Page 129 of Ruthless Contract

---

Mistakes happened. Whether the mistake had been mine or their systems, standing here assigning blame wasn't going to get flowers to Biloxi.

"Okay," I said, forcing myself to stay calm. "Can you overnight the order today? I have a wedding this weekend and..."

"I'm sorry. We can't."

I blinked. She hadn’t even let me finish my damn sentence.

"What do you mean you can't?"

"We're experiencing some difficulties on our end."

That answer made absolutely no sense.

"What kind of difficulties?" I asked.

"I'm sorry, but that's all the information I have."

I tightened my grip on the phone.

"This order is for a wedding," I explained.

"I understand."

"Then surely there's someone I can speak to in order to get...."

"I'm sorry, ma'am. We’re unable to fill this order."

Before I could ask another question, the line went dead.

“This bitch,” I muttered under my breath, staring at my phone for several seconds before slowly lowering it to the counter. "What the hell?"

I’d felt like I was in an episode of The Twilight Zone because shit like that didn’t just happen.

"What happened?"

I looked up to find Kelly standing near the front door, a broom in her hands. She'd been sweeping the shop when I'd made the call. Now she was staring at me with concern written all over her face.

"You okay, Blossy?"

I forced a smile. "I'm fine."

She didn't look convinced.

"It’s a supplier issue,” I told her. “Our flower order somehow never went through."

Kelly frowned. "Did they lose it?"

"They said they never received it."

"But you ordered it. Right?"

"I'm... pretty sure I did."

For a second, doubt crept into my mind again. I'd been distracted lately. Rome had consumed every waking thought I'd had for days. Maybe I'd forgotten to place the order. But where had I gotten an order number from?

"I'll figure it out," I told Kelly.

She rested both hands on the top of the broom.

---