Page 50 of Forget-Me-Nots and Apricots

"Gabriel's in his office on a call with the department. Dakota's running perimeter checks—standard morning protocol. Lucas is still sleeping—he worked late last night." Theo glanced at the clock on the microwave. "He should be up soon, though. He rarely sleeps past nine."

I nodded, taking another sip of coffee. The domesticity of the moment felt surreal against the backdrop of everything that had happened. Here I was, having morning coffee with an Alpha I barely knew, discussing the sleeping habits of his packmates as if this were all perfectly normal.

"What about the shop?" I asked, setting my mug down. "Any updates?"

Theo tapped a few keys on his laptop, pulling up what looked like a project management system. "Window replacement was completed yesterday afternoon. Security system upgrades are scheduled for completion today. The cleaning crew finished the main floor, but there's still some work to be done in the back room." He adjusted his glasses. "Overall, I'd estimate the shop could be operational in a few more days.”

He glanced at me eyes assessing me for a minute before he spoke again, “Even with your shop done, I think it best you do all your outstanding orders here for now…or at least until we figure out a plan to keep you safe since they know where you work and could show up anytime.”

I nodded, the reality of my situation hitting me again. Safety was the priority, even if it meant further disruption to my business.

"That makes sense," I conceded, running my finger along the rim of my mug. "I don't particularly want to be looking over my shoulder while arranging wedding bouquets."

"Speaking of which," Theo said, turning his laptop toward me, "I've set up the sunroom for your work. The flowers for the Sullivan wedding are scheduled to arrive tomorrow. I've already ordered all the standard supplies—floral foam, wire, tape, ribbons—but if there's anything specific you need, just let me know."

"You've really thought of everything," I murmured, scanning the comprehensive list on his screen.

Theo shrugged, a hint of color touching his cheeks again, “I just want to make things as easy for you as I can.”

"Theo, you're my favorite person right now," I said, my voice tinged with genuine gratitude. "I don't know how to thank you for all of this."

His cheeks flushed deeper, and he busied himself with adjusting his glasses. "No thanks necessary. It's practical for everyone involved."

The sound of heavy footsteps interrupted our conversation. Gabriel appeared in the doorway, dressed in a crisp button-down shirt and dark slacks, his hair still slightly damp from a shower. His eyes found mine immediately, something warming in his expression.

"Good morning," he said, his deep voice sending an unexpected flutter through my stomach. "You look rested."

"The nest worked its magic," I admitted, hiding my sudden nervousness behind my coffee mug. "Best sleep I've had since... everything."

Gabriel nodded, moving to pour himself coffee. "Good. You needed it.” He glanced at Theo's laptop. "Showing her the sunroom setup?"

"Just the supply list," Theo confirmed, turning the screen back toward himself. "Everything should be ready for her to start working when the flowers arrive tomorrow."

I finished my coffee, setting the mug in the sink. "I'd like to see the sunroom, if that's possible. Get a feel for the space before the supplies arrive."

"Of course," Gabriel said, gesturing toward the hallway. "I can show you now, if you'd like."

I nodded, following him out of the kitchen. We walked in comfortable silence down a long corridor I hadn't explored yet, eventually reaching a set of French doors at the far end of the house. The doors opened to the back yard, and across the distance I could see the greenhouse.

“I thought you said I could use the sunroom before…” I asked, glancing around me as he walked me through the maintained yard, the stone path a little damp as we walked.

“I was, but Theo reminded me of the greenhouse that we don’t use. I had used it when I was younger but not anymore.” He gave me a soft smile, “I thought this would suit your needs more than the sunroom, and this way if you make a mess you don’t have to worry about cleaning it up or ruining anything.”

I felt a surge of gratitude as we approached the greenhouse. It was larger than it had appeared from a distance—a beautiful Victorian-style structure with gleaming glass panels and an ornate metal framework. As Gabriel opened the door, warm, humid air enveloped us, carrying the rich scent of soil and growing things.

"Oh," I breathed, stepping inside. The space was magnificent—far more impressive than any sunroom could have been. Long workbenches lined the perimeter, their surfaces clean and ready for use. Shelves filled with empty pots and gardening tools stretched along one wall, while the center featured a large island perfect for arranging flowers.

Sunlight streamed through the glass ceiling, creating a dappled pattern on the stone floor. A few hardy plants occupied one corner—herbs and succulents that needed minimal care—but the rest of the greenhouse was empty, waiting to be filled.

"This is..." I trailed off, turning in a slow circle to take in the entire space. "This is perfect. More than perfect."

Gabriel leaned against one of the workbenches, watching me with a small smile playing at his lips. "I thought you might like it. It's been mostly unused for years—just Theo's occasional experiments with hybrid plants. But it has good bones."

"Good bones?" I laughed softly, running my hand along the smooth surface of the center island. "It's a botanical paradise. The light, the space, the setup..." I gestured to the high ceilings and the rows of windows. "I couldn't have designed a better workspace if I'd tried."

"It was my mother's originally," Gabriel said quietly, his expression softening with memory. "She loved gardening—grew everything from orchids to vegetables. Said this place was her sanctuary."

He looked around the greenhouse, "It hasn't been used properly in years. My mother was the gardener in the family. After she passed, no one had the heart to maintain it."

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