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Leaving my car where it is, I amble up the sidewalk with the full tray, my P-coat flapping in the wind that promises rain.

The door to the flower shop dings with bells that announce my arrival, and a brunette with a wide smile and bubbly nature bounds out from the back.

“How may I…” Her words die as she stares at me, wide-eyed. “Help…you.”

“Sam, is everything okay?”

Another woman steps out from the back. Her head is down, but when she looks up, she freezes the same way. Her hazel eyes are just as wide as Sam’s.

“Damn…he’s hot.”

I arch an eyebrow at her as Sam looks at her.

“I said that out loud, didn’t I? Okay…leaving now.” She steps back and disappears again.

At least I still have that effect on some women, just not the one I want.

Clearing my throat, I step forward and set the tray of drinks down.

“Hello, I’m Alden. I’m here to escort Emily to the estate,” I say, grabbing my drink from the carrier. “These are for you. The barista down the street said it’s your usual order.”

“Wow, that’s awesome, thanks. I’m Sam, but…” She points outside. “You’re too late. Emily just left.”

I turn around and watch a white cube van drive past.

Are you fucking kidding me?

My legs are moving before I have time to second-guess the decision. I run out of the store and down the street to my car. Some coffee spills out of the top, despite the lid, and burns my hand.

“Dammit,” I growl as I slip into my car and look around for anything to clean the mess.

There is something to be said for keeping napkins. I use my coat to wipe up the coffee and start the car. She roars to life, and I’m off.

I have little fear of catching up to Emily in that van, but it’s not the point. She totally ruined my gesture.

Why is it that every slow-driving person chooses the moments you are in a rush to not only get on the road, but then pull out in front of you? It never fails, but I’m in no mood. I weave in and out between cars and catch up to Emily as she gets on the highway.

My anxiety subsides now that I’m on her tail. I cross into the next lane so she can see me, but she doesn’t notice. I do it a few more times, but still no reaction.

“What the hell am I doing?”

Here I am following Emily like a fucking puppy, whimpering at her heels, and not once has she glanced in the side-view mirror.

I fidget in my seat, and for every mile that she doesn’t notice me, my annoyance grows into a toxic volcano ready to erupt. Giving in to the insanity, I hit her number on my phone. My body heats the moment it starts to ring.

“Hello, Emily from Studio Bloom speaking, how may I help you?”

Emily’s sweet voice instantly soothes my dark thoughts of forcing her to pull over so I can fuck her right here on the side of the road. But then I realize she doesn’t recognize my number.

What the fuck?

I school my voice.

“Hello yourself.”

“Alden, it’s good to hear from you. This week has been crazy, but we got all the arrangements done. I even found a truck that fit them all. Anyway, I’ve been meaning to call you.”

“Oh? Why is that?”