change
the focus of her wayward mind. Beyond his appearance, what he’d said was
another oddity that stood out in her mind. She didn’t want to make excuses for
him, though maybe he deserved the benefit of the doubt for at least one thing.
After having spent most of the night thinking about their encounter, Grace had
reached at least one conclusion. The hurtful words he’d thrown at her had not
been thought out. Instead, she believed he’d said them to get a reaction from
her. Well, he definitely had and much more than she was sure he’d expected to
receive.
Enough already!
Fine , she snorted, deciding to cut her loses and move
on. She felt more relaxed for having made an effort to solve the quandary he
presented, but no more. She had no problem admitting to curiosity about the
stunning man and wanting to know more. Unfortunately, she’d hit the end of the
line. It wasn’t possible to unearth anything more, so she’d take back of her
life and move on to the present.
“Grace? Grace, are you back here? Oh dear, where is that
girl? Grace?” The clicking of high heels clattered down the hallway and
emphasized the woman’s calls.
“Yes, Aimee, I’m in the office. Is everything all right?”
Before she could come out from behind the desk to meet her
store manager, the woman came skittering into the office and stood there
staring at her with her mouth opened. With a hand on her chest as if holding
her heart in place, she panted for air. The usually perfectly proper and
dignified woman gasped for breath and spoke in bursts. “I think…you should…come
out…front…now.”
“What is it? Is everything all right?”
“Yes, yes, but please, luv, you must come out front right
now.” Frantically waving her hand, the woman shooed her boss forward. “Why
didn’t you tell me you knew that man?”
“What man?”
“Oh, please! You go up to Edinburgh claiming to be working
when I’m sure you’re actually spending time with, well, with the sexiest young
stud of Scotland.”
“Aimee! What would Terrence say if he could hear you right
now?”
“He’d say, ‘My darling wife, if you can get his attention,
you can have him’.”
“I’m shocked! No way would he give his wife over to another
man.”
“He would because he loves me. Now hurry, young lady,
hurry.”
Together they walked at a fast clip down the hallway toward
the front of the shop. Grace stopped when she saw the beauty that greeted her.
Standing in the center of the stylish and obviously feminine
shop was a pair of very masculine trouser-encased legs holding an immense
bouquet. Dozens of long stemmed, pure white roses, surrounded by lush sprigs of
heather and an occasional thistle, all wonderfully arranged in a large cut
crystal vase. Besides the legs, all she could see of the man were two rather
sturdy looking hands holding the arrangement.
Surprised, she suddenly didn’t know what to do. The bouquet
was stunning. At first glance, it eloquently brought images of home to her and
gave a great deal of comfort no bouquet ever gave her before. However, she had
no one in her life who knew her well enough to send such a wondrous gift that
spoke so clearly and specifically to her heart. She was sure it was a mistake,
but didn’t want to say anything that would make such a joyful offering
disappear. She was enjoying it too much to turn the flowers away.
Grace blinked and tried to think of what to do. She was at a
loss, so she simply took in the beautiful sight before her. After a moment, she
finally began to focus on the details. There were those strong, powerful hands
her gaze kept going back to. Were they familiar? Had they touched her before?
Next, she took in the fine wool pants and black brogues. When she put the
clothes together with those hands, it said to her that this was definitely not
the average delivery man.
Looking at Aimee for guidance, she instead found the other
woman with her eyes glued to the floral arrangement with a look
the focus of her wayward mind. Beyond his appearance, what he’d said was
another oddity that stood out in her mind. She didn’t want to make excuses for
him, though maybe he deserved the benefit of the doubt for at least one thing.
After having spent most of the night thinking about their encounter, Grace had
reached at least one conclusion. The hurtful words he’d thrown at her had not
been thought out. Instead, she believed he’d said them to get a reaction from
her. Well, he definitely had and much more than she was sure he’d expected to
receive.
Enough already!
Fine , she snorted, deciding to cut her loses and move
on. She felt more relaxed for having made an effort to solve the quandary he
presented, but no more. She had no problem admitting to curiosity about the
stunning man and wanting to know more. Unfortunately, she’d hit the end of the
line. It wasn’t possible to unearth anything more, so she’d take back of her
life and move on to the present.
“Grace? Grace, are you back here? Oh dear, where is that
girl? Grace?” The clicking of high heels clattered down the hallway and
emphasized the woman’s calls.
“Yes, Aimee, I’m in the office. Is everything all right?”
Before she could come out from behind the desk to meet her
store manager, the woman came skittering into the office and stood there
staring at her with her mouth opened. With a hand on her chest as if holding
her heart in place, she panted for air. The usually perfectly proper and
dignified woman gasped for breath and spoke in bursts. “I think…you should…come
out…front…now.”
“What is it? Is everything all right?”
“Yes, yes, but please, luv, you must come out front right
now.” Frantically waving her hand, the woman shooed her boss forward. “Why
didn’t you tell me you knew that man?”
“What man?”
“Oh, please! You go up to Edinburgh claiming to be working
when I’m sure you’re actually spending time with, well, with the sexiest young
stud of Scotland.”
“Aimee! What would Terrence say if he could hear you right
now?”
“He’d say, ‘My darling wife, if you can get his attention,
you can have him’.”
“I’m shocked! No way would he give his wife over to another
man.”
“He would because he loves me. Now hurry, young lady,
hurry.”
Together they walked at a fast clip down the hallway toward
the front of the shop. Grace stopped when she saw the beauty that greeted her.
Standing in the center of the stylish and obviously feminine
shop was a pair of very masculine trouser-encased legs holding an immense
bouquet. Dozens of long stemmed, pure white roses, surrounded by lush sprigs of
heather and an occasional thistle, all wonderfully arranged in a large cut
crystal vase. Besides the legs, all she could see of the man were two rather
sturdy looking hands holding the arrangement.
Surprised, she suddenly didn’t know what to do. The bouquet
was stunning. At first glance, it eloquently brought images of home to her and
gave a great deal of comfort no bouquet ever gave her before. However, she had
no one in her life who knew her well enough to send such a wondrous gift that
spoke so clearly and specifically to her heart. She was sure it was a mistake,
but didn’t want to say anything that would make such a joyful offering
disappear. She was enjoying it too much to turn the flowers away.
Grace blinked and tried to think of what to do. She was at a
loss, so she simply took in the beautiful sight before her. After a moment, she
finally began to focus on the details. There were those strong, powerful hands
her gaze kept going back to. Were they familiar? Had they touched her before?
Next, she took in the fine wool pants and black brogues. When she put the
clothes together with those hands, it said to her that this was definitely not
the average delivery man.
Looking at Aimee for guidance, she instead found the other
woman with her eyes glued to the floral arrangement with a look
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