Part 2 (1/2)
He dialled and barely heard the ringing over the thud of his heart.
Chapter 2.
Joelle started, glanced up and frowned in annoyance when the new bell over the door clanged. That thing was far too loud. Customers got the fright of their lives every time they opened the door. She could see it on their faces-pure shock as though two saucepan lids had crashed together and were about to land on their head. Someone would keel over soon. The woman who'd just left nearly dropped her bunch of roses.
”We'll have to change that darn bell,” she muttered to Viv who, back turned, was elbow deep in the greenery ordered for the Lanzini wedding. Joelle frowned.
”Have they sent the right amount? It looks like an awful lot.” So much that Viv had had to bring two buckets through from the back room because they were overflowing out there.
”It's fine. Remember she wants lot of greens on the tables to reflect the bridesmaids' dresses.” Viv turned and dried her hands on a paper towel. ”No accounting for taste but the Lily of the Valley will go well with it. Tracey's almost made those up.”
”Okay. I'll leave it to you but I'll need Tracey as soon as I've got that last order ready for the hospital.” Joelle grinned at Viv. ”These darned customers keep interrupting.”
”Nuisances. Don't they realise we've got work to do?” Viv's bulky body disappeared through the bead curtain screening the workroom from the shop.
Still smiling Joelle reached for the order book to check the requirement for the bouquet she was about to a.s.semble. The man hadn't had much of a clue what he wanted.
”She loves carnations-pink ones,” he'd said. ”Can you do something nice with that? Something cheerful. But add in a few other things as well.”
Joelle loved carnations too. She loved flowers and she loved arranging them. The myriad colours and delicate shapes, the individuality of plants, their leaves, stems, buds and flowers fascinated her. Especially the incredibly delicate work of the j.a.panese and Chinese artists whose arrangements transcended the realms of craft and became spiritual expression. One day she'd go to j.a.pan and study Ikebana properly. Her savings were growing slowly but surely.
But right now this arrangement had to be finished and loaded into the little delivery van with all the other orders to be scooted about town by Tracey. Then they all had to prepare the Lanzini wedding flowers, for as long as it took and well into the night at the rate they were going, because in the morning a nervous and excited Lucia Lanzini would be expecting everything to be ready for her big event. Or heaven help them all. She'd seen the Lanzini temper in action.
Clang. Clang.
Joelle shuddered. Why on earth had Tracey thought an Indian cowbell was a good idea?
”It's an original,” she'd announced proudly as she'd held it aloft. ”I bought it in a bazaar in Bombay.”
”It's big,” Joelle had said dubiously, eyeing the monster bell. It wasn't even attractive like their previous cl.u.s.ter of little silver chime bars. The Indian bell was a dull brown with dents here and there where, presumably, the sacred cow had trodden on it. But Tracey had fastened it above the door somehow and Joelle had promised to see how it went for a while. The while had lasted two days and was fast running out of goodwill.
”h.e.l.lo, can I help you?” she asked. Half-turned, the customer had frozen in place by the door. ”Sorry about that,” she added. ”I think we'll have to take it down before a customer dies of fright.” He glanced up then closed the door gently, minimising the din.
The man turned to face her. He smiled and Joelle's stomach reacted the way it did when she went on the Big Dipper at the showground-a plummeting fall followed by a lurch and a bounce. He was crossing the floor towards her and saying something. She knew because his mouth was moving but she couldn't hear a word over the roaring in her ears and the chaos in her chest, which had something to do with the way her lungs had seized up.
”Are you all right?” he asked.
She heard that. Joelle blinked and placed a steadying hand on the counter. He was mere feet away now, watching her through the most gorgeous pair of dark brown eyes, she'd ever seen in her life. Her mouth opened and closed, air rushed into her lungs and she gasped, swallowed and laughed all at the same time.
”Sorry. Yes, yes, I'm fine. I just...I don't know. I just...” She stopped in confusion. How could she say she'd been knocked off her feet by his smile? How could she say he was the most handsome, s.e.xy man she'd ever laid eyes upon and when he looked at her, her whole body simply ceased to function? ”Can I help you?”
”I was just wondering the same thing,” he said gravely. His gorgeous brow creased in concern. ”Can I help you? Are you sure you're all right? I'm a doctor so if you're not feeling too good...”
”There's absolutely nothing wrong with me,” Joelle stated firmly. ”I just-something went down the wrong way, that's all. I was eating and a crumb went the wrong way.” Brilliant.
”I see.” He continued to stare at her. She knew he knew she was lying but he wasn't bothered enough, or interested enough to call her on it. What would he care? ”Umm. I want a bouquet. Something medium sized, not too fancy but nice.” He looked around the displays. ”Like that? Or that?” He pointed to the mixed bunches.
”Would you like something made up specially? You could choose from what we have here already.”
Joelle walked around to his side of the counter and forced herself not to stand too close and gaze into his face adoringly. Tanned skin from being outdoors, the type of body that had developed its strength and physique through rough and tumble sports rather than a gym. A doctor, he'd said. Smart as well as s.e.xy. A lethal combination, he must have female patients queuing up for physicals. Imagine those strong fingers sliding over your skin...
”Could you mix a couple of those together for me into one bunch, please?”
”Of course.” Joelle dragged her lurid imagination out of the consulting room and selected several bunches from the plastic buckets. She held them together for his approval.
”Fine,” he said.
She went back to the counter and unwound the rubber bands around the stems. He watched her silently. She kept her eyes on the task. Doctors weren't mind readers, were they?
”I like the name of your shop,” he said. ”Was it your idea? *The Garden of Earthly Delights' promises all sorts of things.”
Joelle smiled slowly. She ran her tongue over her lips and glanced up at him. The brown eyes were fastened on her face. She continued rewrapping his bouquet, heart pounding.
”I'm the manager,” she said. ”We try to deliver on our promises.”
”I'm sure you succeed.”
Joelle taped the cellophane wrapper in place with the shop logo sticker. ”Would you like ribbon?”
He shook his head. ”It's not a gift. Well, not as such, not a birthday or anything. It's for...”
Joelle waited, watching, intrigued by the way doubt clouded his face, rendered him heart-stoppingly vulnerable. But disappointment followed rapidly as realisation suddenly dawned. Fantasy fell to the floor with the crushed and discarded leaves.
”I'm sure she'll love them,” she said, all professional. ”Flowers are the way to a woman's heart.”
He laughed like a boy and the troubled expression fled. ”It's nothing like that. I've never met this woman. It's...it could be awkward. I thought flowers might be a...nice gesture.” He pulled out his wallet. ”How much?”
Joelle rang up the sale and handed him his change. Their fingers brushed as she slipped the coins into his palm.
”Flowers are always a nice gesture,” she said in a voice made low by an indeterminate rush of emotion ignited by the physical contact.
He said suddenly, ”Do you mind if I ask? What's your name?”
”Joelle.”
”Pretty name.” He grinned and one dark eyebrow arched over eyes alight with mischief. ”Are flowers the way to your heart, Joelle?”
Joelle smiled. ”Absolutely.”
”Has anyone stolen your heart with flowers?” Her heart almost stopped.
”Not yet.”
”Not yet.” He pondered her answer as he picked up the bouquet. ”Thank you very much.”
”Thank you,” she said.