Snowdrop Kisses Part Seven
A Christmas love story featuring a plucky florist and a tall dark and handsome entrepreneur
Previously… in part 6 James discusses his plans to hire Wendy with Kim and the florist tangles with Catriona, the LCC party planner.
Chapter 13
Wendy was feeling battle-scarred by Saturday afternoon. In the past four days she’d been arguing with Catriona over email and text. She and the other woman disagreed about colours, arrangements and quantity. Wendy’s tastes ran to simple with a funky twist, while Catriona preferred lavish displays.
She stood and stretched. Tonight was the night she and Crofton were playing matchmaker; and to put the bitter icing on a very unpleasant cake, she had to make a singing delivery before dinner.
Wendy waddled out of the store at six, dressed in the Santa suit. She’d already drawn in her red apple cheeks and darkened her eyebrows to try to better sell the Santa shtick.
The delivery went well, but she burst into her small apartment with only fifteen minutes to change and do her hair and makeup before dinner. She stared at her closet in despair. Usually she was happy being a t-shirt and jeans kind of gal, but tonight was different. Other women had little “numbers” they could throw on. Looking over her selection of legging and turtle necks, Wendy realized the only number she had was “zero.”
She put on a short black dress that she’d bought when she was dating Martin in the hope that showing a little leg might keep him interested. Fat lot of good it had done. She could have worn a French maid’s outfit, and he still would have strayed. At any rate, the dress was moderately glam.
Shoes? She fell to her knees, rooting around in her closet. How could a grown woman have six pairs of Converse and not one pair of sexy, strappy heels? Weren’t these her “Sex and the City Years?” She didn’t even know how to pronounce Manolo Blahnik.
She found some dusty and scuffed heels at the back, buried under old boots. She buffed them with the edge of a t-shirt, holding them up to the light. Were they black or navy? Unable to tell, and too late to care, she shoved her feet into them and slapped on her most expensive piece of jewellery, a silver and amber necklace her mother had given her.
What about her hair? She grabbed a silver barrette and spun her curls quickly into a twist. The one advantage of a thick mane: you didn’t have to waste time on fussy hairstyles.
She glanced at her watch; despite her efforts it was already seven. No time to check what the total effect looked like. Not even time for a makeup session. She’d throw some lipstick on in the car. She could do that with her eyes closed. She locked her apartment and headed to her car, ignoring the nagging feeling that she had forgotten something.
Chapter 14
James closed his eyes wishing that Wendy were beside him. If nothing else, she’d find the humour in the situation. Minna Smythe was not pleased to learn that two interlopers were honing in on their tête-à-tête.
“I thought this was a business dinner. Why are you wasting my time with some motel-keeper and a shop-owner?”
“Harry runs a great bed and breakfast, just two streets down from your house; and Wendy’s flower shop is top notch,” James explained.
“I’m not here to socialize. I wanted to go over the quarterly reports. Your bookkeeper can’t add.”
There was a commotion at the restaurant’s entranceway. James glanced over to see Harry trundling toward them. He wore a three-piece suit, complete with bright yellow bow tie. “The Meter-Dee was manhandling me, Jamie. He tried to remove my jacket. I know what happens when they take coats in places like this. They’ll steal them faster than you can spit. I fended him off with my cane.”
He sat down at the table and leaned toward Minna, who looked bemused. “I don’t really need the cane, you know, but it’s good for keeping the riff raff in line.”
“Indeed,” she said.
“Harry Hepple.” He nodded at Minna and pumped her hand.
“I’m Minna Smythe.”
Harry reached over and helped himself to a piece of bread. “Did you win this contest too?”
Minna’s glare would have frozen lava. “I’m James’ dinner companion.”
“Like his date?” He turned to James. “When I told you to find a woman like your mother, I didn’t mean one the same age!”
Minna gasped and James intervened. “She’s a business associate, Harry. I thought you two would enjoy meeting one another.” He mentally kicked himself. He and Wendy had agreed to keep the purpose of the dinner a secret for as long as possible, and he’d blown it in thirty seconds.
The import of James’ words registered immediately with Minna. She stared at him in fury. “Do you mean to tell me that you intend to pair me with him?” She nodded her head at Harry, whose mouth was full of bread.
“I was fooled as well,” Harry said, swallowing quickly. “I never would have come if I had known this was the Love Connection. Wendy told me I won a contest.”
“I’m certainly not staying here.” Minna withdrew her phone from her purse and punched in a number. “Yes, I’d like my car here immediately. We’re at La Maison. Thank you.” She ended the call and glared at James.
“Listen, Minna. You’re here anyway, won’t you stay and at least enjoy the meal?” James gave her his most endearing smile and he could sense her weakening. “You haven’t even had a chance to meet Wendy.”
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