2020 Top Ten Gay Romance

Chapter 2

Chapter 2Lenore was on her lunch break and Zoe, her other employee, was off, so I was alone in the shop, frantically trying to finish the samples for Lincoln Peters in my office, when the chime alerted me someone had walked in. I stifled the curse that wanted to escape, yelled “be right there!”, and slid the final piece of greenery into the centerpiece. I’d done two different versions in the glass bowl Lincoln had chosen, and was confident he’d love at least one of them. The larger arrangements I’d filled in with other flowers of the same colors that he wanted, but I just wanted to give him an idea. He’d chosen the bouquet, corsages, and boutonnieres out of my big book, so I hadn’t had to make those.

I wiped off my hands, then headed to the front room, only to be greeted by a smiling Monroe. Who appeared to be alone. I greeted him with a smile, tried not to let my libido get the better of me—I could smell his citrusy-woodsy scent even over the flowers—and shook his hand.

“Lincoln on his way?”

“He’s stuck at work,” Monroe said with an apologetic grin. “But I’m here to approve and send pics.” He held up his phone and shook it, that ever-present grin on his face.

“All right then. Let me show you what I’ve come up with.” I gestured a little wildly and Monroe stifled a chuckle.

He followed me into the back room, and I turned, ready to explain about the larger arrangements. But Monroe’s gaze was laser-focused on me, and he opened his mouth even before I could.

“I want you to add the calla lilies. Can you still get them in time?”

“I can,” I said slowly, my Spidey senses tingling. “But Lincoln said no, and it’s his order—”

“He said no because he couldn’t justify the greater cost. But I’m paying for them. You saw his face, West. You know he wanted them.”

I nodded, but it still didn’t feel right to go against my client’s wishes. It wasn’t the first time someone had tried to change an order on the client’s behalf. Usually it was for more sinister reasons, and was often one or both of the mothers attempting it. It was against my policy to make any changes without the approval of the person who signed the contract. Before I could voice that, Monroe was speaking again.

“Listen. Lincoln is the best guy I know. He’s awkward and anxiety-ridden, but he’s so brave, putting himself out there. He was the one to walk up to James that first time.” Monroe’s expression softened. “We were out at a bar. Lincoln is so shy, and his anxiety rules his life. But he saw James and he lost his heart, right then and there. I’ve never seen him be so brave as he introduced himself and bought James a drink. James had just come off duty, he was still wearing his uniform, and most people were giving him a wide berth. Because cop, you know? But not Lincoln. He knew what he wanted and he was scared shitless, but he went after it.

“You don’t know my brother. I realize that. But he’d never put himself out there. But this time he did, and he got the man of his dreams. And they’re so good together. A wedding is just one day, but I want it to be everything Lincoln wants. Right down to the flowers. So please. Lilly boutonnieres for the grooms. One or two in the centerpieces, the bouquet, and the arrangements.”

The love and pride Monroe had for his brother just poured out of him and he was so dang earnest. I was not heartless. In fact, I was a big romantic sap. Tears prickled my eyes and I had to draw a deep breath through my nose to keep them from gathering, or worse yet, falling. I nodded without even realizing it, but I still had reservations. As much as I wanted to make Monroe happy, as much as I wanted him to be able to give this gift to his brother, the client’s order was absolute.

But I had seen Lincoln’s face when he saw the callas, and I knew he wanted them. Besides, the worst that could happen was he hated them, I had to rearrange everything onsite, and r****d the cost of the callas. With his brother’s conviction, I was almost sure that Lincoln wouldn’t make me do that. I nodded again, this time with conviction. Monroe’s huge grin showed through, splitting his face and crinkling his eyes. I couldn’t help but smile back.

“Hang on a sec.” I didn’t wait for a response, and all but jogged out of the room and to the fridge. I had to reach into the back, and I knew the callas I found there were past their prime—a little wilted and wrinkly—but they’d at least give Monroe a good idea of what they’d look like in the arrangements.

He was snapping pictures with his phone when I returned. I stood still and let him finish, then watched his strong fingers as he tapped at the screen. For just a moment, I imagined those fingers on my body and…

Nope. I cut off that thought right there. No ogling the clients, even if Monroe was technically the client’s brother. I didn’t even know if he was into men, for crap’s sake. I needed to get my thoughts in line.

“Here,” I said softly, not wanting to startle him, considering he was so intent on his phone. But he seemed to know where I was, because he didn’t act surprised. I placed a few of the sad callas into the arrangement, then broke the stem on another, matched it with a piece of greenery, and wrapped the whole thing in floral tape. With panache, I presented it to Monroe.

He gasped, playing it up for my benefit, and I had to laugh.

“That’s perfect, West. Really.” Monroe took the boutonniere from me. “He’s gonna lose his shit.”

“What?” I couldn’t quite curb the alarm in my voice.

“In a good way!” Monroe was quick to assure me. He lifted a hand as though he was going to touch me, but before he made contact, he let it drop. I was weirdly disappointed by that and almost missed what he said next. “This is going to make his day all the more special.”

“I’m glad.” There was something about Monroe’s determination to see his brother’s wedding be perfect that just touched me. I wanted to say something to him. How amazing it was that he looked after his brother this way, but before I could figure out what to say, Monroe’s phone beeped.

“He loves them both. Can we do half and half?”

“Sure,” I croaked. I cleared my throat. “Not a problem. And the larger arrangements?”

Monroe was still scrolling. “He thinks they are, and I quote, ‘absolutely stunning,’ but he’s worried about them being the right size. He doesn’t say whether he thinks they’re too big or too small. Hang on.”

“His ceremony is taking place on the terrace, right?” The ceremony and reception were at the newly renovated Deveraux Estate, and I knew Elise Deveraux well. Her family’s estate, which she’d inherited and turned into a luxury inn, was one of the top places for weddings in the area. I’d done more than a dozen over the past few years.

“Yes. Facing the pond.”

“No worries then. I’ll make sure they’re perfect to bookend the grooms. I’ve got it covered.”

“Fantastic. I’ll let him know.” His thumbs flew over the screen. “Okay, good. Now about the bill. I want to pay.”

“Okay, let me get together an invoice for the callas and—”

“Not just the lilies. For all of it.”

I froze, both surprised by his generosity and somehow not. I hardly knew this man, but this gesture was in keeping with what little I did know. “Okay. Then I’ll make sure to hand you the bill on the day.”

Monroe shook his head. “Let me pay for it now.”

I squinted at him. “I already have the down p*****t. Generally, I don’t take p*****t in full until the product has been delivered. That’s how things work. So you know I’m going to show up.”

The rich, deep laugh rolled through the room and I couldn’t help but shiver.

Monroe took a step closer. “You’re not going to not show up. I’m not worried about that.”

I laughed. “I appreciate your confidence in me. And of course I would never not show up. But you shouldn’t trust—”

“Oh, no. It’s not that.” Monroe had cut me off again. He had a habit of doing that. Normally that irritated me, but for some reason, it felt different with him. I liked to think because he was gentle about it as if he was saving me from saying something I shouldn’t. But it was probably because I found him smoking hot and could listen to his deep voice all day. It also helped that he dipped his head so he could look me directly in the eye. “I mean, sure, I do trust you. You came highly recommended by Elise herself, and since Linc is her personal assistant, I knew she wouldn’t steer him wrong.”

“I wasn’t aware she had one,” I said stupidly, stuck on staring at his long lashes. He had really pretty eyes.

“He’s been working for her for only a few months. But no, you see, our brother Hayes is a lawyer. One of those shark types. So if you don’t show up, your life would get very complicated. And no one wants that.” He’d said that with a huge dose of humor, so I knew he was mostly kidding.

I bristled anyway, though it was half for show. “Are you threatening me?”

Monroe sobered a bit. “Not really. I know you’re a good guy, West Walker. So all of that is really moot. Let me pay in full now, and then none of us have to worry about anything on the day.”

I caved because I’d be stupid not to. No one prepaid in full in advance, and there had been plenty of times I’d had to chase money down. Once I’d even had to get lawyers involved before I received p*****t. This was a far better option. After the transaction was complete, and Monroe tucked his credit card into his wallet, he looked at me and grinned. I really did like how much and how easily he smiled.

“So I’ll see you in a couple of weeks then?”

“Of course.” I took offense, even though I was pretty sure he didn’t mean it like I thought. He wasn’t implying that I wouldn’t show up on the wedding day with the flowers after we’d already established that I would, right?

“Good.” His voice dropped an octave. “I look forward to seeing you again, West.”

I knew it was my imagination and my starving libido that read far too much into that statement. But the truth was, I was looking forward to seeing Monroe again, too. Probably way more than I should.