Page 35 of Forget me Knot
“Got it ready for you here.” He hauls the hefty bag onto the counter with a grunt. The label reads ‘Bloom Booster Extraordinaire’, and I can’t help but chuckle at the thought of Lily reading it.
“Cheers, mate.” I hand over the cash, hoist the bag over my shoulder, and head back out. I’m almost buzzing with anticipation, imagining Lily’s reaction—the way her nose scrunches up when she’s trying to figure something out, her freckles doing a merry dance across her cheeks.
It’s not just about the flowers; it’s about making her smile.
Heading back to my car, I ignore my phone buzzing in my pocket. It’ll be Max. Lily is set to a ringtone, so if she needed me, I’d know straight away it’s her.
Throwing the bag into the boot, I settle down for the short ride back to Keeley.
For once, I don’t get stuck behind a tractor, which I take as a good sign. The universe isn’t holding me up.
Pulling up outside, I frown when I see a customer waltz straight into the shop without ringing the bell.
“Lily,” I growl and get out of the car, going around to the boot to grab the bag.
I step into Forget Me Knot. My grip on the bag tightens as I see Lily and George at the counter, both of them grinning over some private joke. A knot forms in my stomach, watching them so at ease with each other. It’s stupid, this prick of jealousy when George is nothing but Sam’s kid brother, but it needles me all the same.
“Jack! You’re back!” George’s voice booms.
“Hey, Jack!” Lily’s voice cuts through the fog of unwanted emotion, her smile bright enough to light up the gloomiest of English days. “Perfect timing! I was just about to send out a search party.”
“Why is the door open?” I grit out.
Lily and George exchange a look, and George holds his hands up. “That’s all on you, Lily.”
She shifts her gaze to me with a sheepish smile. “I can’t do business all locked up like that. It was dead and I might’ve lost a customer like Emily if I’d kept it that way. Not happening.”
“Dammit, Lily. It’s not safe.”
“George was here,” she says. “And now you are.” She beams at me, and all is forgiven. She could confess to murdering the entire village, and I’d forgive her if she smiled at me like that.
“Fine,” I grouse, knowing I can’t push it without annoying her.
Lifting the bag slightly, I smile. “Brought you something.”
“Ooh, the gardener returns with secret treasures,” she teases, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
“Secret dirt, more like.”
“Looks like my cue to exit.” George claps me on the shoulder with a chuckle. “Later, Lily, Jack.”
“Thanks, George,” Lily calls after him, then turns her full attention on me, that infectious energy of hers making the room seem brighter. “So, what’s in the bag, then?”
It’s just soil in a bag, but with Lily, even the simplest things become extraordinary.
“It’s something special for your flowers,” I say as I plonk the bag onto the counter, its weight thudding down between us. “This mix should have them blooming like mad.”
“Really?” Lily’s eyebrows arch, and she leans in, her interest clearly piqued. She brushes a lock of hair behind her ear, her scent drifting across to me, doing funny things to my insides.
“Yep. It’s got all sorts, including a slow-release fertiliser. It’ll boost growth and get the scent cranked up a notch.”
“Sounds fancy.” Her fingers dance over the bag’s surface, tracing the lines of text that explain the contents. “What else is in it?”
“Ah,” I lean closer, too, our heads almost bumping. “That’s top secret. But there’s a bit of bone meal, some kelp... Magic stuff.”
“Magic, huh?” She grins, eyes glinting with mischief. “You sure you haven’t just nicked some compost from the village green and slapped a label on it?”
“Hey!” I feign offence, but I’m grinning right back. “I’ll have you know, I take my soil very seriously.”
