Falling Star (2 page)

Her smile was beautiful. "What do you think?" She had a crystal vase filled with a half dozen white lilies and three lavender-tipped pink roses. The blossoms were interspersed with thick dark green leaves.

"Wow. Did you just make that?" He didn't know anything about floral arrangements, but it looked damn good to him.

"Well, no, I was working on this when you walked in. I've been trying to fill the cooler all morning."

"It's perfect. I'll take it."

She blushed, a pretty color of rose. "And the teddy bear?"

"The wha…oh." Clenched in his hand was the teddy bear he'd been straightening. "Yeah I guess the teddy bear too." She typed into the aging register, which sounded like it was on its last leg. It even had a shrill bell when she hit the total button and read him the amount.

He pulled out his wallet. Did he give her a credit card? She'd recognize the name. Or would she? No. This was too fun. He had to play this up. He handed her cash, and purposefully brushed his fingers against hers during the transfer. Was it her skin that tingled against his, or did his tingle against hers? Adam figured she felt it too, because she pulled her hand away immediately.

"Are you always here alone?"

She glanced at the door, and he noticed a fleeting look of relief when she saw that Tyrell was gone. "I'm not alone; I've got help in the back room."

She was lying, but he didn't blame her.

Oh yes, he was coming back. The next time he saw her, he knew she'd figure out who he was, and she'd be embarrassed for today.

"Thank you for your help, Miss…"

She looked at his outstretched hand for just a second, then back to meet his eye. "Jade," she said softly, and laid her hand in his.

Her fingers were cool, probably from working with refrigerated flowers and water. Cool, soft and…tingly.

"I'll be back, Jade." He scooped up his purchases and walked to the door.

"Please do. You'll be a pro before you know it."

He threw another wink over his shoulder, one last attempt at recognition, but it was futile. She'd busied herself with a stack of receipts by the register.

He closed the door behind him, and noticed the small crowd gathered around his limousine.

Damn. He didn't want a scene, especially in front of that florist.

"What took so long?" Tyrell was beside him in an instant. "Shit, man, the vultures are circling."

Adam shoved the flowers and teddy bear into Tyrell's arms. "Pick me up on the other side of the alley."

"But—"

"Just do it. They only want to see who's going to get into the car. Just get in and pick me up." He slid on a pair of dark glasses and walked down the alley.

His heels clicked on the pavement and echoed off the tall buildings around him. When was the last time he'd walked down an alley? Alone? His manager would kill him if he knew. He was surprised Tyrell gave in so easily. By the time he reached the other end of the block, Tyrell stood outside the open limo door.

It wasn't until they were both safely buckled in that the car rolled back into traffic. Adam smiled when he saw Carley's vase of flowers propped in a corner of the seat facing him. Tyrell had wrapped a seatbelt around the vase, and the teddy bear's back end stuck out from underneath the crystal. He laughed, and was about to comment when Tyrell spoke.

"You wanna tell me what the fuck that was about?" The man's voice was never raised. He always maintained the coarse decibel just above a whisper. The depth of Tyrell's voice was what made him even sound dangerous.

"You don't like the teddy bear?" Adam grinned.

"What the fuck was that all about, Adam?"

"I didn't want to get in the car with the crowd, that's all."

Tyrell nodded slowly. "That part I got. I don't like you running down the alleys of the city, but I know where you're coming from." He unbuttoned his suit jacket, but didn't loosen his tie. Adam had never seen the man in anything but a dark suit and white shirt. Never, in the three years he'd been in Adam's employ, had Tyrell even loosened his tie. "I'm talking about the shop. Why didn't you want me in there?"

"What are you, paranoid? You think we were talking about you?"

Tyrell gave him the lazy annoyed look that told Adam his questions didn't merit a response.

"The woman didn't recognize me."

Tyrell narrowed his eyes in confusion. "You're shitting me."

"I'm serious. She stood there talking to me the whole time. Not a flicker."

Tyrell leaned back and stared at Adam, as if he tried to see if he looked any different today than he did two months ago at the Country Music Award Ceremony. "Maybe she's, you know…not all there."

Adam shook his head. "She's perfectly sane. Intelligent." He shrugged. "The only thing I can think of is that maybe the thought of Adam Nash coming into her little flower shop was too outlandish to believe."

Tyrell considered this. "You know, not everyone in the world is a country music fan. There are even country music fans that wouldn't know you. It's not like you're the president or anything."

Adam ignored him. "It was weird, you know? Remember how I wished I could just go somewhere normal without being Country Music Superstar Adam Nash?"

"Uh huh."

Adam raised his hands. "This was it. She didn't even ask my name."

"So was it all you thought it would be?" Tyrell grinned, his white teeth shining bright against his dark skin.

Adam didn't answer right away. He'd be lying if he said he liked it. It was different, that's for sure.

"I think it bothered you more because it was a beautiful woman."

Adam glanced up at Tyrell. He was all but laughing. Adam thought about it, and realized he was right. If it had been a man, he wouldn't have thought anything about it. It wasn't as if he gave her his name and she was unimpressed. Maybe she was just busy. Distracted.

Yeah, that's it.

The rest of the ride back to his mansion on the hill was made in silence. Adam couldn't help wondering if giving her his name would have made a difference. Wouldn't that be the ultimate blow to his ego if she didn't even recognize it?

"Good morning, Earth Scents."

"Is this Jade?" Adam smiled. He recognized her voice, of course it was her.

"It is. Who is this?"

"My name is Adam. You sold me some lilies last week."

His grin only widened at the pause. Probably as soon as he walked out of her shop that day, she figured out who he was. He'd just given her his first name, and now she was too flustered to speak.

"I apologize, sir, but I sell a lot of lilies, and I couldn't possibly remember each order. Was there a problem with your bouquet?"

You've got to be kidding.
So he really would have to go through with this charade. On to plan B. "No Jade. Nothing was wrong with the flowers. She especially liked the teddy bear."

She laughed. Adam could almost see the bright smile through the phone. "I'm glad she liked them. Is…was there…I'm sorry…Adam. Your name just doesn't ring a bell."

"I don't think I gave you my name, I apologize."
And you didn't ask
, he added silently. Seriously, this was getting a little ridiculous.

"Well, I appreciate the call sir. I hope you'll think of us the next time you need to spread a little sunshine."

Was she brushing him off? He stifled a laugh. "I assure you I will, but that's not why I called." Jesus she was making him work for this, wasn't she? He purposefully waited to continue, just to irritate her a bit. "The lilies were such a hit, I wanted to take the florist out to celebrate."

"Well now, if they were that big of a hit, she probably wouldn't want you to celebrate with the florist."

"I doubt my secretary would mind if I took you to dinner."

"Oh," she laughed. "I see. That's ah…" Her voice faded.

He hadn't been turned down by a female since seventh grade, but he had the feeling that's what was coming. "When do you close Earth Scents?"

"Mr. …uh Adam, I haven't agreed to dinner with you."

Was he scaring her? "No, but you haven't hung up on me yet either."

"I'm at a disadvantage, here. When did you come in?"

Was he that forgettable? Even without his face plastered all over every tabloid in the supermarket checkout line, he liked to think he was a fairly good-looking guy. "I'm trying very hard not to be offended that you don't remember me. Maybe it was just because it was my first time in a flower shop."

Another pause. "Oh! Yes, I remember now. I embarrassed myself when I assumed you were gay."

Adam laughed. "That was me."

"No, you didn't give me your name."

"Well, now you have it. Can I pick you up at home, or would you rather I stop by Earth Scents?"

"I don't remember you as being this tenacious when you were in my shop."

"You don't remember me at all, so that's not saying much." Is this what the average man has to go through? "Look, it's just dinner. I'll even spring for dessert."

He couldn't believe his leg bounced impatiently. There was always that supermodel who gave him her phone number last week. Though at this particular moment he couldn't remember her name.
Really Adam.
Who cares if she turns you down?

He cared. Probably just out of pride, but he cared.

"I'm not really dressed for a dinner date. I'm afraid I got in a fight with some foliage this afternoon and I'm covered in soil. By the time I get home and change—"

Okay, Plan C. "We can save the dress-up thing for another time. All I had in mind tonight is a greasy burger at a family restaurant, maybe a beer or two. No one will notice a little bit of dirt." At her continued reluctance, he couldn't believe he actually added, "Please?"

It worked. She laughed. "Alright. I close the shop at six, should I meet you somewhere?"

"What kind of gentleman would I be if I didn't pick you up?"

"Oh, so you're a
gentleman
?" He could actually hear her smile in her words. Why that pleased him so much, he didn't know.

"You bet your ass! Oh. Oops." He tried to sound contrite, and was rewarded with another throaty laugh in his ear. Damn it was sexy.

"Well, kind sir, I have a customer so I have to bid you farewell. I'll see you at six."

"Good bye Jade."

"Good bye Adam."

He waited until her end went dead before he hung up his phone. Well, Carley's office phone. He didn't want to give too much away. Not yet.

He grinned. This would be good. "Change of plans Carley," he yelled through the open door. "Buster's instead. Let the others know." He'd let Carley tell Tyrell. That man hated any change in his organized schedule.

Carley walked back into the office, her footsteps muted on the plush carpet, but she couldn't hide the stumble in her step. "Buster's? You're taking a woman to a…chain restaurant?" Carley's voice proved her shock, the look she gave him from behind those grandmotherly eyeglasses hinted at her question of his sanity.

"Is that a problem?"

"I…I don't know." She patted the tight coiffure of silver curls, and adjusted her glasses. "I've never worked with them."

"How hard can it be?" Adam leaned back in Carley's coveted chair, folded his hands behind his head and shot her the cocky look that he knew irritated her to no end. Just for fun, he propped his crossed ankles on her desk. "They should jump at the offer. I'm bringing in fifteen tables, and I've been told I'm a pretty good tipper." Maybe he'd have to add a family to his cast of players. Damn. There wasn't time.

"That's not it and you know it." Carley stormed over and knocked his feet to the floor. "Marc's restaurant is used to you high and mighty types. I'm not sure Buster's is willing to close its doors for an hour so you can dine in peace."

Adam stood, framed her lined face in his hands, kissed each cheek, and then sat her down in her chair that he'd just vacated so she could get to work on his project. "I trust you to work your magic. Buster's off Huntington Drive at six." He crossed the room, surprised when she didn't bluster after him. "And Carley?" He turned in the doorway. "I'll need at least three."

He couldn't decipher her grumblings, but he would put money on swear words. "Three what?"

"Three hours." He winked, and then took off down the hallway before his words registered, and a stapler flew at his head.

* * * *

Why was everyone buying flowers
today
?

Jade tucked a stray piece of hair back behind her ear, and rang up yet another customer. She couldn't complain; business was great. Thank God Dean was here, or she'd really be in a bind.

"Miss? This card says that this is a dahlia." One woman rudely called Jade's attention away from her register transaction, but Jade could only smile. "But what is it really?"