The Best Man's Baby by Victoria James Page A

late, Mrs. Jacobs. We have six weddings and Ann called in sick, so I’m going to have to close the store today,” Claire murmured while pushing the vases that had almost landed on the ground a little farther into the shelf.
    Eunice sidled up to Claire until they were shoulder to shoulder. Jake stifled a grin as Claire took a small step in the direction of the door.
    “Oh, well, are you feeling all right? You look a little under the weather.”
    That was exactly what Jake was thinking as he leaned against the antique ivory cash desk watching the exchange. She had circles under her eyes and her skin looked very white. He was going to have to speak to her about working less. Maybe he could get a hold of one of her dry-erase markers and make a few adjustments to her flowcharts.
    Claire glanced over at him and he could read the irritation in her eyes as he leaned against the cash desk, idly flipping through one of the bridal magazines. He pretended not to notice the go-to-hell look she sent him when he started humming the “Wedding March.”
    “So, Mrs. Jacobs, how can I help you? Are you and Jake looking for anything in particular? A corsage perhaps, for the upcoming Red River Seniors’ Social?”
    Jake’s hands stilled as Claire’s sweet-as-pie voice echoed through the shop and Mrs. Jacobs giggled like a schoolgirl. He slowly lifted his head to look at Claire. She was smiling with unbridled delight, her cheeks suddenly filled with color, her eyes alive and shiny…and Mrs. Jacobs was staring at him in a way that made him strangely uncomfortable, her wide eyes large behind her glasses and slightly glazed.
    He grinned slowly at Claire. He had to hand it to her, he hadn’t seen that one coming. Claire raised her eyebrows at him, one corner of her delicious mouth turned upward in silent challenge.
    It was nice to see her smiling, even if it was at his expense. And she kept on smiling until his eyes dropped to her mouth again and lingered, a little too long perhaps. Long enough for him to think about exactly how sweet she tasted that night. How full her lips were. How soft. And how she knew how to use her mouth. Jake rubbed his hand over his jaw, his forefinger grazing the bottom of his mouth, back and forth, and watched as her eyes followed his hand, her lips parting. Then her smiled wavered as he lifted his gaze to meet hers. Oh yeah, she knew exactly where his thoughts were, and he could tell she was getting just as rattled as he was with the silent reminiscing.
    “So, what was it you were asking me about, Claire?” Jake asked, his voice intentionally low. He needed to get his mind off her mouth and onto the present challenge, or Claire would be marrying him off to Eunice Jacobs if he didn’t pay close enough attention.
    “Oh, Jake darling, it’s so sweet of you to offer to buy me a corsage,” Eunice said. His eyes darted to Claire, who was back to smiling. “But I think Mr. Walters would not like that one bit,” Mrs. Jacobs said, wagging her index finger at him. Jake plastered a grin on his face for her benefit. He had no idea the two were dating. He hoped William Walters didn’t make it a habit of discussing business with Mrs. Jacobs.
    Mrs. Jacobs was waiting for a reply from him, he realized, her smile not budging an inch. “Well, old William’s a lucky man, Mrs. Jacobs,” he said, forcing himself to stay calm.
    She giggled.
    Claire rolled her eyes.
    “Well, at least let me pick up the tab for your flower order, Mrs. Jacobs.”
    “No, no, dear—”
    “Oh, come now, Mrs. Jacobs, Jake is quite used to buying ladies flowers. In fact, he has a running tab here with us,” Claire said.
    Jake bit back a laugh. She had nerve, and attitude.
    “Really, whatever it is, put it on my tab,” he said, smiling at the elderly woman. He wandered around while Mrs. Jacobs chattered about needing flowers for a bridge party. He walked into the back room. His jaw dropped when he walked into the bustling open area. There