Got Love? (3 page)

Remembering herself with a shake of her head, Flora pulled her hand from Tharin’s, leaving her scarf in his grip. They were starting to draw a crowd. A very estrogen-filled crowd. And if they didn’t leave now, the hair might very well start flying.

“Right, thanks Fia. We’ve got orders to fill. Sorry. Um, it was nice to meet you. Send me your bill, okay. Um, bye. Nice to meet you,” she repeated for a second time, nearly tripping over her feet as Runa pushed her toward the door.

“You as well, Flora Hawthorne. I look forward to our next meeting.”

Snorting into her cooling coffee, Fia tried to cover her amusement. “I hope you’ve got some wings hidden under that sweater, cupid. The way she’s running, you’re going to need them.” The banshee turned to trail after her friends.

Retracing her steps, Runa turned back to Tharin. “You can’t send her flowers,” she cautioned, doing her best to encourage the spark she saw between her friend and this new fae-kin. “Her shop’s the best in town and competitors won’t do. Homegrown is your best bet. She already has enough energy that sweets and candy might push her over the edge. Ditto for coffee, as you just experienced.

“You’ll need to be unique, patient, and persistent. Owning the house on Durning is a strong plus in your favor. She dreams of that house. Her favorite color is yellow, as if you couldn’t tell, and you can’t go wrong there. She has a weakness for ice-skating in the winter and picnics when it’s warm. Other than that, you’re on your own.”

Advice given, Runa rushed from Presto’s to join her friends at the shop.

Chapter 4

“
Oh my gladiolus!”
Flora exclaimed, shutting the break room door behind them. “What just happened?”

“You just came face to face with a cupid!” Fia grinned like a mad woman. “How did he feel, was he all buff and tight under that sweater you couldn’t take your hands off of.”

“Of course he was, Fi. She announced it loud enough for the whole restaurant to hear. ‘Wow, you’re really ripped under there aren’t you? Not that I’m trying to cop a feel or anything’,” Runa imitated, ending in a fit of giggles.

“Shut up.” Flora pulled her unused napkins from her pocket to throw at her friends. “My brain was fried by the overload of eroticism that flowed from his every pore. Man he was…” Flora broke off to fan her flushed face. “Whooo!”

“I can safely say that we all have eyes in our heads and drool on our chins and that Sandy has no idea how right she truly is.”

“Not one single female in Presto’s could keep their eyes off him.” Fia put in, taking her foodstuff from her bag. “By the looks of it, Flora’s cupid will have a bunch of groupies hounding him by nightfall. Not that he doesn’t already.”

“He’s not my cupid,” Flora grumbled into her lasagna soup, the full weight of public embarrassment upon her shoulders.

“I wouldn’t mind being chased by a cupid!” Runa confessed on a sigh, earning herself a pair of raised eyebrows as she neatly folded her now empty to-go bag. “I’m talking cupids in general. You think he’s got a brother? Cousin? Maybe a friend?”

Pondering the chances of that for a minute, the girls sat in revered silence.

“Good news is cupids are known for their longevity,” Fia announced suddenly, causing Runa to pound a choking Flora on the back between her shoulder blades.

“What?” the banshee asked, a taunting grin on her lips when Flora glared at her from teary eyes. “Get your mind out of the gutter, you shameless hussy. What I meant was that when they decide to commit, its forever. There’s no second-guessing, no backtracking. Total security and honor when a cupid holds your heart.” She ended on a dreamy sigh that was echoed around the table. “Plus, they love to travel. What better way to spend life than phasing around the globe with a single thought. But they also love to put down roots. As someone who knows how important good roots are, Flora, I think that would appeal to you.”

When Flora remained silent, Runa cut her gaze back to Fia. “Might be that it appeals to her so much she’s scared.”

****

Rubbing absently at the burning arrow tattoo hidden under his left sleeve, Tharin watched Runa run into the shop.
Wasn’t she just a helpful little elf?
He smiled to himself. Resisting the urge to press his nose into Flora’s scarf and inhale her sweet perfume, he casually tucked the fabric into his pocket.

Returning to his booth to finish his cooling soup and sandwich, Tharin was well aware he and Flora were the hot topic of murmured conversations being carried on around him. He could care less. Before the month was out, he’d give his new neighbors plenty to talk about.

“Can I get you anything else?” The waitress slid his cake slice across the table. “Maybe more napkins for your shirt?”

“It’s almost dry. How about a coffee?” he asked, giving her a reason to leave him alone so he could think of Flora’s auburn hair. Did it feel as soft as it looked under that knit cap she wore? And her eyes, such a unique hazel, a swirling of brown and green with a sunburst of gold flaring from her irises. He had enjoyed the way they widened when their eyes first met. Beautiful, lush lips framed a mouth that wouldn’t quit. He caught himself wondering if she always rambled like that, or if it was nerves doing the talking.

“So you know Flora?” the cupid asked as the girl carefully sat his coffee in front of him.

“Sure. She graduated with my older brother. So did Runa and Fia. Biggest graduating class Peabody ever had. She opened A Touch of Wild Flora three years ago. Got a real knack for it, if you ask me. Flowers just seem to bloom under her touch, ya know?”

With a magic touch like hers, Tharin didn’t doubt it. From the instant Flora touched his chest, trying to dry him, Tharin felt bewitched. It was like she was touching his heart. Tempting it to open just enough for her to find a way under his skin to curl up like she belonged. He’d never had another female, human or fae-kin, make him feel like she did. As much as that thought should worry him, Tharin was long past ready to meet his love. He was ready to share his long life with a counterpart who would complement him and make him whole.

If two hundred years had taught him anything, it was that you needed a strong partner to stand beside you in life and love.

“But then, all those Hawthornes are born talented. She’s got some family who own a farm on the outskirts of town. They grow all kinds of stuff out there. Fruits, vegetables, that kind of thing. You ought to check it out.”

The only one Tharin was interested in checking out was Flora. He wanted to get to know her real well.

“Maybe I will. What else can you tell me about Flora? Does she eat here often, since you’re right across the street?” He was glad his waitress was such a fount of information.

“She’s here a couple times a week, always gets her lunch to go. Never settles down. Too busy working. Last year, she opened a lawn care business to go with the floral shop. My cousin had some work done and says they’re great. I see her every now and then at Ma Guinness. That’s a local pub down at the other end of town. They’ve got music every night. She sings sometimes, when Runa and Fia can talk her into it. Pretty good voice. A real earthy tone, mellow and soothing.”

Tharin made sure to file that information as he tried to come up with a way to see Flora again. He thought of calling for a delivery, but he didn’t want to chance ordering flowers and not have Flora deliver them. Runa had warned him against the usual courting treats, so he was at a loss of what to do next. He could walk across and hire her to do his yardwork, but with all the snow, he wasn’t exactly sure what he was dealing with.

“You know, when it’s cold, Flora always stops by for a white hot chocolate to go before she heads home. Cook keeps a batch made especially for her.”

Jackpot
. “Is that so? You have been so helpful. How about letting your cook know I’ll be back for dinner tonight, and I’ll be taking Flora her drink.”

Grinning widely, the waitress went to pass the message along, leaving Tharin to think things through while he finished his dessert.

Chapter 5

For every box of conversation hearts Flora poured into the hollow between two nestled vases, a handful made it into her stomach.

Crunching the sugar treat between her molars, she stared into space, chewing as she pondered Runa’s last words.

Scared.
Who were her friends to say she was scared?
Flora thought. She wasn’t scared…exactly. Maybe cautious was a better word for it. After all, who in their right mind would be willing to jump straight to romantic unrealities ten minutes after meeting somebody? Sex-filled, sweaty fantasies of a man who was lust incarnate and love personified.

Geez
, Flora thought, crunching down on another heart.
I’m just as bad as my friends are. Sandy’s right. Shameless hussies, the lot of us.

Glancing up as the doorbell tinkled, Flora was ready to call out that she was closed, only to swallow the last of her candy and her words before they could form. Lust had just walked into her store, and boy did he look good in a pair of jeans.

“Tharin.”

“Flora.”

“I’m closed.”

“I figured as much with the late hour and all. My appliances won’t be delivered until tomorrow, and as I was finishing up dinner, I noticed your lights were still on. I brought your scarf back, freshly laundered and a peace offering.” Tharin placed the scarf and a to-go cup on the counter top in front of her.

“Hot white chocolate?” She asked, sniffing the air.

“With whipped cream and a cherry. A little bird told me it was your favorite.”

Accepting the cup, she took a quick sip. “Mmm. That’s good. Smart little bird. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I’m sorry for startling you earlier. I thought after a long day you might like to take a walk and get some fresh air, work out the kinks.”

Kink, did he say?
There was certainly a lot of that floating around in her head at the moment.
Settling the candy with a fingertip, Flora took a deep breath, nervously shifting from foot to foot. “You didn’t startle me earlier. I was in too much of a hurry to pay attention to my surroundings. I’d blame the chaos that is Valentine’s, but that would be a lie. I seem to always run full steam ahead. Thank you for cleaning my scarf. I’d like to pay for your dry cleaning if you let me.”

“I’d like a walk with a pretty fairy instead,” Tharin persisted. “I promise not to keep you long. Just to the end of the street and back. The snow stopped falling hours ago, and all that’s left is slush.”

Scared?
She would show her friends who was scared. Flora tossed the last of the conversation hearts into the vase. “Let me put these away, and I’ll lock up.”

“No rush. Don’t forget your coat and gloves. There’s still a bite in the air,” the cupid cautioned, using the time to glance around Flora’s shop. “This is some place you have here.” He marveled at what he saw. No wonder she was the best.

A profusion of cut flowers wrapped in brown paper sat in galvanized buckets, clear vases held forced bulbs. He saw potted herbs, mini flowers flowing from teacups, and hanging birdcages. Fairy houses and terrariums sat behind glass displays, while succulents grew on the far wall in wild abandon.

“Ready?” the fairy asked, yellow hat and scarf in place as she began cutting off the lights.

“You have an enchanted touch, Flora Hawthorne.” Tharin held the door open for her. “Your place is lovely.”

Blushing, Flora turned the lock behind them, pocketing the keys. Using the excuse of their presence to keep her hand snug in her pocket instead of swaying loosely by her side, while the other clutched her hot chocolate instead of Tharin’s body like she wanted.

“Thank you. It’s a labor of love.”

“One you do very well,” Tharin complimented. “What other talents do you have?”

“Talents? I’m afraid there are none, unless you count talking. I excel at oral communications.” Flora heard herself answer, before choking on the next sip of her hot chocolate.
Snapdragon!
Could she not keep a decent thought in her head and control over her tongue? It seemed to have developed a naughty side since running into Tharin.
“Though I obviously need more work at keeping it civil! I’m having a hard time filtering my thoughts in your presence.”

“I find it delightful and will take it as a compliment that my presence encourages impure thoughts. It would seem great minds think alike. There are certainly more than a few crossing my mind at the moment.”

“
Sweet marigolds
.” Flora blushed, changing the subject, eager to keep the conversation going in a milder direction she was more comfortable with. “So, what brings you to Peabody?”

“I was in need of a change of scenery. I’d been in Europe a century too long and needed something different. When the offer of working in the States came up, I couldn’t refuse.”

“A century, wow, and how old are you exactly?” Flora asked.

Fae tended to stop aging after they’d reached the mature age of twenty-five. Old age would eventually catch up to them a few thousand years later. But until then, their bodies were frozen in time.

“I just celebrated my two hundred and thirtieth year.”

“Congrats.” Flora smiled.

“And you? I wouldn’t ask,but…”

“You’re not from around here and need to get your bearings. I don’t mind telling you. I’ll be twenty-six this May.”

“One hundred and twenty-six?” Tharin clarified.

“Nope. Just plain, two-six.” She shook her head, refusing to be self-conscious.

“You’re just a baby!” Tharin exclaimed.

Flora was well aware how rare it was to meet a fae-kin as young as she was. Fae offspring were few and far between. “I’ll have you know that in earth years, I’m nearing middle age.” She laughed. “In a few years I’ll be over the hill.”

“And your friends?”

“We were all born the same year. Peabody enjoyed quite the population boom. Human and fae-kin were popping out all over the place.”