The Bouquet List by Barbara Deleo

be, but why does anyone have to know?”
    Need still thrummed in his blood, urging him to take what she was offering. He managed to hold firm, but he couldn’t look at her. “They’d find out eventually.”
    “Not if we didn’t want them to. We could take things at our own pace, and if we’re both still into it after a while, we could then think about it. We could just focus on it being a fling for now.”
    He straightened his spine, steeling himself against her invitation. What was the point of a fling? Flings, by definition, had an end date, and where would that leave them? Awkward when they were around each other again, regretful that they’d crossed an invisible line that they couldn’t get back again. No matter how fresh that incredible kiss still was in his mind and on his mouth, or that the only thing he wanted to do right now was press her against a wall and feel her body beneath his, he couldn’t see this as ending any other way than very badly.
    …
    “Yas, Paulo’s crew has finished with the floor. Do you want to come see?” Lane was looking at her from around the office door, his hair a little mussed.
    It was late Wednesday afternoon, the only day for the next week without a wedding, and with no restaurant bookings either, Paulo’s workmen had been installing the new floor.
    “Okay, I’ll be there in a minute.” Grace had asked her opinion on the new advertising, but it could wait. She dropped the papers and turned back but he’d already gone. Her chest hollowed. He seemed to be doing that a lot—appearing and disappearing. Though it was less about him doing it in the flesh and more about him only letting her see parts of himself for a short time before pulling them back behind his walls again.
    She sighed and rubbed her tired eyes. For the first time since she’d been back, she felt quite weak and exhausted. She’d slept late after they worked into the night. Since the kiss at the store yesterday, she’d been unsure of where things sat with Lane. He was friendly and pleasant when they worked together, but nothing more had been said about the kiss, and she couldn’t help feeling that he’d be quite happy if it was never referred to again.
    Maybe he wished it hadn’t happened at all.
    But that lingering kiss had played over and over in her head, setting her nerves alight each time. The memory of how his body fitted, warm and firm, against her own had become intoxicating, and she wanted it to happen again. Maybe the fact that she was holding back about her illness was acting as a barrier between them. Perhaps she should really open up and tell him everything that had happened to her. Maybe then everything would fall away between them and he’d pull her close and do all the things she was imagining.
    She made her way over to the restaurant, passing Paulo and his workmen on their way out. “I hope you like it, Yasmin,” Paulo said with a wink. “There’s plenty of room for dancing. Give me a call when you want a lesson.”
    “I’m sure it looks great. Thanks so much for all your hard work.” She shook his outstretched hand. “I’ll give you a call some time.”
    “I’m counting on an invitation to the relaunch,” he said and gave her another smile. “I’ve got a date I’d like to bring, too, if that’s okay.”
    “We’d love to see you both.” Yasmin grinned back. Paulo had never really been attracted to her; he was just one of those guys who couldn’t help flirting with any girl he met. She hoped his date could see through that.
    “Mano, I’ll wring that bird’s neck!” Monty said as she passed his cage. She dug her hand in her pocket for the peanuts that she’d gotten used to carrying around. He flew with one in his beak to his perch and chewed it noisily. “Pardon me,” he said when he’d finished. “Toast the bride, toast the bride!”
    She opened the door to the restaurant to see Lane standing in the middle of the brand-new floor, his black pants rolled up and