Page 1 of Willows and Waterlilies

Prologue

Ellie

I used to believe in love at first sight, or at least, I had wanted to. Alas, believing in such a notion got my fingers burned, and my heart a little chipped from having one too many of my crushes take a stab at it. One of which was my last boyfriend, Blake, who broke up with me out of the blue, just last year. I spent a good few weeks trying to work out what it was that I had done to have turned his ‘I love you’ into ‘I just want to be friends’. It was incredibly humiliating to learn that he had said these same words to not only me but to two others on the side. He wasn’t the first and he most likely won’t be the last. Having said that, I did come to a decision after many nights of lone crying, to not fall for men like Blake. He was ridiculously attractive, privileged, and always made me feel like I was lucky to have him. Instead, I would go for the safe guy, the homey sort who didn’t exactly rock your world, but who worshipped the ground you walked on.

And so, it came to be that I met this very sort of man at one of my cousin’s charity events, loitering around on the peripheries of all the action, looking thoroughly uncomfortable. It was not love at first sight, it was barely lust at first sight, however, it was safety at first sight. Here was a Labrador of a man who would be loyal, comforting, and always pleased to see me. Jonathan works in finance; his job entails long hours which means our two-month relationship has felt more like one month. He is forever making up for the fact with fancy dinners, expensive gifts, and compliments that seem to fall so easily from his lips. I’m sure love will come, but for now, I can at least sleep easy in the fact that he is mine. Only mine.

Chapter 1

Ellie

“Good morning, thank you for calling Cygnature Blooms, where bigger is always better. You’re speaking to Tee, please may I have your location?”

“Yes, good morning, I’m in Los Angeles.”

“Please hold and I’ll transfer you to our LA branch.”

The coffee shop is quiet, gearing up for the morning rush, but still fairly empty. Only a few of us crazies get up this early to avoid the fight for caffeine that will take place in approximately forty-five minutes. It took me a while to work out this window of opportunity; when I could queue for my wake-up drink without being hemmed in like an ewe in a pen. However, after my first week of working for my cousin, getting shoved about between suits and their already bad BO, I decided I’d have to get up even earlier if I was to avoid having to repeat this rather unpleasant experience every Monday to Friday.

Waking at the butt-crack of dawn does have its perks, for this is how I came to meet some of the most interesting people I’ve ever come across. For example, there’s Joan, the fashionista CEO who is in her seventies and still dating multiple men. Finley, the barista who is working his way through med school and enjoys discussing the more gruesome side of his career choice. Carl, the homeless guy who comes in for a free drink every morning like clockwork, and who was once a great porn star, or so he says. Then, there’s Mr Earl Grey, who, if it weren’t for the fact that I was already seeing someone, I might well take the extra time to make myself more presentable for work. The man makes most of the customers swoon, as well as breathe in extra deeply to get a whiff of his manly cologne. His manners are impeccable, though if you were lucky enough to date him, you’d most likely want him to break some of those manners, if you catch my drift.

“Morning,” he says after finishing his phone call to the florist, complete with a breathtaking smile that forces me to remember I’m already seeing someone. “That’s a new color on you, is it not?”

“Oh,” I laugh nervously while we wait in line, studying the shade of blue that has been weaved into my shirt, “I suppose so.”

“It suits you; it brings out your eyes,” he comments with a charming smirk still resting upon his lips for a long time after. Lips that could no doubt bring a woman to her knees if he so chose to.

“Thanks,” I reply rather dumbly. “Early meeting this morning?”

“No, just want to get a head start, like yourself,” he says as we all step forward like sheep, “and to catch you here, as always.”

“You are far too charming,” I giggle, “Mr Earl Grey.”

“You still won’t let me tell you my real name, even after…what is it now? A month we’ve been running into one another,” he says, looking genuinely surprised over how long we’ve been engaged in this daily routine.

“I think it makes it all the more interesting,” I tell him, knowing that exchanging names will lead to exchanging numbers, and exchanging numbers will lead to temptation. Jonathan is safe, whereas this man is much too beautiful and charming to be anywhere near loyal to just one woman. I suspect he has a cliché little black book of numbers he refers to on a nightly basis. No, anonymity is for the best.

“So, I shall forever be Mr Earl Grey, and you shall forever be…” he trails off, deliberately piquing my interest over whatever nickname he might have for me.

“Be…?”

“I think I shall keep that information to myself,” he says smugly before turning to face the barista. “A large earl grey, please.”

“Tease!” I huff with a long, theatrical sigh. “Don’t laugh, but I tried earl grey the other day, purely because you always order it; I was intrigued.”

“And?” he says as he hands over the money for his drink, which includes a healthy tip.

“Your taste buds must be dead is all I’m going to say,” I admit, causing him to tip his head back and laugh out loud.God, he’s beautiful!

“I’m going to make you a promise,” he begins rather cryptically, waiting for me while I give my own order, “the day I find out your name, is the day I will ask you out for dinner.”

“You know I’m seeing someone,” I smile at him cheekily, “and I do not cheat.”

“Neither do I,” he says with a wink, “and because I respect you for that, I will stop asking for your name until I know you are free for that dinner.”

“Hmmm, ok,” I reply, walking toward the door with him. “But, if I go to dinner with you, I get to hear what your nickname is for me.”

“Agreed,” he says with a nod of his head. “Until then, have a good day.”

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