Flowers on Main

Jess hesitated, her expression thoughtful. “Weird, I guess.”

“Me, too,” Bree admitted.

Jess gave a dramatic shudder. “Let’s not talk about Mom and Dad getting back together. Who was that on the phone just now and what did they say to upset you?”

“I’ve just discovered that there is one major flower wholesaler close enough to supply the store,” she reported to her sister, not even trying to mask her dismay. This was an unexpected and very unwelcome wrinkle.

“So what?” Jess asked. “As long as they’re good, you’ll be fine. Are you worried that the prices will be higher because it’s virtually a monopoly or something?”

“I’m worried because that wholesaler is Jake Collins,” she snapped. “Why didn’t you tell me he now owns Shores Nursery and Landscaping?”

Jess blinked at her tone. “Hey, don’t jump on me. I thought you knew. He’s worked there forever, even when you were going out.”

“There’s a huge difference between him working there and owning the place. And as I recall, they didn’t operate as a wholesaler back then. Now he’s apparently one of the biggest growers around here, too. What’s he doing, taking over the flower world, acre by acre?”

Jess shrugged. “I don’t see why any of that matters. It’s been years since you two split up. You’re both adults. This is business. Surely you can be civilized.”

Bree wasn’t so sure of that. Their last encounter had been anything but civilized. She’d expected a little anger, but not the heat radiating off Jake in waves that could have roasted marshmallows.

“It will be awkward,” she said finally in what was the most massive understatement she’d ever uttered.

“Then don’t deal with him,” Jess suggested, still unconcerned. “As big as the business is now, he probably has plenty of people working for him. Deal with one of them. He’s usually out on jobs anyway. I see him all over the place.” She grinned. “He looks really, really fine, by the way.”

Bree knew, though she had no intention of acknowledging just how fine she thought he looked. This situation was disastrous enough as it was. If Jess or anyone else in the family thought there was so much as an ember of that relationship that wasn’t stone cold, they might try to fan it back to life.

“I can’t avoid him. It seems I have to deal directly with Mr. Collins if I want to open an account. Mr. Collins makes those arrangements. Mr. Collins decides if Shores Nursery can accommodate another wholesale customer. If not, she’s sure Mr. Collins would be happy to recommend an alternative, although there’s no other grower or supplier half as good within a fifty-mile radius. I wanted to reach through the phone and strangle her perky little neck.”

Jess stared at her. “Okay, Bree, what’s really going on here? Is this just about some kind of old news between you and Jake?”

Bree regarded her blankly. “Of course, what else could it be?”

“I’m not sure, but to tell you the truth, for a second there, you sounded a little jealous.”

“Jealous? That’s ridiculous.” She frowned. “It’s just that this woman sounded so, I don’t know, adoring. It made me a little crazy.”

“I’ll say,” Jess confirmed. “What I don’t get is why. I thought you were the one who dumped him.”

“It wasn’t exactly like that,” Bree said.

Interest sparked in Jess’s eyes. “Then what was it like?”

Bree sighed. “Never mind. You said it. It’s old news. I’ll figure out some way to deal with Jake to get the flowers I need.”

Of course, that assumed that if she ever succeeded in getting past his obviously protective gatekeeper, Mr. Collins would even give her the time of day.

Jake crumpled up the fifth message he’d had from Bree in two days and tossed it in the trash can. He scowled when he realized that Connie had caught him doing it. She marched into his office, a lecture clearly on the tip of her tongue.

“Don’t start with me,” he warned.

“You need to call her back,” she told him in her oh-so-patient mother-hen voice.

“I don’t have to do anything,” he said grimly.

“Now, there’s the mature reaction I’d expect from someone your age,” she commented. “Let me rephrase. You need to call her back if you expect me keep working here, brother dear. I’m getting tired of trying to fend Bree off, much less pretending that I don’t know perfectly well who she is and why you’re avoiding her. If she ever recognizes my voice, she’s going to start asking a whole bunch of questions I don’t want to answer. You don’t pay me enough to run interference between you and Bree.”

“I’m paying you enough to get your daughter through college, which is more than anyone else would,” he retorted. “She starts next year, if I recall correctly. How’s that tuition money adding up? Can you afford to walk out on me?”

She gave him a sour look. “Sometimes it is very hard for me to understand why Mom always liked you best. You are not a nice man.”

“But I am a very good brother,” he teased. Because of that, she knew he would never, ever fire her, despite his constant threats. And she wouldn’t quit for the same reason. Connie’s ex-husband paid decent alimony and child support, but Jake considered it his responsibility to see that she and Jenny had whatever else they needed.

“You’re an annoyance,” she retorted.

“But you love me, anyway,” he said. His expression sobered. “Please, keep Bree away from me. Consider it your personal mission.”

“Assistants aren’t allowed personal missions,” she retorted.

“But sisters are.”

“Jake, you’re the one who made the rule about not taking on any new wholesale customers unless you personally approve it. You said we only have so much stock available and you don’t want to get overextended and wind up disappointing a good customer. Do I not have that right?”

His expression brightened. “That’s it. Call her back and tell her we’ve talked. You can explain that unfortunately, due to huge demand, we’re not taking on anyone else right now.”

“But the florist in Myrtle Creek just closed,” she reminded him. “Jensen’s was one of our bigger accounts. If Bree’s done her homework, she’s going to know that.”

“What makes you think she’s done her homework?” he asked wearily. “Last time I checked, she was writing plays, not running any kind of business.”

“And last time I checked, she was the smartest woman you’ve ever known. She’s certainly smart enough to ask around about the best suppliers in the region. I’ll bet that’s exactly how she got our name. Ted Jensen probably recommended us when he decided to retire after his heart attack.”

Okay, that was possible, but not insurmountable. “If she brings that up, tell her we’d only kept supplying Ted because he’d been a customer for years.”

Connie rolled her eyes. “That ought to go over well. How on earth will it look if we refuse to supply a new business right here in Chesapeake Shores, a business owned by an O’Brien, no less? You’ll never hear the end of it. The chamber of commerce will be all over you. And if you think there was talk when you and Bree broke up, it’ll be nothing compared to the speculation that would stir up.”

They were still debating the point when the door to the outer office snapped open and Bree strode through and straight into his office. She was wearing shorts that made her legs look endless and a halter top that made his mouth water. Strands of curly auburn hair had sprung free of the knot on her head and with the sunlight behind her, it looked as if she was on fire. The color was high in her cheeks, as well. She was not a happy woman. Jake braced himself to deal with all that heat and sexiness and walk away unscathed.

“If the mountain won’t come …” Her voice trailed off as she spotted his sister.

“Connie, hi,” she said. Unmistakable relief spread across her face as something else apparently registered. “Oh my gosh, you’re the one I’ve been talking to on the phone all this time. I’m so sorry. I should have recognized your voice. Why didn’t you say something?”

Connie grinned. “Frankly, I was just as glad you didn’t. I really didn’t want to get caught between you and this hardhead over here. Now you two can battle this out between yourselves. I’m going home to cook dinner.” She gave her brother a smug look. “Shall I make a plate of humble pie for you? Or will you be making other plans for dinner?” She glanced pointedly at Bree when she said it.

“I already have dinner plans,” he retorted. As of two minutes ago, he planned to drink it.

6 _____

“You’ve been avoiding me,” Bree accused, sitting across from Jake, her shorts hiking up. She hadn’t worn such a revealing outfit deliberately, but judging from the rapt gaze on Jake’s face, she was glad she had. At this point she was willing to take advantage of any edge she had. Maybe that didn’t speak well of her as a woman, but she was desperate. After a week, it had become clear that Jake was even less anxious to deal with her than she was with him. Both of them had to find a way to suck it up and figure out a way to conduct business.

“Have not,” he muttered. “I’ve been busy.”