Page 18 of Choosing the Rejected Mate

Daniel steps inside carrying a brown paper bag, a folder, and a small bouquet of flowers.

I blink.No.Not flowers.That is not allowed.

That is too much and not enough, and my chest does a stupid little squeeze that makes me want to throw a croissant at him.

He looks different today.Still in work boots and jeans, still broad and unfairly solid, but his dark blond hair is damp like he showered before coming here.His t-shirt is clean, stretched across his shoulders in a personally offensive way.The flowers look ridiculous in his big hand.

Soft purple asters, yellow daisies, and tiny white blooms tucked between them.Not roses.

Thank Goddess.Roses would have been too much.Roses are romance with an agenda.But these look like he stopped and thought about color.Dangerous, very dangerous.

Maisie makes a sound behind me that I choose to pretend is a cough and not the dying squeal of a woman delighted by my downfall.

Daniel’s eyes find mine and the bakery tilts.It is less violent than yesterday, but somehow worse.Yesterday was shock.Today is anticipation.Today I know what his scent does to me.I know what his voice does.I know he can make me laugh when I’m trying to be unlikable.

Another unforgivable quality he possesses.

He stops on the customer side of the counter and holds up the folder.“Estimate.”Then the bag.“Lunch.”Then the flowers, expression suddenly uncertain.“And these.Which might have been a mistake.”

“Why?”

“Because the woman at the flower cart asked what message I wanted to send, and I panicked.”

I stare at him.“You panicked?”

“I said, ‘Please don’t run away, I brought carbohydrates.’”

A laugh bursts out of Maisie, and I close my eyes.“Please tell me she didn’t put that on a card.”

Daniel winces.Oh no.I snatch the bouquet from him and find the tiny card tucked between the stems.

Please don’t run away.I brought carbohydrates.

I read it once.Then again.Then I start laughing.

Not a small laugh this time.Not the rusty little slip from yesterday.A real laugh.A helpless, ridiculous, hand-over-my-mouth laugh that bends me slightly at the waist while Daniel watches me like he has forgotten he’s supposed to breathe.

Maisie clutches her chest.“That is the most romantic thing I have ever seen.”

“It’s not romantic,” I say, still laughing.“It’s deeply stupid.”

Daniel nods.“Absolutely.”

“And weird.”

“Also true.”

“And possibly the most honest card anyone has ever given me.”

His smile softens.“Then I’ll take it.”

I should not like that, but I do.I like it enough that my chest hurts.

He’s so damn annoying.

I clear my throat and set the flowers on the counter, pretending they have not immediately improved the entire bakery.“They’re not terrible,” I say.

“I’ll aim for that on all future dates.”