“It’s not my place to tell them, Drew, but when the time comes and you do want to tell them, I’ll be there with you, okay?” Drew nods, and it was like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders, the invisible fog that had been weighing us down instantly evaporated between us.
“Thanks, Ollie. I still think that Daisy is too good for you, though.” Picking up a book from his desk, I throw it in his direction but he easily dodges it.
“I already know that, arsehole, but it doesn’t change a thing. It just means I need to work harder to get her back and now I know my brother isn’t trying to steal my girl, maybe he can help me with that?”
“Like I said before, I’m going to live to regret this. Daisy isn’t your typical girl, she’s not interested in the hearts and flowers bullshit. She’s sensible and humble and fiercely independent. You’re not going to even make a dent sending flowers to her door, any man can do that sort of rubbish. She’s going to appreciate a gesture that has been well-thought through. Something special and as unique as she is. Don’t forget she can be as stubborn as fuck, so good luck with that.” I can walk into a bar full of bikers without breaking a sweat, hell, I could keep calm whilst having a gun aimed at me, but Daisy had me swimming with the sharks outside the cage, completely outside of my comfort zone and out of my depth. “So you’re not going to help me?”
“I thought I just did.” He smirks, he was enjoying watching me squirm. The satisfaction was written all over his face.
“Hardly,” I deadpan.
18
daisy
* * *
Saturday always brought new customers to the shop in between the routine of the regulars, they were usually made up of a variety of colourful of people travelling through town, some families or couples or even the odd bus tour on occasion.
The morning was rushing by, it was like a marathon by the sheer volume of customers coming and going.
Even with the sea of people I know the precise moment Oliver walked in before even needing to lay eyes on him, it was as if every nerve ending in my entire body was attuned to his.
Patiently he stands in line, waiting for his turn to be served. My mind reels with possible witty comebacks to whatever Oliver is about to say to me. My thoughts are so muddled I had to ask for the next customer’s order twice and even then I think they took pity on me with what I served them. “Good morning, what can I get you?”
“One cherry dream.” His voice was husky like he’d just woken up and it was incredibly sexy.
“Just one?” “
Yes, one.”
“Right, one.” Shuffling my way down the counter I go to place the cupcake on a plate as Oliver’s voice against greets my ears. Halting my hand in motion.
“Takeaway, please. I can’t stay today, I have something to take care of.” I exchange the plate for one of the clear boxes I used for takeaway orders, inside lay a paper doily to rest the single cupcake on, twisting the fancy lid, it is finally secured with a ribbon.
“Anything else?” His smile is sweet as he shakes his head.
“No, thank you.”
I feel like I had stepped into a parallel universe as I watch Oliver’s back disappear out the door. He’d taken the single cupcake and there was no witty exchange, no innuendo or claim staked by him. He’d been, well, so unlike Oliver.
* * *
As soon as my house comes into view, so does the car parked outside of it, or ute would be a more accurate description of the vehicle at the curb. I ignore the temptation in the pit of my stomach, to keep driving, to not pull into my own driveway until the unwanted visitor had disappeared. I wondered how long it would take before he took the hint that I didn’t want him there.
Instead, I pull into the driveway and cut the engine. Twisting my hands on the wheel I stare straight ahead, he’d been at the shop and for the unsettling moment he’d been there I thought once he’d left I wouldn’t have to see him again until Monday morning at the earliest. How naïve I had been.
“What are you doing here, Oliver?”
“Installing a security door.” He waves at the door as if it had only just appeared by apparition and I hadn’t noticed it as soon as I had pulled in.
“Why are you here, Oliver?”
“Daisy, you had an intruder in your home. I won’t let it happen again.” He levels me with his look as his jaw clenches briefly before relaxing again.
“How much do I owe you?”
“For what?”
“For the door, Oliver.”
“It’s fine, Daisy. You don’t owe anything.”
“I’m not a charity case.”
“I know, I did it for me. Besides, now every time you bang it maybe it’ll remind you of me.”
“You’re right because it would be irritating as hell.” Digging through my handbag I fish out my purse. “How much do I owe you for the damn door?”
“I don’t want your money, Daisy Blossom. But if you insist on paying then all I want is your time.” He’s serious, the smile that had been on his face when he was talking about banging was now gone.
“So, sixty dollars? That’s all I have on me right now, so if it’s more let Drew know and I’ll pass it on to him.”
“Why do you insist on being so bloody stubborn? Do you really hate me that much that you can’t suffer through a meal with me?”
“I don’t hate you. Not anymore.” Oliver steps so close to me I can feel his body heat radiating against my own exposed skin. I push the money into his chest and let it go. Neither of us pays any attention to it as it falls to the ground between our feet.
“I don’t want your money. All I wanted was to know you’re going to be safe here.”
“You need to go.” My words come out only as a whisper while others are left unsaid because I knew if I let them cross my lips Oliver would do the opposite of what he should do. He would stay, even if only for a moment but that would be no good for either of us.
Oliver steps away and immediately my skin is missing the heat from his body. He gathers his tools, tossing them into the tray of his ute before storming around to the driver’s side of the cab.
Pausing he turns to me as if he’s about to say something more but instead he yanks the door open before climbing inside. The engine roars before he guns the car away from the curb and down the street.
Sighing as his car turns at the end of the street, I bend down to pick up the notes that were now wrapping around my shoes on the breeze. Munchkin is waiting for me when I push the door open, she’s purring so loudly I can hear her as she rubs against my leg.
“Hello, Sweetheart. Did you miss mumma?” Scooping her up, she snuggles under my chin as we make our way into the kitchen. Her bowl of milk is empty. Placing her on the floor, she watches me as I refill it. “What are we going to do with the rest of the day?” Munchkin doesn’t answer as she laps at the milk. “I’m thinking an afternoon in the garden is exactly what I need.”
* * *
I wouldn’t say the garden beds were overgrown but they were in need of some serious TLC. The scent of the blooms was a glorious mixture of heavenly perfumes which always served to relax me, I enjoyed the sight of a flower in the garden innocently blossoming as part of its eco-structure. There was something poetic about the delicacy of a flower providing a life source to the bees for nectar. Flowers have always had more purpose alive in the garden than dying in an ornamental vase.