Page 22 of Paper Roses

Jed grimaces. “If you call me that again I will sack you.”

Raff snorts. “Ah, I see you have attained that ecstatic state of pure happiness. How I envy you and hope for the same of my own marriage.”

“Good god,” Jed mutters.

Raff winks. “Anyway, Ingrid told us, and we thought you’d need witnesses, it being all hush-hush and everything.”

“Yes, it was so hush-hush that I’ve ended up with half my office here,” Jed says. “And please don’t wink at me in that fashion, Rafferty. You look deranged.”

Raff gives a dramatic sigh. “How misunderstood I am. And me bringing gifts and everything.”

“What do you mean?” I ask warily.

Raff clicks his fingers at Joe, and Joe stares at him. “What?”

“The thingies,” Raff hisses. “Where are they?”

“What are you talking about, and please don’t click your fingers at me like I’m a horse.”

“If you were a horse, you’d be a very forgetful one. The boutonnières.” He gestures at me and Jed. “I told you they wouldn’t have them.”

“Whatever gave you that idea?” Jed asks.

“Well, the hole-in-the-wall manner of your marital shenanigans.” He shoots Jed a surprisingly reproving glance. “Poor Artie.”

“Oh no,” I say. Without thinking, I take the flower he hands me. I sneeze. Then I sneeze three more times in quick succession. “Sorry,” I manage before sneezing again.

Rolling his eyes, Jed takes the flower from me and hands it back to Raff. “Thank you so much for your help. I’m sure that Artie is grateful for your wedding gift of snot.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small box and hands it to me. “For you.”

I gape at him. “Really?”

His expression softens. “Yes, really.” He becomes aware that everyone is staring at us, and his face reddens. “Open it.”

I smile at him and open the box and then gasp in astonishment. “Oh mygod.”

“What is it?” Raff asks, jostling closer.

Jed pushes Raff’s face back gently. “I had a Labrador like you once.”

“Was he very intelligent and the best Labrador in the whole wide world?”

“No, he was nosy and incontinent when excited.”

Ingrid laughs. “The similarities are uncanny.”

“What is it?” Joe asks, his voice quieter than the others’.

I reach into the box and pull out a paper flower. It’s a white calla lily, the lines graceful and elegant.

Jed smiles at me, his eyes softening again. “A paper flower for your boutonnière.”

“It’s so beautiful,” I say. He takes it from my palm and fastens it to my lapel with the pin that’s attached. He fiddles with it, his long eyelashes brushing his cheeks as he concentrates. This close, I can smell his fabric softener and feel the warmth of his body.

He freezes as he catches my gaze. “Thank you,” I say softly.

His eyes flare warm and bright. Then he steps back and blanches when he sees everyone staring at him.

“That’s a wonderful gesture,” Raff says approvingly.

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