Ashling

Was that how American men did things? Did they all say whatever they wanted? Did they all stand that close? She’d moved to lock the door and then took a peek out the window. Jessie Hoolihan strode down the darkened street like he owned it. He was confident, brash, and she hated to admit, she’d wanted him to kiss her.

She actually wanted him to do more once he’d lowered his voice and stepped close to her.

“Shake it off, Ashling Byrne. You’ve got serious business to attend to.” Her own voice did not sound convincing to her. She’d work on it.

It looked like Jessie was going to need very firm dissuading. He seemed very persistent. Probably he’d find a ring girl to shag in a hot second, and the sweaty fighter would cease to be a distraction. She couldn’t handle distractions right now. She had her own fight and what felt like opponents on every front.

She knew Aunt Theone was a roadblock, and, no question about it, was trying to turn Ashling into her slave. And now the Renewal District improvements that had to be made. Time was her other enemy. She had less than three months.

Ash needed to know the real financial challenge O’Shea’s was up against. She walked back to the register and took the items she needed up to her rooms with her.

She would comb through the receipts, the documents from Kazcala, and come up with a plan.

Ash had to climb a pretty good flight of stairs to get to the apartment above the flower shop. Uncle Peter lived here too, back in the beginning when he built his business.

The space had a table, couch, and kitchenette in one area and then a bedroom and bathroom off the living area. Two rooms, really, if anyone was counting. She’d like to say it was two rooms with a view, but only if you considered the alley behind the shop and a fire escape a view.

Still, she tidied it up, foraged a few things from the overstuffed warehouse above the flower shop, and made the best of it.

The main issue was cold. The only heat came from a radiator that worked intermittently. She wound up wearing three layers of clothes to sleep in.

No matter. She only spent about four hours a night in the place anyway. She had too much to do to sleep.

Ash brewed some tea, got out her calculator, and got to work.

At some point, she dozed off with her head on Uncle Peter’s account ledgers. When she woke up, she realized it was time to get moving. She liked to get into the shop before everyone else. She was there at 6:30 a.m. organizing deliveries, making new arrangements, and setting up the marketing. O’Shea’s had done zero to promote the store. That was going to change. If she could convince Theone, that is. If she couldn’t, they were done for.

Today she was going to outline a plan for them.

Gus, the delivery driver, and Colleen, the longtime floral designer were really it. Aunt Theone was the owner now, and though she dragged her daughter Carrie everywhere, the girl usually sat around or practiced singing. Singing was her talent, Aunt Theone had informed Ash. Carrie was Aunt Theone’s daughter, but not Uncle Peter’s. Aunt Theone had married Uncle Peter with Carrie, her aspiring pageant teenager, in tow.

It was a lot of dead weight. Ash hoped at least to get Colleen and Gus moving in the right direction. Aunt Theone had agreed to hear her out at least.

“You have fifteen minutes Ashling Byrne. We’ve got to get Carrie to her voice lesson.” Theone was only agreeing to this, Ash knew because she’d be out on the street with Carrie if they didn’t turn this business around.

“Fine, so I’m going to be honest with you. We have a big challenge. If O’Shea’s can’t pay for or at least show we’re going to pay for renovations, we’re going to get fined. We can’t afford the fines or the repairs at this point.”

“I may sell the entire thing. Peter didn’t exactly set up Carrie and me on firm financial footing. I’m this close to cashing out.”

“Really? Well, the repairs are up to you, the seller, and the business is in debt. Your footing will be worse off if you bail on us.” Ashling was laying it on the line. She could see Theone had no obligation to the three employees of the store. Both Colleen and Gus depended on O’Shea’s and Uncle Peter.

“How can they do that to us?” Colleen saw the truth of the situation.

“Well, it looks like all the property owners in this block of Irish Town agreed to these new codes, plus the most important ones are pure safety, nothing to do with architectural whatnot for the neighborhood.” Ashling outlined what she’d discovered in the books and about the building code violations.

“I’ve been making repairs as best as I can.” Gus looked contrite, but he drove the floral delivery van too. There was too much to do on their own when it came to fixing the building.

“Look, I don’t know about how to renovate this building. Or heating or roofing. Or, well, the list is long. But I do know about running a flower shop. Or I think I do.”

“You think you do? What did your uncle Peter do? Waste his money, it looks like, paying for your education. Money we could have used here, it appears. This mess is your fault, isn’t it now?” Aunt Theone was doing everything to sabotage Ash before she even had a chance to outline her plan.

“I had no idea what dire straits you all were in until I got here. But the way I see it we’re in this together.” She looked at Gus and Colleen for support. They didn’t say anything, but at least they weren’t openly hostile like Theone.

“Here’s the plan. First, a garage sale. Gus, Colleen, we’re going to clean it out up there and get what we can. We’ll sell vases, decorations, paper products. One day, nothing costing more than five bucks.”

“What? That’s ridiculous. Five dollars? You’re making no sense. That’s absurd.” Theone was shaking her head no.

“O’Shea’s has got old inventory, home décor, boxes, just ugh. No. We don’t need it. We do need a little boost of capital, and we need the space to put my plans in place.”

“What do you need with that space?”

“We’re going to turn it into a maker’s showplace.”

“What the hell is that?” Theone said.

“Oh, local craftspeople and artists!” It was Carrie who spoke up. Surprisingly, she knew what Ash was getting at.

“Yes. Carrie, I’ve got big plans. The makers will pay a small fee to rent space and they’ll get foot traffic in here. I’m also cooking up a pop-up sale to get brides here. We’re going to be busy.”

She outlined the details to organize the clearance sale and then she got to work on taking a few photos. Getting the word out meant she needed cute photos for social media.

Colleen’s designs were the next hurdle. As Gus moved things around upstairs, she sat down with Colleen.

Colleen was great at selling in the shop, but her floral designs, well, they weren’t going to bring in new customers. Especially the kind they needed who now populated Irish Town.

“I’m bringing in an intern to help execute my new designs. I’m going to need you to manage her, show her the ropes.”

“Customers want the old designs. You might be changing too fast.” Colleen wasn’t mean like Theone, she was just set in her ways.

“There’s a decent program at Grand City Community College. We’re going to bring in two interns at a time. We’re going to rotate them out so that one intern trains the next. You’re in charge of them.

We need to get hip, Colleen, and we need bodies in here. The interns are going to provide energy, ideas, and labor, for free.”

“Okay, if it will help save this place. Can I still do the grave blankets, though? We’ve got families depending on us for that.”

“Of course. We’re not going to eliminate any work. Just add. We’re going to be the place for flowers in Grand City. If you’re having an event. If you’re decorating for the Home Parade. It’s a done deal. You’re coming here. Oh, and the maker’s studio that’s going to bring in much-needed non-floral money in here.”

“Alright, Ash, let’s tackle that warehouse. We’re going to need that cash!” It was a relief. She had Colleen on her side. She had Gus working. Even though Theone was sitting at the register pouting, Ash had started the ball rolling with her ideas.

It was a busy day, but it felt good. Ash felt she’d set everyone on the path they needed to make O’Shea’s Florist work.

She’d spent the rest of the day getting the word out about their sale and pictures of the latest designs they were selling. By the afternoon she’d made huge progress, but there was so much left to do. They needed cash, but they couldn’t get it until sales picked up. Ugh. One step at a time.

She worked all day, and they were ready, she’d thought.

They didn’t need things to be perfect for the clearance; they just needed people in to see what they sold and to get rid of the crap!

The staff had all started to leave, and she realized the day had flown by. Colleen was headed out.

“We’re looking good in the warehouse, Ash. I think your plan could work.” Colleen had come around and offered great suggestions on other products to make the retail side more profitable.

“Thanks, Colleen. Thanks for your work, and your support. Fifty-thousand, that’s what we need to get the Renewal District Committee and the city off our backs.”

“I know. We at least have a chance now, as long as Theone stays out of the way.”

“Well, no guarantee on that.”

Ash knew this was a long shot. She’d acted out with confidence, but the reality was stark. She knew how little chance they actually stood. But she had to try. She didn’t have any other options. Not only was her work visa tied to this place, her hopes were too. If she didn’t make it work here, she’d be back to Ireland and Sean and her parents with her tail between her legs.

“You know, before he got old, your uncle Peter was a fighter. And so are you, it looks like.” Colleen walked out the front door. She nearly cried at how good it made her feel to have support from Colleen. Sometimes all you needed was a tiny ray of sunlight to power through. Today that had been Colleen.

Ash finished posting the photos and placing the ads she’d created online.

“Here’s hoping they show up tomorrow.”

“Who shows up?” There he was, all man, all muscle, and in front of her cash register. In her flurry of flower power ideas, she’d nearly forgotten Jessie Hoolihan. But here he was. In the flesh.

“Uh, what are you doing here?”

“I’m picking up my tulip order.”

“I’d forgotten about that. I thought you were pretty much all talk.”

“No, all action.” Jessie winked at her, and she knew a red blush was blooming under her freckles. She wished she could control that; it gave her away every time.

“Oh, please, look, if you’re here to be annoying, I don’t have time. I still have a lot of work to do for the clearance sale I’m running tomorrow. I’m hoping to lure customers. Dozens and dozens, and if a miracle happens, hundreds. So I don’t have much time for your lines, Jessie Hoolihan.” She didn’t mean to be cross with him, but she knew it came out in a bit of a tirade.

“I don’t plan to be annoying, it just happens.”

“I can see that. Now if you’ll excuse me.” Ash realized she had a sign to put up, and everyone had already gone home.

“I want my flowers. I’ve already paid.” She looked in the cooler. It was true, there was a bouquet of tulips waiting for Jessie.

Colleen must have put together his order, and he was, as promised, here to collect it.

She handed him the flowers and shot a scowl in his direction. She really didn’t have time to be flirting with someone who was probably only interested in one thing.

“Fine then. Thank you for my order, but I will say your customer service,” Jessie put a thumb in the air and then pointed it to the ground.

“I have work to do, Mr. Hoolihan. Feel free to browse around. Let me know if you need anything else.” Ash put a fake smile on her face and went to the front of the window display. She would ignore Jessie and maybe he’d go away. He was too handsome to be anything but trouble. She felt Jessie’s eyes on her, and it was disconcerting, to say the least.

She realized the mistake of letting Gus go before she had this poster hung. She’d created a huge banner to put in the window for tomorrow’s sale.

They had two hooks and grommets, but she couldn’t reach. She stretched and strained but couldn’t get the grommet over the hook. She made a little jump as a last ditch attempt to get this thing hung. It didn’t go well.

She lost her footing and just prayed she didn’t fall in a heap. She also prayed Jessie was actually looking around the store and not at her ridiculous attempts. He was an athlete, and from what she’d seen his body was a machine; she was less than graceful and certainly not agile as she did her wrestling with the sign.

She felt two strong hands and a solid chest set her upright when she should have come crashing to the floor. Shit, Jessie.

“Need some help?” His voice was low, raspy, and hot. She felt his breath on her neck. Ash froze.

She felt heat shoot from her neck to her legs. Jessie’s touch sparked such a strong physical response, and she didn’t know what to do. It surprised her and threw her even more off balance than the failed attempt at hanging the sign.

Jessie leaned her forward, upright, steadied her on her feet. Her heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest. It was so loud, could he hear it?

Her heart wanted something. It was reacting. She knew it. She wanted him. And it was as exciting as it was confusing. She couldn’t move, other than the rise and fall of her chest. He was behind her. Above her. Around her.

She felt her long hair move to the side. Jessie was moving it. And then it happened. First a scrape of stubble and then his lips, hot, soft, and on her neck.

She closed her eyes and felt his lips taste her neck. What should she do? She felt the hair rise on her arms. This man was only kissing her neck, but it was bringing thoughts to her head and sensations to her body that she’d never had before. She felt his fingertips brush her shoulder through her blouse as he moved his lips on her skin.

She realized how flimsy the blouse she wore was and she felt her nipples strain against her light bra. This so could get out of hand so quickly. And she wanted it to. She leaned her back closer to him. It wasn’t a conscious choice, but somehow his fingers and his lips made her want more contact.

Jessie took the shaft of her hair that he’d held aside and brought it around her shoulder. His knuckles scraped the now hard buds of her nipples. Did he feel what she felt?

Good grief! They were in her store window, and she was ready to make out with this man. Had she lost her mind?

Ash put a finger to her lips and bit down on it. This was enough. This was wrong. This wasn’t at all in her plans.

“Jessie.” She turned around to face him and broke the spell. She’d hoped.

“Ashling.” He answered with her name. How he said it, though, made her regret putting a stop to his kisses on her neck. She wanted to hear him say her name that way again.

Stop! Enough. She forced her logical brain to take the wheel again and break this connection she was feeling with Jessie Hoolihan.

“I don’t know what that was, but it was a one-off, it was a moment, and you’ll be getting out of here now.” She lifted her chin and narrowed her eyes.

“It was delicious. I’ve never tasted skin like yours. Sweet and spicy too. You’ll be seeing me tomorrow.” Jessie reached out again, he ran the back of his hand over her collarbone and down the front of her blouse.

Damn him, he did know what he’d ignited in her; he held her eyes as he grabbed a lock of her hair in his large fist. He placed her hair back the way it was, falling behind her.

Jessie’s face was intent, no sign of humor, no sign of the easy joking. It was intense, focused, and it had to be what his opponents in the ring saw. Jessie Hoolihan was a man with something fierce inside. Ash knew, she would be seeing him tomorrow, and the next day, and the next.

Jessie Hoolihan had tasted her, that’s what he’d said. Was a taste enough? She feared not.

What would happen when he wanted more than a taste?

She’d have to steel herself against it.

Except she knew she was hungry too.