Ella Frank - Exquisite

Lena couldn’t believe that Catherine was Mason’s mother. She’d been coming to this store for nine years. How had she not run into him before that day with the roses? It was almost unbelievable how often their lives must have come so close to crossing over, intertwining and yet just missing each other by a small fragment of space in time. Focusing back on the man in front of her, who kept surprising her at every turn, she said softly.

“Your mother, Catherine, has been doing something for me for years.”

She watched him nod. “The sunflowers.”

Lena narrowed her eyes and felt her heart squeeze tight in her chest. “How did you know about those?” she asked in a more accusatory tone than she was expecting. She just couldn’t fathom the idea that he’d known about her all along, all her deepest most private issues and not said anything to her. She hated feeling like someone was digging behind her back but that was exactly how she felt at this moment.

“Sheathe your claws Lena.” he said with, what seemed like, great patience. “I was telling my mother about the doctor who’d made such an impression, that I’d taken her to my kitchen and cooked for her.”

Lena swallowed but didn’t back down an inch. “I don’t like people discussing me.” she watched as he visibly stiffened and saw the temper flare in his eyes.

Once again he crossed his arms. “She wasn’t discussing you. I was and all she told me was that you’ve been a wonderfully loyal customer and you liked to by sunflowers. Jesus Lena! You would try the patience of a saint.”

Lena reached down and clutched the strap of her purse, she was about to say something when she heard the tinkle of bells and knew someone else had come in. Mason looked over his shoulder then back at her. “I’ll be back to help you in a minute.”

He walked away from her with what she could only describe as a pissed off march. Turning back to the roses she picked up the red one she’d been looking at earlier. She didn’t understand her need to lash out at him, but that was what she was doing. She needed to get it under control, reign in her emotions. Try to remember the poor man’s mother was in the hospital. However, all she could think about was the fact that he’d known about her all along and not said anything. He’d known about her weird little coping habit and just left it. He hadn’t bothered to ask her about it, hell maybe he didn’t care and now she was standing here being a raging bitch because she was also upset he hadn’t called her. She had serious issues.

Moving further down the aisle she saw the happy sunflowers in their usual aluminum can. She stopped in front of them and crouched down to look at the seven flowers standing tall. They were flawless as always. Catherine always picked out the ones that had no blemishes on the bright yellow petals. Standing back up she walked over to the counter where Mason was finishing up with a little old lady.

“Thank you dear.”

She watched as he smiled down at the lady. “You’re welcome. Make sure you come back soon.”

The little lady nodded then asked, “Are you that young chef that’s been all over the television?”

Lena watched as he seemed to tense up a little. He held the smile but it’d left his eyes.

“Yes I am.”

The little lady smiled wider. “You are much more handsome in person young man.”

Lena watched a blush creep up over his cheeks and she almost laughed until his eyes met hers. He looked mortified. She tightened her lips and kept her gaze on his. Finally after what seemed like minutes instead of seconds he broke the contact and turned back to the little lady. This time his smile was a little sheepish but completely genuine. “I don’t know about that, but thank you very much.”

She nodded and made her way out. The chimes tinkled and Lena watched as Mason came around the desk and walked to the door. She felt her heart kick up when he flipped over the closed sign and she heard the door lock.

Mason didn’t want anymore interruptions. He wanted to talk to Lena and he planned to do it now. He turned back and made his way over to the counter and walked behind it, so he was on the opposite side. He figured they needed a barrier just incase he felt the need to either kiss the day lights out of her or strangle her.

“So let’s clear the air here.”

“There’s nothing to clear.” she snapped back.

Mason leaned against the counter with his hip. “Yeah, that’s obvious by the warm way your glaring at me.” he paused, “Spit it out Lena.”

She narrowed her eyes at him in a move that was so much a part of her he found he’d actually missed it. Wow, that was demented.

“I don’t have a problem. If you have one maybe you should tell me so whatever this is can be over.”

He pushed up to stand facing her and placed his hands on the counter. “Okay let’s start with a little magazine called Delicious . Did you read it?” he watched as her eyes widened just the smallest fraction. He figured she hadn’t actually thought he would call her out on it.

“I called and apologized for that!” she shouted at him.

He nodded slowly. “So you did.”

“It’s not my fault if you don’t know how to accept an apology.” she grumbled.

“Oh I know how to accept one.” he crossed his arms over his chest, “I just needed some time to cool off before I spoke to you.”

He was a big believer in honesty and that was the truth. He’d been going to call her that Friday but things had been crazy at the restaurant over the weekend. Between booked out nights and interviews surrounding the fall out from that blasted article then his mother, he just hadn’t had the opportunity to get back to her.

“Wow. That’s honest.”

“I told you I’d always be honest with you.” he paused for a moment as he watched her clasp her hands in front of herself as though she was nervous. That seemed a little preposterous though, the Lena he knew was never nervous. “I needed to stop being annoyed at myself as well as you. Lena that article was a disaster. Did you read it?”

He watched her nod slowly. “After I saw the report on that morning show I looked it up online and read it.” she paused, “I can’t say how sorry I am.” Then her eyes flicked up to his. “But I can’t do anything other than say it Langley.”

“I know. Like I said. I just needed to cool off. I knew you were sorry just like I knew that it was partly my fault.”

She seemed to be wanting to say something but in the end she just stood silently waiting.

“I was planning to call you back Lena.”

Her eyes came up to meet his with a look of disbelief in them. He moved and made his way around the counter stopping right beside her. She tilted her head back up to look at him.

“I was planning to do it that Friday but things got crazy at the restaurant then mom had her spell.”

She bit her bottom lip and nodded in silent understanding. This was the quietest and most un nerved he’d ever seen her and he knew why. She’d put herself out there and he hadn’t answered. She was feeling vulnerable, hurt and naked. However, he was going to make her go one step deeper if she wanted this to work. He needed her to prove that she wanted this. That she was in this for the same reasons he was. Placing a finger under her chin he tilted her face up and demanded softly. “Tell me again, to my face.”

Lena wasn’t stupid, she knew what he was asking. She knew he was asking her to put her heart on the line. He wanted her to open up and declare that there was more between them than arguing and explosive chemistry. Blinking once she licked her lip then took all the courage she could find and for the first time in her life placed all her trust in someone else. Feeling completely idiotic she whispered, “I want to be number 34 Mason.” she watched his eyes crinkle at the sides and his lips tug up in a smug little grin. “Let me? Please.”