Page 117 of Unlawful Seduction

I typed in the last details of my latest client before heading into the reception area. That’s when I noticed a huge bouquet of roses on the desk.

“What in God’s name?” I asked.

“They’re for you.” Sally grinned. I’d already heard the scuttlebutt about my relationship with the mysterious man. Most hadn’t put any pieces together and I was thankful for that. They just thought I had a new love interest. The two dozen red roses would fuel their gossip.

“Wow,” I said as I moved closer, taking a deep breath. They had an incredible scent, the fragrance close to being intoxicating.

Tiny tremors skated down my spine as I tugged the card from the holder.

“Flowers. That mystery man of yours is serious,” Dr. Wallace said as soon as she entered the room. “Maybe you’ll get off the naughty list after all.”

“Very funny.” The woman was happily married to her personal Prince Charming and had two adorable, well-mannered kids. And she was a year younger than me. What had this girl done? Pined away for memories, wallowing in guilt.

Maybe that was the significant difference. I’d already been pretty good at shoving aside bits and pieces from the past. Maybe not all of them, but I was working at it.

The entire team suddenly appeared in the reception area. Didn’t we currently have patients to attend to?

I found myself turning my back so they couldn’t possibly read what was on the card.

There are few in my life who have brought any sense of joy.

Only you have bridged the gap in hunger and need.

You are the brightest star in the sky.

Looking forward to tonight.

Beckett

Tiny quivers continued to course through me. He had a way with words even if he’d deemed himself nonromantic.

“What does it say?” Sally teased.

“Oh, no, you don’t.” I turned around to face them, laughing since the bouquet took up half the counter space. That just wouldn’t do. “I’m getting ready to leave. Brady is more excited about this carnival than he’s ever been about Christmas.”

The two women looked at each other while I slipped the card into the pocket of my scrubs. I breezed by them, blowing a kiss for the heck of it. We’d become quite the little family in the last few months.

After jerking on my coat and grabbing my purse, I returned to the reception area, noticing we had two more patients waiting. The business was booming. I couldn’t be happier.

I grabbed the flowers, struggling to hold them as I maneuvered my way to the door.

“Let me help you with that,” a male customer I’d never seen before told me. I could barely see the man’s face behind the roses, even almost dropping the expensive crystal vase.

“Thank you!” The sound was muffled as he opened the door, allowing me to venture onto the porch. I shifted enough to say a proper thank you, noticing he had scars on both sides of his face. If he was self-conscious, he certainly didn’t act like it. His smile was huge and his eyes were boring into mine.

“You’re very sweet.”

“My pleasure,” he said and as I carefully walked down the stairs, I could feel his eyes on me. Maybe he was watching to make certain I didn’t drop them.

What a gentlemanly thing to do.

I was still struggling, but made it to my truck, gingerly placing the vase with the box it had come in on the seat. I even belted it in. I couldn’t have it flying across the cab after picking up Brady.

Before I made it to the other side, my phone rang. At least it was one of my besties. “Marjorie, darling. How are you?”

“When you’re in a chipper mood, that means that man of yours did something spectacular. Right?”

“Try the most beautiful roses in the entire world.”

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