Page 51 of The Deal Breaker
“That’s wonderful.”
“It is. I’m grateful for each day with Leo.” The love for her husband echoed in her eyes. “Don’t get stuck on a label or how it’s always been. Otherwise, you’ll never experience the joy that falling in love with your friend brings. It’s true magic.”
Iris nodded, but love? All the reasons it wouldn’t—couldn’t—happen pounded in her brain.
The front door opened and then closed.
She inhaled sharply. That must be Dash.
A glance in the mirror had her smoothing her hair.
“For not a date, you’re going to a lot of effort.” Janice sounded amused.
“I don’t go out much.” Especially with him. This was about as close to a special occasion as Iris got. “I want to look nice.”
“You do.” Janice smiled. “Have fun.”
“Thanks.” Iris grabbed her jacket and purse from her room.
Walking down the stairs, Iris’s heart pounded against her rib cage. She kept hold of the railing, not knowing why she was suddenly nervous. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t eaten with Dash.
But this was new. She hoped it wouldn’t be the last time they went out.
He stood at the entrance to the kitchen with his back to her. He wore khakis and a blue button-down shirt—he had a different pair for each day of the week.
“Hey.” Her voice came out softer than she intended and not as steady as she’d wanted. “You’re home a little early.”
Facing her, he held a single coral-colored rose. The color was an exact match to her sweater. But that wasn’t the thing that struck her the most.
As far as Iris knew, Dash had never given a woman flowers. Oh, he’d paid for them. Occasionally, ordering them had been his idea. But he’d never hand-delivered a rose or anything else.
Not until her.
That made her feel special, a way she wasn’t used to feeling.
Dash extended the rose. “This is for you.”
A thrill shot through Iris. With a tentative hand, she raised the bloom to her nose and sniffed the sweet fragrance. “It’s beautiful. And the flower matches my shirt. Thanks.”
Slow down or you’ll be rambling soon.
She took a breath. “Let me put the flower in a vase.”
As she went to the kitchen, Dash followed her. “I had no idea there were so many colors of roses. This one reminded me of you.”
“We must have been on the same wavelength.” She motioned to her sweater. “I appreciate the flower. It’s been a long time since I’ve had any.”
Ordering floral arrangements for Dash’s house didn’t count. She’d never thought to buy any for herself. That was something she would do differently at the apartment once she moved in. She grabbed a bud vase from a cabinet and filled it with water.
He bit his lip. “Are you out of the cottage?”
“I am.” She placed the rose’s stem into the water. She would take the vase upstairs to her room later. “The place is clean. Janice and Leo move in tomorrow.”
“Bittersweet?”
How did he know? “It’s exactly that.”
“Change is hard, but it’s not all bad.” Dash held her hand, lacing his fingers with hers. “Ready to go?”
