Chapter Thirty

“Erica, good afternoon.” Kennedi waved.

“Oh my God!” Erica swung up out of her chair and kept pace beside Kennedi toward the executive suite. “You got a delivery. I can’t wait to see the look on your face.”

“The look on my face? What are you talking about?”

“You’ll see.” She grinned.

Heads popped up from the low cubicles; several individuals wore peculiar smiles. Kennedi didn’t have the time or patience for games—one of the many reasons she needed a managing director. To Trenton’s credit, though she’d never let him know it, Elijah Davis would be a welcomed addition. Elijah. His ebony good looks hadn’t escaped her notice, but that was where it ended—men plus married equaled hands off. She wouldn’t even look in their direction; it was a problem she didn’t need.

She came up to Audrey, who jumped to her feet and rounded the desk with a twitchy smile like Erica and the rest of the staff. “Has Mr. Davis arrived?”

Audrey gestured at the closed door that had been Richard’s office. “Yes. He’s a really nice man. I showed him around as Mr. Shaw instructed. And something arrived for you this morning.”

Kennedi gave a glance at a smiling Erica. “So I’ve been told. Where is it?”

“I had them placed in your office.”

“Them?”

Audrey angled her head with a questioning look. “Or is it Mr. Shaw’s and your office?”

“It’s my office,” Kennedi made clear but added, “Mr. Shaw and I share it when he’s here.” She pushed open the door. A choked breath of shock stalled the air in her lungs. “What the—”

Twenty or more enormous bouquets arranged in fine crystal and sterling-silver vases sat on every flat surface. Everywhere she looked were vibrant-colored petals, like a rainbow had exploded. Some flowers were in full bloom, others in bud, guaranteed to extend the life of this floral wonderland. Giving a look over her shoulder, she saw nearly the entire staff—the women primarily—stood at her back.

“Who did this?” She had her suspicions.

“We thought you’d tell us,” Audrey said as she skirted the crowd and came into the room. She leaned in and took a whiff of a bunch of multicolored tulips stationed on the center coffee table.

“We’ve been dying to know who sent them,” Erica added. “There’s a small envelope attached to those beauties on your desk. It was the only one with a card.”

Kennedi moved to the massive purple and white orchid arrangement crowding her desk, plucked the envelope from the floral stick and pulled the note free, reading:

This is how you send a beautiful, exciting, passionate woman flowers.

Let’s talk.

–T

Are you kidding me! The damn nerve! The fact that every single petal and leafy stem was so beautiful and had the room smelling dewy sweet pissed her off all the more.

Keeping her expression from betraying her annoyance, she looked up to find Erica’s and Audrey’s eager gazes on her. “Where are the flowers that came the other day?”

Audrey pointed to the small round table over by the corner windows. “They’re behind the peonies.”

The arrangement from Alan Lange was dwarfed by the gigantic, hot pink flowers stationed in front of it.

“Do we get to know who this guy is and where I might find one like him?” Erica asked in between pushing her nose into a bloom of yellow lilies.

A rap against the opened door directed everyone’s attention to Elijah’s tall, suited form standing within the frame. “Hope I’m not interrupting.”

Kennedi stuck the card into her handbag. “No, you’re not. Sorry I wasn’t here this morning to greet you. I had an appointment.”

“No worries. Audrey provided me with the essentials—a desk, password accesses, and email setup.” He looked around. “Wow, if my wife saw this, I’d never be able to get away with supermarket flowers anymore. I believe someone just showed me how far I’ve been off my game.”

Again, she worked at sealing her irritation behind a blank mask. If Trenton thought sending a roomful of flowers would soften how he’d snubbed her, he was sadly mistaken. No more business partners with benefits. Done.

“I have a file of documents for you to read over that will get you up to speed on things.” She tried to search her desk for it around the ridiculously supersized floral arrangement. Frustration mounting, picking up the heavy crystal vase, she turned to the employees walking about, burying their faces in the bouquets, indulging in the varying fragrances. The place looked like a doggone flower shop. “We should all get back to work. Audrey, please take these out. In fact, everyone, feel free to take one to your desks. And the rest, place around the office.”

Audrey’s eyes widened. “Really? Are you sure? They’re yours.”

“I’m aware, but with them all together like this, the scents are a bit overwhelming.”

“The room smells heavenly to me.” Erica inhaled a plump gardenia arrangement she’d been guarding.

Kennedi handed off the orchids to Audrey. “Please place the flowers throughout the office.”

“How about I swap this one out with those two over by the window? These orchids are so lovely. You have to keep at least this beauty in your office.” She raised a shoulder. “It’s the one that had the card, so…”

Resigning herself to that logic, Kennedi nodded.

As the ladies transported the rest of the flowers, she sat with Elijah on the couch and brought him up to speed on his responsibilities. He appeared eager to help get the company’s day-to-day running as it should. About a half hour later, her cell phone chimed in her handbag sitting on the desk. Excusing herself, she retrieved it and read Trenton’s text message: Tell me your favorite flower was among them.

She didn’t really have a favorite, though… She turned her head to the orchids bathed in the high-rising sun, the prettiest she’d ever seen. The chime of her phone gave her a start. She read Trenton’s next text: Are you free for dinner tonight?

He should’ve texted what he actually meant: Let’s have sex again tonight. But even if she hadn’t promised to spend the evening with Pop, she wouldn’t accept Trenton’s invitation. Her feelings had manifested into something much deeper than she should’ve allowed, putting her in a place she swore to never be with a man. Vulnerable.

She replied: It’s best we keep things professional from here on out.

Returning to Elijah, she forced a smile. “Where were we?”