Page 2 of Rogue

Not his occupation.

Not even the name of the person he’s giving flowers to.

Whoever it is, they are obviously important to him. I don’t want to assume it’s for his girlfriend or wife, but I do find myself curious. Working in the grocery store, I quickly learned people buy flowers for others for a variety of reasons and making assumptions does nothing to help with the design. Keep things simple and focus on each individual design.

I had been open just shy of one full month when he came in on a Thursday. All rugged and rough. For some reason, every detail of our first encounter sticks with me.

“Welcome to Bows and Blossoms,” I greet the man entering. His face is chiseled in such a defined way he should be a sculpture. He has on jeans, a navy blue t-shirt, a leather vest, and some serious boots. His hair is cut military style but with a little more on top, so shaved sides and hair on top.

He doesn’t smile at my greeting instead he struts up to my counter. “Tiger lilies?”

What a request? I don’t keep many lilies in stock regularly yet as they tend to be a higher priced bloom versus getting something like daisies or carnations in. They also aren’t as hardy and tend to die quicker. If I order lilies, I have to be able to sell them within a few days, otherwise it’s a loss. In this business, having perishable items likes flowers, those losses add up.

“I don’t right now, but I can order some for my next shipment if you would like. I know it doesn’t help you for today,but I can get them if I have notice. My wholesale supplier will be by tomorrow if you can wait one more day.”

“Yeah, get ‘em in. Gotta go out of town. I’ll be back Monday to pick them up.”

“Okay,” I reply grabbing my notepad.

He speaks before I can get out my next questions, “Every Monday.”

His tone is clipped. I know I blink five or six times before I can get my words together. He wants tiger lilies every Monday? They aren’t the most affordable of flowers and hard to care for to make them last. “Okay, do you have a specific design idea or a price range you want to stay in.”

“No,” he replies still standing in place expressionless.

Okay, so I learned my time working at the grocery store, while some people expect me to be a mind reader, I am in fact not one. It is imperative I ask questions to get a better idea of what he is seeking.

“Are you wanting the tiger lily blooms by themselves or arranged in a vase?” I ask as I fill out my sales slip. I don’t have a computer here, yet. One day I hope to, but just starting I need to save where I can.

“No vase,” he mutters low.

“I can do a nice hand-wrapped bouquet for you, sure. Would you like greenery and filler flowers or just the tiger lilies?”

“Has to be small so it fits in my saddlebags,” he explains as he gestures to the front windows of my shop. I look out and behold a bright yellow Harley-Davidson motorcycle is parked at my front door.

I nod my head understanding.

“Don’t need fill flowers or greens, just tiger lilies.”

“Okay, I can do a nice bundle that will fit in your saddlebag for twenty dollars plus tax. If you pay by card, there is a three percent processing fee.”

He reaches in his back pocket pulling out his wallet. Tossing a fifty dollar bill on my counter, I retrieve it.

“Just a moment and I’ll get your change from the back.”

“No need,” he mutters, “keep the change and I’ll be back nine am on Monday.”

He turns around to head out my door.

“Sir, I need a name to put the order under please.”

He looks over his shoulder at me, “call me whatever you want.” Then he turns back around and strolls out leaving me shaking my head.

What have a learned in three years? He goes by Rogue. For some reason that is his nickname. When he goes out of town the few occasions he does, another man in a leather vest picks up the flowers. He goes by Havoc.

Menacing doesn’t begin to explain the look on that man’s face. Luckily, it doesn’t happen often that Rogue can’t get his flowers personally.

In my time here I have learned about the Kings of Carnage MC from other people. They are pretty much everywhere in Creekdale. You can’t go anywhere without seeing one of them around. While they aren’t overly friendly, I have yet to have an encounter where any of them have been rude or violent or any of the common misconceptions of a biker gang.

---