Page 50 of Bookworm

"Kent," he growled.

"Okay," I said with a shrug, trying to exude careless nonchalance. "I'll just sit right here while you do your thing."

Bolooked suspicious at my easy acceptance, but he didn't question it. That was good. That meant my smile covered my truethoughts. I'd perfected the art years ago.It came in extra handy when things got tough.A happy disposition could mask just about anything. But oh, I was having feelings.

Annoyance was one of them, frustration another.

Why couldn't he just accept my help?

Whatever.

If Bo thought I was going to sit back, watch him work and do nothing, he had another thing coming.

I'd watch him alright.

Like a hawk, I'd track his movements, learning his ways, and if he faltered, I'd swoop in to save the freaking day.

"What's that look about?" Bo asked.

I wanted to laugh at his concerned expression. "What look?"

"Like you're planning something."

"Just doing what you said." I smiled. "Ready to watch."

Bo grunted but got down to business. He grabbed a handful of yellow flowers from one of the buckets, shook them out to release the excess water, then placed them on the table, spacing them out just so. Next, he lifted a set ofscissors. I could tell it wasn't the easiest thing, using them with his left hand, but Bo took his time,carefullycutting the stems. Next, he removed extraleaves. When he was finished, he placed them back in the bucket. He repeated this process until all of the blooms were about the same height.

To my surprise, I actually enjoyed watching.

He handled the flowers with care, seeming to get lost in the repetition.

"What kind of flowers are those?" I asked.

"Daffodils," he murmured.

"Beautiful."

Bo nodded.

He lifted the container as if it weighed nothing then disappeared to the front of the shop.When he came back, his hands were empty. Bo marked something out on a clipboard hanging from the wall.

"What's that?" I asked.

"A list of tasks and today's deliveries," he said.

"Bet that comes in handy."

"Hmmm."

Bo then moved to one of the glass cases, opened it, and took out an arrangement filled with pink, orange, yellow, and light purple flowers.

"Ooh, those are pretty," I said. "What are they for?"

"I'd have to check the log, but probably a birthday or anniversary gift."

"That's awesome. What kind of flowers arein there?"

He cut his eyes at me.

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