The Bridal Bouquet
The Bridal Bouquet
Tara Randel
Who will catch a lifetime of love?Winning the annual wedding bouquet design competition may be the closest Kady Lawrence gets to the altar. She has to come in first or risk losing the shop that’s been in her family for generations. Her main competition is Jasmine Matthews. But it’s Jasmine's son who’s caught Kady's attention.Kady has no inkling Dylan’s a DEA agent on a case in Cypress Pointe, and Dylan wants to keep it that way…until Kady's targeted. Determined to keep her safe, Dylan risks a lot more than blowing his cover…he risks losing Kady forever.
Who will catch a lifetime of love?
Winning the annual wedding bouquet design competition may be the closest Kady Lawrence gets to the altar. She has to come in first or risk losing the shop that’s been in her family for generations. Her main competition is Jasmine Matthews. But it’s Jasmine’s son who’s caught Kady’s attention.
Kady has no inkling Dylan’s a DEA agent on a case in Cypress Pointe, and Dylan wants to keep it that way...until Kady’s targeted. Determined to keep her safe, Dylan risks a lot more than blowing his cover...he risks losing Kady forever.
Suddenly, Kady shivered; he stepped toward her.
He liked being here with Kady, standing in the outdoors, far away from the burden of his memories, the strangling ties of his job. Standing before this beautiful vista of sand and surf, beside an equally beautiful and fascinating woman, almost felt surreal.
Kady rubbed her hands up and down her bare arms.
“Are you cold?”
“Yes. I should have grabbed my wrap before we came outside.”
Dylan shrugged out of his jacket and placed it over her shoulders. She took the lapels in her hands and drew the coat around her.
“Better?”
She met his gaze. “Much.”
They continued to stare at each other. Dylan was so drawn to this woman, he should be fighting it. It wasn’t safe for either of them, and yet...he slid his arm around her waist. When she didn’t move away, he pulled her closer.
Dear Reader (#ulink_d8a8424e-4c62-5dd3-8ce3-b972610d062e),
Who doesn’t love flowers? Or weddings? How about a mystery thrown in for good measure?
The Bridal Bouquet, the fourth installment in The Business of Weddings series, has all of the above, along with two strong-willed characters out to achieve their goals. Problem is, their goals don’t include love so, of course, they can’t help falling for each other.
Kady Lawrence has a lot to prove if she wants to take over the family floral shop. Attending the annual floral convention and winning the wedding bouquet competition is all part of her plan, that is until DEA special agent Dylan Matthews walks into her life.
Dylan has an old score to settle and the criminal in question is hiding out near Cypress Pointe. How to catch him? Pose undercover at the floral convention to gather information about the town and its people. Sounds easy enough. But bad guys have a way of changing the rules. Soon Dylan finds himself protecting Kady, and as danger escalates, love blossoms.
Welcome back to Cypress Pointe. For a small town, there always seems to be something exciting going on! You’ll catch up with characters from my previous books and find out if any wedding bells will chime in the future. After all, this is the business of weddings.
Tara Randel
The Bridal Bouquet
Tara Randel
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
TARA RANDEL is an award-winning, USA TODAY bestselling author of eleven novels. Family values, a bit of mystery and, of course, love and romance are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. Tara lives on the West Coast of Florida, where gorgeous sunsets and beautiful weather inspire the creation of heartwarming stories. This is her fourth book for Harlequin Heartwarming. Visit Tara at tararandel.com (http://www.tararandel.com). Like her on Facebook at Tara Randel Books (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tara-Randel-Books/219272758140488).
To my wonderful friends Tiffany and Christian.
Thanks for the inspiration, Christian. Your stories really lit a fire under me.
Contents
COVER (#u6d633743-db33-5985-a34e-381fa2e0eaf8)
BACK COVER TEXT (#uf98e8cc8-d491-53d2-b9ac-3f7f8bf827d6)
INTRODUCTION (#ub2659dc0-66ce-5f07-b7fe-504cbf96f152)
Dear Reader (#ulink_b4d2802c-d20c-5f1a-bf55-c0070e8e2908)
TITLE PAGE (#u980c2d01-12da-5a87-8fab-3074f63b5c39)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR (#u1532b4b4-ea49-591a-bb3e-4d712e0846d6)
DEDICATION (#u7d3d3726-4140-52f5-899a-3e9d8e381198)
CHAPTER ONE (#ulink_a52e34fc-59bb-5aa3-bf4f-cc775ee780fa)
CHAPTER TWO (#ulink_1b9abc93-c0aa-5cc9-9527-e89c2ffef1ef)
CHAPTER THREE (#ulink_992b23aa-ef44-58f7-a6b7-6ffdf0b7b5d6)
CHAPTER FOUR (#ulink_0cd1c917-460a-5c42-bec1-544b6b4636cb)
CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIXTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
EXTRACT (#litres_trial_promo)
COPYRIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ONE (#ulink_0d56da55-7fb8-5b28-9624-27536e2c5ec7)
KADY LAWRENCE DODGED the raucous wedding party eagerly heading for the reception-bound vehicles idling in the parking lot. Now that the photographer was concentrating solely on romantic bride-and-groom shots, Kady could transport the floral arrangements from the beach ceremony to the Grand Cypress Hotel ballroom.
Her feet sank into the cool, smooth sand, her flats keeping a minimum of the sugary grains from shifting into her shoes and tickling her toes. The sun shone bright on this seasonably cool January day, making this postcard-perfect weather in Cypress Pointe, Florida. The azure-blue sky played backdrop to fluffy, scuttling clouds above. A bride’s dream come true, she thought. She glimpsed the couple staring into each other’s eyes, the crystalline waters of the Gulf of Mexico a stunning vista in the background.
A brisk wind had whipped through during the ceremony, rustling the skirts of the bridesmaids’ dresses. But the bride lifted her face to the sky and laughed, welcoming the heady bluster with unbridled delight. The air settled after the brief swirl, but the gulf waters continued to churn, a vivid reminder of the natural elements surrounding them.
While the couple laughed and enjoyed their special day, Kady’s thoughts ran more along the lines of asking the photographer if she could place some of his wedding prints on display in her family’s flower shop. She had three goals in life—number one, to make The Lavish Lily the one-stop floral shop for brides and all bridal-related events. Working with fellow wedding professionals could only propel her dream forward.
Her other goals fed off the first—upgrade the family flower shop and win the wedding-bouquet category at the annual florist convention this year. Goals she was determined to fulfill, no matter what roadblocks stood in her way.
The late morning ceremony had been performed on a wide wooden platform situated directly on the beach, with rows of bow-festooned chairs lined up for the guests. On either end of the platform were waist-high white pillars, a beautiful flower arrangement placed on each for the ceremony.
Kady approached the first arrangement, sinking her nose into the fragrant collection. She adored the scent of fresh flowers, never tiring of the sweet aroma that touched her soul. Instead of going with a dozen traditional red roses, the bride had requested all white to go with her lovely gown, which was complemented by a red waist sash. Kady had designed a combination of gardenias, snow-white dahlias and white larkspur for height. Baby’s breath was nestled throughout, the arrangement set in crystal containers and each accented with a bright red bow. Quite stunning, if she did say so herself.
“Kady,” Nellie, the bride, called out as her new husband took her hand to help her step from the platform onto the red aisle runner. “The flowers are gorgeous. I didn’t think you’d be able to create exactly what I wanted.”
Why did everyone doubt her? She prided herself on being a competent floral designer and took each and every arrangement to heart. She knew from the beginning which flowers would please the bride and her mother, then sold them on her vision.
“Wait until you get to the reception.”
Nellie beamed. “We’re headed there now. See you there.”
Kady nodded. “Just let me get these arrangements into the van. I’m delivering them myself.”
“You are staying for the party, aren’t you?”
Kady had been surprised at the impromptu invitation the last time she’d met with the bride. Normally she placed the flowers and other reception decor the bride had ordered, then left. But when Nellie asked her to join in the reception, she’d been honored.
“Thanks. That’s so nice of you but I’ve just got a lot on my plate right now.”
“I have a bunch of single cousins...” The bride left her suggestion open-ended, trying to wheedle Kady into changing her mind.
“I’m not in the market for a guy.” Too many things to focus on at the moment, like pouring her time and energy into marketing the shop to brides. She had future weddings lined up and needed to prove to her parents that birthdays and funerals weren’t the only ways to sustain their business.
Besides, she wasn’t dressed for the occasion, even though she always looked appropriate when making a delivery. Today, she’d matched a fitted coral blouse with a flowing, patterned skirt. Pretty, but definitely not wedding attire. She’d pulled her shoulder-length hair into a ponytail to keep it out of the way while she worked.
“Come on. Every girl dreams of her special day,” the bride teased.
“Not me.”
Kady had never jumped on the crazy-bride bandwagon. Not after falling for a guy and having had him stomp on her heart. Instead, she was content to design flowers and hope her parents someday saw the talented woman she had grown into, rather than the aimless youth she’d once been.
“Let’s go, babe,” Dean, the groom, said. Nellie waved and the couple headed for their limousine.
It took three trips and fifteen minutes for Kady to get the flowers and pillars secured in the van before she set off for the reception. As she drove, she reviewed her mental checklist. She’d placed centerpieces and additional arrangements around the ballroom in advance of everyone arriving. The extra bridal bouquet, to be tossed into the group of single women at some point during the party, was waiting on a side table. Kady had even come up with what she dubbed a bouquet-docking station, a safe place for the bride and attendants to store their bouquets so they didn’t get lost or ruined during the reception. Satisfied, Kady stepped on the gas. The sooner she delivered these ceremony flowers, the sooner she’d be done.
She’d just parked in the hotel lot when her cell phone rang. She swiped the screen and frowned. Her brother’s number.
“Hey, Will.”
“What time will you be back at the shop?” Right to the point, as always.
Kady held back a groan. Her older brother, the “doer of no wrong,” checking in on her. She was thirty years old, for Pete’s sake. When would her family stop thinking of her as a screwup? Okay, so years ago she’d gotten sidetracked and forgotten to take the work van to get an oil change. And yeah, yeah, the engine had blown. And yes, she’d botched a big order from the wholesaler one time when she’d been in her Save the Manatee phase and spent more time gathering names on petitions than doing inventory.
Always curious by nature, her mind switched gears with each new adventure calling her name. The more unique the challenge, the more Kady embraced it and stored away the experience, sure she’d later use the knowledge she’d gained. Her parents, spending long hours running the flower shop, were either too busy or frustrated to redirect their inquisitive daughter. Especially when Kady’s behavior continued well into her twenties.
It wasn’t until she’d gone to live with her beloved aunt Cynthia, after her parents had thrown up their hands at her behavior, that Kady began to focus. Her aunt, who designed and hand-made her own jewelry, stumbled upon the artistic nature in her and began to tap into Kady’s energies. She encouraged Kady to assist her and Kady quickly realized she loved being creative. Her openness to so many different ideas made her excel at designing. And renewed her love for the floral shop. Merging her two passions together, she decided, The Lavish Lily would become her destiny.
For three years now she’d been full-time at the shop. She’d slowly taken over designing duties, making most of the deliveries and manning the front counter. No mishaps. No mistakes. So what if it had taken her a while to figure out what she wanted to do with her talent and abilities, traveling down a twisty, turning path instead of being on the straight and narrow. She’d made it here, finding purpose in her life. Why couldn’t her family credit the change in her?
“I’m at the hotel. Let me get the delivery inside, make sure everything else is in place. Then I’ll be there.”
“How long?”
“Not sure. I’ll call you when I leave.”
“We’re waiting.”
Kady grimaced as she ended the call. She hated these family meetings. No good ever came from them, especially for her. Her parents had been acting oddly lately and Will, an accountant who didn’t have the least interest in flowers, was hanging around the shop all the time. Yes, he had a share in the family business, but he’d never been involved with the day-to-day running of it. And had even been MIA for a long while. Why show up now?
She’d ignored their abrupt silences whenever she walked into the place, tried not to speculate why, lately, she alone worked the long hours filling wedding orders. Something was up, and by her brother’s hounding, she figured it would be revealed this afternoon.
Brushing off the useless foreboding, she went to the back of the van to remove the first arrangement. Will would do what he wanted and her parents would be fine with it. All she could do was concentrate on getting new customers, brides specifically, and grow the business. Then maybe her parents would look at her with pride, like they did at Will.
Loud chatter spilled from the banquet room as Kady entered. The place was filled with milling guests congratulating the newly married couple. A few restless children raced around the dance floor, ignoring their mother’s sharp tones imploring them to calm down. The DJ played soft music while people mingled. Lunch would be served soon if the delicious aromas wafting from the kitchen were any indication. Her tummy growling, Kady went about her job, blending in, while checking one last time to make sure all the arrangements she’d placed earlier were in good shape.
At the center of each table, white pillar candles flickered in tall hurricane glasses. The same floral theme—simple white flowers cascading around the glass—made a dramatic effect against the deep red table linen. The menu, printed in raised gold script, rested upon milk-white plates. The crystal glasses sported gold rims. The utensils, wrapped in a red napkin circled with a white-and-gold ring, tied the table ensemble together.
Subdued and elegant. Just what the bride dreamed of. Exactly what the wedding planner and Kady had delivered.
On her last trip with the final arrangement, Kady made her way around the far wall intent on the gift table. Only a few steps from her destination, she was suddenly under siege by a half-dozen playing children. She went into football mode, dodging first to the left, then to the right, spinning to avoid a rushing child as she held on tightly to the container of flowers. After evading the possible disaster, she grinned, impressed by her running-back skills. Who knew she was so light on her feet? The path clear now, she moved forward until she stepped on an abandoned toy left behind by one of the kids. Her ankle turned. Bracing herself, she securely locked her arms around the crystal container, holding on for dear life. But instead of going down, strong hands gripped her upper arms and kept her from falling.
Relieved, she looked over her shoulder, glimpsing the most unusual pair of blue eyes she’d ever seen. Actually, blue wasn’t entirely correct. A hint of silver turned them an unusual shade of metallic gray. The man’s somber expression matched the concern she read there and his very handsome face garnered her full attention.
“Steady there.” His husky voice spoke close to her ear, sending shivers over her skin.
Rattled, she set down the flowers and turned to face her rescuer. “Thanks. That could have been a disaster.”
“Then it’s a good thing I happened to be nearby.” A half grin curved his lips.
Kady’s heart thumped in her chest. Talk about fantastic timing. She sneaked a peek at him. Yeah, she was going with not spilling the flowers to explain her racing pulse.
Mr. Awesome Eyes narrowed said eyes and stared down at one of the boys, perhaps the ringleader. “You should take the kids outside, Mikey. Otherwise I might have to get your daddy after you.”
Mikey paled before nodding. “I will. Please don’t tell Dad.”
“Then quit running around when your mother asked you to stop.”
The inherent command in his deep tone brooked no disobedience. Something told her she wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of this man.
The youngster rounded up the remaining children and they scurried out to the pool area before heading off the patio to a wide manicured lawn at the side of the hotel. Plenty of free space to run unchecked out there.
The stranger focused on her. “Bored kids and distracted parents. Not the best combination at a wedding reception.”
“No.” She knew she should leave now, get back to the shop, but her feet seemed rooted to the spot. His cologne enveloped her. She tried to sort out the elements in the spicy fragrance like she always did when defining new scents, but his nearness made her jittery. Tucking an errant strand of hair behind her ear, she tried not to squirm.
The stranger stuck out his hand. “Dylan.”
She accepted his warm, strong grip, surprised by a zing of awareness. “Kady.”
He held on to her hand a few seconds longer than necessary. In that time, she noticed more about him. Tall. Hair razor-cut. Military? Even with the short look, she noticed a hint of gray peppering his temples. Tanned olive skin, as though he spent many hours outdoors. He filled the black suit paired with a charcoal shirt and red tie to perfection, his broad shoulders straight, his lean build steady.
She gulped. “I should probably go.”
“You just got here.”
“Only to deliver the flowers.”
He tilted his head, his strange-colored eyes regarding her with unwavering scrutiny. “You’re the most fascinating person at this party.”
Fascinating? That was new. Why not throw sublime into that description, she thought, and hid a laugh. Still, she’d take it. Compliments had been few and far between lately.
“Um, thanks. I think.”
“The way you saved those flowers? Classic football move. You got my attention right away.”
He grinned, his serious expression lifting. Her breath caught at the transformation. When somber, he was handsome. Grinning, he was downright gorgeous. Okay, who was she kidding? She was way out of her element right now.
Before she could remind him she’d saved the flowers thanks to him, he was speaking again.
“I was debating a cheesy line about how your beauty struck me from across the room. Guess you’re a bit too savvy than to fall for that.”
“Yeah. Every woman hates to be called beautiful.”
He chuckled. “In that case, it’s true. I did notice you as soon as you came through the door.”
“It was either that or the commotion from the kids.”
“Nah. I really did notice you.”
What should she say now? She felt her face flush and hoped beyond measure her cheeks didn’t light up like a neon sign flashing her guilty pleasure. How often did a good-looking guy notice her from across the room? Ah...never?
“Despite your line, I am glad you were here when I tripped.”
“I live to serve.”
She half expected a formal bow, like the staid British lords she read about in Regency novels. “So... I need to get going.”
“You can’t stay a few more minutes?”
She wanted to. More than anything. “I’m busy. Besides, this looks like a family reunion as well as a reception. I don’t want to overstep.”
“To be honest, that’s kind of why I’d like you to stay. My cousin is the bride, so yeah, this is a reunion. I haven’t seen most of my relatives for a few years and I’m all talked out. If my grandmother asks me one more time when I’m getting married, then points me to one of my cousin’s single friends, I may lose it.”
“Gee, that’s tough. Dealing with people who love you.”
He had the grace to smile disparagingly. “I’m a rotten grandson.”
They both chuckled. Despite his complaining, she heard the affection in his tone for his grandmother. “So why haven’t you seen your family in a while, if you don’t mind my asking?”
“My job, mostly.”
A waiter passed by, carrying a tray of sparkling champagne in crystal flutes. When he stopped, Dylan removed two, handing one to Kady.
“Oh, no. I shouldn’t. I’m working.”
“How about a quick toast. To new friends.” He clinked his glass to hers.
“To new friends,” she agreed.
She took a sip, noticing Dylan did the same. She was glad to see he didn’t knock it back like some of the party animals she’d run across at other receptions.
They stood in awkward silence. Finally, Kady placed her glass on the table beside her. “So, it was nice meeting you.”
“Maybe we’ll run into each other?”
“Are you staying in Cypress Pointe long?”
“Depends on the coin toss.”
“Excuse me?”
His mouth curved at the corners. “Inside family joke. Sorry.”
She opened her mouth to ask him to elaborate, when an older gentleman approached Dylan and started a conversation. Boxed into the corner, she couldn’t leave until one of the men moved. After a few long minutes of trying not to eavesdrop, she cleared her throat. Dylan glanced her way.
“Uncle Frank, give me a few?”
Uncle Frank looked at Kady, then back to Dylan, and winked. “Sure, son.”
Dylan slanted her an amused glance. “See.”
“I get it now. Is your entire family comprised of matchmakers?”
“Yep. And I have three brothers who are also single. We try to stay low-key during family events. Keeps the meddlers from focusing on us.”
“So you’re saying I actually rescued you?”
His stunning eyes widened in surprise. “Yes, I’d say you had.”
“Rescuer and floral designer.” She pantomimed a motion of wiping her hands. “My work is done here.”
Dylan laughed, his eyes filled with...admiration?
“Sure I can’t convince you to stick around?”
“Sorry. I have a meeting I can’t miss.”
“Too bad. With you, this reception might have been fun.”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
At his wink, her heart thumped.
“Anytime.”
* * *
DYLAN MATTHEWS WATCHED Kady as she weaved through the crowd, stopped to hug the bride and then exited through the same doors she’d first walked through. He wasn’t kidding when he dropped the line about noticing her from across the room. She’d caught his eye at first glance and he was immediately fascinated.
Was it because the light draped her just the right way when she’d entered the room? What else explained how his gaze lit on her pretty face? He rubbed a hand over his cleanly shaven jaw. He’d been cooped up far too long. That would explain the unusually poetic notions rummaging around in his head.
As she’d drawn closer, he noticed she was tall, not as tall as his six feet, but it wouldn’t take much effort for their eyes to meet. Her brown hair was pulled into a ponytail, with little fly-away strands framing her face. She’d smiled, her cheeks flushed as she went about her business.
When he’d braced her arms with his hands to keep her from falling, he’d caught a whiff of something fruity as he pulled her close. Raspberry? Her expression, when she turned, was shaken but grateful. Then he got up close to her honey-brown eyes. A jolt seared his gut and he hesitated letting go of the connection.
When was the last time he’d recognized such a buzz of attraction? A long time, if he was honest. And he always tried to be honest with himself—good, bad or otherwise.
Best of all, she traded quips like a pro. Didn’t miss a beat. Had to be the best quality about her. After talking with her, he realized he’d enjoyed every minute.
Something he hadn’t experienced in quite a while.
With a sigh, he set down his glass beside Kady’s. Too bad she took off. He would have liked to get to know her better. Her good humor had lifted some of the darkness that hung over him.
Before he had a chance to dwell on the past, his older brother, Derrick, joined him.
“Mom’s worried about you.”
“When is she not worried?” Dylan countered.
“When we’re all at home under her roof where she can keep an eye on us.”
“She does realize we’re grown men, right?”
“She’s a mother. According to her, we’ll always be her babies.”
Dylan shuddered. “Heaven save us.”
“I saw you talking to a woman. Did Gram send her over?”
“No.”
“You scare her off with your brooding Heathcliff imitation?”
“No, she had to work. She’s the florist who supplied the flowers for the wedding.”
“Huh. Nice job.”
“Since when do you notice flowers?”
“Since I’m trying to be evolved.” Derrick looked to the closest table where Kady had left an arrangement. “Hey, these are pretty.”
Dylan laughed. “Evolved, hmm?”
“Complaints from the last two women I dated.”
“And you’re listening to their suggestions? After they dumped you? I’m impressed.”
Derrick shrugged his shoulders as if brushing off Dylan’s jab. “So how are you doing? Leg okay?”
At the mention of his injury, Dylan reached down and rubbed the back of his thigh where the exit wound still seemed raw. The gunshot damage had taken longer to heal than he’d hoped. On the bullet’s journey through his thigh, it nicked the femur and splintered the bone. Multiple surgeries removed the fragments. Repairing structural damage had laid him up. Not that he was complaining. If the bullet had hit his femoral artery, it would have been lights out. Physical therapy had finished two weeks ago, but the ache still haunted him.
Besides the physical pain, there was the emotional as well. A constant reminder of whom he’d lost. A partner and a good friend. The grim reality Kady had eclipsed a few minutes ago returned with a vengeance. The constant enemy who never left his soul.
“I’m fine.”
“Not true. I saw you favoring your leg when we walked into the hotel. Too much activity today?”
“Since when is sitting at the beach and walking into a building too much activity?”
“When you’re recovering from a gunshot wound.”
“I’m fine,” he repeated through clenched teeth.
Derrick held his hand up in defense. “Hey, man. If you say so.”
He wasn’t fine. Not by a long shot. But he wouldn’t burden Derrick, or his other brothers, and especially not his mother, with his problems. The burden and the guilt were his and his alone to carry.
When Dylan started as a special agent for the DEA ten years ago, he’d gotten into a few tight spots. Some moments had even been dangerous, since he went after guys who would rather shoot first and run later. He was relentless when pursuing dealers who put drugs on the streets. His good fortune finally came to an end when he ticked off the wrong guy.
He and his partner, Eddie, had spent many months in Miami planning to cut off the pipeline of a major dealer who didn’t appreciate them gumming up his operation. Esposa was an especially tenacious criminal, moving operations whenever he and Eddie got a lead on his location. They’d played cat and mouse for so long, Dylan wasn’t sure if he’d ever arrest this guy. He made headway by securing an informant within Esposa’s organization. Every time the creep turned around, Dylan was right on him. But with that success, Dylan had made an enemy—an enemy who wanted him out of the picture permanently. Here Dylan was still breathing, while Eddie’s wife and son grieved the man they’d loved.
Six months. Six long, hard months recovering from the wound. He had survived. Eddie had taken a fatal bullet. The shot meant for Dylan. Nothing could make him forget that fact. And nothing would stop him until the shooter paid.
Except that he was on desk duty at the division office for the foreseeable future. He was only thirty-five. Was his career over?
His jaw tensed as he thought about his fate, when his brother interrupted.
“Heads up, bro. I overheard Mom talking to Aunt Betty.”
Derrick stared at Dylan, waiting. His brother loved to draw out a moment.
“And?”
“The florist convention is next week.”
Dread immediately gripped Dylan. “How did we not know this?”
“Because Mom lulled us into a false sense of complacency. Since she hasn’t mentioned it, our guards were down,” Derrick replied. “She’s sneaky like that.”
Jasmine Matthews loved her boys. Enough to guilt or con them into doing her bidding and not feeling the least bit of remorse.
“To make matters worse, the convention is at this very hotel. I’m sure her evil plan is to get one of us to agree to stay since we already have rooms here.”
For a man who didn’t panic over much, Dylan’s fight-or-flight response kicked in. “We gotta get out of this.”
Every year since their father died, their mother guilted her sons into attending the convention with her. Since she usually won some award, she claimed she needed a date to the banquet. Dylan had lucked out of this duty for five years now, but he was on borrowed time.
Belatedly he understood why his mother hadn’t made a fuss about not supplying the flowers for his cousin’s wedding. For the most part, she created arrangements for all the family affairs. He assumed she hadn’t done so this time because of the distance, since she lived in Cocoa Beach, on the other side of the state from Cypress Pointe. Although a very capable woman, she would have had to work with a local florist due to the logistics of the ceremony and reception. Now he realized she had a much greater goal in mind.
Derrick shook his head. “Too late. Mom wants all of us to stop by her room after the reception.”
Dylan closed his eyes. His thigh began to burn.
“Flip you for it?” Derrick said.
His eyes flew open. “No way. You cheat.”
Derrick’s fake offense was funny. “Hey.”
“I saw the double-sided coin last time.”
His brother sent him a sheepish smile. “You can’t blame me.”
“Deke does. He got stuck going with Mom.”
“Guess that explains why he punches me in the arm every time he sees me.”
“You deserve it.” He leveled his brother with his meanest special-agent glare. “We’ll check the coin before we toss it.”
“Spoilsport,” Derrick grumbled. “I don’t want to lose.”
“None of us do, bro.”
CHAPTER TWO (#ulink_d17a2609-19db-55b0-a024-05df948586c5)
KADY PARKED THE van in the alley behind the shop and hurried inside. A smile still remained on her lips. Meeting Dylan had been a pleasant surprise. His cologne lingered in her memory. And those eyes? Unforgettable. Her mind shifted to the image of his face... Stop. She had to focus on the business. Whenever her parents called a meeting it was important and she expected this time to be no different. She needed to be on her toes, not crushing over a handsome guy she’d just met.
Her smile faded as she entered the workroom. Booming from the speakers, Elvis sang about a hound dog. Ugh. She admired the singer, but wasn’t a fan of fifties music. Her parents loved those songs, despite Kady’s suggestion they play a variety of music to appeal to their customers. In Kady’s vision of an elegant floral shop where brides-to-be came to discuss their arrangements, they’d be better served with soft jazz or classical music in the background. Not folks going on about rockin’ around the clock or waking up Susie.
“Hi, guys,” she called out over the music, heading straight to the radio to lower the volume.
“How did the delivery go?” her mother asked as she added hypericum berries to the arrangement she was assembling.
“Everything went smoothly.” Kady leaned against the table. “That’s beautiful, Mom.”
Her mother stepped back to scrutinize her creation. “Mr. Andrews will be in soon to pick this up. Would you mind placing it in the cooler while I clean up?”
“Sure.”
Mr. Andrews came by every Saturday at noon to purchase his preordered arrangement. His wife had recently moved into an assisted-living facility and the sweet man brought her flowers every week.
Moving to the front of the shop, Kady placed the order in the cooler. Another cooler in the workroom held spare arrangements for sale to walk-ins. Kady had been in The Lavish Lily earlier, before the wedding, to put together some of the simple arrangements. She was glad to see three of them were gone.
“Were we busy this morning?” she asked her dad. He was hovering by the cash register and glanced up but didn’t look directly at her. Pushing his glasses to the bridge of his nose, he stared down again. Kady got the distinct impression he’d intentionally avoided looking at her. “Where’s Will?”
At her brother’s name, her dad’s head came up. “Ran down the street to buy lunch. Once Mr. Andrews collects his order, we’re closing down for the day.”
“What? But it’s beautiful out and people are sure to stop in. We’ll lose business.”
“We have things to discuss.”
“Things more important than waiting on customers?”
Her father frowned. “Depending on how this meeting goes, we may reopen later this afternoon.”
“But—”
“Not now, Kady.”
Reprimanded, she returned to the workroom. Her mother hadn’t yet tidied up the table, so Kady did, returning the tools to their correct places. When Kady started here full-time, she’d organized the cluttered space. Her mother’s tendency to leave tools around drove Kady crazy, so she’d purchased medium-sized storage bins. With a labeler, she’d marked each bin—one for tape, another for glue sticks, wires, foam and the list went on.
Her parents hadn’t been thrilled by the extra expense, since they ran the shop on a shoestring budget. Mark and Ruthie Lawrence operated a tight ship, financially speaking. The Lavish Lily had been in the Lawrence family for three decades. Lately, when Kady suggested ideas to spruce up the shop, her folks hesitated, like when she requested the storage bins. She’d finally broken down and bought the items herself.
“Mom, what’s up with this meeting?”
Her mother wiped her hands with a paper towel and tossed it in the garbage can in the corner. “You’ll find out when Will gets back.”
“Is it about hiring storefront help? We could really use someone to take orders.”
“I’m sure the topic will come up.”
It did quite frequently. Her parents were notorious for not being able to keep good employees, but with Kady courting the wedding market, they needed a reliable assistant.
“So what’s the big secret I don’t know about?”
When her mother wouldn’t meet her eyes, Kady realized there was something huge going on. Something the three of them must have already discussed without her. Her stomach sank. She knew she was always the odd man out, but not being included in whatever the family had decided hurt more than she expected.
“Kady, honey...”
She held up her hand. “It’s fine, Mom. We’ll wait until Will gets back.”
The bell over the front door chimed and Kady’s stomach twisted more. She heard her father speaking, then a softer male voice, and she knew it was Mr. Andrews. She swallowed. Will would return soon. She mentally prepared herself for the battle to come.
While she girded her emotional defenses, her mother scurried about the workroom, gathering paper plates and utensils for their upcoming lunch. The bell sounded again and Will’s unmistakable voice boomed from the other room.
“I’m back. Let’s all meet up front.”
Her mother sent her a nervous glance and exited the room. Taking a deep breath, Kady followed, fisting her hands. She smoothed her facial expression to neutral and joined the others, determined to keep a level head no matter what happened.
Standing amid open folding chairs, her brother handed out wrapped sandwiches as she walked in. Three years older, he had blond hair like their mother, along with intelligent blue eyes.
“Hey, sis. How did the delivery go? The flowers were spectacular.”
“Fine.” Her suspicions doubled. Will being nice after he’d been dogging her this morning? “This bride was easy to work with. I didn’t expect any problems.”
“You remembered to set up a pick-up time to get the glass containers back, right?” her father asked. He handed out to-go cups of iced tea.
“Yes, Dad. I spoke to the manager myself.”
Kady delivered flowers to many functions at the Grand Cypress Hotel. She and the staff had developed a real camaraderie.
“It’s not like I’ve left anything behind on purpose.”
“There was a time when we had to keep tabs on you with the inventory and the van.”
Kady wanted to shout. Would her parents ever let go of the past?
“Everything is taken care of, Dad. No worries.”
“Good. Then we can get started.” He passed Kady her food, which she hadn’t had a say in. Will probably got her a tuna fish sandwich when she would have preferred turkey. She pulled back the paper, and sure enough, the fishy smell made her wrinkle her nose. With her stomach already roiling, she set it aside. Tuna probably wasn’t a wise choice right now.
Will bit into a pickle, chewed and took a sip of his tea. “Dad, would you like to start?”
Her father cleared his throat. Why was he so nervous?
“Kady, you know this shop has been in our family for generations.”
She nodded. Her grandparents originally opened The Lavish Lily. Past history.
“As much as your mother and I have loved working here, proud that our efforts supported the family and we made a name in the community...” He stopped. Sent a pleading look to her mother.
This was not good.
Her father took a deep breath. “We’ve decided to retire and sell the business.”
Silence descended upon the room. After a few seconds, Kady reminded herself to breathe. “What?” she finally spluttered.
Her mother reached over and covered Kady’s hand with hers. “We’re tired, Kady. It’s time for a change.”
She studied her parents, who were sitting side by side. They were in their late fifties, kind of young to retire, but they’d worked all her life with few vacations. She regarded them in that light now and noticed fine lines on her mother’s face and circles under her father’s eyes, his dark brown hair graying. Just as they’d admitted, they did indeed seem worn-out.
So many questions filled her head, Kady didn’t know where to start. “How long have you felt like this?”
“Six months,” her mother answered, as her father responded simultaneously, “A year.”
She sank back in her chair. “Wow.”
Will opened a notebook by his side. Probably filled with numbers to satisfy the logical part of his brain. “As the family financial adviser, I need to bring you up to speed.” He rattled off figures that made Kady’s eyes go wide. Over the years, her parents had invested and saved up a considerable amount of money. More than Kady’d ever imagined.
“If you have so much money, why sell the shop?”
Her parents exchanged glances.
“It’s time,” her mother answered.
“But you know about my goals. I’ve already started to make inroads into the wedding market. With that income, I can upgrade the shop. And the florist convention is next week. I’m entered in the wedding-bouquet design category and this year I can beat the competition.”
“We appreciate your dedication,” her father said. “But we don’t have the energy to rebuild the business.”
“I do,” she protested. “I thought you were on board with my ideas.”
“We are...were,” her mother said. “But lately we’ve been talking about going away, and, well—”
“You don’t trust me with the shop.”
Another abrupt silence sucked the air out of the room. She knew her parents had questioned her commitment ever since she’d started full-time, but in the past year, Kady thought she’d worked hard to erase these doubts. Apparently not.
“Kady,” her brother said quietly, “we’ve talked about this and decided to take a vote. It’s the fair thing to do.”
Years ago, the ownership of the shop had been divided four ways, each member of the family holding an equal share. Kady already knew which way her parents would vote and assumed Will was on their side.
“Why bother?”
“Now, Kady,” her mother admonished. “Don’t be like this.”
“Be like what? Shocked that you’ve been talking about a major family decision and didn’t think to include me? Heartbroken over the fact that I love this place and now you want to take it away? I thought you believed in my vision.” She glared at her brother. “I brought you projections and a business plan. You agreed it was solid. And now you want to yank that out from under me, too?”
“I never said—”
She held up a hand to stop her brother and then faced her parents. “You still see me as the girl who makes mistakes, even though I’ve proven the opposite. No messing up orders. No losing keys to the delivery van. My mind is focused.” She stopped for a breath. Her dreams were evaporating right before her eyes. “Let me buy the shop. I can apply for a loan, work extra hours—”
“Kady—”
“Please give me a chance.” She hated begging but what other choice did she have? She could start her own business elsewhere, maybe, but she loved The Lavish Lily.
Tears pricked the backs of her eyelids. No. This couldn’t be happening.
“Maybe we could sort something out,” her mother said, clearly troubled by her emotional reaction. “Mark?”
Her father was scrutinizing her. She could see the indecision in his eyes. For the first time since the meeting had started, Kady felt hope.
“You guys can go on a trip or travel in a motor home or whatever you want. I’ll be right here, making money.”
Her father’s brow rose. He always brightened at the prospect of making money. “Our plans aren’t carved in stone.”
Buoyed by his positive reaction, Kady threw caution to the wind. “How about this—if I win first place in the bridal bouquet competition this year, you give me a real chance to build up a wedding clientele. I’ll run the shop. You don’t have to be involved at all.”
She bit the inside of her cheek, waiting.
“Kady, you’ve come in second place for three years now,” her mother responded. “What makes you think you’ll win this time?”
“I’ve been practicing all year.” And she had. She was tired of losing. She’d studied trends and questioned her friends about what kinds of flowers and styles they would choose for their own wedding bouquets. “After coming in runner-up for so long, I’m ready with a stand-out entry. I’ll knock Queen Jasmine off her throne for sure.”
Her parents didn’t seem convinced.
“This year the convention committee’s opened the event to the public,” Kady continued. “Brides-to-be from all over the area have been invited to come view the bouquets and centerpieces and other contest entries before announcing the winners. We couldn’t pay for that kind of exposure.”
“That is true,” her father agreed.
“And what are you going to do when Mom and Dad go on their vacation?” Will asked. “I can’t do deliveries or run the shop. I have my own business to worry about.”
Unease trickled down her spine. She hoped her next suggestion didn’t blow her case. “I could hire someone. Part-time? Then you wouldn’t have to worry about anything except enjoying your time together.”
Her mother stood. “Mark, let’s go in the back and talk about this.”
Together they walked to the workroom.
“I doubt this’ll happen, Kady,” Will said. “They’ve made up their minds.”
“Really? If that’s so, they wouldn’t have gone off to consider my proposal.”
“Kady, what are you thinking?”
“That I want to run this business, Will. Do you really believe I can’t do this?”
She thought about the success of her floral designs at today’s wedding. She’d done it all, professionally, and with no errors, even though she’d nearly dropped one of the arrangements.
She suddenly thought about the man with the strange-colored eyes. Dylan had been impressed with her. And why was she even thinking about this? Because it was easier than the alternative—losing all she’d begun to build.
Her brother stood. Paced. Ran a hand through his normally styled hair. “I want what’s best for Mom and Dad.”
“Even if they decide to give me a shot?”
He met her gaze. “Yes. You’ve really stepped up, taking over most of the running of the shop. And I agree with your idea to corner the wedding market.”
“Wait. What are you saying?”
“I’m on your side. I’ve seen your drive and dedication. I’m—” He was interrupted by their mother.
“We’ve talked it over.” Ruthie came to a stop in the middle of the room, her eyes dancing as she met those of her husband’s. “We’re willing to reach a compromise for now. We are going to go away, on a cruise, I think. Kady, you take over daily operations. Hire help.”
“Kady, this should give you time to implement your plans,” her father added. “Win the competition. Prove to us you can handle taking over the business permanently. When we come back, we’ll revisit the subject.”
Kady jumped up, smiling. “Thank you,” she said, hugging her mother. Then she grabbed her father. “You won’t be sorry.”
“No, we won’t be because your brother will be checking in on you.” Her father stopped her before she could protest. “Deal or no deal?”
Kady decided not to argue with the offer. “Deal.”
“Good,” he said, though he’d taken a little wind from her sail. “Get the job done, Kady, or we’ll sell.”
* * *
DYLAN STOOD BY the window, lost in the beach view. The sun, orange in the fading wash of the purple sky, dipped closer and closer to the horizon. The reception had officially ended around three, but the family had remained, happily catching up with each other. Dylan and his brothers fell into that category. They’d mingled long after the bride and groom had left for their honeymoon.
Hanging out wasn’t as painful as Dylan imagined. His family had been very considerate of his request not to talk about the situation surrounding his injury. Instead they razzed him about not having a girlfriend, which he could handle much easier than reliving the shooting and the loss of Eddie. He reserved that pain alone for the dark hours of the night, when he wrestled with his guilt over the shooting. His brothers probed, but he shut them down. His mother hadn’t put her two cents in yet, but he knew it was coming.
“Sit,” his mother commanded. Tall and regal, her olive skin announced her Mediterranean heritage. Her dark hair held little gray and her brown eyes were sharp, not missing a thing where her sons were concerned. “I saw you limping down the hallway.”
He didn’t argue. He loved this woman, as did his brothers. That was why even though they griped about the convention every year, one of them would always be with her.
She was right, though. He’d limped all the way to her room. Time to rest.
“Now, my darling boys—”
Deke groaned. His mother sent him a stern look.
“It’s time for the annual Sunshine State Florist Convention. Which of my loving sons is going to escort me this year?”
Dylan peered at his brothers, all of whom wore the same long-suffering expression. No one would question if they were related. Dark like their mother, only Dylan and Derrick had their father’s lighter eyes. And like their parents, all four were tall and lean. All in law enforcement of some kind.
“Mom, we love you,” Derrick began. “But this has to end. Can’t you find a friend to go with you?”
“If your father were here he’d be shocked at you all. Trying to pawn your mother off on someone else.”
“Oh, great. The dad card,” Dante mumbled in Dylan’s direction.
“I don’t know why this is such a burden for you boys. It’s not like I ask anything else of you.”
“I take your car for an oil change every five thousand miles,” Deke pointed out.
“I still cut the grass, even though I’ve offered to pay a lawn service to do it,” Dante added.
“And I call you every week,” Dylan said.
All heads turned to Derrick. “I got nothing.”
“That’s because you cheat,” Deke told him.
“That’s enough,” their mother proclaimed. “I know you are all adults. And I can’t tell you how much I appreciate every one of you.” She eyed Derrick. “Even you.”
Deke punched him in the arm.
“But this year is different. I was asked to give a workshop and I’ve accepted. It’s my first public-speaking event and I need moral support.”
Derrick brightened up, the first of the brothers to cross the room and hug their mother. “Awesome news, Mom.”
“Congrats,” Dylan said, his heart softening as he viewed his mother’s teary eyes. He thought her wiping away a fake tear was a little much, but it was the way Jasmine Matthews worked.
“I promise after this year I won’t ask any of you to tag along with me. Aunt Betty has expressed an interest, especially since Uncle Frank is going to retire. She can come with me next year.”
Dylan was about to throw out an excuse for not attending this year when his cell rang. He slipped it from his pocket, frowning when the division office number appeared on the screen.
“Can’t this wait?” his mother asked, a reprimand in her voice.
He held up the phone. “The office. I should see what they want.”
She nodded and turned her attention back to the captive audience. He eased open the sliding door, stepping onto the balcony. The temperature had dipped with the impending night and a heady breeze kicked up. Dylan pulled the collar of his jacket closer to his neck. “Matthews.”
“Dylan, it’s Tom Bailey. I’ve got some news I think you should hear.”
“I’m at a family wedding. Can’t it wait?”
“It’s about Esposa.”
The man who’d disappeared after killing Eddie. Dylan had searched high and low, as had other law-enforcement agencies, but the dealer disappeared underground. No one had seen or heard from him since.
Anger burned in Dylan’s chest. “What have you got?”
“A buddy of mine in Tampa is on a joint task force with local police departments. He heard about what went down with Esposa. One of his contacts made a positive sighting.”
“Where?”
“Just outside of Tampa. I remembered you said you’d be near there, so I’m giving you a heads-up.”
In his research, Dylan had learned that Esposa had family in the Tampa area, but after having the local district office keep a watch on them, the agents hadn’t found any evidence to corroborate that Esposa had relocated there. Esposa was able to lie low in a place the DEA wouldn’t know of because he’d built a loyal network of people who would hide him indefinitely. But maybe Dylan had caught a break.
Cypress Pointe was only forty-five minutes outside of Tampa. Dylan needed to act on the tip.
“Thanks, Tom. I owe you.”
“Pizza and a round of pool should make us even.”
“Deal.”
Dylan ended the call and slipped the phone back in his pocket. He wrapped his fingers around the cold metal balcony railing. The breeze cooled his heated face. Finally. This was his chance to make Esposa pay. Time to get justice for Eddie.
Except he couldn’t allow Esposa to have any inkling he was here. If the dealer caught wind that Dylan had received a credible tip, he’d take off. Dylan might not have an opportunity like this again. He had to play this smart or his chances of catching the guy would again drop to zero. He needed to hang around and come up with a strategy.
His brothers’ laughter pulled him from his thoughts. He went back into the room. Being here with his family, seeing them safe and healthy, made his chest hurt. Since living in Miami, he’d been too far away from them. The wedding had been a worthwhile reason to reconnect. He’d missed sparring with his brothers, missed the creative ways their mother found to keep her sons active in her life.
It also reminded him this was why he did the work he did. To keep families, like his and so many others, safe from dealers who cared about only money and power.
“Excellent,” his mother said. “You’re back. I was just telling your brothers about my workshop. It’s all about making the bride imagine what she needs for her special day, not necessarily what she wants. I’ve found...”
Dylan pulled Derrick to the corner of the room, his gaze glued to his mother while he asked, “You still have the fake two-headed coin?”
“I’m not saying anything without a lawyer.”
“Chill. You want to get out of convention duty?”
Derrick eyed him suspiciously. “Of course.”
“Then let me flip the coin. I need to stay in town.”
“Are you crazy? Still on pain meds?”
“No. I have a lead on Esposa.”
His brother stilled.
“He’s close, Derrick. I have to stick around and see what I can dig up. The convention will be a great cover.”
“I don’t know, Dyl. Are you up to this?”
“I haven’t thought of anything else since I woke up after surgery and found out Eddie was gone.”
“I get it, but you’re too close, man. And your bosses wouldn’t go for it.”
“Esposa’s been in the wind too long. It’s now or never.”
Derrick went quiet. Mulling it over? No matter what his brother decided, Dylan was sticking around Cypress Pointe until he got some answers.
“I don’t like it, but okay. You need backup?”
“Not yet.”
“I’ll only give you the coin if you promise to keep me in the loop. Call if you need anything.”
Dylan hated to get anyone else involved. This entire mess was on him and he intended to keep it like that.
“I can do that,” he assured his brother. “And another thing. Keep this between us. I don’t want going after Esposa to turn into a family affair. He’s mine.”
Derrick nodded.
“We’re good?” Dylan asked.
“We’re good,” his brother answered.
His mother turned her gaze toward him. “What are you two whispering about over there?”
“It’s nothing, Mom,” he replied. “Your workshop sounds exciting.”
Dante coughed.
“It is.” She stood, glancing at the gold-and-diamond wristwatch their father had given her on their last anniversary. “You boys have until tomorrow to decide who will attend the conference with me. Now, go back to your rooms and get changed. We’re meeting your aunt and uncle down at the beach in twenty minutes. They tell me the bonfire is lots of fun.” She took a long moment to glance at Dylan. “We don’t get together much anymore, so let’s enjoy ourselves.”
Dylan and his brothers filed out of the room. In the hallway, with the door closed and their conversation out of their mother’s earshot, Deke blurted, “When do we flip?”
Derrick pulled out a coin and flicked it in the air. “How about right now?”
“Not until we check the coin.” Dante reached out to grab it.
“Wait. Let me.” Dylan snatched the coin in midair and made a show of looking it over, first one side, then the other. “We’re good. Dante, you and Derrick go first.”
“Heads,” Dante called.
Dylan flipped the coin, and when it landed back in his hand, he said, “Heads. You’re out, Dante.”
His brother let out a long, relieved breath.
“Okay, Derrick and Deke.”
“Heads,” Deke called before Dylan tossed the coin. Again he read the face when it landed in his hand.
“Sorry, man. Derrick is safe.”
Derrick backed away. “Don’t ever punch me again.”
Dante snickered.
“Get it over with. Heads,” Deke said, pain etched on his face.
Just for fun, Dylan stretched out the suspense. “One. Two. Hey, Deke, did Mom really make you follow her around with the flower bucket last year?”
Deke glared at him. “Do it.”
Dylan chuckled. “Three.”
He sent the coin in the air. Four sets of eyes watched it twirl, each brother holding his breath at the outcome. Dylan captured the coin in his fist and snatched it to his chest. Opening his hand, he looked down. Closed his eyes.
“Well?” Deke asked.
Dylan held the coin up between his thumb and forefinger. “Heads. I lose.”
Deke slumped against the wall, clearly relieved. “You guys kill me.”
“Guess I have convention duty this year. Wish me luck,” Dylan told them.
Deke straightened. “It’s not so bad.”
Dylan lifted a brow.
“Okay, it is, but you’re injured. I wanted to cut you some slack.”
“I’m a big boy. I can handle anything Mom throws my way.”
“Be careful what you say,” Deke warned.
“At least this is the last coin toss,” Derrick said. “After this convention, we’re free men.”
“Until Mom decides she wants daughters-in-law,” Dante pointed out. “I saw her searching the crowd during the wedding. She’s already making plans.”
Deke shook his head. “Just shoot me now.”
Normally Dylan would agree with his brothers, but an image of the pretty florist he’d met at the wedding flashed across his mind. He blinked, surprised at the pleasure it brought him. He just as quickly shook it off. He was a long way from wedding bells. Until he put Esposa behind bars, nothing else, including a woman, came first in his life.
CHAPTER THREE (#ulink_be186b0c-64b2-58d2-9e15-f5c87ebfad55)
IT DIDN’T TAKE Dylan long to get the ball rolling. Knowing Esposa might be near infused him with an energy he’d been lacking. He had to do something now, because waiting was no longer an option. Closing the book on Esposa meant moving on with his life.
The beach teemed with locals enjoying the wintery Saturday night. The bonfire burned bright, the wood crackling as the steady wind kept it stoked. His brothers had spread out among family and friends, sharing their brand of humor and chatting up the fine people of Cypress Pointe. Dylan stood alone, dwelling on his next move.
A hoot of laughter caught his attention. Derrick, holding court. He wished he could laugh as easily, but his mind was elsewhere and his thigh ached in the cold air. He chose to ignore it, focusing instead on the prospect of nailing Esposa.
When his mind started going around in circles, he finally entered the merry group, hands jammed deep in his pockets. After asking a couple of leading questions, his uncle pointed out the police chief, Bob Gardener. The older, stocky man lingered on the edge of the gathering, dressed in his official uniform, obviously on duty. Dylan made his way over, gritting his teeth as he tried not to limp, and introduced himself, mentioning his agency and title.
“Your office gave me a heads-up,” the chief said.
“Already?”
“We’re with the joint task force,” he explained, directing a no-nonsense look at Dylan. “They made sure to let me know you aren’t active in the field at this moment.”
“I’m not. I came to town for my cousin’s wedding, but I can’t ignore it when a suspected big-time drug dealer might be in the area.”
The chief nodded. “Figured as much.”
“Do you have information you can share with me?”
“First, I have to establish whether this is this coming from you in an official capacity or personal interest. I know this guy shot you and your partner.”
“Esposa. Yes.”
News traveled fast in the law-enforcement world, but he didn’t blame the chief for asking. Finding Esposa was a personal matter, as well as a professional one, and the chief had a right to know. Dylan had already spoken to his superior since the call from Tom. He was on leave, but they could command him not to nose around, though how would they stop him? The unspoken code was that Dylan had better be discreet, and if he did indeed find Esposa, he better not play cowboy and go after him alone. Dylan had been a field agent long enough to know that the hero always died, except in the movies. He was part of a team for a reason and would call upon them if needed.
“It’s both, personal and private, at this point. Is that a problem?”
“Not as long as we follow protocol. Until your supervisor says otherwise, you have limited authority in my jurisdiction, but if we find the guy you’re looking for, I’d like to work together.”
“I intend to.”
The chief regarded him once again, sizing up the man who’d come into his town requesting information. Dylan didn’t like it, but he understood. He didn’t always play well with others, but in this case he’d liaise with local law enforcement to a T. Esposa wasn’t going to get away because Dylan went rogue.
“We’ve had activity at the marina,” the chief revealed, having made sure they were far enough away from the crowd so no one would overhear. “Usually we get an influx of weekend tourists who dock and head into town to shop or visit the restaurants. The locals keep their boats moored there. But lately there have been vessels coming in and out that are suspicious.”
“How so?”
“Idling in during the early morning hours. Docking for short periods of time. Definitely not tourists.”
“What can you tell me about the marina?”
“Run by a private company. Got a guy on duty during the day.”
“Have you checked him out?”
“No red flags. Been working there for years. Company man, runs the place efficiently.”
A gust of wind whipped up the flames of the bonfire. Bright sparks shot up in the air before burning out, ash drifting down to the sand. The scent of burning wood floated toward Dylan as he processed the information. The chief knew the locals, so he’d have to trust him on this.
“Who noticed the boats coming in and out at night?”
“Local fishermen. They’re a tight group, watching out for each other. Notice when strangers show up snooping out their favorite spots.”
“Are you looking at any possible suspects?”
“A few guys have come across our radar.”
He reined in his impatience at the chief’s vague answer. “Names?”
“A couple of young punks showed up here about three months ago. Been hanging around the marina. Had a couple run-ins with ’em. Ran their names through the system. Petty stuff mostly, but with the news of a drug dealer in the wind, we’re taking it seriously. I got the names back at the station.”
Good. Somewhere to start. “Anyone else you’re looking at?”
The chief hesitated. Dylan had to hand it to the man. He’d shared a lot so far, but now wasn’t the time to backpedal.
“Still think I’m going to interfere?” he asked.
The chief met his gaze head-on. “Look, I’m bein’ careful. For both of us.”
Dylan’s hands fisted in his pockets. Patience, he reminded himself. He wasn’t going to find Esposa tonight and he needed the chief’s assistance. No point blowing it by ticking off this man.
“Got it.”
The chief chewed on Dylan’s answer before replying. “Local guy. Will Lawrence. Also been hangin’ at the marina, which is odd ’cause he doesn’t own a boat.”
“Does he have legitimate reasons for being there?”
“He’s an accountant.”
“So he could be there on business?”
“Yeah. The company that runs the marina is out of town, so Will does the bookkeeping. Known the guy since he was a kid, but I gotta say, something feels off.”
A jolt of excitement charged Dylan’s veins. He never ignored a fellow officer’s gut when he claimed something was hinky. “I’ll run his name. See if I can find anything more.”
“Doubt it. He’s a Cypress Pointe resident. Never been in trouble with the law or run with the wrong crowd. He was popular in school. Runs a stable business.”
That the chief knew of. People involved with criminal activity didn’t usually announce it to the world.
The chief’s face remained tight, his gaze daring Dylan to contradict him. “I pride myself on knowing the people around here. Just ’cause something might be off doesn’t mean he’s a criminal.”
“Fair enough.” Dylan scanned the crowd, still jazzed that there might be some leads in this town. “Is he here tonight?”
“Haven’t seen him.” The chief craned his neck, his gaze hunting over the people assembled. “His sister is by the fire. Over there, talking to two other women.”
Dylan searched in the direction the chief pointed out, his chest tightening when he saw Kady, the woman from the wedding. Just to be sure, he asked, “Her name?”
“Kady Lawrence.”
“You don’t say.”
The chief shot him a sharp look. “You know her?”
Dylan shook his head. “Only met her briefly at my cousin’s wedding.”
“She’d be the one delivering the flowers.” The chief squinted, like he was searching his memory. “She got into some mischief as a kid, but nothing serious. She works at the family flower shop. Nothing to tie her to her brother’s activities besides the family business.”
But there was a connection and Dylan never took opportunities like this for granted. Kady’s brother might be innocent, but he was a solid lead Dylan planned on pursuing. Spending time with Kady to get to the truth was an added bonus.
The few minutes they’d spent talking at the reception had him thinking about her on and off all day. She’d managed to snag and hold his attention, something that rarely happened when he was deep in a case. Well, he wasn’t technically on a case, but he had been focused on Esposa for the past few months. She might not have any tie to this investigation, but now he had an excuse to seek her out. Not that he’d reveal a thing. He still intended to keep his cover hidden until he learned anything useful.
Watching Kady laugh with her friends, Dylan resisted the urge to pull her from the group and question her. Because he wanted to be near her again? Smell her sweet perfume? Slow down, Matthews. She’s part of the puzzle.
The chief’s voice cut into his thoughts. “Got a local PI by the name of Max Sanders keeping an unofficial eye on things. He helps me out from time to time when I’m down on manpower. Good guy. You’ll probably want to speak to him.”
Dylan nodded, tucking the information away. “Thanks, Chief. I really appreciate you filling me in.”
Hands on his hips, legs spread in a military stance, the chief said, “Look, Matthews, I don’t have anything substantial to book these guys on, let alone connect them to Esposa. I haven’t searched the boats because I don’t have cause to. On top of that, your guy hasn’t been seen around here. This could be a complete misunderstanding.”
“Even strange boats in the marina?”
“I don’t know for sure if they’re involved in illegal activities or transporting drugs. It could simply be some fishermen I haven’t met before, looking for a place to drop their lines.”
Dylan watched the chief, his gut churning. The older man said one thing, but his eyes said another. He suspected the events were connected; he just couldn’t act on it. Yet.
“But you don’t think so.”
The chief went silent for a long moment. “No. I don’t.”
“Then we keep investigating. By the book.”
The chief shook his head. “You aren’t gonna give up on this, are you?”
“Not until I find the guy who killed my partner.”
The chief puffed up his cheeks and blew out a breath. “I get it, but I gotta say, be careful.”
“Always.”
Loud voices carried over the crowd, catching their attention. The chief perked up, his gaze assessing the situation on the other side of the bonfire. A heated argument between two burly guys looked like the makings of a fight. “Gotta get to work. Stay in touch.”
As the chief lumbered away, Dylan stared at the fire, lost in his thoughts. A group of women deep in conversation caught his eye, Kady among them. A strong protective streak swept over him, reminding the agent in him why his job was so important. But the urge to see her again reminded him that he was attracted to this woman. The brief encounter at the reception wasn’t long enough. Another chance to talk to the pretty lady presented itself and he wasn’t going to squander the opportunity.
* * *
WILL LAWRENCE STARED at the numbers, his eyes blurring. The dim lighting didn’t help. He could look at them a million more times but nothing would change. He needed more work, or a miracle, to replace the money in his family’s accounts.
He’d been an idiot. Knew better than to fall for get-rich-quick schemes. He’d been lured in by the promise of easy cash, sure this onetime venture would secure retirement not only for his folks, who’d worked for years to support their children, but also for Kady and himself. Flat out, he’d been played. Now he found himself in serious trouble.
Never look a gift horse in the mouth.
His granddad’s old saying. What would the old man say now if he knew what Will had done? Getting involved in an investment through the friend of a friend was a risky choice, but with his parents talking seriously about retiring, he’d hoped to add more funds to their portfolio.
From the partially open office window, Will heard a commotion from the beach, a mere block away. Rubbing his eyes, he stood and crossed the room. Stared outside. Normally he’d be part of the rowdy crowd, enjoying his friends. Joking around like he didn’t have a care in the world.
All that changed three months ago. It felt like a lifetime.
He turned, going back to his desk. He’d reviewed his personal budget, but even drastically changing his lifestyle wouldn’t be enough to make a difference. His only hope was the two appointments set up for next week. Through the grapevine he’d learned the country club needed a new bookkeeper. It was a big job, meaning lots of extra hours on top of his already established practice, but he would do it. If he was offered the job.
Then there was Jenna at Charming Delights Catering. Her business had grown quickly, so he scheduled an interview for next week. Every new account he could secure would help in the long run.
He’d already picked up additional work at the marina. Lined up some safe investments, which would bring in close to half of what he owed, except it took time. He was amazed at how quickly one could lose a bundle of money versus it slowly trickling back. But he had no one but himself to blame.
Slumping in his chair, he scanned the room. Anything else beat concentrating on the unchanging numbers. His gaze came to a screeching halt when he viewed the diplomas on his office wall. Top-ten college. Graduated summa cum laude. His CPA accreditation. First in his class.
What good was it all now? If word got out that he’d lost his own family’s money, his reputation would be useless. Unless he fixed the situation. Fast.
This morning, when his sister balked at selling the shop, he’d been relieved. If his folks reconciled their true financial situation, they would learn money was missing. Demand explanations. Wanting his parents to be set when they retired was a lame excuse for his losing their money, even if it was true. They would be disappointed in him, with cause. He’d let them down. Thank goodness they didn’t have a clue.
But instead, Kady’s argument about running the shop saved him. Changing their parents’ minds bought him more time. They could go on a much-needed vacation and enjoy themselves. He would make it up to them no matter how long it took.
Kady managing the shop and weddings would keep her in the dark as well. He actually agreed with her vision, was happy she finally settled down to make a wise career choice. They didn’t usually see eye to eye, but her plan to build up their wedding market share made sound financial sense. Her business plan was good, as were her projections. She could actually make a name for The Lavish Lily since his parents wanted out. He was proud of her.
He only hoped he hadn’t ruined her dreams.
* * *
KADY’S EYES BURNED as the bonfire smoke blew in her direction. She blinked, which only caused tears to well. What was she? A smoke magnet? It seemed smoke had radar and blew in her direction, no matter where she sat. “Why do I let you guys talk me into coming out here?” she muttered, her throat drying up as the smoke engulfed her again.
“Because you need a night out with the girls,” her friend Nealy answered.
“You’re so busy conquering the world of wedding flowers, we don’t see you,” Lilli added.
“Except this isn’t a girls’ night out. It’s the entire town of Cypress Pointe out. And you’re both here with your significant others.” Coughing, she grabbed the water bottle from Lilli’s outstretched hand.
“You make that sound like a bad thing,” Lilli said.
“Look, bonfires are special to both of you. I get it. You have wonderful memories associated here. All I do is end up going home with a scratchy throat and smelly clothes and hair.”
Nealy laughed. “You are so not a romantic.”
Lilli tapped a finger against her chin. “We need to find you a guy.”
“Whoa. Put the brakes on.” Kady held up her hand. “I’m not looking.”
“That’s your problem. You should be.”
“Why bother? I know most of the single men in town. Dated some of them. It didn’t happen.”
“That’s no reason to close yourself off,” Nealy argued.
Sure it was. Most of the guys she’d dated were as busy as she, always canceling at the last minute with work obligations. She got it, but for once she’d love to be put first in a relationship. Take Brad, for instance.
She’d trusted him. Thought she’d fallen hard for the country-club general manager she’d met while attending a business meeting there. She’d been talking with the event coordinator about her floral services when Brad walked into the office. They’d clicked. One date led to another and soon they were an item. Kady couldn’t believe how well they’d synced.
Until they didn’t.
After three months of assurances that he wanted to settle down, Brad jumped at an opportunity to move to a big club in Texas and hadn’t asked her to come with him. Worst of all, he’d bragged about acquiring only quality vendors, like Kady, to land the job.
While still in Florida, he’d promised she would be the exclusive florist for the club, which quickly fell through when the new general manager didn’t agree. Not only had her heart been bruised, but Brad had also cost her business she’d been counting on, while using her to advance his own career. After that, her trust level in men plummeted.
Since then, having gone on too many bad dates to count, Kady decided she and dating were like oil and water. Didn’t mix well. She accepted that. Why couldn’t her friends? Running her business and building a brand were the most important relationships in her life right now.
“You two are disgustingly happy and I’m thrilled for you both—truly I am. But not everyone is looking for their soul mate.”
Nealy leveled a glance at Lilli. “That is true. Things weren’t smooth sailing for either of us when we started out with our guys.”
“But they are now.”
Lilli’s smitten expression made Kady laugh. “Spoken like a bride-to-be.”
“The bride-to-be who has venue choices to make,” Nealy reminded her. As her event planner, she’d been after Lilli to make decisions so she could get the wedding ball rolling.
“And flowers to select,” Kady added.
“I will.” Lilli’s eyes went all dreamy. “We’re enjoying the moment.”
Nealy sputtered, “You’re making Max crazy. The PI is ready to drag you down the aisle.”
“There is that, too.”
Kady smiled at her childhood friend. She was delighted about the upcoming nuptials, especially since she’d be doing the flowers for the wedding and all the other related events. If Lilli ever set a date, that was.
“Hey, look. Dane’s waving at me.” Nealy stood, waving back to the man who owned the Grand Cypress Hotel, home to this year’s florist convention. “I should see what he wants.”
Lilli followed, brushing sand off the seat of her jeans. “And I should find Max.”
“Nice,” Kady mumbled, still seated. “You drag me down here then dump me.”
“We’ll be back,” Nealy assured her as the two took off. Yeah, right. From past experience, she knew once those two got with their men, there was no separating them. She smiled.
The wind picked up again, blowing the acrid smoke in Kady’s direction. Her nose burned and she blinked back fresh tears. Pushing up from the sand, she was ready to call it a night. The entire population of Cypress Pointe might enjoy the revelry of a bonfire on the beach, but Kady was not one of them.
Zipping up the jacket she’d layered over a sweatshirt and jeans, she coughed again as she weaved through the crowd, headed to the parking lot. She passed a group of laughing guys, swerving out of their way when she heard a deep male voice.
“Kady?”
She swung around, her foot sliding in the damp sand. Her pulse jumped as the hunk from the wedding headed in her direction.
“Hi. Dylan, right?”
“Yeah. Enjoying the bonfire?”
She brushed ash from her sleeves and answered, tongue in cheek. “Sure.”
His metal-colored eyes sparkled with humor. “I’ll take that as a no.”
She laughed. “You’d be correct.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Friends dragged me out. You?”
“Family dragged me out.” His smile, somewhere between sad and amused, reminded her of just how attractive she found him.
“Part of the wedding festivities?”
“Apparently.” He rubbed his leg and tried to hide a grimace.
She nodded toward his leg. “Are you okay?”
“Injury. Been standing out in the cold for too long.”
“There’s a bench over there.” She pointed. “You can have a seat.”
“If you’ll join me.”
Her stomach fluttered at his invitation. Trying to act nonchalant, she shrugged. “Why not? I was only planning to go home and take a nice warm shower to get the stench out of my hair.”
“Bet you’re loads of fun on a camping trip.”
“Never been.”
“Fun times.”
Kady slowed her pace to match Dylan’s gait. He’d changed into a jacket over a Henley shirt, with jeans and boots. Shedding his formal wear hadn’t made him any less attractive.
When they reached the bench he eased down gingerly. Not sure how to act around him, she perched at the far end, leaving plenty of space between them. Not that she had to worry—it seemed like the entire town surrounded them. If he started anything sketchy, she’d yell at the top of her lungs.
“I promise you, I have no evil intentions.”
Great. Obvious much? “A girl can’t take chances.”
“Very wise of you.”
She sat back and relaxed a bit. “And kind of insulting to you?”
“Nah. I get it.”
His easy acceptance made her loosen her tense shoulders. Here she sat, on a bench, curious about the good-looking guy who’d not only kept her from ruining a flower arrangement at the reception, but was also the man she’d been thinking about all day. Why not enjoy it?
“Do you have these public bonfires on the beach often?” he asked after a few moments.
“Yes. It’s a tradition. They’ve been part of Cypress Pointe history for as long as I can remember.” She drew up her leg and turned to angle herself in his direction. “Kids used to start the fires on their own, so instead of banning them, the town council decided to set up specific nights for the fires so the authorities could monitor the crowd.”
“Smart. Although starting fires when you’re not supposed to is more fun, it is more dangerous.”
She tilted her head inquisitively. “Is that a guy thing?”
He chuckled. “Just an observation. Our family gatherings are usually barbecues, so we always say fire fixes everything. Well, except for the time my brother Dante accidentally set the field behind our house on fire. We all ran outside to contain it before the fire department arrived. On the way, he grabbed an heirloom quilt my great-grandmother had made and used it to try to smother the flames.” He shook his head, a crooked grin lighting up his face. “My mother was not happy.”
“I imagine.” She bit her lip, then asked, “How many brothers do you have?”
“Three.”
“Wow. Your mom must be wonderful to put up with your antics.”
He glanced at the crowd. Looking for his mother?
“She is.” He turned his attention back to her. “You have any siblings?”
“A brother. But he hasn’t started fires or destroyed heirlooms.”
“Why not?”
She silently chuckled at his serious face. Like fire and destruction were normal parts of life to him.
“My brother is too upstanding and too good at everything he does to engage in troublemaking.”
“Oh. Sorry to hear that.”
Her eyes went wide. “Seriously?”
“I’m just saying, my brothers and I have lots of great stories.”
She shook her head, trying not to laugh.
“So you’re saying your brother is a decent member of society?”
“He is.” Her eyes narrowed. “What’s with all the questions about my brother?”
“Nothing. Just making conversation. Family is usually a safe topic.”
And why had she suddenly gotten so prickly? Because Will always ended up being part of the conversation, no matter where she was. With her folks. On the job. People always wanted to know how Mr. Wonderful was doing, even people who didn’t know him well. She hadn’t realized how defensive she’d gotten about her brother until just now.
“Okay,” Dylan said, bracing his arm along the top of the bench. His fingers were mere inches from her shoulder, which she found very distracting. “We’ll switch off the topic of family. So, the bonfire. Do folks from surrounding towns join in as well?”
“It’s usually just Cypress Pointe.”
“Seems like you have a nice town. Safe place?”
“Why, are you planning on moving here?” Now, wouldn’t that be interesting, running into this hunk around town.
He chuckled. “No. Since my cousin lives here I’m curious.”
“Well, not much crime. A nice tourist spot. Not much traffic. Good restaurants. Awesome beach views.”
He nodded, watching the people on the beach. Like he was looking for someone. She ignored the regret washing over her. Already tired of talking to her? It shouldn’t matter, but it did.
The moment dragged on until he spoke again. “Did you grow up here?”
“What are you, a census taker?” she teased, afraid it came off more defensive than joking.
“You got a chip on your shoulder?” he responded.
Okay, he gave as good as she did. His aim directly hit its target. “Fine. I deserved that.” She ran a shaky hand through her hair. “To be honest, it’s been a while since I spent time talking to a nice guy.”
His mouth thinned and his gunmetal eyes turned serious. “You sure I’m a nice guy?”
If his expression was supposed to make her nervous, it didn’t. If anything, she wanted to know why he’d think differently. “I haven’t seen otherwise.”
“We don’t really know each other.” He paused, leaning in close. His fingers nearly skimmed over her jacket. In a quiet voice he said, “But I do know I like spending time with you.”
His statement caught her off guard. Made her blood race.
“Um, thanks.”
His chuckle sent chills over her skin. “You’re welcome.”
Nervous now, she tucked her hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry for coming off rude. I’m not usually hard to get along with.”
“No worries.” He glanced at his watch. “I need to get back to my family. They’re probably heading over to the hotel soon.”
He stood, a little shaky on his leg, but caught himself. She wondered what had caused his injury. How long ago he’d been hurt. Not that it was her business, but honestly, in the short time she’d known him he triggered the inquisitive side of her nature. She wanted to know more.
He held out his hand. “Nice to meet you. Again.”
She rose and took his hand in hers. The zing of pleasure she’d experienced earlier returned, stronger this time. “Likewise.”
They remained there, gazing at each other. Kady held her breath, hoping he might say more. Maybe ask her out? When he didn’t speak, she realized he wasn’t going to do as she’d hoped. Disappointment wrapped around her. What did she expect? She’d only just met the guy. He was probably leaving town soon. No point in starting anything if he wasn’t going to be around, even if he’d admitted he liked spending time with her.
“So I’ll see you around?” she asked.
She couldn’t quite interpret the expression in his eyes when he said, “Never say never,” before walking away.
Was that a yes or a no?
Tugging the car keys from her jeans pocket, she trudged to her car. How had she managed to screw up a possible date? She really needed to try harder. Lilli was right. But this thing with Dylan? It was different. Made her want to get out there again. She would hate to admit this to her friends, but maybe she did need their help. If not with Dylan, maybe another guy.
Once she got to the car, she slid inside, curling her hands over the top of the steering wheel and resting her forehead against them. Had she really blown her chance with Dylan? Her parents always accused her of being difficult. Maybe they were right. It would explain why her relationships never lasted. Even though Brad had been ages ago, she realized now he’d never been the man for her. But Dylan? He wasn’t like any man she’d ever met. He had her second-guessing herself, while at the same time he sent her pulse racing. It was out of the ordinary for her and she liked it.
Lifting her head, she stared at the beach. It looked like the party was winding down. Folks would return home and tomorrow things would go back to normal in this sleepy town. For her, it would be business as usual. Right. Once she convinced her folks to let her run the shop, lined up more wedding jobs and won the bouquet competition at the florist convention. By that time Dylan would probably be gone and she’d have missed her chance to learn more about the most interesting man she’d met...ever.
CHAPTER FOUR (#ulink_7529440b-9a25-55e9-9d2d-d9bf393c2707)
BY THREE O’CLOCK Tuesday afternoon, Kady had interviewed four women for the front-counter position. After her parents agreed to let her hire help, Kady had called her friend at the local newspaper to place a want ad. She’d also posted the position on employment websites and been pleased by the quick responses.
Until now.
Of the four, one had sales experience, but very few hours she could work. Another was just out of college and wanted an administrative position. Kady scratched her head at that one. Her posting had clearly stated it was a sales position. The last two were local teens looking for part-time jobs. Not exactly what Kady was hoping for.
Thankfully, her parents opted out of the interview process. Kady’s mother had managed to book a cruise that sailed out of the Port of Tampa on Friday. She was busy shopping and getting ready to hit the high seas. Her father decided to wean himself from coming to the shop so he didn’t suffer withdrawal while they were gone. Only been a few days in, but so far, so good.
Leaving Kady alone to pick out their newest employee was a huge sign of confidence on her folks’ part. They’d kept their word and let her assume control of the business. As long as Will didn’t stop by too often and interfere, she was golden.
Glancing at the wall clock, she realized her final interview for the day was to arrive soon. She tidied up the worktable after finishing her last arrangement, just in time to hear the shop bell ring. Hurrying up front, she was met by a smiling woman close to her age.
“Hi. I’m Kady Lawrence,” she said, holding out her hand.
“Christine Wallace.”
As they shook, Kady observed her newest recruit. Shoulder-length curly blond hair, sparkling blue eyes and a megawatt smile. Average height. The girl-next-door look customers would respond to.
Kady got right down to business. “You know this is a sales position?”
“Yes. I’ve worked in retail, so I’m aware of how to engage customers. I’ll work hard to represent your business and help increase productivity.”
Okay, finally someone who understood. But by her word choices, Kady got the impression Christine had done far more than sales. Was she too good to be true? “What kind of other relevant experience do you have?”
Christine rattled off her management and office skills from time spent with respectable companies.
“I have to ask, why this job? You’re overqualified.”
“I just moved to the area. To be honest, I’ve done my time in the nine-to-five grind and I want a change. I love Cypress Pointe and plan on settling here. This job would be perfect for what I have in mind.” She grinned. “And I like flowers.”
“Perfect answer.” On instinct, Kady made a quick but firm decision. “How soon can you start?”
Christine blinked. “That was fast. And I can start as soon as you want.”
“I have a good feeling about you.” She paused and bit her lower lip. “There is one thing.”
“Okay.”
“My parents are a bit...challenging to work with. They’re very picky about the shop. I feel it’s only right I give you a heads-up.”
Christine seemed to consider Kady’s words. “I’ve worked with a variety of...shall we say, temperamental bosses in the past. I’ll be fine.”
Kady let out a breath. “Great. That said, my folks are leaving on a cruise and I’ll be attending a florists’ convention here locally, so I’ll be in and out of the shop. Think you can handle it?”
“Absolutely.”
“My older brother will be around, too. He doesn’t work here, but pops by occasionally. I’ll make sure you meet him and he can get the info he needs for his bookkeeping. During the convention, I’ll be in early in the mornings to complete orders before attending the workshops.
“But for today, let’s go over your duties and I’ll give you a rundown of the shop.” Kady smiled. “Welcome to The Lavish Lily.”
* * *
ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, Kady stepped away from the registration table at the Grand Cypress Hotel, her convention packet in hand. She looped her name tag, which was attached to a lanyard, around her neck. The buzz in the hotel lobby ramped up the energy level as people checked in and caught up with old friends. A poster, propped on an easel right inside the front door, announced the upcoming floral competitions in which Kady was already registered. After her parents’ bombshell several days earlier, she had to make the most of this conference, which meant winning the wedding-bouquet category.
To her relief, Christine had taken to the job immediately, easing any concerns Kady had about leaving her new employee alone at the shop for a few hours without Kady there to guide her. Will promised to stop by and check up on things sometime during the day. While she was glad he was on her side for once, she could tell something was off. He was distracted and edgy. More so than usual. She thought about asking what was up, but then she doubted he’d confide in her anyway. They hadn’t been close for a long time, not since he opened his own accounting office and she finally stopped wandering around trying to find aim in her life. Do-no-wrong Will could take care of himself, as he’d always done. Without her.
Groups of attendees mingled in the huge lobby, excited chatter echoing off the marble floors. For the next several days, anything and everything floral-related would be focused upon within these walls.
In the years Kady had been attending the conference, it had always been located in different cities in Florida. When it was announced that this year’s event would be held right here in Cypress Pointe, Kady couldn’t believe her luck. On her home turf, maybe she could beat the reigning queen of wedding bouquets and finally win first place.
She waved to a few women she knew as she moved to a quiet corner of the lobby to take a seat and go over the itinerary. Scanning the workshop schedule, she discovered the next few days were packed with all sorts of interesting topics. This year, organizers added actual hands-on workshops for newbies to experience floral designing. Interesting. The welcoming reception was tonight and the awards ceremony would cap off the convention on Sunday evening. At each previous convention, she’d held her breath at the ceremony, waiting to hear her place in the competition. And each year, she’d missed out on being number one.
She had three days to worry about her entry. This year, the competition held an extra perk, thanks to a new feature the convention committee developed. All day Sunday, the entrants in different wedding categories would display their floral designs to the public, specifically targeting brides-to-be. The open house had been publicized around town and all over the Tampa Bay area, in order to lure prospective brides to the showcase. That meant a day’s worth of publicity for The Lavish Lily. Kady would be able to show off her bouquet entry, as well as connect with potential customers she needed to grow her wedding business.
Her drawings were hidden away in her apartment. The flowers she’d ordered would be delivered by her wholesaler early Sunday morning, ensuring her entry would be fresh for display. She’d established a contingency plan, just in case, and was totally prepared to beat her competition this year. Nothing was going to stop her.
There were only a few workshops scheduled for this afternoon. For the most part, it was a day to catch up with other florists. Kady checked off two topics she thought might be interesting. How to Improve Your Business was scheduled in ten minutes. Later, she’d stop by Floral Tips 101, then have time to run home, change into something dressy and return for the reception.
Pleased with her first decision, she stood, smoothing the designer jeans she wore with a jade green top and high-heeled black boots, the picture of a successful businesswoman. Or so she hoped. She dropped the convention packet in her large tote bag, which held a notebook and several pens, then hitched it over her shoulder, ready to move on to the first meeting room. When she looked up, her gaze collided with the handsome guy she hadn’t been able to get out of her mind since Saturday.
His low drawl sent a familiar awareness through her. “Surprise.”
Her eyes went wide, but she quickly regained her composure. “Dylan? What are you doing here?”
“Attending the conference.”
“I thought you were in town for the wedding.”
“And the conference. Double duty.”
She blinked. “I...”
His spicy cologne grabbed her attention and she forgot her next words. Today he’d dressed in a light blue, button-down dress shirt and black trousers. The loafers made his outfit casual, yet he carried it off with sophistication.
“Why didn’t you mention you’d be here when we were together the other night?” she finally ventured.
He shrugged, his metal-colored eyes hooded. “I’m a man of mystery.”
“That I believe, because you don’t seem like a florist.”
There was an edge about Dylan. She couldn’t see him patiently creating a floral arrangement. No, more like he needed action in his life.
He chuckled. “I’m not, but it is a family business. Just like everyone else here, I’m ready to learn more about the floral industry.”
She glanced down at his chest and back. “Where’s your name tag?”
“You caught me. I haven’t picked it up yet.”
“You can’t get into any of the workshops unless you have one.” Did she come off as stuffy as she sounded?
“Which I’ll rectify right now. See you around?”
“Sure. I hope so.”
Shaking her head, Kady went to the designated meeting room. Why hadn’t Dylan told her he’d be here? Not that he needed to announce his schedule to her. They’d only bumped into each other a few times. Of course, this was Cypress Pointe. If he was going to hang around town, she’d eventually run into him.
As her mind worked out the logistics of Dylan’s presence at the convention, Kady nearly missed the room. Clearing her mind, she entered, determined to concentrate on the speaker, not Dylan’s motives. Glancing around, she noticed a few early birds scattered about in the empty seats. She chose a row in the middle, a few seats in from the aisle. A few minutes passed and someone took a seat beside her. Dylan.
“Are you stalking me?”
“No. You’re the only person I know here. And I can always learn how to—” he glanced at the workshop schedule and read “—improve my business.”
She slanted a look his way. “You own a floral shop?”
“My mom. I help her out occasionally by coming to these conventions.”
“So you don’t actually work in the floral industry?”
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Tara Randel
Who will catch a lifetime of love?Winning the annual wedding bouquet design competition may be the closest Kady Lawrence gets to the altar. She has to come in first or risk losing the shop that’s been in her family for generations. Her main competition is Jasmine Matthews. But it’s Jasmine's son who’s caught Kady's attention.Kady has no inkling Dylan’s a DEA agent on a case in Cypress Pointe, and Dylan wants to keep it that way…until Kady's targeted. Determined to keep her safe, Dylan risks a lot more than blowing his cover…he risks losing Kady forever.
Who will catch a lifetime of love?
Winning the annual wedding bouquet design competition may be the closest Kady Lawrence gets to the altar. She has to come in first or risk losing the shop that’s been in her family for generations. Her main competition is Jasmine Matthews. But it’s Jasmine’s son who’s caught Kady’s attention.
Kady has no inkling Dylan’s a DEA agent on a case in Cypress Pointe, and Dylan wants to keep it that way...until Kady’s targeted. Determined to keep her safe, Dylan risks a lot more than blowing his cover...he risks losing Kady forever.
Suddenly, Kady shivered; he stepped toward her.
He liked being here with Kady, standing in the outdoors, far away from the burden of his memories, the strangling ties of his job. Standing before this beautiful vista of sand and surf, beside an equally beautiful and fascinating woman, almost felt surreal.
Kady rubbed her hands up and down her bare arms.
“Are you cold?”
“Yes. I should have grabbed my wrap before we came outside.”
Dylan shrugged out of his jacket and placed it over her shoulders. She took the lapels in her hands and drew the coat around her.
“Better?”
She met his gaze. “Much.”
They continued to stare at each other. Dylan was so drawn to this woman, he should be fighting it. It wasn’t safe for either of them, and yet...he slid his arm around her waist. When she didn’t move away, he pulled her closer.
Dear Reader (#ulink_d8a8424e-4c62-5dd3-8ce3-b972610d062e),
Who doesn’t love flowers? Or weddings? How about a mystery thrown in for good measure?
The Bridal Bouquet, the fourth installment in The Business of Weddings series, has all of the above, along with two strong-willed characters out to achieve their goals. Problem is, their goals don’t include love so, of course, they can’t help falling for each other.
Kady Lawrence has a lot to prove if she wants to take over the family floral shop. Attending the annual floral convention and winning the wedding bouquet competition is all part of her plan, that is until DEA special agent Dylan Matthews walks into her life.
Dylan has an old score to settle and the criminal in question is hiding out near Cypress Pointe. How to catch him? Pose undercover at the floral convention to gather information about the town and its people. Sounds easy enough. But bad guys have a way of changing the rules. Soon Dylan finds himself protecting Kady, and as danger escalates, love blossoms.
Welcome back to Cypress Pointe. For a small town, there always seems to be something exciting going on! You’ll catch up with characters from my previous books and find out if any wedding bells will chime in the future. After all, this is the business of weddings.
Tara Randel
The Bridal Bouquet
Tara Randel
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
TARA RANDEL is an award-winning, USA TODAY bestselling author of eleven novels. Family values, a bit of mystery and, of course, love and romance are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. Tara lives on the West Coast of Florida, where gorgeous sunsets and beautiful weather inspire the creation of heartwarming stories. This is her fourth book for Harlequin Heartwarming. Visit Tara at tararandel.com (http://www.tararandel.com). Like her on Facebook at Tara Randel Books (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tara-Randel-Books/219272758140488).
To my wonderful friends Tiffany and Christian.
Thanks for the inspiration, Christian. Your stories really lit a fire under me.
Contents
COVER (#u6d633743-db33-5985-a34e-381fa2e0eaf8)
BACK COVER TEXT (#uf98e8cc8-d491-53d2-b9ac-3f7f8bf827d6)
INTRODUCTION (#ub2659dc0-66ce-5f07-b7fe-504cbf96f152)
Dear Reader (#ulink_b4d2802c-d20c-5f1a-bf55-c0070e8e2908)
TITLE PAGE (#u980c2d01-12da-5a87-8fab-3074f63b5c39)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR (#u1532b4b4-ea49-591a-bb3e-4d712e0846d6)
DEDICATION (#u7d3d3726-4140-52f5-899a-3e9d8e381198)
CHAPTER ONE (#ulink_a52e34fc-59bb-5aa3-bf4f-cc775ee780fa)
CHAPTER TWO (#ulink_1b9abc93-c0aa-5cc9-9527-e89c2ffef1ef)
CHAPTER THREE (#ulink_992b23aa-ef44-58f7-a6b7-6ffdf0b7b5d6)
CHAPTER FOUR (#ulink_0cd1c917-460a-5c42-bec1-544b6b4636cb)
CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIXTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
EXTRACT (#litres_trial_promo)
COPYRIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ONE (#ulink_0d56da55-7fb8-5b28-9624-27536e2c5ec7)
KADY LAWRENCE DODGED the raucous wedding party eagerly heading for the reception-bound vehicles idling in the parking lot. Now that the photographer was concentrating solely on romantic bride-and-groom shots, Kady could transport the floral arrangements from the beach ceremony to the Grand Cypress Hotel ballroom.
Her feet sank into the cool, smooth sand, her flats keeping a minimum of the sugary grains from shifting into her shoes and tickling her toes. The sun shone bright on this seasonably cool January day, making this postcard-perfect weather in Cypress Pointe, Florida. The azure-blue sky played backdrop to fluffy, scuttling clouds above. A bride’s dream come true, she thought. She glimpsed the couple staring into each other’s eyes, the crystalline waters of the Gulf of Mexico a stunning vista in the background.
A brisk wind had whipped through during the ceremony, rustling the skirts of the bridesmaids’ dresses. But the bride lifted her face to the sky and laughed, welcoming the heady bluster with unbridled delight. The air settled after the brief swirl, but the gulf waters continued to churn, a vivid reminder of the natural elements surrounding them.
While the couple laughed and enjoyed their special day, Kady’s thoughts ran more along the lines of asking the photographer if she could place some of his wedding prints on display in her family’s flower shop. She had three goals in life—number one, to make The Lavish Lily the one-stop floral shop for brides and all bridal-related events. Working with fellow wedding professionals could only propel her dream forward.
Her other goals fed off the first—upgrade the family flower shop and win the wedding-bouquet category at the annual florist convention this year. Goals she was determined to fulfill, no matter what roadblocks stood in her way.
The late morning ceremony had been performed on a wide wooden platform situated directly on the beach, with rows of bow-festooned chairs lined up for the guests. On either end of the platform were waist-high white pillars, a beautiful flower arrangement placed on each for the ceremony.
Kady approached the first arrangement, sinking her nose into the fragrant collection. She adored the scent of fresh flowers, never tiring of the sweet aroma that touched her soul. Instead of going with a dozen traditional red roses, the bride had requested all white to go with her lovely gown, which was complemented by a red waist sash. Kady had designed a combination of gardenias, snow-white dahlias and white larkspur for height. Baby’s breath was nestled throughout, the arrangement set in crystal containers and each accented with a bright red bow. Quite stunning, if she did say so herself.
“Kady,” Nellie, the bride, called out as her new husband took her hand to help her step from the platform onto the red aisle runner. “The flowers are gorgeous. I didn’t think you’d be able to create exactly what I wanted.”
Why did everyone doubt her? She prided herself on being a competent floral designer and took each and every arrangement to heart. She knew from the beginning which flowers would please the bride and her mother, then sold them on her vision.
“Wait until you get to the reception.”
Nellie beamed. “We’re headed there now. See you there.”
Kady nodded. “Just let me get these arrangements into the van. I’m delivering them myself.”
“You are staying for the party, aren’t you?”
Kady had been surprised at the impromptu invitation the last time she’d met with the bride. Normally she placed the flowers and other reception decor the bride had ordered, then left. But when Nellie asked her to join in the reception, she’d been honored.
“Thanks. That’s so nice of you but I’ve just got a lot on my plate right now.”
“I have a bunch of single cousins...” The bride left her suggestion open-ended, trying to wheedle Kady into changing her mind.
“I’m not in the market for a guy.” Too many things to focus on at the moment, like pouring her time and energy into marketing the shop to brides. She had future weddings lined up and needed to prove to her parents that birthdays and funerals weren’t the only ways to sustain their business.
Besides, she wasn’t dressed for the occasion, even though she always looked appropriate when making a delivery. Today, she’d matched a fitted coral blouse with a flowing, patterned skirt. Pretty, but definitely not wedding attire. She’d pulled her shoulder-length hair into a ponytail to keep it out of the way while she worked.
“Come on. Every girl dreams of her special day,” the bride teased.
“Not me.”
Kady had never jumped on the crazy-bride bandwagon. Not after falling for a guy and having had him stomp on her heart. Instead, she was content to design flowers and hope her parents someday saw the talented woman she had grown into, rather than the aimless youth she’d once been.
“Let’s go, babe,” Dean, the groom, said. Nellie waved and the couple headed for their limousine.
It took three trips and fifteen minutes for Kady to get the flowers and pillars secured in the van before she set off for the reception. As she drove, she reviewed her mental checklist. She’d placed centerpieces and additional arrangements around the ballroom in advance of everyone arriving. The extra bridal bouquet, to be tossed into the group of single women at some point during the party, was waiting on a side table. Kady had even come up with what she dubbed a bouquet-docking station, a safe place for the bride and attendants to store their bouquets so they didn’t get lost or ruined during the reception. Satisfied, Kady stepped on the gas. The sooner she delivered these ceremony flowers, the sooner she’d be done.
She’d just parked in the hotel lot when her cell phone rang. She swiped the screen and frowned. Her brother’s number.
“Hey, Will.”
“What time will you be back at the shop?” Right to the point, as always.
Kady held back a groan. Her older brother, the “doer of no wrong,” checking in on her. She was thirty years old, for Pete’s sake. When would her family stop thinking of her as a screwup? Okay, so years ago she’d gotten sidetracked and forgotten to take the work van to get an oil change. And yeah, yeah, the engine had blown. And yes, she’d botched a big order from the wholesaler one time when she’d been in her Save the Manatee phase and spent more time gathering names on petitions than doing inventory.
Always curious by nature, her mind switched gears with each new adventure calling her name. The more unique the challenge, the more Kady embraced it and stored away the experience, sure she’d later use the knowledge she’d gained. Her parents, spending long hours running the flower shop, were either too busy or frustrated to redirect their inquisitive daughter. Especially when Kady’s behavior continued well into her twenties.
It wasn’t until she’d gone to live with her beloved aunt Cynthia, after her parents had thrown up their hands at her behavior, that Kady began to focus. Her aunt, who designed and hand-made her own jewelry, stumbled upon the artistic nature in her and began to tap into Kady’s energies. She encouraged Kady to assist her and Kady quickly realized she loved being creative. Her openness to so many different ideas made her excel at designing. And renewed her love for the floral shop. Merging her two passions together, she decided, The Lavish Lily would become her destiny.
For three years now she’d been full-time at the shop. She’d slowly taken over designing duties, making most of the deliveries and manning the front counter. No mishaps. No mistakes. So what if it had taken her a while to figure out what she wanted to do with her talent and abilities, traveling down a twisty, turning path instead of being on the straight and narrow. She’d made it here, finding purpose in her life. Why couldn’t her family credit the change in her?
“I’m at the hotel. Let me get the delivery inside, make sure everything else is in place. Then I’ll be there.”
“How long?”
“Not sure. I’ll call you when I leave.”
“We’re waiting.”
Kady grimaced as she ended the call. She hated these family meetings. No good ever came from them, especially for her. Her parents had been acting oddly lately and Will, an accountant who didn’t have the least interest in flowers, was hanging around the shop all the time. Yes, he had a share in the family business, but he’d never been involved with the day-to-day running of it. And had even been MIA for a long while. Why show up now?
She’d ignored their abrupt silences whenever she walked into the place, tried not to speculate why, lately, she alone worked the long hours filling wedding orders. Something was up, and by her brother’s hounding, she figured it would be revealed this afternoon.
Brushing off the useless foreboding, she went to the back of the van to remove the first arrangement. Will would do what he wanted and her parents would be fine with it. All she could do was concentrate on getting new customers, brides specifically, and grow the business. Then maybe her parents would look at her with pride, like they did at Will.
Loud chatter spilled from the banquet room as Kady entered. The place was filled with milling guests congratulating the newly married couple. A few restless children raced around the dance floor, ignoring their mother’s sharp tones imploring them to calm down. The DJ played soft music while people mingled. Lunch would be served soon if the delicious aromas wafting from the kitchen were any indication. Her tummy growling, Kady went about her job, blending in, while checking one last time to make sure all the arrangements she’d placed earlier were in good shape.
At the center of each table, white pillar candles flickered in tall hurricane glasses. The same floral theme—simple white flowers cascading around the glass—made a dramatic effect against the deep red table linen. The menu, printed in raised gold script, rested upon milk-white plates. The crystal glasses sported gold rims. The utensils, wrapped in a red napkin circled with a white-and-gold ring, tied the table ensemble together.
Subdued and elegant. Just what the bride dreamed of. Exactly what the wedding planner and Kady had delivered.
On her last trip with the final arrangement, Kady made her way around the far wall intent on the gift table. Only a few steps from her destination, she was suddenly under siege by a half-dozen playing children. She went into football mode, dodging first to the left, then to the right, spinning to avoid a rushing child as she held on tightly to the container of flowers. After evading the possible disaster, she grinned, impressed by her running-back skills. Who knew she was so light on her feet? The path clear now, she moved forward until she stepped on an abandoned toy left behind by one of the kids. Her ankle turned. Bracing herself, she securely locked her arms around the crystal container, holding on for dear life. But instead of going down, strong hands gripped her upper arms and kept her from falling.
Relieved, she looked over her shoulder, glimpsing the most unusual pair of blue eyes she’d ever seen. Actually, blue wasn’t entirely correct. A hint of silver turned them an unusual shade of metallic gray. The man’s somber expression matched the concern she read there and his very handsome face garnered her full attention.
“Steady there.” His husky voice spoke close to her ear, sending shivers over her skin.
Rattled, she set down the flowers and turned to face her rescuer. “Thanks. That could have been a disaster.”
“Then it’s a good thing I happened to be nearby.” A half grin curved his lips.
Kady’s heart thumped in her chest. Talk about fantastic timing. She sneaked a peek at him. Yeah, she was going with not spilling the flowers to explain her racing pulse.
Mr. Awesome Eyes narrowed said eyes and stared down at one of the boys, perhaps the ringleader. “You should take the kids outside, Mikey. Otherwise I might have to get your daddy after you.”
Mikey paled before nodding. “I will. Please don’t tell Dad.”
“Then quit running around when your mother asked you to stop.”
The inherent command in his deep tone brooked no disobedience. Something told her she wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of this man.
The youngster rounded up the remaining children and they scurried out to the pool area before heading off the patio to a wide manicured lawn at the side of the hotel. Plenty of free space to run unchecked out there.
The stranger focused on her. “Bored kids and distracted parents. Not the best combination at a wedding reception.”
“No.” She knew she should leave now, get back to the shop, but her feet seemed rooted to the spot. His cologne enveloped her. She tried to sort out the elements in the spicy fragrance like she always did when defining new scents, but his nearness made her jittery. Tucking an errant strand of hair behind her ear, she tried not to squirm.
The stranger stuck out his hand. “Dylan.”
She accepted his warm, strong grip, surprised by a zing of awareness. “Kady.”
He held on to her hand a few seconds longer than necessary. In that time, she noticed more about him. Tall. Hair razor-cut. Military? Even with the short look, she noticed a hint of gray peppering his temples. Tanned olive skin, as though he spent many hours outdoors. He filled the black suit paired with a charcoal shirt and red tie to perfection, his broad shoulders straight, his lean build steady.
She gulped. “I should probably go.”
“You just got here.”
“Only to deliver the flowers.”
He tilted his head, his strange-colored eyes regarding her with unwavering scrutiny. “You’re the most fascinating person at this party.”
Fascinating? That was new. Why not throw sublime into that description, she thought, and hid a laugh. Still, she’d take it. Compliments had been few and far between lately.
“Um, thanks. I think.”
“The way you saved those flowers? Classic football move. You got my attention right away.”
He grinned, his serious expression lifting. Her breath caught at the transformation. When somber, he was handsome. Grinning, he was downright gorgeous. Okay, who was she kidding? She was way out of her element right now.
Before she could remind him she’d saved the flowers thanks to him, he was speaking again.
“I was debating a cheesy line about how your beauty struck me from across the room. Guess you’re a bit too savvy than to fall for that.”
“Yeah. Every woman hates to be called beautiful.”
He chuckled. “In that case, it’s true. I did notice you as soon as you came through the door.”
“It was either that or the commotion from the kids.”
“Nah. I really did notice you.”
What should she say now? She felt her face flush and hoped beyond measure her cheeks didn’t light up like a neon sign flashing her guilty pleasure. How often did a good-looking guy notice her from across the room? Ah...never?
“Despite your line, I am glad you were here when I tripped.”
“I live to serve.”
She half expected a formal bow, like the staid British lords she read about in Regency novels. “So... I need to get going.”
“You can’t stay a few more minutes?”
She wanted to. More than anything. “I’m busy. Besides, this looks like a family reunion as well as a reception. I don’t want to overstep.”
“To be honest, that’s kind of why I’d like you to stay. My cousin is the bride, so yeah, this is a reunion. I haven’t seen most of my relatives for a few years and I’m all talked out. If my grandmother asks me one more time when I’m getting married, then points me to one of my cousin’s single friends, I may lose it.”
“Gee, that’s tough. Dealing with people who love you.”
He had the grace to smile disparagingly. “I’m a rotten grandson.”
They both chuckled. Despite his complaining, she heard the affection in his tone for his grandmother. “So why haven’t you seen your family in a while, if you don’t mind my asking?”
“My job, mostly.”
A waiter passed by, carrying a tray of sparkling champagne in crystal flutes. When he stopped, Dylan removed two, handing one to Kady.
“Oh, no. I shouldn’t. I’m working.”
“How about a quick toast. To new friends.” He clinked his glass to hers.
“To new friends,” she agreed.
She took a sip, noticing Dylan did the same. She was glad to see he didn’t knock it back like some of the party animals she’d run across at other receptions.
They stood in awkward silence. Finally, Kady placed her glass on the table beside her. “So, it was nice meeting you.”
“Maybe we’ll run into each other?”
“Are you staying in Cypress Pointe long?”
“Depends on the coin toss.”
“Excuse me?”
His mouth curved at the corners. “Inside family joke. Sorry.”
She opened her mouth to ask him to elaborate, when an older gentleman approached Dylan and started a conversation. Boxed into the corner, she couldn’t leave until one of the men moved. After a few long minutes of trying not to eavesdrop, she cleared her throat. Dylan glanced her way.
“Uncle Frank, give me a few?”
Uncle Frank looked at Kady, then back to Dylan, and winked. “Sure, son.”
Dylan slanted her an amused glance. “See.”
“I get it now. Is your entire family comprised of matchmakers?”
“Yep. And I have three brothers who are also single. We try to stay low-key during family events. Keeps the meddlers from focusing on us.”
“So you’re saying I actually rescued you?”
His stunning eyes widened in surprise. “Yes, I’d say you had.”
“Rescuer and floral designer.” She pantomimed a motion of wiping her hands. “My work is done here.”
Dylan laughed, his eyes filled with...admiration?
“Sure I can’t convince you to stick around?”
“Sorry. I have a meeting I can’t miss.”
“Too bad. With you, this reception might have been fun.”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
At his wink, her heart thumped.
“Anytime.”
* * *
DYLAN MATTHEWS WATCHED Kady as she weaved through the crowd, stopped to hug the bride and then exited through the same doors she’d first walked through. He wasn’t kidding when he dropped the line about noticing her from across the room. She’d caught his eye at first glance and he was immediately fascinated.
Was it because the light draped her just the right way when she’d entered the room? What else explained how his gaze lit on her pretty face? He rubbed a hand over his cleanly shaven jaw. He’d been cooped up far too long. That would explain the unusually poetic notions rummaging around in his head.
As she’d drawn closer, he noticed she was tall, not as tall as his six feet, but it wouldn’t take much effort for their eyes to meet. Her brown hair was pulled into a ponytail, with little fly-away strands framing her face. She’d smiled, her cheeks flushed as she went about her business.
When he’d braced her arms with his hands to keep her from falling, he’d caught a whiff of something fruity as he pulled her close. Raspberry? Her expression, when she turned, was shaken but grateful. Then he got up close to her honey-brown eyes. A jolt seared his gut and he hesitated letting go of the connection.
When was the last time he’d recognized such a buzz of attraction? A long time, if he was honest. And he always tried to be honest with himself—good, bad or otherwise.
Best of all, she traded quips like a pro. Didn’t miss a beat. Had to be the best quality about her. After talking with her, he realized he’d enjoyed every minute.
Something he hadn’t experienced in quite a while.
With a sigh, he set down his glass beside Kady’s. Too bad she took off. He would have liked to get to know her better. Her good humor had lifted some of the darkness that hung over him.
Before he had a chance to dwell on the past, his older brother, Derrick, joined him.
“Mom’s worried about you.”
“When is she not worried?” Dylan countered.
“When we’re all at home under her roof where she can keep an eye on us.”
“She does realize we’re grown men, right?”
“She’s a mother. According to her, we’ll always be her babies.”
Dylan shuddered. “Heaven save us.”
“I saw you talking to a woman. Did Gram send her over?”
“No.”
“You scare her off with your brooding Heathcliff imitation?”
“No, she had to work. She’s the florist who supplied the flowers for the wedding.”
“Huh. Nice job.”
“Since when do you notice flowers?”
“Since I’m trying to be evolved.” Derrick looked to the closest table where Kady had left an arrangement. “Hey, these are pretty.”
Dylan laughed. “Evolved, hmm?”
“Complaints from the last two women I dated.”
“And you’re listening to their suggestions? After they dumped you? I’m impressed.”
Derrick shrugged his shoulders as if brushing off Dylan’s jab. “So how are you doing? Leg okay?”
At the mention of his injury, Dylan reached down and rubbed the back of his thigh where the exit wound still seemed raw. The gunshot damage had taken longer to heal than he’d hoped. On the bullet’s journey through his thigh, it nicked the femur and splintered the bone. Multiple surgeries removed the fragments. Repairing structural damage had laid him up. Not that he was complaining. If the bullet had hit his femoral artery, it would have been lights out. Physical therapy had finished two weeks ago, but the ache still haunted him.
Besides the physical pain, there was the emotional as well. A constant reminder of whom he’d lost. A partner and a good friend. The grim reality Kady had eclipsed a few minutes ago returned with a vengeance. The constant enemy who never left his soul.
“I’m fine.”
“Not true. I saw you favoring your leg when we walked into the hotel. Too much activity today?”
“Since when is sitting at the beach and walking into a building too much activity?”
“When you’re recovering from a gunshot wound.”
“I’m fine,” he repeated through clenched teeth.
Derrick held his hand up in defense. “Hey, man. If you say so.”
He wasn’t fine. Not by a long shot. But he wouldn’t burden Derrick, or his other brothers, and especially not his mother, with his problems. The burden and the guilt were his and his alone to carry.
When Dylan started as a special agent for the DEA ten years ago, he’d gotten into a few tight spots. Some moments had even been dangerous, since he went after guys who would rather shoot first and run later. He was relentless when pursuing dealers who put drugs on the streets. His good fortune finally came to an end when he ticked off the wrong guy.
He and his partner, Eddie, had spent many months in Miami planning to cut off the pipeline of a major dealer who didn’t appreciate them gumming up his operation. Esposa was an especially tenacious criminal, moving operations whenever he and Eddie got a lead on his location. They’d played cat and mouse for so long, Dylan wasn’t sure if he’d ever arrest this guy. He made headway by securing an informant within Esposa’s organization. Every time the creep turned around, Dylan was right on him. But with that success, Dylan had made an enemy—an enemy who wanted him out of the picture permanently. Here Dylan was still breathing, while Eddie’s wife and son grieved the man they’d loved.
Six months. Six long, hard months recovering from the wound. He had survived. Eddie had taken a fatal bullet. The shot meant for Dylan. Nothing could make him forget that fact. And nothing would stop him until the shooter paid.
Except that he was on desk duty at the division office for the foreseeable future. He was only thirty-five. Was his career over?
His jaw tensed as he thought about his fate, when his brother interrupted.
“Heads up, bro. I overheard Mom talking to Aunt Betty.”
Derrick stared at Dylan, waiting. His brother loved to draw out a moment.
“And?”
“The florist convention is next week.”
Dread immediately gripped Dylan. “How did we not know this?”
“Because Mom lulled us into a false sense of complacency. Since she hasn’t mentioned it, our guards were down,” Derrick replied. “She’s sneaky like that.”
Jasmine Matthews loved her boys. Enough to guilt or con them into doing her bidding and not feeling the least bit of remorse.
“To make matters worse, the convention is at this very hotel. I’m sure her evil plan is to get one of us to agree to stay since we already have rooms here.”
For a man who didn’t panic over much, Dylan’s fight-or-flight response kicked in. “We gotta get out of this.”
Every year since their father died, their mother guilted her sons into attending the convention with her. Since she usually won some award, she claimed she needed a date to the banquet. Dylan had lucked out of this duty for five years now, but he was on borrowed time.
Belatedly he understood why his mother hadn’t made a fuss about not supplying the flowers for his cousin’s wedding. For the most part, she created arrangements for all the family affairs. He assumed she hadn’t done so this time because of the distance, since she lived in Cocoa Beach, on the other side of the state from Cypress Pointe. Although a very capable woman, she would have had to work with a local florist due to the logistics of the ceremony and reception. Now he realized she had a much greater goal in mind.
Derrick shook his head. “Too late. Mom wants all of us to stop by her room after the reception.”
Dylan closed his eyes. His thigh began to burn.
“Flip you for it?” Derrick said.
His eyes flew open. “No way. You cheat.”
Derrick’s fake offense was funny. “Hey.”
“I saw the double-sided coin last time.”
His brother sent him a sheepish smile. “You can’t blame me.”
“Deke does. He got stuck going with Mom.”
“Guess that explains why he punches me in the arm every time he sees me.”
“You deserve it.” He leveled his brother with his meanest special-agent glare. “We’ll check the coin before we toss it.”
“Spoilsport,” Derrick grumbled. “I don’t want to lose.”
“None of us do, bro.”
CHAPTER TWO (#ulink_d17a2609-19db-55b0-a024-05df948586c5)
KADY PARKED THE van in the alley behind the shop and hurried inside. A smile still remained on her lips. Meeting Dylan had been a pleasant surprise. His cologne lingered in her memory. And those eyes? Unforgettable. Her mind shifted to the image of his face... Stop. She had to focus on the business. Whenever her parents called a meeting it was important and she expected this time to be no different. She needed to be on her toes, not crushing over a handsome guy she’d just met.
Her smile faded as she entered the workroom. Booming from the speakers, Elvis sang about a hound dog. Ugh. She admired the singer, but wasn’t a fan of fifties music. Her parents loved those songs, despite Kady’s suggestion they play a variety of music to appeal to their customers. In Kady’s vision of an elegant floral shop where brides-to-be came to discuss their arrangements, they’d be better served with soft jazz or classical music in the background. Not folks going on about rockin’ around the clock or waking up Susie.
“Hi, guys,” she called out over the music, heading straight to the radio to lower the volume.
“How did the delivery go?” her mother asked as she added hypericum berries to the arrangement she was assembling.
“Everything went smoothly.” Kady leaned against the table. “That’s beautiful, Mom.”
Her mother stepped back to scrutinize her creation. “Mr. Andrews will be in soon to pick this up. Would you mind placing it in the cooler while I clean up?”
“Sure.”
Mr. Andrews came by every Saturday at noon to purchase his preordered arrangement. His wife had recently moved into an assisted-living facility and the sweet man brought her flowers every week.
Moving to the front of the shop, Kady placed the order in the cooler. Another cooler in the workroom held spare arrangements for sale to walk-ins. Kady had been in The Lavish Lily earlier, before the wedding, to put together some of the simple arrangements. She was glad to see three of them were gone.
“Were we busy this morning?” she asked her dad. He was hovering by the cash register and glanced up but didn’t look directly at her. Pushing his glasses to the bridge of his nose, he stared down again. Kady got the distinct impression he’d intentionally avoided looking at her. “Where’s Will?”
At her brother’s name, her dad’s head came up. “Ran down the street to buy lunch. Once Mr. Andrews collects his order, we’re closing down for the day.”
“What? But it’s beautiful out and people are sure to stop in. We’ll lose business.”
“We have things to discuss.”
“Things more important than waiting on customers?”
Her father frowned. “Depending on how this meeting goes, we may reopen later this afternoon.”
“But—”
“Not now, Kady.”
Reprimanded, she returned to the workroom. Her mother hadn’t yet tidied up the table, so Kady did, returning the tools to their correct places. When Kady started here full-time, she’d organized the cluttered space. Her mother’s tendency to leave tools around drove Kady crazy, so she’d purchased medium-sized storage bins. With a labeler, she’d marked each bin—one for tape, another for glue sticks, wires, foam and the list went on.
Her parents hadn’t been thrilled by the extra expense, since they ran the shop on a shoestring budget. Mark and Ruthie Lawrence operated a tight ship, financially speaking. The Lavish Lily had been in the Lawrence family for three decades. Lately, when Kady suggested ideas to spruce up the shop, her folks hesitated, like when she requested the storage bins. She’d finally broken down and bought the items herself.
“Mom, what’s up with this meeting?”
Her mother wiped her hands with a paper towel and tossed it in the garbage can in the corner. “You’ll find out when Will gets back.”
“Is it about hiring storefront help? We could really use someone to take orders.”
“I’m sure the topic will come up.”
It did quite frequently. Her parents were notorious for not being able to keep good employees, but with Kady courting the wedding market, they needed a reliable assistant.
“So what’s the big secret I don’t know about?”
When her mother wouldn’t meet her eyes, Kady realized there was something huge going on. Something the three of them must have already discussed without her. Her stomach sank. She knew she was always the odd man out, but not being included in whatever the family had decided hurt more than she expected.
“Kady, honey...”
She held up her hand. “It’s fine, Mom. We’ll wait until Will gets back.”
The bell over the front door chimed and Kady’s stomach twisted more. She heard her father speaking, then a softer male voice, and she knew it was Mr. Andrews. She swallowed. Will would return soon. She mentally prepared herself for the battle to come.
While she girded her emotional defenses, her mother scurried about the workroom, gathering paper plates and utensils for their upcoming lunch. The bell sounded again and Will’s unmistakable voice boomed from the other room.
“I’m back. Let’s all meet up front.”
Her mother sent her a nervous glance and exited the room. Taking a deep breath, Kady followed, fisting her hands. She smoothed her facial expression to neutral and joined the others, determined to keep a level head no matter what happened.
Standing amid open folding chairs, her brother handed out wrapped sandwiches as she walked in. Three years older, he had blond hair like their mother, along with intelligent blue eyes.
“Hey, sis. How did the delivery go? The flowers were spectacular.”
“Fine.” Her suspicions doubled. Will being nice after he’d been dogging her this morning? “This bride was easy to work with. I didn’t expect any problems.”
“You remembered to set up a pick-up time to get the glass containers back, right?” her father asked. He handed out to-go cups of iced tea.
“Yes, Dad. I spoke to the manager myself.”
Kady delivered flowers to many functions at the Grand Cypress Hotel. She and the staff had developed a real camaraderie.
“It’s not like I’ve left anything behind on purpose.”
“There was a time when we had to keep tabs on you with the inventory and the van.”
Kady wanted to shout. Would her parents ever let go of the past?
“Everything is taken care of, Dad. No worries.”
“Good. Then we can get started.” He passed Kady her food, which she hadn’t had a say in. Will probably got her a tuna fish sandwich when she would have preferred turkey. She pulled back the paper, and sure enough, the fishy smell made her wrinkle her nose. With her stomach already roiling, she set it aside. Tuna probably wasn’t a wise choice right now.
Will bit into a pickle, chewed and took a sip of his tea. “Dad, would you like to start?”
Her father cleared his throat. Why was he so nervous?
“Kady, you know this shop has been in our family for generations.”
She nodded. Her grandparents originally opened The Lavish Lily. Past history.
“As much as your mother and I have loved working here, proud that our efforts supported the family and we made a name in the community...” He stopped. Sent a pleading look to her mother.
This was not good.
Her father took a deep breath. “We’ve decided to retire and sell the business.”
Silence descended upon the room. After a few seconds, Kady reminded herself to breathe. “What?” she finally spluttered.
Her mother reached over and covered Kady’s hand with hers. “We’re tired, Kady. It’s time for a change.”
She studied her parents, who were sitting side by side. They were in their late fifties, kind of young to retire, but they’d worked all her life with few vacations. She regarded them in that light now and noticed fine lines on her mother’s face and circles under her father’s eyes, his dark brown hair graying. Just as they’d admitted, they did indeed seem worn-out.
So many questions filled her head, Kady didn’t know where to start. “How long have you felt like this?”
“Six months,” her mother answered, as her father responded simultaneously, “A year.”
She sank back in her chair. “Wow.”
Will opened a notebook by his side. Probably filled with numbers to satisfy the logical part of his brain. “As the family financial adviser, I need to bring you up to speed.” He rattled off figures that made Kady’s eyes go wide. Over the years, her parents had invested and saved up a considerable amount of money. More than Kady’d ever imagined.
“If you have so much money, why sell the shop?”
Her parents exchanged glances.
“It’s time,” her mother answered.
“But you know about my goals. I’ve already started to make inroads into the wedding market. With that income, I can upgrade the shop. And the florist convention is next week. I’m entered in the wedding-bouquet design category and this year I can beat the competition.”
“We appreciate your dedication,” her father said. “But we don’t have the energy to rebuild the business.”
“I do,” she protested. “I thought you were on board with my ideas.”
“We are...were,” her mother said. “But lately we’ve been talking about going away, and, well—”
“You don’t trust me with the shop.”
Another abrupt silence sucked the air out of the room. She knew her parents had questioned her commitment ever since she’d started full-time, but in the past year, Kady thought she’d worked hard to erase these doubts. Apparently not.
“Kady,” her brother said quietly, “we’ve talked about this and decided to take a vote. It’s the fair thing to do.”
Years ago, the ownership of the shop had been divided four ways, each member of the family holding an equal share. Kady already knew which way her parents would vote and assumed Will was on their side.
“Why bother?”
“Now, Kady,” her mother admonished. “Don’t be like this.”
“Be like what? Shocked that you’ve been talking about a major family decision and didn’t think to include me? Heartbroken over the fact that I love this place and now you want to take it away? I thought you believed in my vision.” She glared at her brother. “I brought you projections and a business plan. You agreed it was solid. And now you want to yank that out from under me, too?”
“I never said—”
She held up a hand to stop her brother and then faced her parents. “You still see me as the girl who makes mistakes, even though I’ve proven the opposite. No messing up orders. No losing keys to the delivery van. My mind is focused.” She stopped for a breath. Her dreams were evaporating right before her eyes. “Let me buy the shop. I can apply for a loan, work extra hours—”
“Kady—”
“Please give me a chance.” She hated begging but what other choice did she have? She could start her own business elsewhere, maybe, but she loved The Lavish Lily.
Tears pricked the backs of her eyelids. No. This couldn’t be happening.
“Maybe we could sort something out,” her mother said, clearly troubled by her emotional reaction. “Mark?”
Her father was scrutinizing her. She could see the indecision in his eyes. For the first time since the meeting had started, Kady felt hope.
“You guys can go on a trip or travel in a motor home or whatever you want. I’ll be right here, making money.”
Her father’s brow rose. He always brightened at the prospect of making money. “Our plans aren’t carved in stone.”
Buoyed by his positive reaction, Kady threw caution to the wind. “How about this—if I win first place in the bridal bouquet competition this year, you give me a real chance to build up a wedding clientele. I’ll run the shop. You don’t have to be involved at all.”
She bit the inside of her cheek, waiting.
“Kady, you’ve come in second place for three years now,” her mother responded. “What makes you think you’ll win this time?”
“I’ve been practicing all year.” And she had. She was tired of losing. She’d studied trends and questioned her friends about what kinds of flowers and styles they would choose for their own wedding bouquets. “After coming in runner-up for so long, I’m ready with a stand-out entry. I’ll knock Queen Jasmine off her throne for sure.”
Her parents didn’t seem convinced.
“This year the convention committee’s opened the event to the public,” Kady continued. “Brides-to-be from all over the area have been invited to come view the bouquets and centerpieces and other contest entries before announcing the winners. We couldn’t pay for that kind of exposure.”
“That is true,” her father agreed.
“And what are you going to do when Mom and Dad go on their vacation?” Will asked. “I can’t do deliveries or run the shop. I have my own business to worry about.”
Unease trickled down her spine. She hoped her next suggestion didn’t blow her case. “I could hire someone. Part-time? Then you wouldn’t have to worry about anything except enjoying your time together.”
Her mother stood. “Mark, let’s go in the back and talk about this.”
Together they walked to the workroom.
“I doubt this’ll happen, Kady,” Will said. “They’ve made up their minds.”
“Really? If that’s so, they wouldn’t have gone off to consider my proposal.”
“Kady, what are you thinking?”
“That I want to run this business, Will. Do you really believe I can’t do this?”
She thought about the success of her floral designs at today’s wedding. She’d done it all, professionally, and with no errors, even though she’d nearly dropped one of the arrangements.
She suddenly thought about the man with the strange-colored eyes. Dylan had been impressed with her. And why was she even thinking about this? Because it was easier than the alternative—losing all she’d begun to build.
Her brother stood. Paced. Ran a hand through his normally styled hair. “I want what’s best for Mom and Dad.”
“Even if they decide to give me a shot?”
He met her gaze. “Yes. You’ve really stepped up, taking over most of the running of the shop. And I agree with your idea to corner the wedding market.”
“Wait. What are you saying?”
“I’m on your side. I’ve seen your drive and dedication. I’m—” He was interrupted by their mother.
“We’ve talked it over.” Ruthie came to a stop in the middle of the room, her eyes dancing as she met those of her husband’s. “We’re willing to reach a compromise for now. We are going to go away, on a cruise, I think. Kady, you take over daily operations. Hire help.”
“Kady, this should give you time to implement your plans,” her father added. “Win the competition. Prove to us you can handle taking over the business permanently. When we come back, we’ll revisit the subject.”
Kady jumped up, smiling. “Thank you,” she said, hugging her mother. Then she grabbed her father. “You won’t be sorry.”
“No, we won’t be because your brother will be checking in on you.” Her father stopped her before she could protest. “Deal or no deal?”
Kady decided not to argue with the offer. “Deal.”
“Good,” he said, though he’d taken a little wind from her sail. “Get the job done, Kady, or we’ll sell.”
* * *
DYLAN STOOD BY the window, lost in the beach view. The sun, orange in the fading wash of the purple sky, dipped closer and closer to the horizon. The reception had officially ended around three, but the family had remained, happily catching up with each other. Dylan and his brothers fell into that category. They’d mingled long after the bride and groom had left for their honeymoon.
Hanging out wasn’t as painful as Dylan imagined. His family had been very considerate of his request not to talk about the situation surrounding his injury. Instead they razzed him about not having a girlfriend, which he could handle much easier than reliving the shooting and the loss of Eddie. He reserved that pain alone for the dark hours of the night, when he wrestled with his guilt over the shooting. His brothers probed, but he shut them down. His mother hadn’t put her two cents in yet, but he knew it was coming.
“Sit,” his mother commanded. Tall and regal, her olive skin announced her Mediterranean heritage. Her dark hair held little gray and her brown eyes were sharp, not missing a thing where her sons were concerned. “I saw you limping down the hallway.”
He didn’t argue. He loved this woman, as did his brothers. That was why even though they griped about the convention every year, one of them would always be with her.
She was right, though. He’d limped all the way to her room. Time to rest.
“Now, my darling boys—”
Deke groaned. His mother sent him a stern look.
“It’s time for the annual Sunshine State Florist Convention. Which of my loving sons is going to escort me this year?”
Dylan peered at his brothers, all of whom wore the same long-suffering expression. No one would question if they were related. Dark like their mother, only Dylan and Derrick had their father’s lighter eyes. And like their parents, all four were tall and lean. All in law enforcement of some kind.
“Mom, we love you,” Derrick began. “But this has to end. Can’t you find a friend to go with you?”
“If your father were here he’d be shocked at you all. Trying to pawn your mother off on someone else.”
“Oh, great. The dad card,” Dante mumbled in Dylan’s direction.
“I don’t know why this is such a burden for you boys. It’s not like I ask anything else of you.”
“I take your car for an oil change every five thousand miles,” Deke pointed out.
“I still cut the grass, even though I’ve offered to pay a lawn service to do it,” Dante added.
“And I call you every week,” Dylan said.
All heads turned to Derrick. “I got nothing.”
“That’s because you cheat,” Deke told him.
“That’s enough,” their mother proclaimed. “I know you are all adults. And I can’t tell you how much I appreciate every one of you.” She eyed Derrick. “Even you.”
Deke punched him in the arm.
“But this year is different. I was asked to give a workshop and I’ve accepted. It’s my first public-speaking event and I need moral support.”
Derrick brightened up, the first of the brothers to cross the room and hug their mother. “Awesome news, Mom.”
“Congrats,” Dylan said, his heart softening as he viewed his mother’s teary eyes. He thought her wiping away a fake tear was a little much, but it was the way Jasmine Matthews worked.
“I promise after this year I won’t ask any of you to tag along with me. Aunt Betty has expressed an interest, especially since Uncle Frank is going to retire. She can come with me next year.”
Dylan was about to throw out an excuse for not attending this year when his cell rang. He slipped it from his pocket, frowning when the division office number appeared on the screen.
“Can’t this wait?” his mother asked, a reprimand in her voice.
He held up the phone. “The office. I should see what they want.”
She nodded and turned her attention back to the captive audience. He eased open the sliding door, stepping onto the balcony. The temperature had dipped with the impending night and a heady breeze kicked up. Dylan pulled the collar of his jacket closer to his neck. “Matthews.”
“Dylan, it’s Tom Bailey. I’ve got some news I think you should hear.”
“I’m at a family wedding. Can’t it wait?”
“It’s about Esposa.”
The man who’d disappeared after killing Eddie. Dylan had searched high and low, as had other law-enforcement agencies, but the dealer disappeared underground. No one had seen or heard from him since.
Anger burned in Dylan’s chest. “What have you got?”
“A buddy of mine in Tampa is on a joint task force with local police departments. He heard about what went down with Esposa. One of his contacts made a positive sighting.”
“Where?”
“Just outside of Tampa. I remembered you said you’d be near there, so I’m giving you a heads-up.”
In his research, Dylan had learned that Esposa had family in the Tampa area, but after having the local district office keep a watch on them, the agents hadn’t found any evidence to corroborate that Esposa had relocated there. Esposa was able to lie low in a place the DEA wouldn’t know of because he’d built a loyal network of people who would hide him indefinitely. But maybe Dylan had caught a break.
Cypress Pointe was only forty-five minutes outside of Tampa. Dylan needed to act on the tip.
“Thanks, Tom. I owe you.”
“Pizza and a round of pool should make us even.”
“Deal.”
Dylan ended the call and slipped the phone back in his pocket. He wrapped his fingers around the cold metal balcony railing. The breeze cooled his heated face. Finally. This was his chance to make Esposa pay. Time to get justice for Eddie.
Except he couldn’t allow Esposa to have any inkling he was here. If the dealer caught wind that Dylan had received a credible tip, he’d take off. Dylan might not have an opportunity like this again. He had to play this smart or his chances of catching the guy would again drop to zero. He needed to hang around and come up with a strategy.
His brothers’ laughter pulled him from his thoughts. He went back into the room. Being here with his family, seeing them safe and healthy, made his chest hurt. Since living in Miami, he’d been too far away from them. The wedding had been a worthwhile reason to reconnect. He’d missed sparring with his brothers, missed the creative ways their mother found to keep her sons active in her life.
It also reminded him this was why he did the work he did. To keep families, like his and so many others, safe from dealers who cared about only money and power.
“Excellent,” his mother said. “You’re back. I was just telling your brothers about my workshop. It’s all about making the bride imagine what she needs for her special day, not necessarily what she wants. I’ve found...”
Dylan pulled Derrick to the corner of the room, his gaze glued to his mother while he asked, “You still have the fake two-headed coin?”
“I’m not saying anything without a lawyer.”
“Chill. You want to get out of convention duty?”
Derrick eyed him suspiciously. “Of course.”
“Then let me flip the coin. I need to stay in town.”
“Are you crazy? Still on pain meds?”
“No. I have a lead on Esposa.”
His brother stilled.
“He’s close, Derrick. I have to stick around and see what I can dig up. The convention will be a great cover.”
“I don’t know, Dyl. Are you up to this?”
“I haven’t thought of anything else since I woke up after surgery and found out Eddie was gone.”
“I get it, but you’re too close, man. And your bosses wouldn’t go for it.”
“Esposa’s been in the wind too long. It’s now or never.”
Derrick went quiet. Mulling it over? No matter what his brother decided, Dylan was sticking around Cypress Pointe until he got some answers.
“I don’t like it, but okay. You need backup?”
“Not yet.”
“I’ll only give you the coin if you promise to keep me in the loop. Call if you need anything.”
Dylan hated to get anyone else involved. This entire mess was on him and he intended to keep it like that.
“I can do that,” he assured his brother. “And another thing. Keep this between us. I don’t want going after Esposa to turn into a family affair. He’s mine.”
Derrick nodded.
“We’re good?” Dylan asked.
“We’re good,” his brother answered.
His mother turned her gaze toward him. “What are you two whispering about over there?”
“It’s nothing, Mom,” he replied. “Your workshop sounds exciting.”
Dante coughed.
“It is.” She stood, glancing at the gold-and-diamond wristwatch their father had given her on their last anniversary. “You boys have until tomorrow to decide who will attend the conference with me. Now, go back to your rooms and get changed. We’re meeting your aunt and uncle down at the beach in twenty minutes. They tell me the bonfire is lots of fun.” She took a long moment to glance at Dylan. “We don’t get together much anymore, so let’s enjoy ourselves.”
Dylan and his brothers filed out of the room. In the hallway, with the door closed and their conversation out of their mother’s earshot, Deke blurted, “When do we flip?”
Derrick pulled out a coin and flicked it in the air. “How about right now?”
“Not until we check the coin.” Dante reached out to grab it.
“Wait. Let me.” Dylan snatched the coin in midair and made a show of looking it over, first one side, then the other. “We’re good. Dante, you and Derrick go first.”
“Heads,” Dante called.
Dylan flipped the coin, and when it landed back in his hand, he said, “Heads. You’re out, Dante.”
His brother let out a long, relieved breath.
“Okay, Derrick and Deke.”
“Heads,” Deke called before Dylan tossed the coin. Again he read the face when it landed in his hand.
“Sorry, man. Derrick is safe.”
Derrick backed away. “Don’t ever punch me again.”
Dante snickered.
“Get it over with. Heads,” Deke said, pain etched on his face.
Just for fun, Dylan stretched out the suspense. “One. Two. Hey, Deke, did Mom really make you follow her around with the flower bucket last year?”
Deke glared at him. “Do it.”
Dylan chuckled. “Three.”
He sent the coin in the air. Four sets of eyes watched it twirl, each brother holding his breath at the outcome. Dylan captured the coin in his fist and snatched it to his chest. Opening his hand, he looked down. Closed his eyes.
“Well?” Deke asked.
Dylan held the coin up between his thumb and forefinger. “Heads. I lose.”
Deke slumped against the wall, clearly relieved. “You guys kill me.”
“Guess I have convention duty this year. Wish me luck,” Dylan told them.
Deke straightened. “It’s not so bad.”
Dylan lifted a brow.
“Okay, it is, but you’re injured. I wanted to cut you some slack.”
“I’m a big boy. I can handle anything Mom throws my way.”
“Be careful what you say,” Deke warned.
“At least this is the last coin toss,” Derrick said. “After this convention, we’re free men.”
“Until Mom decides she wants daughters-in-law,” Dante pointed out. “I saw her searching the crowd during the wedding. She’s already making plans.”
Deke shook his head. “Just shoot me now.”
Normally Dylan would agree with his brothers, but an image of the pretty florist he’d met at the wedding flashed across his mind. He blinked, surprised at the pleasure it brought him. He just as quickly shook it off. He was a long way from wedding bells. Until he put Esposa behind bars, nothing else, including a woman, came first in his life.
CHAPTER THREE (#ulink_be186b0c-64b2-58d2-9e15-f5c87ebfad55)
IT DIDN’T TAKE Dylan long to get the ball rolling. Knowing Esposa might be near infused him with an energy he’d been lacking. He had to do something now, because waiting was no longer an option. Closing the book on Esposa meant moving on with his life.
The beach teemed with locals enjoying the wintery Saturday night. The bonfire burned bright, the wood crackling as the steady wind kept it stoked. His brothers had spread out among family and friends, sharing their brand of humor and chatting up the fine people of Cypress Pointe. Dylan stood alone, dwelling on his next move.
A hoot of laughter caught his attention. Derrick, holding court. He wished he could laugh as easily, but his mind was elsewhere and his thigh ached in the cold air. He chose to ignore it, focusing instead on the prospect of nailing Esposa.
When his mind started going around in circles, he finally entered the merry group, hands jammed deep in his pockets. After asking a couple of leading questions, his uncle pointed out the police chief, Bob Gardener. The older, stocky man lingered on the edge of the gathering, dressed in his official uniform, obviously on duty. Dylan made his way over, gritting his teeth as he tried not to limp, and introduced himself, mentioning his agency and title.
“Your office gave me a heads-up,” the chief said.
“Already?”
“We’re with the joint task force,” he explained, directing a no-nonsense look at Dylan. “They made sure to let me know you aren’t active in the field at this moment.”
“I’m not. I came to town for my cousin’s wedding, but I can’t ignore it when a suspected big-time drug dealer might be in the area.”
The chief nodded. “Figured as much.”
“Do you have information you can share with me?”
“First, I have to establish whether this is this coming from you in an official capacity or personal interest. I know this guy shot you and your partner.”
“Esposa. Yes.”
News traveled fast in the law-enforcement world, but he didn’t blame the chief for asking. Finding Esposa was a personal matter, as well as a professional one, and the chief had a right to know. Dylan had already spoken to his superior since the call from Tom. He was on leave, but they could command him not to nose around, though how would they stop him? The unspoken code was that Dylan had better be discreet, and if he did indeed find Esposa, he better not play cowboy and go after him alone. Dylan had been a field agent long enough to know that the hero always died, except in the movies. He was part of a team for a reason and would call upon them if needed.
“It’s both, personal and private, at this point. Is that a problem?”
“Not as long as we follow protocol. Until your supervisor says otherwise, you have limited authority in my jurisdiction, but if we find the guy you’re looking for, I’d like to work together.”
“I intend to.”
The chief regarded him once again, sizing up the man who’d come into his town requesting information. Dylan didn’t like it, but he understood. He didn’t always play well with others, but in this case he’d liaise with local law enforcement to a T. Esposa wasn’t going to get away because Dylan went rogue.
“We’ve had activity at the marina,” the chief revealed, having made sure they were far enough away from the crowd so no one would overhear. “Usually we get an influx of weekend tourists who dock and head into town to shop or visit the restaurants. The locals keep their boats moored there. But lately there have been vessels coming in and out that are suspicious.”
“How so?”
“Idling in during the early morning hours. Docking for short periods of time. Definitely not tourists.”
“What can you tell me about the marina?”
“Run by a private company. Got a guy on duty during the day.”
“Have you checked him out?”
“No red flags. Been working there for years. Company man, runs the place efficiently.”
A gust of wind whipped up the flames of the bonfire. Bright sparks shot up in the air before burning out, ash drifting down to the sand. The scent of burning wood floated toward Dylan as he processed the information. The chief knew the locals, so he’d have to trust him on this.
“Who noticed the boats coming in and out at night?”
“Local fishermen. They’re a tight group, watching out for each other. Notice when strangers show up snooping out their favorite spots.”
“Are you looking at any possible suspects?”
“A few guys have come across our radar.”
He reined in his impatience at the chief’s vague answer. “Names?”
“A couple of young punks showed up here about three months ago. Been hanging around the marina. Had a couple run-ins with ’em. Ran their names through the system. Petty stuff mostly, but with the news of a drug dealer in the wind, we’re taking it seriously. I got the names back at the station.”
Good. Somewhere to start. “Anyone else you’re looking at?”
The chief hesitated. Dylan had to hand it to the man. He’d shared a lot so far, but now wasn’t the time to backpedal.
“Still think I’m going to interfere?” he asked.
The chief met his gaze head-on. “Look, I’m bein’ careful. For both of us.”
Dylan’s hands fisted in his pockets. Patience, he reminded himself. He wasn’t going to find Esposa tonight and he needed the chief’s assistance. No point blowing it by ticking off this man.
“Got it.”
The chief chewed on Dylan’s answer before replying. “Local guy. Will Lawrence. Also been hangin’ at the marina, which is odd ’cause he doesn’t own a boat.”
“Does he have legitimate reasons for being there?”
“He’s an accountant.”
“So he could be there on business?”
“Yeah. The company that runs the marina is out of town, so Will does the bookkeeping. Known the guy since he was a kid, but I gotta say, something feels off.”
A jolt of excitement charged Dylan’s veins. He never ignored a fellow officer’s gut when he claimed something was hinky. “I’ll run his name. See if I can find anything more.”
“Doubt it. He’s a Cypress Pointe resident. Never been in trouble with the law or run with the wrong crowd. He was popular in school. Runs a stable business.”
That the chief knew of. People involved with criminal activity didn’t usually announce it to the world.
The chief’s face remained tight, his gaze daring Dylan to contradict him. “I pride myself on knowing the people around here. Just ’cause something might be off doesn’t mean he’s a criminal.”
“Fair enough.” Dylan scanned the crowd, still jazzed that there might be some leads in this town. “Is he here tonight?”
“Haven’t seen him.” The chief craned his neck, his gaze hunting over the people assembled. “His sister is by the fire. Over there, talking to two other women.”
Dylan searched in the direction the chief pointed out, his chest tightening when he saw Kady, the woman from the wedding. Just to be sure, he asked, “Her name?”
“Kady Lawrence.”
“You don’t say.”
The chief shot him a sharp look. “You know her?”
Dylan shook his head. “Only met her briefly at my cousin’s wedding.”
“She’d be the one delivering the flowers.” The chief squinted, like he was searching his memory. “She got into some mischief as a kid, but nothing serious. She works at the family flower shop. Nothing to tie her to her brother’s activities besides the family business.”
But there was a connection and Dylan never took opportunities like this for granted. Kady’s brother might be innocent, but he was a solid lead Dylan planned on pursuing. Spending time with Kady to get to the truth was an added bonus.
The few minutes they’d spent talking at the reception had him thinking about her on and off all day. She’d managed to snag and hold his attention, something that rarely happened when he was deep in a case. Well, he wasn’t technically on a case, but he had been focused on Esposa for the past few months. She might not have any tie to this investigation, but now he had an excuse to seek her out. Not that he’d reveal a thing. He still intended to keep his cover hidden until he learned anything useful.
Watching Kady laugh with her friends, Dylan resisted the urge to pull her from the group and question her. Because he wanted to be near her again? Smell her sweet perfume? Slow down, Matthews. She’s part of the puzzle.
The chief’s voice cut into his thoughts. “Got a local PI by the name of Max Sanders keeping an unofficial eye on things. He helps me out from time to time when I’m down on manpower. Good guy. You’ll probably want to speak to him.”
Dylan nodded, tucking the information away. “Thanks, Chief. I really appreciate you filling me in.”
Hands on his hips, legs spread in a military stance, the chief said, “Look, Matthews, I don’t have anything substantial to book these guys on, let alone connect them to Esposa. I haven’t searched the boats because I don’t have cause to. On top of that, your guy hasn’t been seen around here. This could be a complete misunderstanding.”
“Even strange boats in the marina?”
“I don’t know for sure if they’re involved in illegal activities or transporting drugs. It could simply be some fishermen I haven’t met before, looking for a place to drop their lines.”
Dylan watched the chief, his gut churning. The older man said one thing, but his eyes said another. He suspected the events were connected; he just couldn’t act on it. Yet.
“But you don’t think so.”
The chief went silent for a long moment. “No. I don’t.”
“Then we keep investigating. By the book.”
The chief shook his head. “You aren’t gonna give up on this, are you?”
“Not until I find the guy who killed my partner.”
The chief puffed up his cheeks and blew out a breath. “I get it, but I gotta say, be careful.”
“Always.”
Loud voices carried over the crowd, catching their attention. The chief perked up, his gaze assessing the situation on the other side of the bonfire. A heated argument between two burly guys looked like the makings of a fight. “Gotta get to work. Stay in touch.”
As the chief lumbered away, Dylan stared at the fire, lost in his thoughts. A group of women deep in conversation caught his eye, Kady among them. A strong protective streak swept over him, reminding the agent in him why his job was so important. But the urge to see her again reminded him that he was attracted to this woman. The brief encounter at the reception wasn’t long enough. Another chance to talk to the pretty lady presented itself and he wasn’t going to squander the opportunity.
* * *
WILL LAWRENCE STARED at the numbers, his eyes blurring. The dim lighting didn’t help. He could look at them a million more times but nothing would change. He needed more work, or a miracle, to replace the money in his family’s accounts.
He’d been an idiot. Knew better than to fall for get-rich-quick schemes. He’d been lured in by the promise of easy cash, sure this onetime venture would secure retirement not only for his folks, who’d worked for years to support their children, but also for Kady and himself. Flat out, he’d been played. Now he found himself in serious trouble.
Never look a gift horse in the mouth.
His granddad’s old saying. What would the old man say now if he knew what Will had done? Getting involved in an investment through the friend of a friend was a risky choice, but with his parents talking seriously about retiring, he’d hoped to add more funds to their portfolio.
From the partially open office window, Will heard a commotion from the beach, a mere block away. Rubbing his eyes, he stood and crossed the room. Stared outside. Normally he’d be part of the rowdy crowd, enjoying his friends. Joking around like he didn’t have a care in the world.
All that changed three months ago. It felt like a lifetime.
He turned, going back to his desk. He’d reviewed his personal budget, but even drastically changing his lifestyle wouldn’t be enough to make a difference. His only hope was the two appointments set up for next week. Through the grapevine he’d learned the country club needed a new bookkeeper. It was a big job, meaning lots of extra hours on top of his already established practice, but he would do it. If he was offered the job.
Then there was Jenna at Charming Delights Catering. Her business had grown quickly, so he scheduled an interview for next week. Every new account he could secure would help in the long run.
He’d already picked up additional work at the marina. Lined up some safe investments, which would bring in close to half of what he owed, except it took time. He was amazed at how quickly one could lose a bundle of money versus it slowly trickling back. But he had no one but himself to blame.
Slumping in his chair, he scanned the room. Anything else beat concentrating on the unchanging numbers. His gaze came to a screeching halt when he viewed the diplomas on his office wall. Top-ten college. Graduated summa cum laude. His CPA accreditation. First in his class.
What good was it all now? If word got out that he’d lost his own family’s money, his reputation would be useless. Unless he fixed the situation. Fast.
This morning, when his sister balked at selling the shop, he’d been relieved. If his folks reconciled their true financial situation, they would learn money was missing. Demand explanations. Wanting his parents to be set when they retired was a lame excuse for his losing their money, even if it was true. They would be disappointed in him, with cause. He’d let them down. Thank goodness they didn’t have a clue.
But instead, Kady’s argument about running the shop saved him. Changing their parents’ minds bought him more time. They could go on a much-needed vacation and enjoy themselves. He would make it up to them no matter how long it took.
Kady managing the shop and weddings would keep her in the dark as well. He actually agreed with her vision, was happy she finally settled down to make a wise career choice. They didn’t usually see eye to eye, but her plan to build up their wedding market share made sound financial sense. Her business plan was good, as were her projections. She could actually make a name for The Lavish Lily since his parents wanted out. He was proud of her.
He only hoped he hadn’t ruined her dreams.
* * *
KADY’S EYES BURNED as the bonfire smoke blew in her direction. She blinked, which only caused tears to well. What was she? A smoke magnet? It seemed smoke had radar and blew in her direction, no matter where she sat. “Why do I let you guys talk me into coming out here?” she muttered, her throat drying up as the smoke engulfed her again.
“Because you need a night out with the girls,” her friend Nealy answered.
“You’re so busy conquering the world of wedding flowers, we don’t see you,” Lilli added.
“Except this isn’t a girls’ night out. It’s the entire town of Cypress Pointe out. And you’re both here with your significant others.” Coughing, she grabbed the water bottle from Lilli’s outstretched hand.
“You make that sound like a bad thing,” Lilli said.
“Look, bonfires are special to both of you. I get it. You have wonderful memories associated here. All I do is end up going home with a scratchy throat and smelly clothes and hair.”
Nealy laughed. “You are so not a romantic.”
Lilli tapped a finger against her chin. “We need to find you a guy.”
“Whoa. Put the brakes on.” Kady held up her hand. “I’m not looking.”
“That’s your problem. You should be.”
“Why bother? I know most of the single men in town. Dated some of them. It didn’t happen.”
“That’s no reason to close yourself off,” Nealy argued.
Sure it was. Most of the guys she’d dated were as busy as she, always canceling at the last minute with work obligations. She got it, but for once she’d love to be put first in a relationship. Take Brad, for instance.
She’d trusted him. Thought she’d fallen hard for the country-club general manager she’d met while attending a business meeting there. She’d been talking with the event coordinator about her floral services when Brad walked into the office. They’d clicked. One date led to another and soon they were an item. Kady couldn’t believe how well they’d synced.
Until they didn’t.
After three months of assurances that he wanted to settle down, Brad jumped at an opportunity to move to a big club in Texas and hadn’t asked her to come with him. Worst of all, he’d bragged about acquiring only quality vendors, like Kady, to land the job.
While still in Florida, he’d promised she would be the exclusive florist for the club, which quickly fell through when the new general manager didn’t agree. Not only had her heart been bruised, but Brad had also cost her business she’d been counting on, while using her to advance his own career. After that, her trust level in men plummeted.
Since then, having gone on too many bad dates to count, Kady decided she and dating were like oil and water. Didn’t mix well. She accepted that. Why couldn’t her friends? Running her business and building a brand were the most important relationships in her life right now.
“You two are disgustingly happy and I’m thrilled for you both—truly I am. But not everyone is looking for their soul mate.”
Nealy leveled a glance at Lilli. “That is true. Things weren’t smooth sailing for either of us when we started out with our guys.”
“But they are now.”
Lilli’s smitten expression made Kady laugh. “Spoken like a bride-to-be.”
“The bride-to-be who has venue choices to make,” Nealy reminded her. As her event planner, she’d been after Lilli to make decisions so she could get the wedding ball rolling.
“And flowers to select,” Kady added.
“I will.” Lilli’s eyes went all dreamy. “We’re enjoying the moment.”
Nealy sputtered, “You’re making Max crazy. The PI is ready to drag you down the aisle.”
“There is that, too.”
Kady smiled at her childhood friend. She was delighted about the upcoming nuptials, especially since she’d be doing the flowers for the wedding and all the other related events. If Lilli ever set a date, that was.
“Hey, look. Dane’s waving at me.” Nealy stood, waving back to the man who owned the Grand Cypress Hotel, home to this year’s florist convention. “I should see what he wants.”
Lilli followed, brushing sand off the seat of her jeans. “And I should find Max.”
“Nice,” Kady mumbled, still seated. “You drag me down here then dump me.”
“We’ll be back,” Nealy assured her as the two took off. Yeah, right. From past experience, she knew once those two got with their men, there was no separating them. She smiled.
The wind picked up again, blowing the acrid smoke in Kady’s direction. Her nose burned and she blinked back fresh tears. Pushing up from the sand, she was ready to call it a night. The entire population of Cypress Pointe might enjoy the revelry of a bonfire on the beach, but Kady was not one of them.
Zipping up the jacket she’d layered over a sweatshirt and jeans, she coughed again as she weaved through the crowd, headed to the parking lot. She passed a group of laughing guys, swerving out of their way when she heard a deep male voice.
“Kady?”
She swung around, her foot sliding in the damp sand. Her pulse jumped as the hunk from the wedding headed in her direction.
“Hi. Dylan, right?”
“Yeah. Enjoying the bonfire?”
She brushed ash from her sleeves and answered, tongue in cheek. “Sure.”
His metal-colored eyes sparkled with humor. “I’ll take that as a no.”
She laughed. “You’d be correct.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Friends dragged me out. You?”
“Family dragged me out.” His smile, somewhere between sad and amused, reminded her of just how attractive she found him.
“Part of the wedding festivities?”
“Apparently.” He rubbed his leg and tried to hide a grimace.
She nodded toward his leg. “Are you okay?”
“Injury. Been standing out in the cold for too long.”
“There’s a bench over there.” She pointed. “You can have a seat.”
“If you’ll join me.”
Her stomach fluttered at his invitation. Trying to act nonchalant, she shrugged. “Why not? I was only planning to go home and take a nice warm shower to get the stench out of my hair.”
“Bet you’re loads of fun on a camping trip.”
“Never been.”
“Fun times.”
Kady slowed her pace to match Dylan’s gait. He’d changed into a jacket over a Henley shirt, with jeans and boots. Shedding his formal wear hadn’t made him any less attractive.
When they reached the bench he eased down gingerly. Not sure how to act around him, she perched at the far end, leaving plenty of space between them. Not that she had to worry—it seemed like the entire town surrounded them. If he started anything sketchy, she’d yell at the top of her lungs.
“I promise you, I have no evil intentions.”
Great. Obvious much? “A girl can’t take chances.”
“Very wise of you.”
She sat back and relaxed a bit. “And kind of insulting to you?”
“Nah. I get it.”
His easy acceptance made her loosen her tense shoulders. Here she sat, on a bench, curious about the good-looking guy who’d not only kept her from ruining a flower arrangement at the reception, but was also the man she’d been thinking about all day. Why not enjoy it?
“Do you have these public bonfires on the beach often?” he asked after a few moments.
“Yes. It’s a tradition. They’ve been part of Cypress Pointe history for as long as I can remember.” She drew up her leg and turned to angle herself in his direction. “Kids used to start the fires on their own, so instead of banning them, the town council decided to set up specific nights for the fires so the authorities could monitor the crowd.”
“Smart. Although starting fires when you’re not supposed to is more fun, it is more dangerous.”
She tilted her head inquisitively. “Is that a guy thing?”
He chuckled. “Just an observation. Our family gatherings are usually barbecues, so we always say fire fixes everything. Well, except for the time my brother Dante accidentally set the field behind our house on fire. We all ran outside to contain it before the fire department arrived. On the way, he grabbed an heirloom quilt my great-grandmother had made and used it to try to smother the flames.” He shook his head, a crooked grin lighting up his face. “My mother was not happy.”
“I imagine.” She bit her lip, then asked, “How many brothers do you have?”
“Three.”
“Wow. Your mom must be wonderful to put up with your antics.”
He glanced at the crowd. Looking for his mother?
“She is.” He turned his attention back to her. “You have any siblings?”
“A brother. But he hasn’t started fires or destroyed heirlooms.”
“Why not?”
She silently chuckled at his serious face. Like fire and destruction were normal parts of life to him.
“My brother is too upstanding and too good at everything he does to engage in troublemaking.”
“Oh. Sorry to hear that.”
Her eyes went wide. “Seriously?”
“I’m just saying, my brothers and I have lots of great stories.”
She shook her head, trying not to laugh.
“So you’re saying your brother is a decent member of society?”
“He is.” Her eyes narrowed. “What’s with all the questions about my brother?”
“Nothing. Just making conversation. Family is usually a safe topic.”
And why had she suddenly gotten so prickly? Because Will always ended up being part of the conversation, no matter where she was. With her folks. On the job. People always wanted to know how Mr. Wonderful was doing, even people who didn’t know him well. She hadn’t realized how defensive she’d gotten about her brother until just now.
“Okay,” Dylan said, bracing his arm along the top of the bench. His fingers were mere inches from her shoulder, which she found very distracting. “We’ll switch off the topic of family. So, the bonfire. Do folks from surrounding towns join in as well?”
“It’s usually just Cypress Pointe.”
“Seems like you have a nice town. Safe place?”
“Why, are you planning on moving here?” Now, wouldn’t that be interesting, running into this hunk around town.
He chuckled. “No. Since my cousin lives here I’m curious.”
“Well, not much crime. A nice tourist spot. Not much traffic. Good restaurants. Awesome beach views.”
He nodded, watching the people on the beach. Like he was looking for someone. She ignored the regret washing over her. Already tired of talking to her? It shouldn’t matter, but it did.
The moment dragged on until he spoke again. “Did you grow up here?”
“What are you, a census taker?” she teased, afraid it came off more defensive than joking.
“You got a chip on your shoulder?” he responded.
Okay, he gave as good as she did. His aim directly hit its target. “Fine. I deserved that.” She ran a shaky hand through her hair. “To be honest, it’s been a while since I spent time talking to a nice guy.”
His mouth thinned and his gunmetal eyes turned serious. “You sure I’m a nice guy?”
If his expression was supposed to make her nervous, it didn’t. If anything, she wanted to know why he’d think differently. “I haven’t seen otherwise.”
“We don’t really know each other.” He paused, leaning in close. His fingers nearly skimmed over her jacket. In a quiet voice he said, “But I do know I like spending time with you.”
His statement caught her off guard. Made her blood race.
“Um, thanks.”
His chuckle sent chills over her skin. “You’re welcome.”
Nervous now, she tucked her hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry for coming off rude. I’m not usually hard to get along with.”
“No worries.” He glanced at his watch. “I need to get back to my family. They’re probably heading over to the hotel soon.”
He stood, a little shaky on his leg, but caught himself. She wondered what had caused his injury. How long ago he’d been hurt. Not that it was her business, but honestly, in the short time she’d known him he triggered the inquisitive side of her nature. She wanted to know more.
He held out his hand. “Nice to meet you. Again.”
She rose and took his hand in hers. The zing of pleasure she’d experienced earlier returned, stronger this time. “Likewise.”
They remained there, gazing at each other. Kady held her breath, hoping he might say more. Maybe ask her out? When he didn’t speak, she realized he wasn’t going to do as she’d hoped. Disappointment wrapped around her. What did she expect? She’d only just met the guy. He was probably leaving town soon. No point in starting anything if he wasn’t going to be around, even if he’d admitted he liked spending time with her.
“So I’ll see you around?” she asked.
She couldn’t quite interpret the expression in his eyes when he said, “Never say never,” before walking away.
Was that a yes or a no?
Tugging the car keys from her jeans pocket, she trudged to her car. How had she managed to screw up a possible date? She really needed to try harder. Lilli was right. But this thing with Dylan? It was different. Made her want to get out there again. She would hate to admit this to her friends, but maybe she did need their help. If not with Dylan, maybe another guy.
Once she got to the car, she slid inside, curling her hands over the top of the steering wheel and resting her forehead against them. Had she really blown her chance with Dylan? Her parents always accused her of being difficult. Maybe they were right. It would explain why her relationships never lasted. Even though Brad had been ages ago, she realized now he’d never been the man for her. But Dylan? He wasn’t like any man she’d ever met. He had her second-guessing herself, while at the same time he sent her pulse racing. It was out of the ordinary for her and she liked it.
Lifting her head, she stared at the beach. It looked like the party was winding down. Folks would return home and tomorrow things would go back to normal in this sleepy town. For her, it would be business as usual. Right. Once she convinced her folks to let her run the shop, lined up more wedding jobs and won the bouquet competition at the florist convention. By that time Dylan would probably be gone and she’d have missed her chance to learn more about the most interesting man she’d met...ever.
CHAPTER FOUR (#ulink_7529440b-9a25-55e9-9d2d-d9bf393c2707)
BY THREE O’CLOCK Tuesday afternoon, Kady had interviewed four women for the front-counter position. After her parents agreed to let her hire help, Kady had called her friend at the local newspaper to place a want ad. She’d also posted the position on employment websites and been pleased by the quick responses.
Until now.
Of the four, one had sales experience, but very few hours she could work. Another was just out of college and wanted an administrative position. Kady scratched her head at that one. Her posting had clearly stated it was a sales position. The last two were local teens looking for part-time jobs. Not exactly what Kady was hoping for.
Thankfully, her parents opted out of the interview process. Kady’s mother had managed to book a cruise that sailed out of the Port of Tampa on Friday. She was busy shopping and getting ready to hit the high seas. Her father decided to wean himself from coming to the shop so he didn’t suffer withdrawal while they were gone. Only been a few days in, but so far, so good.
Leaving Kady alone to pick out their newest employee was a huge sign of confidence on her folks’ part. They’d kept their word and let her assume control of the business. As long as Will didn’t stop by too often and interfere, she was golden.
Glancing at the wall clock, she realized her final interview for the day was to arrive soon. She tidied up the worktable after finishing her last arrangement, just in time to hear the shop bell ring. Hurrying up front, she was met by a smiling woman close to her age.
“Hi. I’m Kady Lawrence,” she said, holding out her hand.
“Christine Wallace.”
As they shook, Kady observed her newest recruit. Shoulder-length curly blond hair, sparkling blue eyes and a megawatt smile. Average height. The girl-next-door look customers would respond to.
Kady got right down to business. “You know this is a sales position?”
“Yes. I’ve worked in retail, so I’m aware of how to engage customers. I’ll work hard to represent your business and help increase productivity.”
Okay, finally someone who understood. But by her word choices, Kady got the impression Christine had done far more than sales. Was she too good to be true? “What kind of other relevant experience do you have?”
Christine rattled off her management and office skills from time spent with respectable companies.
“I have to ask, why this job? You’re overqualified.”
“I just moved to the area. To be honest, I’ve done my time in the nine-to-five grind and I want a change. I love Cypress Pointe and plan on settling here. This job would be perfect for what I have in mind.” She grinned. “And I like flowers.”
“Perfect answer.” On instinct, Kady made a quick but firm decision. “How soon can you start?”
Christine blinked. “That was fast. And I can start as soon as you want.”
“I have a good feeling about you.” She paused and bit her lower lip. “There is one thing.”
“Okay.”
“My parents are a bit...challenging to work with. They’re very picky about the shop. I feel it’s only right I give you a heads-up.”
Christine seemed to consider Kady’s words. “I’ve worked with a variety of...shall we say, temperamental bosses in the past. I’ll be fine.”
Kady let out a breath. “Great. That said, my folks are leaving on a cruise and I’ll be attending a florists’ convention here locally, so I’ll be in and out of the shop. Think you can handle it?”
“Absolutely.”
“My older brother will be around, too. He doesn’t work here, but pops by occasionally. I’ll make sure you meet him and he can get the info he needs for his bookkeeping. During the convention, I’ll be in early in the mornings to complete orders before attending the workshops.
“But for today, let’s go over your duties and I’ll give you a rundown of the shop.” Kady smiled. “Welcome to The Lavish Lily.”
* * *
ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, Kady stepped away from the registration table at the Grand Cypress Hotel, her convention packet in hand. She looped her name tag, which was attached to a lanyard, around her neck. The buzz in the hotel lobby ramped up the energy level as people checked in and caught up with old friends. A poster, propped on an easel right inside the front door, announced the upcoming floral competitions in which Kady was already registered. After her parents’ bombshell several days earlier, she had to make the most of this conference, which meant winning the wedding-bouquet category.
To her relief, Christine had taken to the job immediately, easing any concerns Kady had about leaving her new employee alone at the shop for a few hours without Kady there to guide her. Will promised to stop by and check up on things sometime during the day. While she was glad he was on her side for once, she could tell something was off. He was distracted and edgy. More so than usual. She thought about asking what was up, but then she doubted he’d confide in her anyway. They hadn’t been close for a long time, not since he opened his own accounting office and she finally stopped wandering around trying to find aim in her life. Do-no-wrong Will could take care of himself, as he’d always done. Without her.
Groups of attendees mingled in the huge lobby, excited chatter echoing off the marble floors. For the next several days, anything and everything floral-related would be focused upon within these walls.
In the years Kady had been attending the conference, it had always been located in different cities in Florida. When it was announced that this year’s event would be held right here in Cypress Pointe, Kady couldn’t believe her luck. On her home turf, maybe she could beat the reigning queen of wedding bouquets and finally win first place.
She waved to a few women she knew as she moved to a quiet corner of the lobby to take a seat and go over the itinerary. Scanning the workshop schedule, she discovered the next few days were packed with all sorts of interesting topics. This year, organizers added actual hands-on workshops for newbies to experience floral designing. Interesting. The welcoming reception was tonight and the awards ceremony would cap off the convention on Sunday evening. At each previous convention, she’d held her breath at the ceremony, waiting to hear her place in the competition. And each year, she’d missed out on being number one.
She had three days to worry about her entry. This year, the competition held an extra perk, thanks to a new feature the convention committee developed. All day Sunday, the entrants in different wedding categories would display their floral designs to the public, specifically targeting brides-to-be. The open house had been publicized around town and all over the Tampa Bay area, in order to lure prospective brides to the showcase. That meant a day’s worth of publicity for The Lavish Lily. Kady would be able to show off her bouquet entry, as well as connect with potential customers she needed to grow her wedding business.
Her drawings were hidden away in her apartment. The flowers she’d ordered would be delivered by her wholesaler early Sunday morning, ensuring her entry would be fresh for display. She’d established a contingency plan, just in case, and was totally prepared to beat her competition this year. Nothing was going to stop her.
There were only a few workshops scheduled for this afternoon. For the most part, it was a day to catch up with other florists. Kady checked off two topics she thought might be interesting. How to Improve Your Business was scheduled in ten minutes. Later, she’d stop by Floral Tips 101, then have time to run home, change into something dressy and return for the reception.
Pleased with her first decision, she stood, smoothing the designer jeans she wore with a jade green top and high-heeled black boots, the picture of a successful businesswoman. Or so she hoped. She dropped the convention packet in her large tote bag, which held a notebook and several pens, then hitched it over her shoulder, ready to move on to the first meeting room. When she looked up, her gaze collided with the handsome guy she hadn’t been able to get out of her mind since Saturday.
His low drawl sent a familiar awareness through her. “Surprise.”
Her eyes went wide, but she quickly regained her composure. “Dylan? What are you doing here?”
“Attending the conference.”
“I thought you were in town for the wedding.”
“And the conference. Double duty.”
She blinked. “I...”
His spicy cologne grabbed her attention and she forgot her next words. Today he’d dressed in a light blue, button-down dress shirt and black trousers. The loafers made his outfit casual, yet he carried it off with sophistication.
“Why didn’t you mention you’d be here when we were together the other night?” she finally ventured.
He shrugged, his metal-colored eyes hooded. “I’m a man of mystery.”
“That I believe, because you don’t seem like a florist.”
There was an edge about Dylan. She couldn’t see him patiently creating a floral arrangement. No, more like he needed action in his life.
He chuckled. “I’m not, but it is a family business. Just like everyone else here, I’m ready to learn more about the floral industry.”
She glanced down at his chest and back. “Where’s your name tag?”
“You caught me. I haven’t picked it up yet.”
“You can’t get into any of the workshops unless you have one.” Did she come off as stuffy as she sounded?
“Which I’ll rectify right now. See you around?”
“Sure. I hope so.”
Shaking her head, Kady went to the designated meeting room. Why hadn’t Dylan told her he’d be here? Not that he needed to announce his schedule to her. They’d only bumped into each other a few times. Of course, this was Cypress Pointe. If he was going to hang around town, she’d eventually run into him.
As her mind worked out the logistics of Dylan’s presence at the convention, Kady nearly missed the room. Clearing her mind, she entered, determined to concentrate on the speaker, not Dylan’s motives. Glancing around, she noticed a few early birds scattered about in the empty seats. She chose a row in the middle, a few seats in from the aisle. A few minutes passed and someone took a seat beside her. Dylan.
“Are you stalking me?”
“No. You’re the only person I know here. And I can always learn how to—” he glanced at the workshop schedule and read “—improve my business.”
She slanted a look his way. “You own a floral shop?”
“My mom. I help her out occasionally by coming to these conventions.”
“So you don’t actually work in the floral industry?”
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Tara Randel
Тип: электронная книга
Жанр: Современные любовные романы
Язык: на английском языке
Издательство: HarperCollins
Дата публикации: 16.04.2024
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О книге: Who will catch a lifetime of love?Winning the annual wedding bouquet design competition may be the closest Kady Lawrence gets to the altar. She has to come in first or risk losing the shop that’s been in her family for generations. Her main competition is Jasmine Matthews. But it’s Jasmine′s son who’s caught Kady′s attention.Kady has no inkling Dylan’s a DEA agent on a case in Cypress Pointe, and Dylan wants to keep it that way…until Kady′s targeted. Determined to keep her safe, Dylan risks a lot more than blowing his cover…he risks losing Kady forever.