Page 13 of Unbalanced

Opening my coffee, I take a sip and let the anticipation build because I’m enjoying this little moment. Emily looks like she’s about to pass out from lack of oxygen, and it’s really kind of adorable.

“We don’t have a contract. I use whomever I want. I’ll just cancel our current order and hire you.”

Emily gasps and steps back as if she might collapse. I reach for her to make sure she doesn’t end up on her ass.

“Are you okay?”

I chuckle as she fans her very red face.

“Yes…oh my god…yes. I don’t even know how to thank you. This is…” Emily grabs my hands. “You don’t know what this means to me. You just saved my business. A building of your size is…like a dream come true for a small flower shop like mine.”

“I still expect a great price.”

“Of course. I’ll put together some ideas based on the office style and the prices. I’ll need to do a walk-through, but then I can draw up a proposal. Oh my god…this is incredible. I need my sketch pad. Can I do the walk-through today?”

I chuckle at her excitement. It’s endearing to see someone so happy.

“I can’t today. But drop by Friday, say five o’clock. It will be quiet then. Have security ring me, and I’ll take you for a tour of each floor, then you can bring me the numbers on Saturday. I’ll see you this weekend for my birthday dinner, right?”

“That would be great, but…oh…it’s just…”

“Rob?”

She nods.

“It’s fine. If he asks, I’ll say that I wasn’t happy with my current supplier and contacted you for a quote. He doesn’t need to know that we saw one another today.”

“Alden…you’re a lifesaver. I don’t know how to thank you.”

There is a strange little spark in my chest when she suddenly hugs me, but I push it aside.

“Anytime, and if there is ever anything else, please feel free to come and talk to me.”

She nibbles her bottom lip as she picks up the drinks.

“Thank you again. I better go. A shop owner’s work is never done.”

“See you Friday, Emily.”

“See you then.”

She walks away in her tight, white jeans, soft cashmere sweater, and strappy sandals. Why I even notice this about her is beyond me, but the image is now locked in my memory. Emily looks back once, our eyes meet, and then she disappears.

With a shake of my head, I grab my drinks and head out past the line of people coming into the coffee shop. My car is right out front, and I hop inside, getting myself organized for the long trip.

As I drive down the street, my eyes are drawn to the storefront of Studio Bloom. Emily is nowhere to be seen, and in a blink, I’m heading out of town. Our conversation plays on a loop, especially how she responded to the question about Rob getting rough. Being a lawyer, I’ve learned to pick up certain tells when someone is lying. I really wish he didn’t have so much of our father in him.

Maybe I’ll have a chat with him.

Yeah, that’s what I’ll do.

CHAPTER FOUR

EMILY

I’m on cloud nine.

Alden is so incredible, and despite his reputation for being ruthless in the courtroom, he’s so sweet.