few seconds later, Joanne was by her side. ‘There’s a hot bloke over there who could use your services,’ she hissed, poking Willow playfully. ‘And if you don’t want to serve him, then I will.’
Willow’s head had snapped up from the ribbon she’d been fussing with, cheeks flushing as she took in Alex’s thick dark hair, high cheekbones and lovely tanned skin which made his blue eyes look even bluer.
‘ Can I help you?’ she choked out, trying desperately not to swoon at how handsome he was. Risking a glance at his eyes, she couldn’t help noticing how they crinkled up at the sides as he smiled down at her.
‘ I want something unique for my mum. None of those pink carnations or yellow roses.’ He made a face and Willow nodded. She couldn’t agree more. Why people loved to go with clichéd flowers when beautiful blossoms like orchids were available was beyond her. ‘Can you suggest anything?’
‘ Actually, yes.’ She went to the back of the shop to the Disas and carefully selected a delicate stalk with an orange-red blossom. ‘What about this one? It’s an orchid from South Africa.’
Alex reached out to touch the orange-red petals. ‘It’s gorgeous.’
‘ Isn’t it?’ Willow loved seeing the appreciation in his eyes. ‘Some florists surround it with greenery and other blossoms, but I prefer it alone. It’s so lovely, it doesn’t need any fancy dressing.’
‘ You’re the expert.’ His eyes did that cute wrinkly thing again, and Willow tore her gaze back to the orchids before she melted into a puddle in the middle of the shop floor.
‘ I’ll just get a few stems together for you and wrap them up,’ she said. Handing him the order, she prayed he’d come back again. It was nice to have a customer who trusted her judgment and liked something out of the ordinary. Not to mention one who was drop-dead gorgeous.
T hankfully, he had returned, always asking for ‘Disa’ and always requesting the orchids. Over time, their talk had turned from flowers to pretty much anything and everything, and Willow had been amazed how comfortable she’d felt around him. Despite the butterflies inside, she’d kept her attraction under wraps. Alex must have a girlfriend – who else would he buy that many flowers for? But one day to her great surprise, he ordered a bunch for her, complete with an invitation to his flat for dinner. Practically shaking with nervous excitement, she’d walked straight into a room chock full of Disas. The heady scent had been overpowering, and Willow had turned, shocked, toward him. But instead of explaining, Alex had just pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
Stop it , Willow told herself firmly. Alex was in the past, and that was where he belonged.
A few minutes later, Jay and Willow reached the pub in the small neighbouring hamlet of Upper Bournington.
‘ Welcome, welcome, Willow. Or should I say, the new Marilyn!’ George Jensen, the owner, bustled around as if they were royalty. Willow nearly landed on the floor after he over-enthusiastically jerked out her chair.
‘ It’s fine, George,’ she said, touching his arm. The poor man looked near tears, and Willow knew through her father that George’s heart couldn’t take much stress.
‘ You’d better get used to it,’ Jay said. ‘If you sign with me, you’ll get five-star treatment all the way.’ He took her hand and Willow’s heart fluttered. ‘Being a star has massive advantages. With the money you’ll make, everyone will benefit. Your friends, your family. Plus, you’ll be a great draw for the area.’
Willow nodded, thinking about his words. She still couldn’t believe so many people would travel here because of one video – and even more, that they’d think she was Marilyn once they saw her in the flesh. But that night in the pub . . . she shivered, recalling all the eyes trained on her. And it was obvious the whole town was benefitting. Even her father’s shop had got some extra custom,
Willow’s head had snapped up from the ribbon she’d been fussing with, cheeks flushing as she took in Alex’s thick dark hair, high cheekbones and lovely tanned skin which made his blue eyes look even bluer.
‘ Can I help you?’ she choked out, trying desperately not to swoon at how handsome he was. Risking a glance at his eyes, she couldn’t help noticing how they crinkled up at the sides as he smiled down at her.
‘ I want something unique for my mum. None of those pink carnations or yellow roses.’ He made a face and Willow nodded. She couldn’t agree more. Why people loved to go with clichéd flowers when beautiful blossoms like orchids were available was beyond her. ‘Can you suggest anything?’
‘ Actually, yes.’ She went to the back of the shop to the Disas and carefully selected a delicate stalk with an orange-red blossom. ‘What about this one? It’s an orchid from South Africa.’
Alex reached out to touch the orange-red petals. ‘It’s gorgeous.’
‘ Isn’t it?’ Willow loved seeing the appreciation in his eyes. ‘Some florists surround it with greenery and other blossoms, but I prefer it alone. It’s so lovely, it doesn’t need any fancy dressing.’
‘ You’re the expert.’ His eyes did that cute wrinkly thing again, and Willow tore her gaze back to the orchids before she melted into a puddle in the middle of the shop floor.
‘ I’ll just get a few stems together for you and wrap them up,’ she said. Handing him the order, she prayed he’d come back again. It was nice to have a customer who trusted her judgment and liked something out of the ordinary. Not to mention one who was drop-dead gorgeous.
T hankfully, he had returned, always asking for ‘Disa’ and always requesting the orchids. Over time, their talk had turned from flowers to pretty much anything and everything, and Willow had been amazed how comfortable she’d felt around him. Despite the butterflies inside, she’d kept her attraction under wraps. Alex must have a girlfriend – who else would he buy that many flowers for? But one day to her great surprise, he ordered a bunch for her, complete with an invitation to his flat for dinner. Practically shaking with nervous excitement, she’d walked straight into a room chock full of Disas. The heady scent had been overpowering, and Willow had turned, shocked, toward him. But instead of explaining, Alex had just pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
Stop it , Willow told herself firmly. Alex was in the past, and that was where he belonged.
A few minutes later, Jay and Willow reached the pub in the small neighbouring hamlet of Upper Bournington.
‘ Welcome, welcome, Willow. Or should I say, the new Marilyn!’ George Jensen, the owner, bustled around as if they were royalty. Willow nearly landed on the floor after he over-enthusiastically jerked out her chair.
‘ It’s fine, George,’ she said, touching his arm. The poor man looked near tears, and Willow knew through her father that George’s heart couldn’t take much stress.
‘ You’d better get used to it,’ Jay said. ‘If you sign with me, you’ll get five-star treatment all the way.’ He took her hand and Willow’s heart fluttered. ‘Being a star has massive advantages. With the money you’ll make, everyone will benefit. Your friends, your family. Plus, you’ll be a great draw for the area.’
Willow nodded, thinking about his words. She still couldn’t believe so many people would travel here because of one video – and even more, that they’d think she was Marilyn once they saw her in the flesh. But that night in the pub . . . she shivered, recalling all the eyes trained on her. And it was obvious the whole town was benefitting. Even her father’s shop had got some extra custom,
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