Divided Interests (Southern Bride 3)

Paige spun with a horrified look on her face. I held up my finger in a wait a moment gesture.

“In the meantime, please don’t say anything to anyone, and if someone like the cashier at Super S mentions it, debunk it for the time being. For me and Paige, okay?”

“I can do that. Do you want me to find out where the rumor generated from? You know I have my ways.”

“No,” I replied with a chuckle. “It won’t matter soon enough. Everyone in town who shops at the Super S will know.”

Paige slumped against the counter.

“Your father said you were coming over later, I’ll see you then?”

“Yep, see you then.”

Hitting End on the phone, I met Paige’s gaze.

“Tell me she didn’t find out about our engagement from a cashier at the grocery store,” Paige said.

“Okay, I won’t tell you that.”

She rolled her eyes. “Milo or Jen?”

“I’m going with Milo.”

Her brow raised. “Really? You think he’d say something to someone?”

“Yes. The new girl he’s dating probably told someone else, who then told someone else, who then told the cashier at Super S, who eventually asked my mother about it.”

Paige tried to hide her smile, but the corners of her mouth rose slightly. “Gotta love a small town.”

“Do you? Because sometimes it’s quite annoying.” I let out a frustrated sigh. “Were you wanting to go to the storage unit today? I’ve got to meet Dad to help him with the ranch, then go to a job site in Fredericksburg. I can skip if you want me to go with you.”

She shook her head. “No, I’ll take a peek around in there. I’m curious to learn more about my grandmother. I’m secretly hoping to find some pieces for the flower shop. Oh, speaking of, we never made it over to your folks’ last night. I need to get your dad a rough sketch of what I want the front of the shop to look like.”

I smiled. “I sort of already did that for you.”

“You designed it for me?” she asked, her eyes lighting up.

“Yeah, last night I got up when you were exhausted from all the incredible orgasms I gave you.”

Her cheeks turned a beautiful pink. “You’re a stronger human than I am, dear sir. I needed rest after all those. May I see?”

“Of course.” I pointed behind her. “My sketchbook is right there.”

“You actually drew it? You didn’t do it on the computer?”

Warmth spread though my chest at her smile. If anyone knew how much I loved putting pencil to paper and drawing, it was this woman. “It felt good to get back to basics.”

Paige took the sketchbook off the counter. She opened it and gasped.

“Lucas, this is exactly how I pictured it in my head.” Her eyes met mine. “It’s like you stepped into my mind and pulled this out. How did you know this was what I wanted?”

I shrugged. “It’s how you described it when we were younger, when you used to dream about owning your own flower shop.”

Her eyes pooled with tears. “You remembered that?”

“I remember everything, Paige.”

Her hand came up to her mouth, and she glanced back down to the drawing. She looked like she was becoming overwhelmed with emotion, so I made my way over to her. I took the sketchbook from her hands, set it on the counter, and pulled her into my embrace.

“Are you okay?” I asked softly against her hair.

She sniffled, then wrapped her arms around me. “I couldn’t imagine doing this without you. I hate that we had to lose William in order to find our way back to one another.”

“Me too,” I replied, running my hand gently over her back.

Oreo rubbed at our legs, meowing and standing up to paw at me and then Paige.

We both laughed. “Your cat wants food.”

Paige reached down to pick up Oreo. She snuggled her face into the cat’s neck, and I instantly heard Oreo start purring.

“Good morning, sweetheart. Are you hungry? Did we forget to feed you last night?”

As she made her way to the pantry where she kept the cat’s food, I couldn’t help but take in the sight in front of me. It felt like everything was exactly how it should be. I was incredibly happy for the first time in a long time.

And in my experience, that meant the shit was surely about to hit the fan.

Paige – One month later

I STOOD IN the middle of the flower shop and looked around. Everything was coming along faster than I’d dreamed it would. The interior brick walls had been painted a creamy white. Lucas had measured out how long I wanted the counter and was making it out of reclaimed barn wood he’d found on one of the job sites he was working on with his father.

With a paintbrush in hand, I stared at the antique desk in front of me. It came from the storage unit filled with antique furniture that had been Millie’s. I had asked my grandfather if anyone in the family would like to look at the furniture, as well. A few cousins of mine had come and picked out a few pieces. Some Lucas and I brought back to the house, some would be displayed here in the flower shop, and the rest would remain in storage until I figured out what to do. The thought of selling any of the pieces wasn’t even an option. The small wooden crib that had been in the house for my father was currently in the flower shop, waiting for a coat of paint. I envisioned filling it with blankets and pillows.