Page 91 of Blitzing Emily

“You dated one,” Amy said.

“That was the mayor of Bellevue, and it lasted about twenty minutes. He considered lying to be a recreational sport. Tell me about the stockbroker.”

“Tall, dark-haired, looks like he works out. He was talking to some guy about playing basketball in a league. He’s not bad. Maybe a little buttoned-down for me.”

Amy needed a guy who liked to play as hard as he worked. Steve, the ex, owned a restaurant group with his twin brother. At the same time, he sported an earring and rode a Harley on the weekends. He might have been clingy, but he also had Amy’s number. Emily wondered what happened, but Amy wouldn’t answer her questions on the subject.

Amy grabbed half a dozen roses out of the newly cleaned bucketful. She pulled another handful of flowers out of her walk-in to make an arrangement.

“You’re going to have to tell Brandon how you feel.”

“Oh, no. I’m not going there. Not for a while.”

“You’re wearing his ring. I’m thinking it’s the perfect time.”

“No. Not doing it. I’ll sound like every woman on one of those cheesy reality dating shows that can’t have sex without confessing true wuvvv.”

Amy glanced up from her work to catch Emily’s eye. “You have a ring. You guys did the horizontal mambo and, evidently, things went well. Life’s short. Chop, chop.”

“I’m not ready.”

“I think you’re crazy.” Amy’s hands flew as she worked. The arrangement took rapid shape inside a square glass cube vase.

“Maybe you should tell me what’s on the card.”

Amy let out a low laugh. “You’ll be finding that out for yourself.”

She stepped away from the worktable, plucking an enclosure card from the assortment on the front counter. She spent a few minutes writing whatever Brandon had dictated to her, returned to the workroom, and secured the card in the arrangement with a plastic holder. She put the arrangement into Emily’s arms.

“From Brandon. Enjoy it.”

Emily smelled the flowers, admiring her sister’s skill. “You do excellent work.”

“I know. Be sure and thank him for this.”

“There’s a very good chance he’s about to get lucky again.” Emily kissed her sister goodbye. “I’m going home before the traffic’s insane.”

“See ya. Take your damn doughnuts out of here, too.”

Emily managed to make it back to her car before tearing the little white envelope open to read the message Brandon sent with the flowers.

Sugar, I long for you. – B

She closed her eyes and hugged the notecard to herself. He could have written hundreds of words, but he’d packed a world of emotion into four. She slipped the message into her handbag so she wouldn’t lose it.

EMILY SPENT THEdrive to her townhouse musing over Amy’s comments. As much as she hated to admit it, Amy was right. She needed to tell Brandon how she felt about him. Truthfully, she hoped Brandon would say those three little words before she did.

Her cell phone rang, and she hit the speaker function.

“Hey, sugar, how are you?”

Brandon’s voice made her heart rate pick up. She flashed on a great mental picture of a rumpled bed and a blond, naked, sleepy-eyed man highlighted with morning sunshine.

“Fine. How are you?”

“Never better. I hope you’re free a little later.”

Emily’s voice dropped to a purr. “That depends. Maybe you should tell me what you have in mind.”

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