Page 36 of Daring to Love You
She slipped off her apron and hung it on the hook inside the pantry. She only had a few more things to take care of, and then she’d be able to head home.
When she stepped back into the kitchen, she heard, “Niecy-poo, you have a delivery.” And her Aunt GiGi strolled into the kitchen with the most beautiful flower arrangement Dorian had ever seen. “These are for you, sweetie.”
“Me?” Dorian croaked as she stared openmouthed at the huge bouquet.
It was colorful and spectacular with red, yellow, and white roses, along with orange Lillies, purple chrysanthemums, and a sprinkle of greenery throughout.
Dorian didn’t move. She cast a quick glance at Andre, praying he had nothing to do with the flowers. He glanced at the bouquet, studied them, then turned his gaze to her and smiled.
Oh crap!If he was behind this special delivery, she was going to scream.
Aunt GiGi plucked the card from the bouquet and handed it to her. “Hurry up. I want to know who they’re from.”
“Flower deliveries this time of night?” Virginia said as she moved closer. “Those are too beautiful to come from a grocery store. They had to have come from a florist, but this time of night? On a Sunday? No way.”
Those were Dorian’s thoughts exactly, but maybe Andre had purchased them earlier and had a friend drop them off. She pulled the small card from the envelope and sighed before reading the note.
Dee, thanks for making my day yesterday. Can’t wait to see you soon. Love, Lynix.
Dorian’s mouth dropped open, and then she squealed before catching herself. She covered her mouth but burst out laughing.
Oh my goodness!This was almost as good as him showing up in person. She had only texted him because she needed to vent. She had no idea that he was going to actually do something about the problem with her mother. And as she looked at the high-end flower arrangement again, she knew he had to have spent a pretty penny for it.
God, she was going to owe him big for this, and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect.
“Give me that.” Aunt GiGi snatched the card from Dorian’s hand before she could protest and read the note. “Lynix?” her aunt whispered, and a frown marred her pretty face as if trying to figure out who it could be.
Dorian could tell the moment that realization dawned because her eyes grew big, and her mouth formed a perfect O.
“No. Way!” her aunt shrieked, then cracked up.
“Will one of you tell me what’s going on? Who are the flowers from?” Virginia asked, trying to take the card from her sister, but Aunt GiGi kept it out of reach.
“They’re from Lynix,” Dorian said, trying to keep the giddiness out of her tone. No sense in acting like a man hadn’t ever sent her anything before, even if it was true.
“Lynix who? Wait,” Virginia’s eyes narrowed, “Zion’s friend, Lynix?”
Aunt GiGi was still laughing. “Soooo, Niecy-poo, how’d you make his day yesterday? Inquiring minds want to know.”
“Why is he sending you flowers?” Virginia asked with her hands on her rounded hips as she looked at Dorian pointedly.
“Because we’re dating.”
Her mother gasped, and Aunt GiGi cackled loud enough to be heard on all three floors of the building.
“Now that’s what I’m talking about! Got you a real man,” her Aunt GiGi high-fived her, and Dorian laughed with her.
Giddiness was full-blown inside of her, and she couldn’t wait to thank Lynix for coming through for her. She had told him no kissing during this little farce, but she might have to break her own rule the next time she saw him. He deserved a big wet one for putting the shocked expression on her mother’s face.
“What? How?” Virginia stuttered. “When did this happen? How long has this been going on, and why him? Isn’t he too old for you?”
It wasn’t that Virginia didn’t like Lynix. She did, but she still saw Dorian as her little girl, and Lynix was all man. It didn’t matter if they were only a couple of years apart. When her mother saw him, she saw an alpha male who was comfortable in his skin with the ability to corrupt any female in his wake.
Or at least that’s how Dorian assumed her mother felt.
“We recently started dating exclusively,” Dorian said, no longer caring if it was a lie. If it got her mother to back off, it would be well worth it.
“But what about Andre?” Virginia said innocently, and Andre started coughing and hitting his chest with the side of his fist as if food had gone down wrong.
