Standing His Ground: Greer (Porter Brothers Trilogy 2)
If Logan could see him, the boy would have a hissy fit at the way he was acting.
He was fumbling with the doorknob when it was swung open.
Lowering the vases, he saw Holly staring at him.
“What are you doing here?” she hissed.
“I …” Greer cleared his throat. “I came to apologize.” Shoving one of the vases at her, he waited for it to be smashed over his head.
“You bought me flowers?”
“Yes.” He raised his voice so Diamond would hear him from her office. “I bought some for Diamond, too.”
“They’re beautiful,” Holly breathed.
Greer shoved his shirt back down his pants with his free hand. “I’m glad you like them. They’re the best in Abe’s shop.”
He took it as a good sign when Holly moved away from the door, letting him inside the office.
“Tell him to get out!”
Greer saw Diamond through the mirror in her waiting room, sitting behind her desk. He knew she was still mad from the lawyer face that was screwed on.
“Come on, Diamond. I’m sorry.”
“It’s Mrs. Richards-Bates to you.”
“They’re roses,” he tried to coax.
“Move to the left a little bit.”
Greer took a couple of steps, so she could see them in the reflection of the mirror.
“Set them on Holly’s desk and get out.”
Greer didn’t miss the smile Holly tried to hide as he set the flowers down on her desk. He then tucked his shirt down the other side of his pants.
“I’m sorry I told that arrogant asswipe to fuck—”
“Don’t blow it, Greer. Let the flowers speak for themselves,” Holly mumbled from off to the side, so Diamond couldn’t see their reflections.
“You think so?”
“I know so. Diamond will get over it …”
“No, I won’t!” Diamond snarled from the other room. “And I don’t care how many flowers he brings; he’s not getting on my island! Son of bitch might as well have told the commonwealth attorney to fu—”
Holly went to Diamond’s office door, closing it with a snap.
“She’s pretty mad.” Greer stared at the closed door, debating whether or not to open it and try to apologize again.
“She’ll get over it.” Holly sat down behind her desk then moved the vase to the front of her desk before fussing with them as if they were gold.
His face softened. “Do you like them?”
“I love them. I haven’t been given flowers since I went to high school prom, and then it was only a corsage.”
“None of your boyfriends ever gave you any?”
“No. Most of the men I dated didn’t want me fiddling with flowers when they were trying to get me in the backseat.”
“You dated the wrong men, then.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.” Holly shrugged, but Greer could see the pain-filled memories in her eyes. “Besides, men don’t really give flowers anymore, unless for a woman’s birthday or Valentine’s Day. How many times have you given flowers to a woman?”
“Twice.”
Her jaw went slack. “Diamond and I are the first women you’ve given flowers to?”
“Yes. Never needed to apologize to anyone before.”
“But when you went to prom, surely, you gave her flowers?”
“I didn’t go to prom. I couldn’t afford it. And I didn’t really like anyone enough to go with them.”
“You didn’t have a crush on someone in your school?”
“Diane was my girlfriend in high school. She broke up with me when Asher asked her out. I didn’t have enough to do it up right, anyway. I was too busy trying to work. My ma and pa were dead, and Tate and I were too busy trying to feed and clothe Dustin and Rachel to worry about girls.”
“Sutton said she and Tate fell in love in high school.”
“They did … until her parents interfered and she left town.”
“She told me. All those years they wasted being apart …”
Greer saw the telltale signs of tears in her eyes before she glanced away.
“They weren’t wasted. Both of them had some growing up to do. When they were meant to be together, Sutton came back,” he said matter-of-factly.
“That’s profound coming from you. I didn’t think you believed in fate or destiny.”
“I don’t. I believe in human nature. Sutton and Tate loved each other. Instinctively, they grew close again when she came back.”
“However they managed to work it out, I’m happy for them. That reminds me. I need to call Tate and thank him for buying my new tires. Dustin said he had the used one that Jo gave me replaced, did an oil change, and fixed my air conditioner. I told Dustin to thank Tate when he brought it back, but I should call him—”
“Tate didn’t do it. I did.”
“I know you’re the one who dropped my car off. Believe me; I won’t forget it anytime soon. But Tate asked you to and paid for it.” Holly started to pick up her phone.
Greer put his hand out to stop her. “Tate asked Dustin to get the tire fixed that Jo replaced. I had an appointment for it yesterday, and I thought it could wait until then, but Jo fixed it before I could. Don’t thank me. I should have told the auto shop that I needed an earlier appointment. It was my bad, and Tate called me on it.”