Page 74 of The Little Flower Shop By the Sea
‘Yes that,’ she says, as she dries her hands on a towel. ‘Well?’ she whispers. ‘What’s he like?’
I’m surprised Amber isn’t more shocked that I slept with Ash on what I wasn’t even admitting to her was a first date.
‘He’s very nice,’ I reply coyly.
‘Nice as a person, ornice,’ she grimaces, ‘in bed. Because the two are very different things…’
‘Amber…’I flash my eyes at her. ‘He’s a nice person to be with, and…’ I flush. ‘Pretty good in the other department too.’
‘Ooh, jackpot!’ she says, pulling an imaginary handle.
‘Somebody won something?’
We both turn and see Ash walking through the kitchen door. His hair is dishevelled and he’s pulled on his jeans, but his feet and his very well developed chest are bare.
‘I think Poppy has,’ Amber says, raising her eyebrows at me.
‘Tea, Ash? Or coffee?’ I offer.
‘Coffee would be great,’ he says. ‘Do you mind if I jump in the shower?’
I see Amber swallow hard.
‘No, go right ahead,’ I tell him. ‘You’ll find fresh towels on the side.’
‘Thanks. See you in a bit.’
‘Wow,’ Amber says as soon as he’s gone. ‘You are one lucky lady, Miss Poppy.’
‘He is pretty fit, isn’t he?’ I can’t help but smile.
‘Er… ya!’
‘I’m surprised you aren’t more shocked that I brought him back here last night.’
‘Nah.’ Amber waves her hand. ‘I knew you would.’
‘How? When I was insisting to you it wasn’t even a date.’
Amber taps the side of her head. ‘Never doubt the powers of Amber,’ she says. ‘I know many, many things before they happen.’
‘OK…’ I wave my hand, not wanting to know more. I had no need to know if she’d read her cards, or her crystals or whatever else she could find. ‘But I bet you can’t predict what I’m going to do next?’
‘Make Ash breakfast?’
‘Haha! See, that’s where you’re wrong.’ I walk back towards the door Ash has just gone through. ‘Even you couldn’t predict this one, Amber. I am going to join him in the shower…’
‘Poppy, you minx!’ I hear Amber call after me as I reach for the bathroom door.
Later that day Amber and I are back in the shop waiting for a young couple, Katie and Jonathan, to arrive for their appointment with us. In a few weeks’ time Daisy Chain will be providing the flowers for their wedding in a large country hotel about half an hour away from St Felix.
It’s the first wedding we’ve been asked to do, and Amber is understandably nervous at the prospect.
‘But I’ve never done a wedding on my own,’ she said when we’d first been approached. ‘Your mom always did all the organising, I just helped out.’
‘You’ll be fine, Amber,’ I’d assured her. ‘You’re a brilliant florist. The bride wouldn’t have specially asked for you if you weren’t.’
‘The bride asked for Daisy Chain to do the flowers, not me,’ she’d said, still looking worried. ‘It was your grandmother’s reputation that sealed the deal.’
