A Savannah Christmas Wish

After getting a glass of something cold, he headed to her table. “Hey, Bess.”

“How much are you asking for my apartment?” Her mouth almost puckered from the bitter words.

“I’m fine.” Daniel glared. “Thanks for asking.”

“Neither of us can stand to be in the same room for more than five minutes.” She flipped her braid down her back. “Especially not here.”

“What are you talking about?” He truly looked puzzled.

“You’ve forgotten?” Typical.

“Forgotten what?”

“This used to be Dora’s.” She pressed her lips together. “The night I invited you to the party.”

His mouth dropped open. “I forgot. I would never...”

She let out a shaky sigh. A least Daniel hadn’t picked the spot on purpose.

She waved a hand. “What’s the asking price?”

He pulled out a flyer and slid it across the table.

She skipped through the pictures and legalese, searching for the third-floor unit price. Her heart nearly stopped. “Two hundred and fifty thousand?”

He nodded. “We kept it low based on the comps in the area.”

Low? Her hand shook. The amount sounded insurmountable. “Can I keep this?”

“Sure. It’s the mock-up.” He reached for her fist but jerked his hand away as if she were poison oak.

Her teeth ground together. “You think I can’t qualify for a mortgage.”

“I guess...” He blinked. “You and your sisters have so much cash tied up in Fitzgerald House.”

“I make a good living.” But she didn’t. Acid burned in her gut. Her job was finished in a week and a half.

“I can ask around for available apartments,” he offered.

“No, thanks.” Now that she knew the asking price, she’d contact mortgage companies.

“You could move in with Abby,” Daniel suggested, taking a sip of his tea.

Bess wanted her own space. “I’ll figure it out.”

Daniel flashed his endearing crooked smile.

Her heart beat faster. Didn’t her darn body understand that one smile from Daniel could never erase the scars from his rejections?

“Can I keep renting after September thirtieth?” Until she figured out a way to buy her apartment.

Daniel set his glass down and drew circles in the condensation. He nodded before he answered. “Sure. But you need to move your plants so we can show the place.”

“Move my plants?” An ache grew in her chest. “But I babysit a lot of those orchids.”

“What?” Daniel’s brow furrowed.

“People hire me to care for their orchids.” She leaned forward. “When they flower, I send them back.”

“I...” He pushed back his ball cap. “I’ve never heard of anything like that.”

“It’s better than throwing away a valuable plant.” She straightened her shoulders. She hated people tossing perfectly good orchids. “It’s easy money.”

He grinned again. This one probably had panties dropping throughout the café.

Not hers. Never again.

“That’s—clever.”

“Thanks.” Warmth from his compliment swelled in her chest. She was pitiful. He was taking away her home and a stupid compliment made her insides wiggle like jelly.

“They’re beautiful, but it looks like a jungle.” He wagged his finger. “They have to go.”

“Okay.” She rubbed between her eyes. “Maybe they’ll fit in the B and B’s sunroom.”

“You’d have to keep the apartment picked up,” he warned.

“Sure.”

“I’ll help you move your stuff.”

Wasn’t that the story of her messed-up relationship with Daniel—first he broke her heart. Then he offered to help.

“Can I wait until after Mamma’s wedding?”

She didn’t want anyone to know about her troubles.

“I can help you move stuff on Sunday.”

Rush me, much? “In the afternoon. Late afternoon. There’s a family brunch on Sunday.”

“That works.”

She sighed. Now she needed to meet with her sisters and confess she’d lost her job and her home.

* * *

“THE ARBOR LOOKS SPECTACULAR.” Dolley stood under Bess’s ladder. “You, not so much. Get dressed. Now.” Her sister already wore her yellow chiffon halter dress.