Page 37 of Wicked & Wildflower

“Why?” I laugh to myself. “What’d you do, fuck his assistant?”

Everett flinches.

My jaw drops. “You didn’t.”

“I might have. A little.” He winces like he’s afraid of my response, but I can only laugh at him. He lets out a sigh of relief at my reaction. “I think it would be a good look if I appeared to be cleaning up my act, making moves to settle down. People like a wholesome family business or whatever.”

I chuckle again. “This wasn’t what I was expecting when Leo asked me to support the small businesses of Pacific Shores.”

An effortless smile breaks out on Everett’s cheeks, and I can’t ignore the way it sends an eruption of sensation throughout my chest. “Thanks for your service, Wildflower.” He winks, and that sensation spreads deeper into my being.

“Do we need to work through the logistics of it all? Set boundaries?”

His face straightens slightly, but whatever thought crosses his mind is shaken away just as quickly as it appeared. “For now, let’s go deal with this banquet. Why don’t I take you to lunch tomorrow, and we can work it out then?”

“Tomorrow is my first day of work.”

“I know.” He smiles. “I’ll stop by the office and grab you around noon.”

We continue toward the pier, though this time, instead of his hand at my back, he simply twines his fingers through my own.

16

Wildflower

I Don’t Mind The Mess

“Are you sure that’snecessary?” Leo eyes the boxes in my hands as we stare each other down from the foyer of the house.

“I don’t want people not to like me.”

“Everyone is going to love you,” Darby says behind him.

“That’s not historically accurate.”

She rolls her eyes as she brushes past us and out the door. Construction on Honeysuckle Florals is coming to a close, which means it’s time that Darby gets to work on the decorating aspect of the flower shop. She’s dropping Leo and me off at work for my first day, and then she’s going out with Monica to get some inspiration on paint and wallpaper.

“Because you never allow people to get to know you, Dal. Now, let’s go!” she shouts from the driveway.

“This is how I get people to know me!” I call back.

“By dumping your leftovers on them?” My soon-to-be brother-in-law raises a brow as he pushes off the doorway and follows his fiancée out to his car.

“Rude.”

I mean, sure, it’s a half-eaten cake, a pan of lemon bars, and eleven of the twelve chocolate chip cookies I whipped up last night. In my defense, the reason there isn't a full dozen is because Leo ate one for breakfast this morning.

I carry the boxes out to the car and climb into the back of Leo’s old, red Mustang. I cherish the sea breeze whipping through my hair as Darby drives us the two minutes it takes to get down the hill their house rests upon to the boardwalk.

In another life, I’d own a convertible.

My sister drops us off on the backside of the surf shop, and I follow Leo up the staircase into the Pacific Shores Small Business Initiative offices. “I’m nervous,” I whisper.

“You’re going to be great.” He laughs at me as he unlocks the doors and steps inside, flipping on the lights. “Plus, I told everyone to come in a little later this morning so you don’t feel bum-rushed on your first day.”

“Thank you,” I sigh.

Apparently, Leo and Everett only have three staff members under them anyway. Adam, Leo’s assistant who’s kind of known as a Jack off All Trades. He picks up shifts at Heathen’s, manages Leo’s schedule, and runs errands around the office. Then, there is Scarlett, their Event Planner. She works with the city on community outreach and services and acts as a liaison between the local government and the small businesses. Finally, they have Jeremiah, their intern. He’s a law student who helps the team look over contracts, negotiations, and general operations.

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