Chapter 0030
“You were on a dream vacation with your boyfriend, expecting your own ring and happily ever after. I wasn’t going to dampen your excitement over your future with my drama!” I exclaimed, hearing the bell chime from the front of the store.
I always had two employees working up there, so I ignored it, knowing my customers were in good hands. Most of the time, I stayed in the back designing and doing the books for the shop.
It was only when someone came in, requesting a custom design, that I would leave my bat cave.
“So, you’ve been staying with Ben? How is Ben?” Lacey asked, refusing to meet my gaze, and I stared at her with a deadpanned
expression.
She knew I didn’t like the idea of her hooking up with my brother. She had asked me about it a couple of years ago before she had met her recent ex-boyfriend, and I had made myself very clear.
Although back then, my answer had been no because Ben had been smitten with his assistant. He had told me he thought she was the one. I had never met her as my relationship with my brother had gotten strained at the time, and we had stopped talking as often because of Caleb.
Still, I hadn’t wanted my bombshell of a best friend to get between my brother and the woman he loved when he had been trying to convince that woman to give him a chance.
Lacey wasn’t the kind of woman to break up a couple. She had more class and respect for women than that. However, she was beautiful and could make any woman feel threatened or insecure in their relationship if that woman saw Lacey even just standing next to their man.
Currently, I had no idea what was going on in Ben’s life or if he was seeing someone, so I wouldn’t encourage Lacey to go after him until I was sure he was available.
“Lacey,” I groaned, and she nodded.
“I know. I know.”
“Let me just talk to him first. I was told he’s going through a hard time right now, and I want to be there for him.”
“Well, if he ever needs to release some tension…” She laughed, ducking when I grabbed a box of tissues from my desk and
threw it in her direction.
“Gross.” I scolded, narrowing my eyes at her.
“Excuse me?” A man called out, and I jumped, turning to face the doorway leading to the front of the shop. “I’m looking for
Bailee Evans.”
I felt like a kid in school as I raised my hand until it was in line with my head. “That’s me.”
My eyes locked on the giant bouquet of red roses in his hands. The large paper around it crinkled as he stepped forward,
appearing to struggle under the weight of the large vase and even bigger flower arrangement.
“Holy crap, did someone send you a hundred roses?” Lacey asked, moving out of the way so the man could put them on my desk. “From Caleb?”
“I doubt it,” I muttered, realizing in my shock that I still had my hand up and dropped it just in time for the delivery driver to turn to me and request a signature on his phone to confirm the delivery. “Is there a card? What does it say?”
Lacey nodded, lifting it from the center of the flowers and opening it.
‘Bailee,
One rose for every day I didn’t get to spend with you.
1/2
Thinking of you,
Alexander Kingston’
As Lacey read it aloud, my breathing caught in my throat as I stared at the card in her hands.
“I’m sorry. Alexander Kingston? As in your ex? How much did I miss while I was gone?”
I didn’t answer, staring in confusion at the roses.
We hadn’t seen each other in years. How could there be one rose for each day apart, and why would he waste his money on something like this? He had to know that I wouldn’t keep them.
I loved roses, but I didn’t want any from him.
“Where do you want them?” Another man asked, and my eyes popped out of my head as I saw another bouquet being carried in.
“No, no, no,” I repeated, shaking my head.
I hadn’t seen him in seven years. He wouldn’t…
