But I hadseen Lincoln’s face when he saw the callas, and I knew he wanted them. Besides, the worst that could happen was he hated them, I had to rearrange everything onsite, and refund the cost of the callas. With his brother’s conviction, I was almost sure that Lincoln wouldn’t make me do that. I nodded again, this time with conviction. Monroe’s huge grin showed through, splitting his face and crinkling his eyes. I couldn’t help but smile back.
“Hang on a sec.” I didn’t wait for a response, and all but jogged out of the room and to the fridge. I had to reach into the back, and I knew the callas I found there were past their prime—a little wilted and wrinkly—but they’d at least give Monroe a good idea of what they’d look like in the arrangements.
He was snapping pictures with his phone when I returned. I stood still and let him finish, then watched his strong fingers as he tapped at the screen. For just a moment, I imagined those fingers on my body and…
Nope. I cut off that thought right there. No ogling the clients, even if Monroe was technically the client’s brother. I didn’t even know if he was into men, for crap’s sake. I needed to get my thoughts in line.
“Here,” I said softly, not wanting to startle him, considering he was so intent on his phone. But he seemed to know where I was, because he didn’t act surprised. I placed a few of the sad callas into the arrangement, then broke the stem on another, matched it with a piece of greenery, and wrapped the whole thing in floral tape. With panache, I presented it to Monroe.
He gasped, playing it up for my benefit, and I had to laugh.
“That’s perfect, West. Really.” Monroe took the boutonniere from me. “He’s gonna lose his shit.”
“What?” I couldn’t quite curb the alarm in my voice.
“In a good way!” Monroe was quick to assure me. He lifted a hand as though he was going to touch me, but before he made contact, he let it drop. I was weirdly disappointed by that and almost missed what he said next. “This is going to make his day all the more special.”
“I’m glad.” There was something about Monroe’s determination to see his brother’s wedding be perfect that just touched me. I wanted to say something to him. How amazing it was that he looked after his brother this way, but before I could figure out what to say, Monroe’s phone beeped.
“He loves them both. Can we do half and half?”
“Sure,” I croaked. I cleared my throat. “Not a problem. And the larger arrangements?”
Monroe was still scrolling. “He thinks they are, and I quote, ‘absolutely stunning,’ but he’s worried about them being the right size. He doesn’t say whether he thinks they’re too big or too small. Hang on.”
“His ceremony is taking place on the terrace, right?” The ceremony and reception were at the newly renovated Deveraux Estate, and I knew Elise Deveraux well. Her family’s estate, which she’d inherited and turned into a luxury inn, was one of the top places for weddings in the area. I’d done more than a dozen over the past few years.
“Yes. Facing the pond.”
“No worries then. I’ll make sure they’re perfect to bookend the grooms. I’ve got it covered.”
“Fantastic. I’ll let him know.” His thumbs flew over the screen. “Okay, good. Now about the bill. I want to pay.”
“Okay, let me get together an invoice for the callas and—”
“Not just the lilies. For all of it.”
I froze, both surprised by his generosity and somehow not. I hardly knew this man, but this gesture was in keeping with what little I did know. “Okay. Then I’ll make sure to hand you the bill on the day.”
Monroe shook his head. “Let me pay for it now.”
I squinted at him. “I already have the down payment. Generally, I don’t take payment in full until the product has been delivered. That’s how things work. So you know I’m going to show up.”
The rich, deep laugh rolled through the room and I couldn’t help but shiver
Monroe took a step closer. “You’re not going to not show up. I’m not worried about that.”
I laughed. “I appreciate your confidence in me. And of course I would never not show up. But you shouldn’t trust—”
“Oh, no. It’s not that.” Monroe had cut me off again. He had a habit of doing that. Normally that irritated me, but for some reason, it felt different with him. I liked to think because he was gentle about it as if he was saving me from saying something I shouldn’t. But it was probably because I found him smoking hot and could listen to his deep voice all day. It also helped that he dipped his head so he could look me directly in the eye. “I mean, sure, I do trust you. You came highly recommended by Elise herself, and since Linc is her personal assistant, I knew she wouldn’t steer him wrong.”
“I wasn’t aware she had one,” I said stupidly, stuck on staring at his long lashes. He had really pretty eyes.