him into their relationship baffled her. Is he that cocky? Did he want to flaunt his victory over Shook one last time? If Shook truly did want me, wouldn’t watching us get married be torment enough? Or is Blaze just so utterly consumed with lust that he used his friend’s vulnerability to his benefit? What kind of person does this to his best friend? And to his fiancé yet! Tricking me into making some sick movie, it’s too much and I can never forgive him for that level of deception. He’s not who I thought he was and there’s no way I’d ever marry a man like him.
She primped the flowers in the display case and the arrangements waiting in the cooler, giving them one final inspection for the day before turning off the lights. A light tap on the door made her turn around. Her heart raced at the sight of Shook even though she wasn’t sure she wanted to let him in. She felt hurt, betrayed and most of all sullied.
“Sapphire, please open the door,” he called from the other side. “I’m not leaving and I’m not giving in this time. I’ve wanted you since the first day I saw you and I’m willing to fight if that’s what it takes to win your heart.”
Slowly she opened the door. “Why the change of heart? You seemed certain that Blaze and I would work things out.”
“I watched the video.” A mix of open rage and remorse shadowed his face. “I had no idea and I am very sorry to have unknowingly played a part in this devious charade. He doesn’t deserve you and you’d be a fool to take him back after what he’s done.”
“No more talk about me forgiving him then?”
“Hell no! I was on my way over to confront him before kicking his sorry ass but
“I can’t tell you. It’s very personal.”
“Ah, okay. Well I won’t press. Ladies don’t expose their secrets, you know.” Her blue eyes twinkled and she winked as if she understood. Perhaps she’d seen me with Shook. We weren’t exactly discreet.
“Yes, I know.”
“If you need a place to stay until things work out I have a lovely guest bedroom available. You are welcome as my guest any time.”
Sapphire looked up with a grateful smile. “Thank you so much for understanding, and I may take you up on your offer.”
“Just say the word, dear. Now I’ve got to scoot after I check on the flowers. I didn’t want anything wilting on our day off.”
“Do you mind if I hang out here today? I can mist the arrangements for you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, they always cheer me.”
For the rest of the day she worked around the shop, sweeping the floors, watering plants and tending the flowers, making sure that everything was fresh and pretty. Her thoughts drifted back to the day she and Blaze had met. She didn’t recall seeing Shook at that event but didn’t doubt his words. He had described her perfectly and she now doubted her fiancé would possess the same level of attention to anything beyond his needs.
Blaze had been charming, sophisticated and a fabulous dancer. Once she’d completed her work they had danced the entire night. He taken her on a date nearly every night since their first meeting and even whisked her off to Venice for a romantic getaway. All her friends were jealous of the handsome sophisticate with gorgeous blue eyes and a head full of brown curls. Not many men in their forties could boast as such.
He’d been divorced once long before they met and didn’t have any children so he was known as one of the most eligible bachelors in her age group. She could understand why Shook had stood back. Obviously he’d seen Blaze in hot pursuit and as his best friend, didn’t want to steal his happiness. Shook was clearly the better man and she wished he’d been the one to ask her to dance at that wedding. Maybe he is telling the truth. But can I trust him? How can I be sure they weren’t in this together all along?
Why Blaze chose now to bring him into their relationship baffled her. Is he that cocky? Did he want to flaunt his victory over Shook one last time? If Shook truly did want me, wouldn’t watching us get married be torment enough? Or is Blaze just so utterly consumed with lust that he used his friend’s vulnerability to his benefit? What kind of person does this to his best friend? And to his fiancé yet! Tricking me into making some sick movie, it’s too much and I can never forgive him for that level of deception. He’s not who I thought he was and there’s no way I’d ever marry a man like him.
She primped the flowers in the display case and the arrangements waiting in the cooler, giving them one final inspection for the day before turning off the lights. A light tap on the door made her turn around. Her heart raced at the sight of Shook even though she wasn’t sure she wanted to let him in. She felt hurt, betrayed and most of all sullied.
“Sapphire, please open the door,” he called from the other side. “I’m not leaving and I’m not giving in this time. I’ve wanted you since the first day I saw you and I’m willing to fight if that’s what it takes to win your heart.”
Slowly she opened the door. “Why the change of heart? You seemed certain that Blaze and I would work things out.”
“I watched the video.” A mix of open rage and remorse shadowed his face. “I had no idea and I am very sorry to have unknowingly played a part in this devious charade. He doesn’t deserve you and you’d be a fool to take him back after what he’s done.”
“No more talk about me forgiving him then?”
“Hell no! I was on my way over to confront him before kicking his sorry ass but
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