Page 39 of My Kind of Happy

‘Whoops. Fearne Lovage.’ I blushed as I said my name. I wasn’t normally a blusher, but this man had made every cell of my being sit up and pay attention.

Sam picked up his card again and handed it to me to read: Sam Diamond, Senior Advisor, Hogg Property Services commercial estate agents.

‘This your dog?’ He looked at Scamp, who was lying on the floor, one eye shut, the other one trained on the new visitor, his tail thumping rhythmically against the wooden floorboards.

I nodded. ‘That’s Scamp. We’re both new.’

‘I guessed.’ He looked past me to the far end of the shop. ‘Is Nina in?’

‘Sure,’ I said brightly. Damn. ‘I’ll fetch her for you. Excuse me.’

I don’t know why I was disappointed. The chances of a gorgeous single man wandering into the flower shop and being interested in me on my first day were pretty slim. Especially given Nina’s declaration that this was the worst place to meet someone. Besides, what had happened to the Fearne who ten minutes ago had insisted that a boyfriend would only get in the way of … er, something or other; whatever it was, it had slipped my mind.

I backed through the archway, still smiling at him. He scratched his chin as if hiding his amusement.

A thought struck me. Maybe Sam was the reason why Nina might not need Lucas’s dating advice any more? Perhaps she only said she was still single, because it was still early days …

‘Is the dog allowed treats?’ he called as I disappeared into the back.

‘He is,’ I replied, ‘as long as you don’t mind him never leaving you alone for the rest of your life.’

I heard Sam laugh as Scamp’s paws scrabbled across the floor towards him.

Smiley eyes, a dimple and dog treats. There must be a catch, because right now Sam Diamond was too good to be true. Oh yes, I remembered; he was here to see my boss.

‘Nina?’ I hissed, not spotting her; she was probably quickly putting some lippy on and removing stray leaves from her hair.

I checked the kitchenette, the loo and the cold store. No sign of the boss. I was wondering what on earth could have happened to her when her face popped up at the window from out in the yard. Her eyes were wide and she had a finger clamped to her lips, urging me to be quiet.

I opened the back door and poked my head out. She was tucked into the small gap between the wall of the shop and her van.

‘Are you all right?’ I asked.

She shook her head, still with her finger in place.

‘Sam is here to see you,’ I whispered.

‘I know. Get rid of him,’ she hissed, flapping her hand at me to go back inside. ‘I’ll explain later.’

‘OK.’ I was so taken aback I didn’t even question her.

When I got back to Sam, he was crouching down stroking Scamp. Scamp had invaded his personal space and the two of them were almost nose to nose. Sam stood up.

‘No Nina?’ he remarked as if he’d been expecting that to be the case.

‘Sorry,’ I said. ‘You just missed her.’

‘Thought I might.’ His lips twitched.

He had nice full lips. I wondered if his stubble would tickle my face if I kissed him, I mean if someone kissed him. Like Nina. I gave myself a shake. This wasn’t like me at all, what was going on? Crushing on my boss’s … whatever he was, was hardly going to get myself into her good books.

‘How about you leave a message with me, and perhaps a bunch of flowers?’ I was really proud of this suggestion, given Nina’s complaint. ‘Florists don’t often get flowers, you know.’

He coughed and glanced down at the floor as if covering his amusement. ‘Thank you. I’ll take a rain check on the flowers this time, but tell Nina that the rent is overdue and my boss isn’t the sort of man who takes kindly to being owed money.’

I stared at him confused. ‘Rent? So you’re not, you and Nina aren’t …? You’re the landlord?’

He nodded grimly. ‘As my card says, I work in commercial property and Hogg Property Services lease the building to Nina. She’s in arrears with the rent. Again.’

And I’d just advised him to buy her some flowers. I groaned mentally.

‘Oh, I see.’ I couldn’t think of anything intelligent to say; I hadn’t been expecting that.

‘Please inform Nina – when she reappears – that she’s got one week.’

‘Until what?’ I said, not sure I wanted to hear the answer. ‘You won’t be back with baseball bats and a big lorry will you?’

‘No, look …’ An expression I couldn’t quite name passed across his face, but whatever it was, he didn’t look happy. He raked a hand through his hair and frowned. ‘Just tell her.’

‘I will,’ I promised.

Sam crossed the shop, opened the door and then turned back. ‘Sorry you had to hear that on your first day.’

‘Ditto,’ I said under my breath as Sam strode away.

Just what had I got myself into?