Page 25 of Drop Dead Gorgeous

"I'll stay."

While the kettle begins to warm, I return to the window display, acutely aware that he's wandering quietly around the shop.

"See anything you like?" I ask.

"I'm not sure what's in season."

"Technically?" I smile over my shoulder. "Nothing."

He looks genuinely puzzled.

"We cheat."

"We adapt," I correct. "Flowers don't always bloom when people need them. Sometimes we preserve them. Sometimes we substitute. Sometimes we simply choose something beautiful and hope it says what words can't."

He nods slowly.

"That makes sense."

I catch his reflection in the window.

He's watching me.

Not the flowers.

Me.

"What?"

He seems almost surprised I'd noticed.

"You smile while you work."

My hands stop.

No one has ever said that to me before.

"I do?"

"Quite often."

Heat creeps into my cheeks.

"I've never noticed."

"I have."

The silence that follows isn't uncomfortable.

It's simply . . . full.

After a minute, he says quietly, "You had another question yesterday."

Not a question.

An invitation.

I think about asking whether Jasper's latest theory regarding mercury rings has any merit. Or whether he really knew Kilian loved dandelions.