Once they finished paying, he came to stand beside her. “Do you want to drop your car off at your house? It makes sense to drive in one car.”

“I actually rode my bike here.” She thought for a moment. It wasn’t as though anyone would steal it. “It’ll be fine where I parked it.”

“We could take it with us. I have a bike rack.”

“That works, too.”

Tara led him to where her bike was parked. He lifted the bike and secured it like it weighed nothing, his muscles shifting and bulging. It was quite a show but altogether too short.

“Thanks,” she said, her eyes still roaming his chest and arms.

“My pleasure,” he replied with a cocky smile.

She snorted and shook her head. The Ego probably nudged him to flex extra hard for her. Not that she was complaining. Seth was halfway to the passenger door when she opened it herself and plopped down on the seat. It made no sense to wait for him to come around to open the door for her when she too had hands and limbs. He didn’t seem to mind. He shrugged and retraced his steps to the driver’s side and got in the car.

“Which way to the florist?”

Tara pointed to the right. “It’s around that corner and two streets down.”

“That’s really close. Maybe we should’ve walked.”

“Yeah, but I wasn’t sure if you planned on buying a trunkful of wildflowers or something.”

“Not quite a trunkful, but I do want a nice-sized bouquet.” He slowed to pull into a spot in front of the flower shop. “Or maybe a huge one. I’m not sure. I have a rough concept in my head for the shot, but I’ll know which flower is the right one when I see it.”

The bell tinkled merrily when they stepped into the lovely flower shop. Tara always felt a little happier when she was in there. The gorgeous palette of nature’s colors and the heady fragrance of the flowers made it seem as though all was right in the world.

“Hey, Rosie.” Tara waved cheerily at the florist/owner.

Seth leaned down and whispered, “Rosie?”

“Shush. She was meant for this job. That’s all.”

“No, I think it’s cool.”

“Tara?” The florist rushed out from behind the counter and wrapped her in her arms. “It’s good to see you. I haven’t seen you in weeks.”

“It’s good to see you, too. Rosie, this is Seth, Aubrey’s new brother-in-law.”

Seth extended his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

Rosie blushed like her namesake flower, placing her hand inside his with a breathy giggle. “It’s so nice to meet you.”

So nice? Was she flirting with Seth? A fleeting image of herself bending down to bite Rosie’s hand struck Tara. Down, green monster. They were just saying hello, for llama’s sake.

“Rosie was two years behind me in high school,” Tara said in an odd, high-pitched voice. “Go, Weldon High.”

“Yeah, she was one of the few upper classmen who acknowledged my existence.” Rosie smiled fondly at her, and Tara felt as small as a pussy willow for her brief bout of jealousy.