Lyndsey Cole - Lily Bloom 02 - Queen of Poison by Lyndsey Cole Page A

to get done or knowing when another pair of hands was needed to hold something. Lily knew she was lucky to have Daisy around and didn’t know what she would do if Daisy decided on a different career. Lily was even thinking of expanding the flower shop and adding specialty chocolates so Daisy could have her own space. She didn’t have the money yet for an expansion, but if business kept going at this pace it wouldn’t be long.
    Daisy flopped into the chair, picking up Sweet Pea and stroking her soft fur. “This was one long and busy day. I’m glad you weren’t completely incapacitat ed or I would have had to have Mom help.” They both rolled their eyes. Iris was great, but they both preferred not to work with her.
    “Don’t worry. I never plan to put you through that.”
    The door that had actually been quiet for the past half hour jingled and Daisy groaned. Lily peeked out front. “It’s just Ryan.”
    “What do you mean, ‘just Ryan’?” she teased. “Maybe it’s time for me to head home. Can you finish up?”
    Lily looked at the clock, shocked to see it was almost five. “Yeah, I’m fine. I’ll make a few deliveries and then close up.” She hugged Daisy. “Thanks. I couldn’t do this without you.”
    “I know.” Daisy was twinkling from the compliment, said hi to Ryan and left the shop.
    Lily looked over to see Ryan casually leaning in the doorway to the design room, arms crossed and trying not to smile. She could see the edges of his mouth twitch just enough for her to know he was on the edge of a big toothy grin but was going to say something serious instead. She waited.
    “Why did you go down the hall last night? Who were you following?”
    Lily scrunched her face in deep concentration. “I don’t remember.”
    “Come on Lily. This isn’t a game. What were you and Nina doing?”
    “Ryan. I really don’t remember anything from last night except being in the office and someone pointing at me.”
    His face got serious. “I thought you were just trying to avoid answering my question.”
    “I wish that was the case. I tried to remember. I had bad dreams all last night—someone chasing me, but I could never see a face.”
    Ryan picked up Sweet Pea and sat in the chair, letting the cat get comfortable in his lap. “Something will trigger the memory. Are you almost done?”
    “I have to make a few more deliveries, then close up. Why?”
    “Nina is stopping at my house later to show me the photos on her two cameras. Come on over, maybe that will trigger something.”
    “Okay. Will there be food?”
    “Probably. Jennifer loves to cook. I’ll miss that when she finds her own apartment.”
    “You’re a rotten brother. You’ll miss her cooking but not her?”
    He laughed. “Of course I’ll miss Jennifer and Katie and the kitten I got as a surprise for Katie.”
    “Really? She’ll be thrilled.”
    He stood up. “See you later?”
    “I’ll come for the food and your sister’s company,” she teased.
    Ryan walked over to Lily. “I’ll give you something else to miss.” He put his arms gently around her waist and pulled her close. She could feel his heart be ating through his shirt.  The rhythm of the beat matched hers. She could get lost in his arms. “This is part one. If you’re nice to me, you might get part two.” He sighed and let her go.
    Lily loaded the flowers into her van and got everything delivered in record time. She wanted part two from Ryan Steele.
    Back at the shop she had to feed Sweet Pea, check the cooler and lock up. Her mind was already back in Ryan’s arms when she walked in the back door of the shop.
    “It’s about time you got back here. I almost gave up.”
    Lily’s blood ran cold at the sound of that voice. The voice was the trigger unlocking her memories of the night before.

Chapter 15
     
    “Jared. What can I do for you?”
    He held up her quilted tote. “You forgot this at the museum. I thought you might need it and the file you stole from my