Coming Up Daffy by Sandra Sookoo

we’d go after the tiger lilies first.”
    â€œSounds good. Afterward, let’s grab lunch somewhere. I ran late to the bait shop this morning and didn’t have a chance to eat breakfast.” When she stumbled, he latched onto her elbow until she steadied.
    â€œYou always run late. Maybe it’s time to train your body to wake up earlier.”
    â€œI guess so.” He frowned. He’d never had cause to think about his daily habits before now. “Is that a problem for you?” Some people were anal about being on time.
    â€œI’ll admit it’s not my favorite thing when people are late, but it hasn’t grown into a pet peeve. Don’t test me.” She shrugged. “Oh look, here they are.” Alice plowed into the midst of an unruly clump of green shoots and leaves. Apparently, she knew what they were, but to him it resembled a tangle of weeds.
    â€œHere’s what?”
    â€œThe tiger lilies. Looks like some of the greenery has come up but not the flower shoots yet. That’s good.” She wiggled one hand. “Give me the trowel. If all goes well, I’ll be able to locate the bulbs right away.”
    Mark did as instructed then could do nothing else except watch as she crawled on the ground. Every once in a while she’d dig through the plant life and exclaim when she found a bulb. Those she chucked into one of the buckets he held. Through it all, he couldn’t help but smile. She got so excited when she found a bulb. Some she’d hold up and inspect. Some she rejected, explaining those were dud bulbs or ones that simply wouldn’t bloom. He didn’t know how she knew this, but it fascinated him. I’ll have to ask her about it later.
    The time passed in companionable silence after that. The rain didn’t seem to bother her or dampen her spirits. Alice dug up bulbs as if she’d been born for that exact purpose while he held the bucket and just admired her for the person she was. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her in my life. He wanted to know so much more about her. What made her laugh hysterically? What trait in people did she absolutely hate? What was her favorite food, color, perfume?
    Finally, when dirty clumps of bulbs filled the bucket, she proclaimed the job done. “I have enough tiger lilies to line my friend’s back fence. That should do it. If I need more, I’ll just come back out.” She wiped her muddy hands on her jeans and gave him a wry grin. “I forgot to bring my gardening gloves.”
    He nodded. “Are we moving on to the daffodils now?” Even streaked with mud and half-soaked, he couldn’t take his eyes off her.
    â€œIn a sec.” Her grin slid into something soft and sexy. It dazzled him. Not until that moment did he understand what the word befuddled meant. “Come over here for a minute.” She gestured with her head. “I always like looking at the creek before I head out. It’s peaceful, and now, I can to share the scene with you, though it’s hardly peaceful today — more like an angry old man trying on pants.”
    â€œSounds good.” What a dumb thing to say. His chest warmed. She wanted to include him in things that meant something to her? That was a good sign. He followed her to the edge of the property. The ground was steeper there with the rain-swollen creek mere inches away. The current lapped at the bank, rushing with more force than normal due to the elevated water. “Don’t goof around over here, all right?”
    â€œI’m not, silly.” She hopped onto a partially exposed boulder, covered with mud and moss.
    â€œPlease be careful.” He set the buckets on the ground.
    â€œDon’t worry. I’ve been out here tons of times.” The beat of the rain muffled her tinkling laughter. “For once I’m at eye level with you.” With a forefinger she beckoned him closer, her eyes alight with playful