Read Online SWEET ANTICIPATION by Kathy Clark - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kathy Clark
Tags: Fiction
Ads: Link
satisfied with whatever Jordan suggested.
Just as she would think they were catching up with the work load, some more people would push their way into the shop. Lauren had no idea how much time passed as she hurried from the cash register to the refrigerated case to get out one of the corsages or arrangements she and Rita had spent the previous day making for special orders or to have on hand in case someone needed one at the last minute. Sometimes she was too busy to even think about Jordan, but whenever she had a second to catch her breath, she would look around to see if he was still there. She knew she should be grateful to him for helping out the way he was, but she couldn’t keep from resenting his manner. Why did everything about him rub her the wrong way? Was she being overly sensitive or was she looking for a reason to continue to dislike him? She had to admit that it would complicate her life if she should be so foolish as to start liking him.
Finally Rita returned and helped to clear out the latest wave of customers before closing the door for the last time that evening. Because it was the day before a holiday, they had stayed open an extra hour, and as it turned out, they had needed every minute of it.
Lauren slumped down on the tall stool she kept behind the counter and Rita sat on the step stool, leaning the back of her head against the wall while Jordan half leaned, half sat on the edge of the window box where several dozen plants had been arranged earlier in the afternoon. Now there were none. The three people glanced around the shop, amazed at how empty it looked.
“Were there truly that many customers or did someone let a flock of locusts in here?” Rita asked incredulously.
“You wouldn’t believe how many people were in here this afternoon. The city of Houston fire marshals would have had a fit if they had been here,” Lauren replied with a tired chuckle. “And from the look of things, they were the only people who weren’t. It was a real madhouse. I have no idea how many customers we had, but I can’t wait to count the receipts.”
“And I can’t wait to get something to eat,” Jordan remarked after his rumbling stomach reminded him that he hadn’t eaten since breakfast.
Rita looked at him as if seeing him for the first time today. “What are you doing here?” she asked bluntly.
“I just dropped by to get a present for my grandmother,” he answered. “Ever since I was a little kid, my family has spent Easter at her house. When all my aunts, uncles and cousins get together, it’s quite a crowd, but we have the biggest and best Easter-egg hunts in the world. My grandmother loves flowers, so I thought I’d take her something pretty.”
Again three sets of eyes viewed the remnants of the florist shop’s stock. “I think I should have picked something out as soon as I got here.” he added wryly, critically eyeing what few plants remained.
“There’s not much of a selection left,” Lauren agreed apologetically. “That fern over there looks as if someone knocked it over and stepped on it, and the only begonia that’s left looks a little peaked. Maybe I can put together some sort of arrangement with the cut flowers from the locker,” she offered, then added, “And by the way, thanks. Thanks a lot. I don’t see how I could have survived that madhouse if you hadn’t been here to help me.” As much as she hated to admit it, she knew it was true. If Jordan hadn’t pitched in the way he did, she would have lost several hundred dollars in business. But still, it went against her better judgment to let him know that she hadn’t quite been able to handle things on her own.
Jordan savored this first hint, however minor, of acceptance. It was a small step, but he was a desperate man, grateful for any sign of progress. He flashed her a grin and said, “It was sort of interesting. Being holed up in a laboratory every day, I’ve begun
Just as she would think they were catching up with the work load, some more people would push their way into the shop. Lauren had no idea how much time passed as she hurried from the cash register to the refrigerated case to get out one of the corsages or arrangements she and Rita had spent the previous day making for special orders or to have on hand in case someone needed one at the last minute. Sometimes she was too busy to even think about Jordan, but whenever she had a second to catch her breath, she would look around to see if he was still there. She knew she should be grateful to him for helping out the way he was, but she couldn’t keep from resenting his manner. Why did everything about him rub her the wrong way? Was she being overly sensitive or was she looking for a reason to continue to dislike him? She had to admit that it would complicate her life if she should be so foolish as to start liking him.
Finally Rita returned and helped to clear out the latest wave of customers before closing the door for the last time that evening. Because it was the day before a holiday, they had stayed open an extra hour, and as it turned out, they had needed every minute of it.
Lauren slumped down on the tall stool she kept behind the counter and Rita sat on the step stool, leaning the back of her head against the wall while Jordan half leaned, half sat on the edge of the window box where several dozen plants had been arranged earlier in the afternoon. Now there were none. The three people glanced around the shop, amazed at how empty it looked.
“Were there truly that many customers or did someone let a flock of locusts in here?” Rita asked incredulously.
“You wouldn’t believe how many people were in here this afternoon. The city of Houston fire marshals would have had a fit if they had been here,” Lauren replied with a tired chuckle. “And from the look of things, they were the only people who weren’t. It was a real madhouse. I have no idea how many customers we had, but I can’t wait to count the receipts.”
“And I can’t wait to get something to eat,” Jordan remarked after his rumbling stomach reminded him that he hadn’t eaten since breakfast.
Rita looked at him as if seeing him for the first time today. “What are you doing here?” she asked bluntly.
“I just dropped by to get a present for my grandmother,” he answered. “Ever since I was a little kid, my family has spent Easter at her house. When all my aunts, uncles and cousins get together, it’s quite a crowd, but we have the biggest and best Easter-egg hunts in the world. My grandmother loves flowers, so I thought I’d take her something pretty.”
Again three sets of eyes viewed the remnants of the florist shop’s stock. “I think I should have picked something out as soon as I got here.” he added wryly, critically eyeing what few plants remained.
“There’s not much of a selection left,” Lauren agreed apologetically. “That fern over there looks as if someone knocked it over and stepped on it, and the only begonia that’s left looks a little peaked. Maybe I can put together some sort of arrangement with the cut flowers from the locker,” she offered, then added, “And by the way, thanks. Thanks a lot. I don’t see how I could have survived that madhouse if you hadn’t been here to help me.” As much as she hated to admit it, she knew it was true. If Jordan hadn’t pitched in the way he did, she would have lost several hundred dollars in business. But still, it went against her better judgment to let him know that she hadn’t quite been able to handle things on her own.
Jordan savored this first hint, however minor, of acceptance. It was a small step, but he was a desperate man, grateful for any sign of progress. He flashed her a grin and said, “It was sort of interesting. Being holed up in a laboratory every day, I’ve begun
Similar Books
