“Let’s try this,” I said, taking a few of the poppies, adding two lilies, then separating them with ferns. I went back to the case and grabbed some tiny white roses to break up the colors even more and showed him the bouquet.
He reached for it, his gaze locked on the flowers. “Every time I come in here, I watch you do that, and I still have no idea how you pull it all together. That’s beautiful. Nancy would be so proud to have these with her.”
I smiled at the man and carried the bouquet to the counter so I could wrap it up well. “I love what I do,” I told Justin as I worked. “Flowers don’t get mad at you. They just want someone to love them.”
“Kind of like people, huh?” Justin said.
I chuckled. “Very true.”
The front door opened, and Omar and Natalie rushed inside.
“What happened?” Natalie asked.
“Casey is in the back. You can go right back and talk to her. I’ll be there in a minute.”
Natalie didn’t let me finish before she headed to the back. Omar paused and gave me a grateful smile. “Sorry.”
I shook my head. “I get it. But I think we have some good options.”
“Thanks, Landon.”
I nodded and let him follow Natalie to the back.
“Here to find some new stuff?” Justin asked, handing over his credit card.
“Yeah. I had to let them know everything I ordered didn’t come in.”
“You seem pretty relaxed about it.”
I snorted. “I wasn’t a few hours ago.”
“But something changed. I’m guessing it’s that Casey you said is back there.”
My body warmed at his suggestion.
“You’ve been different the last few weeks. I thought you were finally getting over your ex, but it sounds like maybe you’ve been getting under this Casey woman.”
“Justin,” I breathed, laughing at his crude comment.
“Oh, I’m an old man who has kids and grandkids. I know how things work. And I know you’re happier with this woman than you were with the last one. More days than not, I’d come in and you were scowling. The last few weeks, you’ve been all smiles. She’s good for you, Landon. It’s nice to see it.”
“Thanks, Justin.”
“Hold on to her.”
I sighed. “I’m going to try.”
“Good. Enjoy this rainy day. I’m going to see the one who always makes me smile.”
I grinned. “Let me know how these flowers work out.”
“You know I will. See you in a few weeks.”
I waved as Justin shuffled to the door, then went to face the bride.
Natalie and Omar were sitting with Casey when I walked in, all three of them smiling.
“This looks better than I expected,” I said.
