Tangle (Dogwood Lane 2)

“That’s a huge deal. Huge.”

“It’s not. Really.” My stomach flutters as I snuggle into the fabric and let the feeling cuddle me. I wonder if he cuddles—no. “He was being nice. Besides, much to your dismay, it’s not like that between us.”

She snorts. “It’s not pheromone-fueled? Fun? Sweet? Fated?”

“Will you stop?” I laugh. “You sound ridiculous. Now will you just go wait on your customers before we’re both out of a job? You have tuition to pay for, may I remind you.”

A long, hefty sigh hits my ear. “Fine.”

“Fine. Talk to you soon.”

“Bye.”

Pressing open the door to Buds and Branches, I’m immediately hit with the scent of flowers. The light, romantic vibe of the building makes me smile. It reminds me of my mother.

My mom was such an optimist, always seeing the beauty and hope in things. She wore the prettiest floral perfume that smelled like roses still damp from the morning dew. She was the epitome of a lady and all that I hope to be someday.

Jennifer looks up from the desk. “Hey, you,” she says, grinning wide. “What’s going on?”

“Oh, not much,” I say, slipping off Trevor’s jacket. I think about hanging it on the hook by the door but don’t really want to let it go. So I toss it over my arm instead. “I just thought I’d come by and see what you are doing. The fall decor looks amazing, Jen.”

“Thanks.” She looks back at the start of an arrangement in front of her. “I’ve had a heck of a time getting it together since Dana quit.”

“She did? Why?”

She looks up from the bouquet she’s working on. “She ran off with some guy she met on a dating app. I told her to be careful.” She shakes her head. “Kids these days.”

“Hey, at least she found love somehow. I might use a dating app when I go back into the fray.”

“Don’t do that,” she says. “You don’t need an app to find a nice guy.”

“I need something,” I mutter. “Anyway, I don’t have time to worry about it right now. The library let me go yesterday, so all my attention is focused on that.”

She drops her hand. A pair of scissors clatters against the tabletop. “I heard they didn’t get the funding they were after.” She frowns. “I’m sorry, Haley.”

“Thanks. It sucks. But I slept in today, so silver linings, right?”

“I have to say, I’d love a couple of days off right now.” She goes back to work on the flowers. “Tom wants to take me to Hawaii for our anniversary, but I can’t leave this place. Especially not now with Dana gone. Besides,” she huffs, “I’m barely in the black the way it is. If the place in Rockery would get caught up with the modern age and actually appeal to the area, I’d be in the red. But I can’t close Buds and Branches, because I love it too much.”

“I love this place too,” I say.

“Hey,” Jennifer says, shaking a rose at me. “You know what—”

She’s cut off by a phone ringing in the back. She sighs, obviously annoyed.

“Would you mind watching the front for me for a second?” she asks. “That’s my cell and it’s probably Tom and he’s probably irritated I didn’t give him a straight answer on Hawaii last night. So this is going to take a second.”

“Go. I got this,” I say.

She disappears into the back.

I mosey around the store, stopping to smell the sweet roses and perfume-like gardenias. The blend of aromas is almost like a high. I could lose myself in the store for days, just like I could in a library.

Could I work here? Honestly? I look around the room and take in the beauty. I think I could. I think I could be happy here. But is it possible?

The arrangement Jen was working on sits on the desk. I venture over to it. It’s a blend of multicolored Peruvian lilies, some of my favorite flowers. I pick up a few orange ones and find spots to nest them. When I step back, something still looks missing.

My attention is caught by a few gorgeous red roses in the cooler. I snag a couple of them and place them carefully into the mix.

“That looks wonderful,” Jen says.

I look over my shoulder to see her leaning against the doorframe. “I hope you don’t mind. I . . .” I shrug like a kid caught with their hand in the cookie jar. “I added the lilies and then thought the roses would be pretty. I can totally take them out if you want.”

“Don’t you dare.” She comes up beside me and inspects it more closely. “It’s perfect.”

I clasp my hands together and smile. “I think so too.”

“This will make someone very happy. Maybe someone will come in today and snag this for their wife.”