Page 2 of Protecting my Zinnia

I unlock the apartment entrance and can hear my sisters talking to someone. Yet another delivery. Please let there be an end to Rose's list soon.

By the time I haul my shopping bag up the stairs, everything has gone quiet. I walk in to see Lily putting on another pot of coffee, Rose in her room organizing something, and a man on his knees in the dining room, installing the last window handle.

When he stands up, my breath catches.

"Hey, Hardware Girl." His hand extends slowly, as if he's afraid to make me jump again. "I'm so sorry I had to take that call before I introduced myself. Evan Harris, your window guy who clearly can't count the number of handles he needs."

The warm pressure of my hand in his sends fireworks up my spine. Now that we aren't surrounded by all of the plastic packaging in the hardware store, I'm aware of his slight woodsy, masculine scent.

"Zinnia."

He chuckles, his rich, deep voice strangely alluring. "Right. When Marty mentioned he needed me for a job for the flower girls, I wasn't sure what to think."

Think of something to say. Quick, before his eyes draw you in and paralyze you even more.

"You've done a great job." I pull my hand away before I get too accustomed to his heat. "Thanks for all of your hard work."

"I'm just sorry that I couldn't do it faster."

"Marty said you had an important job at the hospital. That definitely comes first."

"It was actually a bit personal."

I inadvertently take a step closer as he smiles. "Yeah?"

There's something in his eyes. An emotion I can't quite identify. "Yeah. I'd like to tell you all about it. Maybe over dinner tonight?"

My mouth falls open for several seconds. "Tonight? Um, you don't even know me."

"Exactly," he says, gently inching closer. "I'd like to get to know you better. There's a great place a few blocks away. We can walk, and you can leave at any time if you want to."

The fact that he's so careful to make me feel comfortable is a good sign. "Okay."

"May I pick you up here at seven?"

"Sure." We exchange numbers just in case he gets held up, then he pauses.

Evan looks around to make sure that my sisters aren't looking, then reaches out to drag his thumb softly across my cheekbone. Leaning in, he whispers, "You're incredibly beautiful, Zinnia. And I can already tell there's a lot more to you than that. I can't wait to get to know you."

His soft breath against my ear makes me shiver. "Same."

When he pulls his hand away, I instantly miss his touch. I also miss the opportunity to say something clever or witty. Instead, I simply stare at the unbelievably fine butt walking out the door in snug jeans.

Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath. In a minute, my sisters are going to descend on me, helping me figure out what to wear, and giving me a ton of advice. For a moment, I just need some silence.

Somehow I have a date with the most attractive man I've ever met.

We moved to Sandersville to get away from the cold. I was not expecting life-changing, libido-searing heat.

I've never been so excited for dinner in my life.

2

EVAN

As I drive all over town, doing various small repair jobs, I feel like I'm in a trance. I've never been an impulsive person, yet I'd been about to ask Zinnia out right there in the hardware store.

The only thing that stopped me was the call from Mom's best friend telling me that Mom would be discharged from hospital tomorrow. When I went back inside, Zinnia was gone. I'm taking seeing her again just a few minutes later as a definite sign.