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“Okay…will you have dinner with me, Ms. Strickland?”
I ran my fingers over the cover of Bulletproof. “I enjoyed your book.”
“Good. Wanna discuss it tonight?”
I hesitated and finally said, “Seven? I’ll drive myself.”
“Can’t wait.”
An hour later, flowers—a huge bouquet of pale purple orchids—were delivered to me by Janine.
“Robert’s still trying to get you back, huh?” she asked, as she stood in front of my desk holding the vase. “Want me to get rid of them for you? One of Cassandra’s patients just delivered about twenty minutes ago. I could give them to her, say they’re from the birthing center?”
I shook my head as I stepped around the desk and took the flowers from her. “I’ll take care of them.” I set the vase on my desk and reclaimed my seat, eying the flowers as Janine remained glued to the floor.
I looked up at her. “Anything else?”
“No, I mean, you seem so calm. You’re not upset about the flowers?”
I shook my head, opened my mouth to respond, but was interrupted by the buzzing of my cell phone. Glancing at the screen, I recognized the unsaved number as one I’d dialed earlier.
“Uh, Janine, I need to take this.”
She lifted her eyebrows. “Oh, okay. I’ll be at my desk if you need me.”
I shook my head again after she closed the door behind her. I’d known Janine for years and loved her to death, but she was the nosiest woman in the world!
It took me so long to get rid of her, I missed Lorenzo’s call. When I called him back, he answered with, “You get the flowers, Doc?”
I smiled. I didn’t need to read the card to know they weren’t from Robert. He never would’ve sent me something as expensive as orchids.
“Yes, thank you. But what are they for?”
“You didn’t read the card?”
“Didn’t get a chance to. You called as they were being delivered to me.”
“My bad. You like them?”
“I do. They’re beautiful.”
“I’m glad you like them. Read the card. See you tonight.”
“See you tonight.”
After we ended the call, I pulled the card from its holder within the bundle of flowers and smiled as I read the words scrawled in rather lovely handwriting that matched the script on the check:
Beauty for a beauty. Looking forward to seeing you tonight. – Zo
