Page 8 of Meeting Mr. Adorkable
“Thank you,” he rasped, as he bundled the bunches up. “I have to go.” Dragging Peanut behind him, he dashed for the door, throwing it open.
“I hope you enjoy your blooms. Come back and tell me if—”
But Lucian’s words were cut off as Arlo dived through the door and slammed it behind him, sucking in fresh, flower free air as he sagged against a wall around the corner from the flower store. A tiny whimper and a warm press against his leg forced him to look down. Peanut stared up at him, floppy ears flat and stubby tail pointed down, as he raised himself up onto his hind legs and pawed at Arlo.
“Hey, little fella. I’m okay, now I’m outside.” Arlo stroked his anxious dog’s head. “I shouldn’t have gone in there, not without taking an antihistamine first. But why should I have taken one, because I wasn’t planning on going in there. It just kind of happened.”
Peanut whined his disbelief. Christ, even his dog didn’t believe him. Arlo sucked in a breath, his allergic reaction already waning. Soon, it would be gone completely, but not if he took the tightly clutched bunch home with him. The flowers were beautiful, but other than thrusting them into the arms of some shocked passer-by, there was only one place for them.
He eyed the dumpster at the end of the narrow alleyway behind the stores. With a surge of relief that fought with more than a twinge of regret, Arlo lifted the top and slung the brown paper wrapped bunch inside, before he led Peanut away to stock up on antihistamines.
CHAPTERSEVEN
The door crashed open, and Bibi burst in. “Hey, sorry I was a little longer than I said I’d be.”
A little longer? Lucian looked at his watch. Three hours to get a trim? Bibi’s sleek bob didn’t look any different. Maybe it was the large, bulging bag from the pricy boutique across the square that had been the real reason for him being on his own for most of the morning.
“I suppose you’ve got to look your best for your big date with Brad, the singing cowboy.”
Bibi swatted his arm. “You’re so mean, Luci. And anyway, I’m meeting Dean tonight, not Brad. I dated him in high school too…”
Lucian made coffee and filled her in on the morning. A steady stream of customers flowed in and out of the store, barely leaving them alone for more than a minute or two. Eventually, by mid-afternoon, the minute or two stretched into five, ten, then fifteen. Lucian leaned against the counter and inspected his nails, digging out the dirt that had got lodged there.
“That guy came in. The one who returned my wallet a couple of days ago.” He scraped harder, focusing all his concentration.
She sniggered, forcing Lucian to look up. “Arlo, you mean. Who you decided would look good drenched in beer.”
“It was an accident. It could have happened to anybody.”
“Luci, I haven’t known you for too long, but I think it’s been kind of long enough to know if stuff like that was going to happen, it’d happen to you.”
Lucian tried to look affronted. But she was probably right.
“So what about him?”
“Nothing. Just saying.” He returned to examining his nails.
Bibi laughed. “If you’re asking if I know him, the answer’s yes, but not too well.”
“Oh, so there is at least one man you didn’t date in high school?” He dug at a spot of dirt that refused to budge.
Bibi sniffed. “Arlo must be ten or so years older than me. And gay. And he moved out east for a few years. So no, we didn’t date.”
Lucian peered up at Bibi through his lashes. “So, erm, what do you know about him?”
“Other than we never dated? Oh, okay,” she said, sighing long and loud. “He’s been back in Collier’s Creek for a few months. He grew up here, but spent much of his adult life in New York. I think it was there. Or was it Boston? We’ve met a few times, through mutual friends. He likes to keep to himself and lives on the edge of town on the land that belonged to his family. The house he lives in, he designed it, because he was an architect back east. It’s awesome, according to my friend Francine, who’s also a friend of Arlo’s.
“I like him. He’s interesting, smart, and cultured and always super polite, and incredibly handsome, which I’m sure you’ve noticed. When he returned, he received a lot of attention and broke the hearts of several local ladies by letting them know he wasn’t interested. And before you ask, no, I don’t know if he has a boyfriend. I’ve never seen him with anybody, but like I say, I don’t know him too well.”
“You know a lot about him, considering you don’t know him that well.”
Bibi snorted. “If I didn’t know you, I’d say you were being snarky. It’s a small town, Luci, people like to talk. But maybe you could find out more for yourself.”
“Excuse me?”
“Ask him out on a date.”
“Oh, no, I couldn’t do that.”
