Page 29 of Must Love Flowers
“I have food, a crate, and a few toys to entertain him. They’re in the truck. I’ll be right back.” He made a quick run from the truck to the house and set everything down in the small foyer. “Sorry, Mom, I’ve got to run. I’m on my lunch break and I gotta get back to work. Love you.”
“Does he have a name?” she shouted.
Nick shook his head as he hopped inside his truck. “You get to name him.”
Great.She looked down at the tiny dog in her hands and he looked back at her and licked her arm.
“Well, well,” she muttered. “I guess we’re stuck with each other.”
The puppy looked up at her, and Joan had to agree with her son. He was adorable.
Just then he peed, as if he’d been holding it far too long. The warm liquid ran down the front of her silk blouse.
As she looked in horror at what he had done, Phil Harrison’s truck turned the corner and pulled up to the front of the house.
Chapter 12
Joan rushed into her bedroom and quickly shucked off her wet blouse and wiped herself down with a washcloth. The puppy sat obediently at her feet as she shuffled through the hangers in her closet, seeking another top. After considering several, she chose a long-sleeved cotton pullover.
Phil had the lawn mower out of his truck and paused when she came onto the front porch. “I see you’re ready to get to work.”
He grinned. “Johnny-on-the-spot is what I like to tell my customers.”
“I appreciate it. Listen, I…hope you don’t mind, but I baked you something. I wanted to thank you for all your help the other day with Maggie and her father. I don’t know what I was thinking, involving you the way I did.” Even now she marveled at how Phil hadn’t hesitated to step into what might have been adelicate situation with Roy Herbert. His insight into Roy’s behavior spoke of a deep compassion and understanding. His wife was a lucky woman.
“It’s fine, Joan. I was happy I was there to lend a helping hand.”
She’d looked for a way to show her appreciation and felt a bit shy about mentioning it. “It’s not much, but both Maggie and I wanted to let you know how much we appreciated what you did. I hope you like banana bread.”
His eyes widened with appreciation. “How’d you know that’s my favorite?”
“I didn’t,” she said, hiding a smile. “It just so happened I had several ripe bananas and I thought, you know, that I shouldn’t let them go to waste.”
“It’s been a good long while since I had homemade banana bread. Thank you.”
“When you’re finished, I’ll cut you a slice. Would you like a cup of coffee to go with it?”
His eyes brightened. “That sounds great.”
Almost against her will, Joan noticed how lean and muscular Phil was. As she had before, she noted he was deeply tanned from his work outdoors. In fact, by all outward appearances, he seemed quite ordinary-looking, and yet despite their brief acquaintance, she viewed him in a completely different light. She returned to the house and cut off a slice from the loaf and wrapped up what remained.
When the sound of the mower died down, Joan stepped onto the porch with a plate and a fresh cup of coffee. He hadn’t mentioned how he liked his brew, so she left it black. Seeing her lawnmowed, she was surprised at what a vast improvement it made. “The yard looks great.”
“All it needed was a little TLC,” Phil said, wiping the sweat from his brow as he headed up the steps.
Joan handed him the slice of banana bread and the coffee. “I hope you like your java black.”
“I do,” he said between bites of the banana bread. “Have there been any more threats from the HOA folks?”
“There shouldn’t be. I’ll let them know I’ve hired you, and that should satisfy their concerns.”
“Good.” He said the lone word with a nod.
The puppy cried from behind the screen door, and Joan collected him, still unsure what she was going to do with this dog. “Look what my son brought me this afternoon.”
Phil’s smile widened as he set aside the empty plate and the coffee cup. He took the pup from her hands and held him at eye level as he looked him over. “What a cute little fellow. Do you have a name for him yet?”
“No…I haven’t even started to think about that. If you have any suggestions, I’m open to them.”
