Page 2 of Approved

“Why?”

That made me smile for some reason, and I wasn’t even sure how to answer his question. The honest answer was that I was drawn to him, and my parents raised me to be a good guy, so why not? But I didn’t think he would appreciate the first part, so I threw something vague out. “I’m not sure. I feel like you could use the help, I guess.” That seemed pretty middle of the road, and didn’t betray my desire to rub up against his firm body.

“I’ve managed all this time by myself, I can manage it now. It’s a stupid fucking holiday for people trying to prove that they love each other. Why do they need a holiday? If the shop didn’t make so much money, I would close on Valentine’s Day and refuse orders.”

I nodded. “We will be packed tonight, all these couples cuddling and kissing in the corner, or the miserable people that drink way too much because they don’t have someone sucking up to them.” He was probably the first person I had ever met who felt like I did about beloved Valentine’s Day. It was refreshing. “Now let me help you get your flowers delivered, and you won’t have to close your shop because mistresses didn’t get their tokens of 'love'.” I gave him a conspiratorial grin and hoped he would like the joke.

“I don’t need the help, and I was being dramatic. I won’t lose my business. I have it under control, you can go now.”

He was feisty, and I liked it. I ignored him and quickly called my friend, who had a refrigerated van for his catering business. He was out of town this weekend with his husband, so his vehicle would be available. We made arrangements, and long before the tow truck arrived, my buddy's son pulled up in the truck with someone following him. “Sup, Uncle West.”

I had the pleasure of knowing this young man for the last few years and appreciated that he drove over, or at least his parents made him drive over. He was a good kid at eighteen, but I was sure this was a hassle for him. He hugged me and handed me the keys. “Thanks. Stay out of trouble while your Dads are out of town.” He smirked at me.

“I’ve got a girl waiting for me.” He waggled his eyebrows and got in the car that followed him. Shaking my head, I gave him a wave and then turned to Tyler.

“Alright, let’s load it up and make some deliveries. I am guessing you are probably a few hours behind.” Tyler looked at me, eyes wide.

“That’s a refrigerated truck?”

“Yes, it is. Should I just start without you?” I jumped up.

“I can’t believe you did this. Thank you. Wait a minute, let me make sure Earl won’t get out.” He opened the driver’s side, and he started to talk. “Look, I don’t like this situation any more than you do, but for now, you have to get in the bag.”

I tried to see what he was doing and who he was talking to without being creepy. “You’ll approve, though. He seems nice and handsome and owns a bar. I’ll let you have a virgin daiquiri if you behave.” I smiled. “Yes, with whipped cream.”

He pulled a backpack out with some paperwork and moved it to the front of the catering truck. “Okay, Mr. Parker, we can move the bouquets to the other truck.”

“Please call me West.” My curiosity about whom he kept talking to ate away at me, but I got busy moving his orders. Each arrangement was gorgeous, and I could see the appeal of having someone give you flowers, but why would you have to wait for a specific day? If you care about someone, you should tell them and show them all the time.

About twenty minutes later, I closed the doors with a satisfied thump. We got in the truck cab, and Tyler called the tow company, explained where the van was, and left the key under the mat so they could take it to the garage.

I took a look at the super cute passenger and knew that spending some time with him would not be a hardship. The backpack on his lap shifted. “Your bag is moving.”

He unzipped the pack and looked in. I tried to see inside, but I couldn’t see anything. “Earl, I am going to let you hang out up here with us, but will you behave. No distracting our new friend,and no eating the flowers because you are nervous in a new vehicle.”

I watched as a silver head popped up and a dragon about the size of a cat climbed out. I looked at him in awe. “You have a dragon?!”

“Yeah. This is Earl.”

“Can I touch him?”

He smiled at me. “Of course. Cup your hand like this.” He grabbed my hand and shaped it like I would sip water. I moved toward the silver head, and he pushed toward my hand. “Oh shit.”

The dragon climbed out of the bag and stretched out his wings. I watched while he chuffed around and looked at the truck’s interior. He shook his head and then jumped up on the dash. I had never seen a dragon up close. People had them as pets, or the small animals worked with a companion in various capacities, but I had never seen one up close. He was amazing. The scales on his back were iridescent silver, whereas the ones on his belly were white.

“Fuck Tyler, he is cool.”

“He can be a pain in the ass, but I love him. I am lucky that my family can have them because of our lineage.

I held my hand out, and Earl pushed against my palm. I rubbed his head and down his neck. “Really neat. Okay, where are we going?”

He looked at his phone. “First delivery is a house about four blocks from here.”

Parking in front of the address, Tyler found the order and went to the door; when the woman answered, she squealed. He laughed, handed off the flowers, then jogged down their sidewalk and jumped back in. He had a smile that reached his eyes, which made him even more attractive.

“It’s always nice to give someone a surprise like that. Flowers make people happy nearly all the time,” he said as he looked up the next location. There were three in one office building, so I entered the GPS information and headed that direction. We delivered orders for the next several hours. When Tyler would go to deliver something, Earl would get on my lap and watch. It was like he got nervous when Tyler wasn’t around.

He asked if I wanted to go to the door on the last delivery. “It’s fun to see people smile.”

---