Page 53 of My Kind of Happy

‘Just doing my job,’ I shrugged casually but my pulse had quickened under his gaze.

The moment hung between us. He was leaving, going back to work and then off home to patch up his marriage. The intimacy we’d shared would be gone. She was bound to take him back; she’d be mad not to. Then she’d be his wife again and not his ex … Which was as it should be. Obviously.

Sam cleared his throat. ‘Have you got a business card? I can leave it at the hotel reception, next time they need flowers they might give you a call.’

‘Sure.’ I found a dog-eared card under the counter and handed it to him. It had Nina’s name on it and a mobile number which she’d crossed out and written a new one in smudged ink squashed into a corner.

He inspected it, amused. ‘Very … Nina.’

‘I’m getting some new ones printed.’ Another job for the list.

‘I’ll pop in next week and pick some up if you like?’ he offered. ‘I can leave them with all our managed properties as I visit: hotels, offices, hairdressers.’

There it was: the way to attract a new customer base.

‘Oh my goodness!’ I laughed in surprise. ‘That’s it! That’s what the flower shop is missing. Sam, you’re a genius.’

‘Business cards?’ he said, confused.

‘A corporate clientele! I can’t believe I didn’t think of it myself. Even the company I used to work for had a weekly delivery of flowers. There must be loads of places we could target.’

‘Oh, there are,’ Sam smiled. ‘Most of our clients. We even have a funeral director on our books. I can give you a list if you like.’

‘I do like, thanks!’ I grabbed hold of him and as if it was the most natural thing in the world, I placed a smacker of a kiss to his cheek. ‘You’re bloomin’ brilliant!’

‘Wow.’ Sam looked stunned. ‘I’ll email it to you.’

Selling the flower shop’s services to other prospective businesses would be a piece of cake; it was essentially the same as I’d been doing in my old career for the last ten years. I could phone, or email, or better still, invite them to the shop …

‘Well!’ I turned to see Nina and Scamp in the doorway. ‘Looks like you two have had more fun than me.’

‘Probably.’ Sam nodded towards the full poo bag in Nina’s hand.

‘Humph,’ said Nina, letting Scamp off the lead. ‘Not only did I have to double-bag his offering, but he forced me into Biddy’s Pet Shop and wouldn’t leave until he’d been given a chunk of something which reeked of old fish.’

I winced with apology. Scamp loved it in there. I’d booked the doggy pedicure which Biddy had given me a discount voucher last week. here. Scamp quivered with fear at the sight of the clippers and Biddy had had to feed him dried liver to coax him round. Since then he never missed the opportunity to drag me in there when he could and he and Churchill had become good friends.

‘That’ll be forty pounds please.’ I held my hand out to him, my eyes still shining.

‘Good luck,’ said Sam, handing over the money. ‘And thanks for the flowers and the chat.’

‘You’re welcome.’ My heart tweaked.

He collected his umbrella and looked down at the flowers. ‘These don’t say afterthought, do they?’

‘No,’ I promised, shaking my head slowly, ‘they say “I’m a very lucky girl”.’

Nina stepped aside to let Sam out.

‘So?’ she demanded, wide eyed with curiosity. ‘Have you got yourself a date?’

‘He’s married, so sadly not,’ I sighed as Sam crossed the road to his car, placed the flowers carefully on the back seat and drove away.

‘Balls.’ She gave my arm a sympathetic pat.

‘However, he did give me an idea to help the business. So I was thinking: what do you say to having a party?’

‘I say YES!’ She grabbed hold of my hands and danced us both around the shop. ‘I take it back about this not being fun. I love parties.’

I grinned at my new business partner and for the second time in as many minutes I delivered a big kiss to an unsuspecting face. ‘I thought you might.’