Page 12 of Finlay

I shouldn’t have been thinking of what that scent might taste like when licked directly from his skin, not given why I was there.

Actually, maybe that’s exactly why you should. You wanted to get out of the rut, this is your chance.

Great. My inner monologue now sounded like an irritating combination of Logan and Calan. All I needed was Evan shoving himself in there too and the trio would be complete.

The florist led me into a room that had steel counters along every wall. In the corner was the door to what looked like a type of walk-in refrigerator. Various buckets were stashed under the counters, while flowers lay strewn all over the tops.

I winced as I took in the half-finished arrangements. “I’m sorry, it looks like I caught ye at a bad time. I can come back if you’d like?”

“No, it’s fine.” The man offered me a small smile. Just a hint of one, but enough to make me wonder what he looked like when he wasn’t holding back. “My assistant should be back in…” He glanced at his watch. “Well, he should’ve been back half an hour ago. It’s a good thing he’s so talented. He’ll pick up where I left off when he eventually gets here.”

I didn’t know a lot about running a business, but I did know about leadership, thanks to the clan. “Isn’t it important that your employees have good timekeeping?”

The man stiffened, and I knew immediately that I’d said something wrong. “Are you implying that I don’t know how to run my own shop?”

Shit.I didn’t like the glare he was shooting my way. But how his hands were trembling slightly? The way he angled them away like he could hide it from me? That I fucking hated. “No. God no. I’m sorry. I wasn’t implying that at all. You’re clearly great at your job.” I gestured at the counters. “Just look at all the orders ye have.”

He deflated fast, his shoulders hunching in as he fiddled with his bracelets. “I apologise. Forgive me, it’s a subject I’m a touch sensitive about.”

I was burning to ask questions, but I’d already made one massive misstep. I wasn’t risking another. “There’s nothing to forgive you for. I shouldn’t have questioned ye, it’s none of my business.”

He rocked back and forth on his heels a few times before shaking his shoulders back out with a deep breath. “Tea? Coffee?”

I didn’t usually bother with hot drinks, but having onemight give me an excuse to stretch this encounter out a little longer. “Tea, please. No sugar.”

Folding my massive frame into one of the chairs, I tried not to stare at him as he brewed us both mugs of tea. “My name’s Finn, by the way.”

“Chester,” he said, handing me my tea before settling into the seat opposite. “Sorry. I’m usually more professional than this. You must be wishing you’d gone to a different florist. You still can, if you like. I won’t judge you.”

Chester.An unusual name for an unusual man. “But where would I find one with such a fabulously punny name?”

There. A flash of a grin. “You don’t think it’s too much?”

“Absolutely not.” I grinned back, leaning closer to whisper, like we were grand co-conspirators, “If anything, I think you should take it further. You need a tagline. How about ‘you can poppy over any time.’”

Chester pretended to consider it. “Hmm. I was thinking ‘you’re the dandy to my lion.’”

My lips twitched. “‘You had me at aloe.’”

“‘I’m head clover heels for you.’”

“‘Herb your enthusiasm.’”

“‘Tulips are better than one.’”

“‘Don’t stop be-leafin.’”

“‘You make my daisy.’”

A hoot of laughter escaped me. “Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner!”

“Brilliant.” Chester laughed, swiping at his eyes. “Not sure I’ve ever met anyone else who can match me for plant puns.”

He was so close to me now, gradually drifting nearer during our little game. My gaze dropped to his lips instinctively. “I’ve been told I’m a man of many talents.”

The effect on Chester was instantaneous…and the exact opposite one of what I was hoping for. He paled, sitting back in his seat and clearing his throat. “We appear to have got off course. I’m sorry.”

He certainly apologises a lot.If anything, I was the one needing to apologise. I shouldn’t have been flirting with someone who was sending out clear signalsto back off. I mean, seriously, what the fuck was wrong with me?I’d never been like this, even around Sarah.Letting my guard down would have broken me and Danny, so I hadn’t allowed myself to go there. But I also hadn’t struggled with it. I’d prided myself on being able to keep my emotions on strict lockdown.

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