Page 70 of Ruthless Contract
“Oh, he’s not your fiancé?” the woman asked, eyes moving to me for the first time since we’d entered the shop.
When her eyes landed on me, I felt like I’d been struck in the chest by a bolt of lightning. And apparently, so did she. Her eyes widened, lips parting on a gasp as she took a step back while Monique faced me.
“Blossom, this is my brother-in-law, Rome Cattaneo,” Monique introduced me.
I nodded to the florist.
“Hello, Blossom,” I greeted her.
She swallowed before whispering, “Hello, Rome Cattaneo.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
ROME
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The way she said my name did weird things to me. Her voice was low, sweet, and sinfully husky. I shoved my hands into my pockets, hating the way I was responding to her. I was also kind of hating the way she was responding to me.
Gone was the carefree spirit I’d witnessed when we entered the store. She was no longer smiling or looking excited. Instead, she appeared nervous, unable to hold my gaze for long. I was used to that reaction.
The Cattaneo name tended to cause that. People heard it and immediately became nervous, like we were going to kill them on sight for merely existing. I offered her what I hoped was a reassuring smile, wanting to make her more comfortable.
It had the opposite effect. Her frown deepened, and her gaze swung back to Monique. She forced a smile that did not reach her eyes. She took another step backward, like she was trying to put distance between us.
“Come, Monique,” Blossom urged. “Let's go look at the flowers I’ve prepared for you.”
Turning away from me, she started toward the back of the shop. Monique immediately followed. But I stood there, staring at her shape from the back.Damn! That was a lot of ass.More guilt threaded through my veins.
Monique looked back and motioned for me to come with them. The florist noticed the gesture, and her frown deepened. Maybe it was my imagination, but I didn’t think this woman liked me. I had a feeling the little florist didn't want me anywhere near them.
Unfortunately for her, I was here for Monique. So, despite the look she cast my way, I followed the two women toward the back of the shop. From that moment on, the florist treated me as if I wasn’t there at all.
“You're having two weddings, right?” Blossom asked. “One at a venue and one on the beach?”
“Yes, that’s right,” Monique told her.
“Great. My staff and I will need pictures of both spaces so we can see what works best. But we'll talk about that after I show you the groomsmen's flowers.”
I followed Monique, keeping enough distance between the florist and me so I wouldn't make her more nervous than she already seemed. The back of the shop had a long work counter, and against the wall sat a small floral cooler.
Blossom walked over to it and opened the door. Cool air drifted out as she reached inside and carefully slid out a tray filled with what I assumed was the boutonnières Monique had mentioned. Monique immediately moved closer.
“Oh, these are beautiful,” she drawled.
Blossom smiled. A real smile this time. Not the nervous one she'd given me when Monique introduced us. This one was brighter. Like talking about flowers pulled her back into a world she understood, the world she loved, her safe haven.
“I prepared a few different styles for you to look at,” Blossom explained as she placed the tray on the counter. “Some are more traditional, with a single flower and a little greenery. Some are more modern and have a bit more texture. And a few focus more on the flowers than the greenery.”
Monique leaned over the tray, studying each one carefully. I looked down at the small arrangements and immediately realized I knew nothing about this. Absolutely nothing. They looked like tiny flowers people pinned to suits. That was the full extent of my expertise.
“This one is lovely,” Monique said, pointing toward one with a small white flower and greenery wrapped neatly beneath it.
“That one is more traditional,” Blossom told her. “Elegant, simple, and it photographs well, especially in a sophisticated venue setup. But if you want something that feels a little softer for the beach ceremony, this one may work better.”
She pointed to another one.
“This has more texture and movement. It won't look too formal in beach pictures.”
