Page 92 of Perfect Pairing
“I promise it’ll be worth it,” I said before shooting him a wink and striding away.
I only had to hope he didn’t decide I wasn’t worth the wait.
The bell over the door to the bakery chimed, and since it was slow enough during these colder winter months that I was the only one running the shop, I moved from the kitchen and behind the counter, ready to greet my latest customer.
I pulled up short when I found Ezra waiting for me with a massive bouquet of flowers.
“What’re these?” I asked when he held them out.
“My way of asking you to go on a date. I even asked Ella what your favorite is.”
I couldn’t help the startled laugh that burst from my mouth.
Ella hadn’t steered him wrong, and I lifted the fragrant tulips to my nose, inhaling deeply.
It was five days after Christmas. Five days since my mother had forced us into kissing under the mistletoe. Unbidden, my hand went to my mouth, lips still tingling all this time after, the memory lingering.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
Ezra groaned. “I’ve been giving you your space and time to sort your feelings out, but yes, I think it’s the best idea I’ve ever had. I want to see where this thing goes, honey. Badly.”
“What about Hansen?”
“What about him?” he asked, stepping closer. “He’s not going anywhere, obviously. He’s my son, and my world will always revolve around him, but it’s a world that’s significantly darker if it doesn’t include you too.”
“What happened to being just friends?”
“Fuck ‘just friends.’” He moved around the counter and took the blooms from my hand, setting them aside so he could wind his arms around my waist. “Can’t you see now that ‘just friends’ was never going to work for us? We’ve always been destined for more. Let me show you how good it can be.”
Awfully pretty words that settled deep into my bones and suffused my body with heat.
So I replied, “Yes, Ezra Wendt. I’d be happy to go on a date with you.”
The grin that broke out across his face could’ve melted all the snow on the streets outside with its warmth.
“Thank you,” he said, leaning close and dropping a kiss on my cheek. “Meet me at the winery tomorrow night at seven.”
“See you then.”
With a wink, he was gone, and before the door fully closed behind him, I was already tapping out an SOS text to my sisters. I needed their help figuring out what to wear, so I planned on inviting them over tonight to plan.
As I pressed send, another message appeared in the group chat.
Three letters. The same three that started my own.
Ella: SOS
I didn’t think before throwing myself into action. The beauty of being a business owner was making my own hours, and it was slow enough right now that I didn’t feel an ounce of guilt for potential lost business as I clicked off the neon OPEN sign and rushed onto the slush-covered sidewalk, locking the door behind me.
I power-walked three storefronts down to the flower shop, the bell jingling above my head as I pushed inside.
“Ella?” I called. The show room was empty, but after my greeting, footsteps scuffed along the worn hardwood floor from the back.
“Brie?”
“Fanny,” I said as the woman came into view, too concerned for my sister to worry about pleasantries. “Where is Ella?”
“She called in sick,” Fanny said, eyes rolling briefly toward the ceiling and the apartment above where my sister lived. “She wasn’t supposed to work today in the first place, but we had several funeral orders come in last night, so she offered to come down and help me this evening.” Fanny held her hands up, knuckles swollen with age. “I’m not as spry as I used to be.”
