“Cara, your visitors are here,” Cinzia called from the front of the store.

The official launch was still later that afternoon and they were getting inundated with last-minute orders for flowers for a wedding nearby.

“What? Visitors?” Bethany’s mind was muddled by a hundred different things vying for her attention. She was a jangled mass of nerves. She had picked up Amara from her parents’ house three hours earlier for some retail therapy when her phone rang. The wedding flower arrangements for a nearby church never arrived and Expectation Blooms was the first one the best man and maid of honour saw open. Cinzia had arrived half an hour after them and volunteered to take the flowers to the venue after Bethany and Amara had created what was needed. The profusion of blooms made the shop resemble the threshold of paradise that people started coming in before the launch even began. Bethany hadn’t wanted the opening to be as haphazard as this, but the exposure no matter how unexpected was welcome.

“Mum, can you put your finger in the centre of the bow?” Amara twisted the ribbon not waiting for Bethany to acknowledge her. Her furrow of concentration cleared. “There! That’s the last one for the church. Aunt Cinzia!”

Bethany followed her daughter to the main shop floor. Because of the sudden and unexpected influx of business, Bethany had called Debbie and Adi to come in earlier and were now helping put the flowers into the best man’s car. Cinzia and Amara would follow in Bethany’s car to help set up.

“Sorry!” She gave a harried smile at Lissie and Gracie who waited by one side of the shop. Bethany brushed away the strands of hair that had come out of her ponytail. “I didn’t expect this madness. Promise. And you guys are early.”

Lissie chuckled. “Take it for what it is, brisk business. Congratulations!”

“Thank you.” Bethany was filled with heartfelt gratitude. She was hell bent on burying her past under the saving grace of blooms. “The launch isn’t until later but a wedding didn’t have any flowers for the church.”

Both Lissie and Gracie raised their brows.

“You’d have thought that would have been ready.” Gracie commented.

“I know right?” Bethany agreed wiping her forehead with the back of her hand.

The store's phone rang.

“I’ll get it,” Debbie said from the counter when Bethany did a half turn to take the call.

“Oh God, I’m all over the place.” Bethany placed her hands over her flushed cheeks.

“How does it feel?” Gracie grinned then took a deep breath. She closed her eyes. “Do I smell jasmine?”

Bethany tilted her head, pleased. “Yes, we have some jasmine at the back. Either I’m coming down with a cold or you’ve got one strong sense of smell.”

“Strong sense of smell,” Lissie quipped. “She’d know whether Flynn was already home or not.”

“Flynn?” Bethany’s gaze darted between them.

“My son.” Gracie chuckled softly. “He goes to the tennis clinic near our place and sweats a river.”

“Uh…Bethany?” Debbie grabbed her attention from behind the counter. Anxiety painted her face.

“Excuse me.”

“Don’t mind us.” Gracie waved her hand. “We’ll enjoy looking around.”

“What’s wrong?” Bethany asked the moment she reached Debbie.

“The caterers won’t be able to come over. Their chef called in sick.”

“What? You’re joking right?” Cold dread washed over Bethany as she felt the blood drain from her face.

“That was the caterer who called.”

“Why the hell didn’t they prepare it beforehand?” Frustration mixed with her anxiety.

“That’s what I told the caller.”

Bethany looked away, her lips flattening. Sure they got a lucrative impromptu order for flowers but the launch was beginning to look like a NASA mission fail.

“They said they’re returning our down payment if that helps.”

A semblance of a smile landed on Bethany’s mouth. “Some good that’ll do.” She sighed. “Thanks, Debbie. See if we can get some nice finger foods in M&S. Take Adi with you.”

Bethany became thoughtful, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth when a familiar scent entered her nose. Her lungs sucked in the sexy smell. Her belly did somersaults rivalling an Olympic diver’s demonstration. She looked up, her breath suspended at the sight of Drake entering the shop. Suddenly the space became smaller, the air thicker. It became just the two of them.

Drake was wearing a dark blue crew neck jumper over a cream shirt that stretched across his broad shoulders, jeans that hugged his hips, skimmed muscular thighs and showed his ass to perfection, topping it with casual shoes. Oh Lord, he was good enough to eat. His hair was tousled at the top and Bethany’s hands itched to run through them again. He had shaved off the stubble that had left marks between her thighs but it did not dispel the effect his sexy smirk had on her. Her body heated when his warm brown eyes darkened, raking her from head to food, sending sparks of awareness deep into the centre of her sex.

And made her conscious of how messy she looked.

“Drake.” She brought a self-conscious hand to her hair. “What are you doing here?”

Drake’s brows rose and his smirk turned bemused. He came closer and murmured, “Told you I’d spend all the time I had with you.”

He placed a chaste kiss on her cheek that still quickened Bethany’s pulse.

That kind of possessiveness made her giddy. It was also the kind of emotion that could break her heart if she wasn’t careful. No matter what she did, the fear of being left behind was etched in her soul and it would probably take Drake to keep telling her a million times he wasn’t leaving until that truth sank deep and etched itself in her bones.

“I didn’t think you’d be this early.” She looked up at him. “I look a mess.”

“Sugar, you look sweet enough to eat,” he murmured. “Didn’t my mouth and tongue make that clear earlier?”

The fire in her belly intensified and a rush of heat warmed her sex.

“Yes, you did.” She lowered her voice.

“I joined my friends here,” Drake segued. His voice changed from panty incinerating to cordial and friendly for the benefit of everyone around them. He gestured to two men Bethany hadn’t noticed earlier.

Bethany’s face must have showed her confusion when the men approached Gracie and Lissie.

“My friends.” His eyes twinkled. “Bethany, meet Oliver Cray, Lissie’s husband. Luke Bryce, Lissie’s brother and Gracie’s husband. Guys, meet Bethany.”

“Hi, pleased to meet you.” Bethany was both breathless and awed. Both men smiled at her but she noticed that Oliver’s gaze was sharper.

Bethany didn't know whether to be dismayed or be pleased to know that Lissie and Gracie were a part of Drake’s circle of friends. Her hand rested on his chest when he placed an arm around her waist, locking her to his side.

“The shop suits you, Bee,” he said in a low voice against her temple. “Beautiful, vibrant, sweet, and most of all hot.”

Pleasure flicked on the lamps inside her inching its way closer to her heart’s door. And her face reddened to rival the arrangement of red and pink roses on the shelf at the looks she got from Drake’s friends.

“That’s nice to hear but I have a situation I need to fix.” She expelled a breath and her spine tingled as Drake’s hand ran up and down her back in sympathy.

“Anything I can do?” Lissie prompted. “Sorry, I couldn’t help hearing your conversation about the caterers?”

Bethany lips pursed. “If you know of anyone who can whip up canapes in less than an hour, I’m open to suggestions because the caterers have bailed.” Anxiety made her fidget in place. “I wanted it to be perfect.”

“And it will be.”

Bethany heard the smile in Drake’s voice.

“How?” She cast a glance at everyone. “Where can I get that kind of personalised food? Debbie and Adi are going to M&S to panic buy. That should be enough.”

“You don’t need to do that. You can get it from me,” Lissie replied, her face lighting up. “I co-own a restaurant close to Market Street.”

“Which one?”

“The Retreat.”

Bethany looked at her stunned. The Retreat was one place she and Cinzia ate at when they wanted to splurge a little. It wasn’t a place mere mortals like her frequented.

“Oh my God, you own The Retreat? No, that’s too much.”

Lissie rolled her eyes and Bethany couldn’t stop her gentle laughter.

“You better give in to her,” Oliver said, his mouth twitching in amusement. “When my wife latches on to something, she doesn't let go.”

Bethany didn’t know whether to be embarrassed or thrilled. How could she have known Lissie and Gracie were Drake’s six degrees of separation?

“So do you want me to ring for food?” Expectation animated Lissie’s face, her eyes twinkling.

Bethany bit the inner part of her cheek. She knew how expensive The Retreat’s food could be. The thought of the cost deflated her.

“Charge it to my account, Lissie.”

She looked at Drake, stunned. “What? No! I can’t let you do that.”

“Bee…” Exasperation crossed his face.

“No need,” Lissie said as she pulled out her phone from her tote bag. “You can actually help me too.”

Bethany gaped. “How?”

“It’s the reason we passed by yesterday,” Gracie said. “We were looking for flowers for The Retreat and noticed your arrangements through the window.”

Bethany’s hand covered her forehead. Was Gracie saying what she thought she was saying?

“Let’s call it somewhat even.” Lissie chuckled. “A number of floral arrangements for trays of food and I’ll throw wine into the mix.”

“Bartering in the twenty-first century,” Luke drawled, his own eyes twinkling as his arm went around Gracie’s shoulders. “Medieval men should learn a thing or two from you.”

“Well, what do you say?”

Everyone looked at her. Even Debbie and Adi waited and watched in expectation. But it was Drake’s opinion that mattered. He looked at her with the same indulgence Oliver and Luke showered their women with, that comforting warmth seeped into Bethany’s bones.

“Okay.” She breathed out the word. “Thank you.”

“Perfect.” Lissie beamed. She turned away to speak on her phone. “Hi Corinne? I need food delivered pronto to Expectation Blooms on Lever Street. Can we make that happen? Fab! Yes …”

The anxiety that wound Bethany up tighter than twine loosened the farther Lissie moved away from them. She gazed at Drake’s pleased handsome face, wanting to throw herself at him.

“How do you know them?” she whispered, amazed the moment the couples left.

“Luke, Oliver, a couple of other friends, and I own a loft conversion apartment building together and then some.”

“And then some?” She stared at him baffled. “What does that even mean?”

Drake surprised her with a kiss planted firmly on her mouth tripping her heart and putting a wobbly smile on her face.

“I can tell you later when I have you to myself.”

Her smile widened her body thrumming with excitement. “I can’t wait.”

“It’ll be here within the hour.” Lissie returned.

“Right.” Bethany tried to disentangle herself from Drake. When he refused, “I have to show Lissie some arrangements. We won’t be long.”

Reluctantly, he let go. “Make sure of it.”

“Felicity?” Oliver arched a brow.

“Some girl talk, babe.” She shook her head sighing.

“I’m going with you.” Gracie extricated herself from Luke. Luke grinned but followed his wife’s movements like a hawk.

“Intense much?” Bethany mumbled as they went to the workroom.

“Oh, they all are.” Lissie giggled.

“If Luke could tie me up and keep me at home, he would.” Gracie rolled her eyes.

“Hmmm…kinky.” Bethany drawled.

“You have no idea.”

They all laughed as they entered the workroom.

“I can stay here all day.” Gracie inhaled. “I can detect different scents.”

“I’m impressed.” Bethany took out one of the file folders from a shelf.

There were tulips, camellias, roses, sprigs of baby’s breath, stargazer lilies, jasmine, stems of amaryllis in vases and buckets around the room.

“It does smell heavenly here.” Lissie inhaled.

Bethany’s mouth curved. She felt the same of her own pocket paradise.

“Have a look at some of the designs,” Bethany said, opening it to photos of floral arrangements. She gave another clear book to Gracie.

“They’re beautiful.” Lissie leafed through them with a critical eye. “I like this one.”

Gracie leaned over. She pointed to a profusion of camellias and pink carnations. The squat vase was hidden by the colourful petals and made the arrangement resemble a stream overflowing with flowers instead of water.

“That’s perfect, I think,” she said. “Goes with the overall décor of The Retreat.”

“Good choice,” Bethany said, making a note on the order pad. “How many do you need?”

“About thir…ty.” Lissie hedged.

Bethany’s brows rose, a smile playing on her mouth. “And…when?”

“In two days?”

Bethany swallowed and her suppressed laughter broke.

“That too soon?” Lissie wore a worried frown. “I know it’s short notice, but I couldn’t find anything that appealed to me…Please?”

“Lissie, you don’t need to beg. You’ve saved the launching. We’ll get to it right away.” She’d have to ask Cinzia to help with the order. Her friend knew how to cajole wholesalers to give her what she wanted in a short space of time. And, they would need loads of the flowers if the shop planned to have them also on display. Euphoria buzzed through her veins. Never in a million years did Bethany think her plans for Expectation Blooms’ opening would fail at the start but pick up later and be unexpectedly successful.

Just as Lissie promised, the food and wine arrived quickly. Cinzia and Amara arrived a few minutes later rushing to the backroom to put their coats on the pegs before helping out on the shop floor. Corinne helped set the food on the tables provided and so did Lissie.

“You shouldn’t do that.” Bethany gave her a helpless look that turned into alarm when even Gracie helped out. “You’re both guests.”

“It’s not a problem. You ordered food from my resto, remember?” Lissie said, then winked. “You’re a client.”

Bethany couldn’t stop the disbelieving smile curve her lips, her head moving from side to side in rueful amusement. Her gaze swung to the men. Luke, Oliver, and Drake were talking in one corner of the room. Three handsome men amid the profusion of tulips, roses, hyacinths. They looked…perfect, especially Drake. Bethany’s body warmed once more at the memory of squeezing his ass urging him to take her harder, deeper, and higher. Her teeth bit down on the inside of her bottom lip to stop her full blown moan emitting from her throat.

Drake’s gaze lifted to her, his gaze darkening and his mouth twitching to one side. He knew what she was thinking, and Bethany felt the pang of lust in the centre of her chest and between her thighs. She perused herself. Her apron had wet patches from flower stems when she took them out of the buckets. Her hair, earlier tied in a ponytail was slightly askew, and she didn’t know if her make-up was still in place. Thank God, she was wearing a chambray dress and flat sandals. Sure she had to dress the part, but Cinzia was suitably dressed in a flowing red dress that showed off her olive skin, and black red bottomed heels that made her legs look like they could go on forever.

Drake excused himself from the group just as Gracie and Felicity returned to the side of their men.

“Bethany, a word?”

She looked at him, her brows furrowing at the seriousness of his tone. Unable to stop it, trepidation skittered across her belly. The sensuality of Drake’s stare a while ago was gone. Luke and Oliver gave them cursory glances before giving their undivided attention to their women. Did they know about her and Drake?

Floor swallow me now.

Bethany’s throat tightened, her pulse’s beat increasing in sound with every second of Drake’s silence.

Oh God. What did he find out?

Any normal person would wonder what the seriousness was all about, but she wasn’t any normal person. The things she had to do in the past made sure of that.

“Uh, yeah, sure. What is it?” She stood her ground.

“In private please.”

Her heart tumbled to her feet.

It’s nothing. It’s nothing. It’s nothing.

But her conscience taunted her. Someone’s outed you.

She spared Oliver and Luke a sideways glance but they were too engrossed in their discussion. Were they some of the men she had encountered in the past? They didn’t look familiar. She’d remember.

She led the way back to the workroom and through the back door. The sun glinted against the windows of the buildings surrounding them. Some of the greenery used as accents in the floral arrangements stood in floristry buckets flushed against the alley wall. They were secluded from everyone, the alley’s mouth several metres away showed little foot traffic.

“What’s wrong?” Her heartbeat was so loud in her ears she wasn’t so sure if she’d be able to hear Drake.

Instead of talking, Drake encircled her waist with one arm and curled his other hand around her neck before taking her mouth in a languid panty melting kiss. Bethany surprise melted under Drake’s expert kissing and she opened to accept him. She moaned, sighing away the tension from her body as her hands skimmed his perfect chest before circling her arms around his waist. Drake stoked the embers in the pit of her belly to life.

This kiss was slightly different. There was something more, something other than a precursor to the best sex she had the fortune to experience. Just like early that morning, each taste of him also sent warmth directly to her long starved soul making her believe that things were finally going to be all right in her world.

“I’ve wanted to do this the moment I entered the shop,” Drake said, his tongue licking, darting, until Bethany mewled and capture his mouth. He smiled against her lips. “And I’m dying here.”

He squeezed her ass to bring her harder against his arousal.

“I can’t wait to get you to bed and do your pussy with my tongue, fingers, and cock.”

Gush. She was gushing. A helpless laugh bubbled up her throat.

“Drake, we were just together a few hours ago.” Then she teased him by rubbing her mound against his lengthening hard on. A slow ache swirled in the centre of her core. “Don’t talk like that when I’ve got a shop to run. I’m going to be here for hours yet.”

“What do you think it’s doing to me, hmmm?” His mouth dipped to the base of her throat, nipping at the skin where her pulse lay before planting open mouth kisses on her neck. “I’m so hard for you, Bee, my cock is going to break if it waits any longer to be inside you.”

Bethany shuddered. Bloody hell, if there was a time for instant gratification, this was it and she couldn’t have it. The pain of having to wait became physical and she squirmed. She needed sanity, needed lucidity. She needed to be responsible.

“Ah fuck it.” She muttered, dragging Drake by the hand.