Small-Town Sweetheart (The Spring Grove Series Book 2) Read online

  I shoot her a dry look. “I don’t like him. Or find him handsome.”

  “Liar.”

  “I don’t—” My words fall off when I see Reed coming out of the bank across the road. “Shit, there he is,” I say, rushing around the counter, almost tripping over myself to get to the door.

  I move aside the curtain and watch as Reed tucks some cash into his pocket, shaking his head. His other hand is holding a long brown leash that is tethered to the collar of a young-looking basset hound whose ears are already brushing the ground as his tongue hangs out of his mouth. Reed bends down, cuddling the puppy’s head into his chest before giving him a kiss.

  That lucky dog.

  Shit. No, I did not think that.

  “Yeah, you aren’t attracted to him at all.”

  I roll my eyes. “Shut up, Gen.”

  I’m met with her laughter as Reed slowly stands, his body long and lean. His shoulders are so wide, and I want nothing more than to grab on to them before I press my lips to his. God, I’ve always wanted to do that. My heart picks up pace, and chills run down my spine. Even from where I am, I can see his large hands, and of course, I want to feel them on my body. This stupid crush of mine needs to go on somewhere. It’s well beyond its expiration date. Especially when Reed doesn’t like me. Which is beyond me.

  I’m a freaking delight.

  I watch as Reed looks around the town, a scowl on his stony face. People walk by him, and he doesn’t miss them whispering as they walk away. He rolls his eyes, letting out a long breath before he looks to the flower shop. I squeal and shut the curtain quickly. “Shit, I think he saw me watching him.”

  “Oh no,” Gen says dryly, and I glare back to her. “He saw the person who is stalking him.”

  I look out the curtain once more, and he’s coming toward the shop. “Shit! I think he’s coming here!”

  “Whatever will you do?”

  “Gen! Seriously.”

  As I run to her, Gen holds up the magazine. “Seriously, I think I want purple lilacs in my bouquets.”

  “Shh,” I demand as I fix my hair, making sure it frames my face. Gen watches me, shaking her head as the door opens, the little bell signaling a visitor.

  Reed’s rough voice fills the shop. “Hey, Mrs. Williams, can I bring my dog in here?”

  I look at Gen wide-eyed, and she looks back at me. She then rolls her eyes before leaning over on her stool. “Come on in, Reed. Mrs. Williams won’t mind.”

  “Oh, hey, Gen.”

  “Hey there,” she says sweetly as he comes around the corner, his sweet pup in his arms.

  He stops when he sees me, his eyes narrowing. “Oh, hey.”

  “Hey,” I say, my body shaking with anticipation. Of what, I have no clue, but I’m trembling. “Cute dog.”

  A little grin pulls at his lips as he looks down at the pup. The pup looks adoringly up at him before licking his chin. “Thanks. His name is Wilbur.”

  I turn to goo. “Wilbur? How sweet.”

  When he looks back to me, his grin is gone and his eyes are dark. “Thanks.”

  His eyes meet mine then, and gone is the goo, replaced by blistering hot fire. My nipples go hard, and my thighs tremble at the thought of him touching me or giving me that grin he just gave Wilbur. When he brings his lip between his teeth, I swallow hard.

  Oh. Oh my. He needs to leave.

  “Yeah, okay,” he says, and Gen smiles over at him. “Looking for flowers for the wedding?”

  She nods. “I am. Heard you finally agreed to be the best man.”

  He shrugs. “He wouldn’t leave me be until I did.”

  “Well, you made him incredibly happy.”

  “Good,” he says as he rewards Gen with a little grin. That pisses me off. He scowls at me but grins at Gen. He doesn’t even know her!

  “So, um, where is Mrs. Williams?”

  “She’s home. Broke her hip, so Del has been covering for her in the mornings.”

  He looks back to me. “You work here too?”

  I nod. “Yeah.”

  His face twists in a mixture of disgust and confusion. “Why?”

  “Why not?”

  “Don’t you work at the bar?”

  “I do,” I say with a shrug. “And the bakery, the diner, the clinic, and then here. Sometimes the library if Ambrosia is swamped. Really, I go wherever anyone needs me.”

  He looks annoyed. “So, you don’t have a career?”

  God, he’s such a jerk! I glare. “Mawmaw says my career is this town.”

  He rolls his eyes. “Not surprised at all.”

  Oh, I want to kick him. “What do you need?” I say, and it comes out sharp. He notices.

  His eyes are full of mischief, but then sorrow fills those green depths as he says, “I need flowers for Mom and Ambrosia. Something to bring a smile to their faces.”

  My heart clenches in my chest. “Oh.”

  “Yeah. Can you help me?”

  “Of course,” I say, and I flash him a huge smile, hoping it will bring some joy to him.

  He just glares at me, though.

  Ass.

  Gen looks up at him as I go to the flower chest to see what we have. “How are they doing?” she asks, and I try not to listen, but it’s hard when Reed speaks.

  “Mom is struggling. Ambrosia is being strong but only when Mom is around. I figure since I’m leaving Monday, I wanted to make them a little happy.”

  “That’s nice.”

  And it is, but what bothers me is that he’s for sure leaving. I sort of hoped he would stay, which makes no damn sense, I know. I roll my eyes as I look back to him. “We don’t have anything I think they’ll like here. I’ll be back.”

  Not giving him time to answer me or turn me down, I head to the back and get to work with the supply that was supposed to be put together for tomorrow’s orders. I’ve been helping Mrs. Williams for almost six years now. When she lost her husband, she was desperate for help. Mrs. Williams and Mawmaw have been close my whole life. She gave me my first job as a teenager. She’s always been kind to me, so of course, I was here to help. I love it here too. I love pulling bouquets together and bringing people joy. Weddings are my favorite, though. We don’t have many, but when we do, Mrs. Williams and I have a field day.

  “Too bad you don’t want to stay and visit.”

  I press my lips together as Reed says, “Yeah, I have to get back to work. My mom isn’t too happy about it.”

  “I bet not. She misses you dearly. I know your dad always told me that. He loved you very much.”

  Oh, did he. Old Man McElroy loved his children, but there was always something about Reed that brought a special little twinkle to his eye. I think he may have blamed himself for Reed leaving, when really, it was no one’s fault. Reed just wasn’t meant for this town.

  “Yeah, I loved him.”

  “Me too,” Gen agrees. “He always made everything so much more fun. When he offered to let me have my wedding on his grounds, I actually cried.”

  “I thought you two were getting married at the Blu.”

  “We are, but I almost changed it ’cause Mr. McElroy wanted me to have it at the distillery.”

  They share a laugh, and Reed’s deep, throaty laugh shakes me to my core. I swallow hard as I pair some sunflowers with white and red daisies before wrapping them in gold paper with a big yellow bow.

  “Well, wherever it is, I’m sure it will be a beautiful day.”

  “I hope so,” Gen says, and it will be. With me as the maid of honor and the florist, Gen’s day will be perfection.

  I inhale deeply before I look down at the bouquet. I’m nervous, actually sweating as I glance at the flowers one last time. They’re beautiful, and I know Mrs. McElroy and Ambrosia will love them. But I want Reed to love them.

  Why? You shouldn’t like him!

  I’m insane.

  Finally, I pick them up and head to the front. Gen and Reed look to me as I come around the counter and hand him the bou