Back on Blossom Street (Blossom Street #4)(31)

Grinning, Jordan stared out over the dark green waters of Puget Sound. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about the bedroom myself.”

“Jordan Turner, are you talking about…dare I say the word?”

Jordan chuckled. “Yeah, I am. S-E-X. I’m a healthy, normal male who’s marrying the woman he’s crazy about.”

Alix snuggled closer to his side. “I’m looking forward to living with you, too.”

“In the beginning I’ll use one of the extra bedrooms for a study.”

“What bedrooms?” Jordan seemed to forget that he lived in a bottom-level one-bedroom apartment two blocks off Blossom Street.

“In the house we’re buying.”

“Oh, yeah, that house,” Alix said, joining in his game. “I’ll need a big kitchen, though.”

“Of course. Will you cook for me?”

“It will be my pleasure.”

“Big meals on Sunday after church.”

“Absolutely.”

Jordan kissed her neck.

“There should be plenty of room in the backyard for the kids to run and play,” she said.

“Kids?” he asked, eyebrows arching.

“Not right away.”

Jordan closed his eyes and sighed. “I’m so happy, Alix. I’ve never been this happy.”

“Me, too.” Alix was beginning to trust that her happiness with Jordan wouldn’t be snatched away by a cruel or indifferent fate. It was a heady and unusual feeling, but one she could easily get used to. Wanted to get used to.

She just had to survive the wedding first.

CHAPTER 11

Colette Blake

March was traditionally a slow month in the flower business; Colette remembered that from the time she’d worked in her mother’s shop. The Valentine’s rush was over, it was too early for Easter and Mother’s Day, and school proms hadn’t started.

Susannah worked hard at attracting customers to the store. She ran a weekly draw that anyone could enter and on slow days, she and Colette took turns standing on Blossom Street and giving away single flowers with a tag attached that advertised the store. This week, it was green carnations in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.

Colette enjoyed the friendly working environment, but was often at loose ends, looking for things to do around the shop. If this continued much longer, she wondered how Susannah could justify keeping her on full-time.

It’d never been like that when she was with Dempsey Imports. If anything, she struggled to find enough hours for a personal life. It helped that Derek had worked swing shift; if he’d been home in the evenings he would’ve wanted her there, too. As it was, she often got home at eight or even later. She’d loved her job, thrived on it. She hadn’t realized how much she’d miss it until the day she’d seen Christian again. She missed being involved in such a dynamic enterprise and the challenges that came with it—and she missed him. She didn’t want to, hated herself for the attraction she felt, and yet no matter how hard she tried to ignore these feelings, they persisted.

Completely separate from their lovemaking was the fact that he’d gotten involved in something illegal. For that reason alone, she could never go back to work for him.

Susannah, who’d been in the back assembling a new-baby bouquet, joined Colette at the counter. “Seeing that it’s so slow, I think I’ll run a few errands.”

“Is there anything you need me to do here?”

Susannah shrugged. “Unfortunately, no.” Glancing down at her watch, she said, “I shouldn’t be more than an hour, two at the most, but I’ll have my cell with me.”

“I’m sure everything will be fine.”

“I’m sure it will, too.”

Susannah left, using the exit that opened into the alleyway. As if they’d coordinated the event, as soon as the back door closed, the front door opened—and in stepped Christian Dempsey.

Again.

At the hard look in his eyes, Colette knew. The INS had acted on the letter she’d written. It was inevitable that sooner or later he’d find out who’d done this. Her stomach heaved with dread.

“It was you, wasn’t it?” he said without greeting or preamble.

Colette’s mouth went dry. Instinct told her to play dumb, to pretend she didn’t understand what he was talking about. One glance told her he felt both angry and betrayed.

“You couldn’t have come directly to me?” he demanded when she didn’t respond.

Dredging up the courage to meet his eyes was difficult, but she managed. She clasped her hands behind her back to hide their trembling and shook her head.

“You got on my computer when I wasn’t there.” It wasn’t a question but a statement of fact, a fact that obviously infuriated him.

Colette felt she had to explain. “I needed the service code for—” She wasn’t allowed to finish.

“Who gave you my password?” His eyes were like burning coals. “My computer was off.”

“I f-found it.”

He didn’t seem to believe her.

“Who other than me could figure out where to look?” she asked. “I know just about everything there is to know about you,” she said and faltered because clearly she didn’t.