She couldn’t help but laugh. “I love you,” she said.
“I love you too. Now, go and wipe your face. I don’t need you crying into the flowers. We’ve got a big order to fill and even if you hate it, I still need your help.” Her aunt kissed her cheek, and Eliza disappeared into the back of the shop.
After closing the bathroom door, she splashed some cold water onto her face. Lifting her head up, she stared at her reflection. Since meeting her mother, one of her biggest fears was turning out like her. Even though she’d worked her ass off through high school, college had been a complete bust. Then moving from job to job, she’d gotten a couple of boyfriends as well. Her life wasn’t exactly pleasing in the city.
Shaking all of the fears from her mind, she ran a brush through her hair, pulling it up into a ponytail before joining her aunt to prepare one of their biggest orders.
“So, was James a gentleman?” Aunt Betty asked.
The feel of his hands gripping her waist as he pounded inside her flashed through her mind, and she smiled. “The perfect one.”
Her aunt would love him because he was the polite man who held doors, made breakfast, but in the bedroom, he became something else. Her body hummed to life.
“Good. He was always a good kid. I know he and his brothers have a reputation, but you can’t let that put you off.”
She chuckled. “I know.”
“Don’t be smart with me, sweetie. You know what I mean. Be careful of the thorns on the roses. They have a serious bite today.”
“Didn’t she want any daisies or something?”
“Nope. Roses and tulips for some reason. I don’t judge what a woman wants on her wedding day. A lot of women dream of their wedding for a lot of years.”
“You know I never did,” Eliza said. “I never had a booklet with dresses or ideas.”
“I know. You rather enjoyed playing happy family instead.”
Eliza paused. “I did.”
“Yep. I got you one of those kitchen things, you know with the stove and oven. Some pretend food. You would spend hours pretending to vacuum, cook a meal. It was a big thing for you. I often felt guilty that you were trying to tell me you wanted a big family, but I wasn’t able to give one to you.”
Eliza had forgotten about that. It seemed so long ago and in a way, it was. A big, happy family. Something she always wanted. There was no point trying to imagine it though.
She worked with the flowers, humming to herself as she did. There was no music to be heard as her aunt liked to work without the interference of the radio, and also, she liked the conversation with the customers.
The doorbell rang and she turned to see it was James, complete with coffee and lunch. “I thought you’d be way too busy to remember lunch and I thought I’d drop by.”
“Wow, you are a man after my own heart,” Aunt Betty said. She got to her feet, taking the offered coffee and food. “I have a phone call to make that is suddenly just happening right now.”
“My aunt doesn’t know tact,” Eliza said, smiling at her aunt’s obvious lies. “This is nice, thank you.”
James put the food and coffee down and grasped her waist, pulling her in tight. “It was an excuse to do this.” He claimed her lips for his own, and Eliza knew there was so much more she could be losing right now.
Her heart being one of them.
Chapter Eight
“I can’t believe you finally caved and are going to take her to an actual bar,” Caleb said, smirking.
“It doesn’t change the fact you’re not sticking around. Remember. This isn’t your place to crash tonight or to hook up with some random woman, got it?”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. You’ve told me a million times already.”
“And I’m going to have to keep telling you as it seems to have escaped your notice that I’m being serious about this.”
“I get it. You don’t want any of us to ruin your precious date with Eliza.”
“You’ve crashed my house the past three times she’s been here,” he said. The last time he was supposed to be with Eliza, he had to cancel as he got a call out to a boiler that wasn’t working. The small family had a couple of young kids and he refused to leave them without hot water, or even warmth in case the weather took a drastic turn. It was rare for it to happen as it was the height of summer, but it couldn’t be ruled out, and he took his job seriously.
“I know and she hasn’t been worried or upset about it. I think you’re getting your pants in a bunch over nothing.”
“I mean it, Caleb. You and Rome are not coming here.”
“Fine. Fine. We’re not coming to hang out. I get it. You want this place all to yourself.”
“This is my house. Why can’t you head home?” he asked. He knew he was being an ass, but some mornings, he wanted Eliza to himself, and he’d ended up with his brothers invading their moment. So much so they hadn’t even talked about why they were.
“You know she doesn’t mind, right? If you’re trying to impress the girl, then you don’t have to freak out or worry about having your brothers around. She likes us, both of us.”
James had seen that Eliza found his brothers charming, but he didn’t need to know what she thought of them, only that they weren’t around in the morning. He was trying to make their relationship serious and his brothers were interrupting any chance they got.
He finished getting ready, grabbing his keys, and followed Caleb out of his home, locking the door. After sliding behind the wheel, he drove toward her aunt Betty’s house. Caleb had taken his own car and would probably either crash with Rome or not drink.
Caleb was a rebel but he wasn’t stupid either. He’d earned his license and wouldn’t dream of fucking it up by drunk driving.
Eliza opened the door when she caught sight of him. She wore a pair of jeans and a shirt that clung to her curves and made his dick ache for her.
After climbing out of his car, he made his way up the driveway to her house. Aunt Betty smiled. “I want a picture.”
“Aunt Betty,” she said, groaning.
He laughed. “It’s kind of like prom.”
“Exactly,” Aunt Betty said. “I just wish she could have worn the dress. Anyway, enough. Come on, hold her, James. Don’t be shy. I know you really want to hold her.”
He had no problems holding this woman close to him.
Aunt Betty snapped a picture, or three. “You two have fun. Again, I won’t wait up.”
“I’m really sorry about that. She doesn’t know how to, you know, not be excited.”
“I like it. She loves you and wants what’s best for you.”
“That she does.”
He took her hand, leading her back to the car. “I hope this is okay. I know you said we were going to the bar, and well, I didn’t want to overdress.”
“You’re going to be the sexiest woman there.”
She rolled her eyes, and he would spank her ass for that later. Actually, he’d probably ended up kissing the rounded globes and teasing her anus, but he wouldn’t go too deeply into that.
Once again behind the wheel, he drove toward the bar, making small talk. He knew it had been a busy week for Eliza and Aunt Betty with the deliveries, and he’d even offered to help, which had been declined.