Deadly Infatuation

Chapter 9

Lily

As soon as Max leaves the shop, I don't have time to be disappointed because when I look up at my next customer, my mouth parts in surprise. "Simon. What are you doing here?"

I have never seen him in this shop before and I think it's a bit more than a coincidence that he is here now. He must have remembered the shop's name when we spoke to each other at the wedding.

"I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd stop by."

"Oh." I actually didn't think I would see him again. I know he gave me his number, but I had decided to not to call him.

"I haven't heard from you since the wedding. I hope I didn't give you a wrong digit." He laughs nervously and I feel a little guilty for not being honest with him at the wedding.

"I'm sorry. I-"

"I'm probably being a little too presumptuous," he interrupts. "I just thought that we had a good time at the wedding and I like you, Lily."

"You do?"

"Yes."

Looking at his hopeful face, I wonder if I judged him too quickly. He seems like a kind person and must like me to come down here to see me. I look at the shop's front door, which Max walked out of, and know that the fleeting moment I had with him is over. I need to let go of the possibility of there being something more with Max and move forward with my life.

"I was wondering if you would like to go on a date with me tonight?" Simon asks, catching me by surprise again.

"I actually have to set up for a proposal tonight."

His mouth downturns. "Oh, that's fine."

Swallowing, I take a leap of faith. "But I'm free tomorrow."

"Tomorrow's perfect," he beams.

"Okay, good. Do you want me to meet you somewhere or-"

"I can pick you up here if you want?"

"Sure. How about after 5?"

"It's a date."

We smile at each other for a second and then I look over his shoulder and see that there is a customer waiting behind him to be served. Simon realizes this as well and tells me he'll let me get on with my day and leaves the shop with a skip in his step.

As soon as I finish serving the customer, Callie runs up to me in her red heels and grips my arm. "Who the hell were those two hot pieces of ass?"

"Shh, would you keep your voice down? We have customers."

I nervously look around the shop to see if anyone heard her, but it seems the coast is clear. Not truly meaning it, Callie apologizes. "Sorry. But man, they were hot. Especially the first one. How the hell did you get him to sleep with you?"

I look at her, unimpressed. "Geez. Thanks. And what makes you think I slept with him?"

She rolls her eyes and gives a grating laugh. "I didn't mean it like that, obviously. He's just so gorgeous. He showed me your hairbrush, which only means one thing."

"He's not that hot," I lie. "And I didn't sleep with him. I was staying at his parents' house for Paige's wedding, and I accidentally left my hairbrush there."

Her eyebrows raise. "So is he single, then?"

Lord help me. Of course Callie would ask if he's single as she's a single twenty-three-year-old herself, who, unlike me, likes to play the field and sleep with as many guys as she can. I didn't want to hire her because of her unfiltered mouth, but because my old employee left just as my shop was picking up in trade. In desperation, I agreed to take her on.