Pulling this off
would take a Christmas miracle.
Dahlia Green
surveyed the row of flower arrangements, wreaths, and poinsettias waiting to be
loaded into her van for delivery, then glanced at the clock that hung above the
cooler filled with cut flowers at the back of her shop. Good thing she was
already closed for the day. She had exactly two hours and twenty-three minutes
to drop off all her orders and dress
for her date.
Her blind date. What the heck had she been
thinking when she agreed to go out with a man she’d never met? Obviously, she’d
lost her mind.
The guy would
probably turn out to be a serial killer.
When the bells
over the door jangled, she groaned. Couldn’t the new customer read simple
English? She was positive she’d flipped over the sign hanging in the window
after she brought the van around front to load.
“I’m sorry, but
we’re closed,” she called out.
A man stepped
around the pine tree she’d decorated with flower garlands and roses. Not just
any man. A prime specimen of manhood…if one liked the rugged, outdoorsy type.
Dahlia definitely did. He wore faded jeans, a puffy down jacket to ward off the
freezing temperatures and thickening snow flurries, and a wool cap with earflaps
over shaggy dark hair. Brown eyes that reminded her of rich, melted chocolate
regarded her from a handsome face covered in two-day-old scruff.
“I saw your closed
sign, but took a chance and tried the door since there was a light on inside.”
He gave her a pleading look. “I have a date.”
“Congratulations.”
His firm lips
turned upward in a quick grin. “Thanks. We’re going to a Christmas Eve party,
and I just found out it’s sort of fancy. Not tuxedo fancy, thank God, but dig
out the suit I bought for my cousin’s wedding three years ago fancy. If I don’t
want to look like a total shmuck, I should probably bring her a corsage.”
Of course, he has a date. The guy is gorgeous. Her chances of
meeting a handsome, unattached man in this town were lower than the tree branches
brushing her tile floor.
“I agree about the
shmuck part, but you should have ordered flowers in advance.” Dahlia made a
point to glance behind her at the clock. Time was ticking.
“Couldn’t you whip
something up for me.” The man gave her a hangdog look he probably practiced in
the mirror and knew was irresistible to women.
Her solid resolve
wavered slightly.
“Please. I’m
desperate here.” He pointed at her floral-clad Christmas tree. “Maybe I could
take one of those roses.”
“They wouldn’t
work for a corsage.” She let out a sigh. “Fine, I’ll help you out. Do you know
the color or style of your date’s dress?”
“Not a clue.”
Dahlia rolled her
eyes. “Then you should give her a wrist corsage to be safe. White goes with
pretty much anything.”
“Thank you.” A
charming smile replaced the hang dog look. “Has anyone ever told you you’re
flat out awesome?”
She refused to be
charmed. “On occasion.”
He leaned against
the counter while she scrambled to put together white orchids and baby’s breath
with a satin ribbon. “I really appreciate this.”
“No problem.” Her
fingers fumbled with the flowers under his intense scrutiny. The man was
unbelievably hot…
Forget it, Dahlia, he has a woman waiting for him.
You’re too smart to make the same mistake twice.
She quit fidgeting
with the corsage to glance up at him. “Actually, it’s kind of a problem since
I’m going out tonight, too, and I have deliveries to make first. That’s why I
closed up a little early.”
He pointed toward
the poinsettias and wreaths laid out on the table next to the counter. “Are you
delivering all those?”
Pushing her long,
red hair over her shoulder, she nodded. “I’m in a bit of a time crunch. In
hindsight, offering free delivery in the spirit of the season probably wasn’t
the smartest idea.”
When he smiled,
her heart flip-flopped in her chest.
“Do you want me to
load those into the pink van parked outside while I wait? I noticed the Flower
Power logo on the side.”
“If you don’t
mind, that would be extremely helpful. The van is unlocked. I’ll be finished
with this corsage in about ten minutes.”
Her attention
focused on his denim clad backside as he carried two potted poinsettias toward
the front door. Tearing her gaze away, she cut florist tape to wrap the flower
stems. When her cell rang on the counter next to her, she glanced at the
display.
Joanie. Her soon
to be ex-best-friend if tonight’s date turned out to be a nightmare. On the
other hand, maybe she was calling to tell her the guy had bailed. Dahlia
snatched up the phone. “What’s up? Did Rob’s cousin cancel?”
“Why would he do
that? Rob told him you’re gorgeous. He’s excited about this date.”
“No one is excited
about a blind date unless they’re a total loser. What’s wrong with the man? Is
he going to bore me into a stupor or try to grope me under the table? If he
turns out to be a pervert—”
She broke off as
her last-minute customer returned for a load of wreaths. His eyes widened, probably
in response to her pervert comment, but he kept quiet as he left the shop
again. With an effort, Dahlia focused on what her friend was saying.
“—not a pervert,
for heaven’s sake. I wouldn’t do that to you. He’s simply a nice guy who’s new
in town. His work has been keeping him busy, and he hasn’t had time to meet
many people yet.”
“You said your
husband got him a job as a county employee…” She pictured a guy in an orange
jumpsuit stabbing trash alongside the road.
“Zane is our new
game warden. He’s been out busting poachers, which doesn’t leave him a lot of time
to socialize.”
“Isn’t hunting
season over in Colorado?”
“Yeah, but there are
still idiots in the woods shooting at anything that moves. Zane has nailed a
couple of the bastards already. Why these jerks think they’re above the law is
beyond me.”
Not a convict on work release. A hothead with a gun…
“I guess that
means he likes animals, and not because they taste good. That’s a plus.”
“You two will get
along great. I have a good feeling about this.”
Dahlia fastened
the flowers to the wristband while holding the cell to her ear with her
shoulder. “That makes one of us. You know I’m not a big fan of surprises, but I
said I’d go tonight, so I intend to make the best of it.”
When Mr. Hottie
with the Date came back inside and brushed snowflakes off his jacket before
picking up two cut-glass vases filled with red tulips and winter berries, she
smiled at him. He smiled back, and her knees weakened as he left the shop with
the final load.
“Hey, I have to
go. I’ll see you tonight.”
“Okay. I guarantee
you’ll have fun.”
“Let’s hope so.
Bye, Joanie.” Dahlia set down her phone and finished constructing the corsage.
Holding up the orchid, she admired the simple elegance.
Her customer
returned a few moments later. “Wow, that’s really pretty.”
“I think your date
will love it.”
“I hope so.” He
pulled out his wallet. “How much do I owe you?”
“Thirty plus tax.”
She rang up the sale when he handed her two twenties, and gave him his change.
“Thanks for being
so accommodating.”
“And thank you for
loading my van for me. I hope you have fun tonight, despite having to dig out
your only suit.”
He grinned. “A
definite drawback, but I’ll probably survive wearing a tie. Have fun on your
date, too. Whoever he is, he’s a lucky guy.” After flashing another
heart-stopping smile, her last-minute customer walked out of the shop.
Dahlia let out a
long, slow breath. “Just my luck. I meet Mr. Tall, Dark, and Sexy, and he’s
already taken. Story of my life.”
* * *
*
18 comments:
And the chance for romance continues. Rooting for these two to get together. Dare I hope?
Cute meet. He sounds like a nice guy. She deserves a nice guy. I hope they get together.
I love this beginning!
Nice opening! I have a feeling I know who her blind date will be.... Looking forward to the next installment!
Thank you, ladies. I had fun writing this.
Meet cute. You flower lady is all wrong about blind dates. I had one blind date in my life and he's been my husband for 46 years. But I see she's not at an optimistic time in her life, which makes people stereotype. She's in a happy profession...it will be nice to see her smile.
Keep reading, Rolynn. You'll find out why she's feeling a little jaded...
Another excellent beginning. I'm not sure I like the dude's hat, but if he's...ah...working outside, you know, like a game warden or something, I guess the ear flaps feel good. Can't wait for the next installment.
Hey, it's cold outside, Vonnie! LOL
Well, I'm hooked!
I wondered if you'd hold out until day 3, Alison. LOL
Hey, Vonnie, if the guy can wear one of those ear flap hats and still look hot, whoa, he really is hot. Fun beginning!
I’m glad his hat is entertaining you!
Unless you've lived where it gets REALLY cold like MN, the ear flap hats look weird. I think there have been some funny movies that have the men wear them in vain! Think of Fargo or Grumpy Old Men. Live in those places and you think very differently. Think Paul Bunyan!
The ear flaps weren't my favorite part of his description either. As long as it's not an Elmer Fudd like hat. But then, Elmer's been pulling it off for years.
You guys are killing me. Does no one ski? Not Elmer Fudd! Hot guy in a ski hat! LOL https://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search;_ylt=AwrgEZDB5C1a7E8AIYMPxQt.?p=wool+ski+hats&fr=yhs-aztec-default&fr2=piv-web&hspart=aztec&hsimp=yhs-default&type=ds_102_428#id=6&iurl=http%3A%2F%2Fproduct-images.highwire.com%2F2158424%2Fkyber-blue-wave-hat.jpg&action=click
I'm late, but I'm being good and reading one part at a time! Love the opening. He does sounds like a cutie, with or without the ear-flapped hat! (I'm picturing Northern Exposure in my head.)
I'm glad you made it, Leah!
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