A Hero For Heather (Blossoms Book 7), page 3
She was in a lab and saving her sanity now. That was how she liked to think of it. What her grandmother would have encouraged her to do.
“What do you want for breakfast?” Daisy asked her once she handed over the cup of coffee. She could have gotten it herself, but Daisy was just so thankful to not be alone. Her roommate was an only child who’d moved around a lot with her mother.
She liked having someone she could consider a sister now.
“Why don’t I cook breakfast,” Heather said. “Or we can do it together? I’m dying for carbs. Chocolate chip pancakes.”
“Oh yum,” Daisy said. “The food was so good last night and I’m glad we didn’t drive. I didn’t drink too much but enough that I want the carbs too.”
“It was a fun party,” she said.
“I saw you talking to Luke,” Daisy said, looking at her out of the corner of her eye as she grabbed the chocolate chips out of the pantry. “I had to ask who the guy was, as I didn’t know.”
“I met him at Lily’s wedding,” she said.
“He seemed to be looking at you last night.”
“What?” she asked.
“Someone pointed out that he was watching you on the dance floor last night. Or maybe everyone was watching you because you do seem to be a different person when you go out than at work.”
“Don’t most people act differently when they are out than at work?” she asked.
“I guess,” Daisy said, smirking. Daisy knew more about her family than anyone else.
Heather got to work on their breakfast, the two of them sitting down and stuffing their faces. “Want to open our gifts?”
She had a bunch of gifts under the tree from her family. Daisy had some too but not as much. There was part of her that felt bad, but Daisy didn’t have a big family and Heather did. Some of her family sent her e-gift cards or there’d be more under the tree.
“Sure,” Daisy said.
They moved to the living room which was nice and festive. They both probably went a little crazy but kept it to that one room.
The two of them sat next to the tree and she passed out the few things she got for Daisy, Daisy doing the same. She tried to not go overboard as she knew she made more money than Daisy.
When they were done, the room was filled with paper everywhere. She had clothes from her family, some things for the apartment.
Daisy had made her a beautiful necklace that had her crying and wishing she’d bought her friend more.
“I love it,” she said, fingering it again. It was gold and had a daisy in the center with heather sprigs on each side.
“I hoped you would and wouldn’t think it was corny. I think of you as my best friend and not just my roommate.”
She hugged Daisy. “I feel the same way.”
They cleaned up the living room after and she took a shower. She loved she had her own private bath attached to her room and Daisy had her bath in the hall next to her room. There was another small room that they shared as an office and workshop together.
Her phone rang when she was getting dressed in her room and she grabbed it to see her mother calling.
“Hello,” she said.
“Merry Christmas,” her mother said. “You’re on speaker phone and Dad is here too.”
“Merry Christmas,” her father said.
“You too. Both of you.”
“It’s so hard not having you here this year,” her mother said. “Your father and I were just talking about how quiet it was this morning with no one around.”
She let out a sigh. Simple words but meant to deliver the hurt to her. She knew it, she’d felt it most of her life.
“I wanted to go to the party last night, Mom. It’s too far away to drive there today and it’s snowing on top of it here.”
“I told your mother that,” her father said. “The boys will both be over at some point later tonight.”
She figured as much. “See, so not alone. You’ve got Dad with you too.”
“And you’ve got Daisy,” her mother said. “What did you two do this morning?”
“We made pancakes with chocolate chips in them, then we opened gifts. Thank you so much for everything. I loved it all.”
“I’m glad you like the clothes,” her mother said. “I know you are pretty plain and simple in your selections.”
She wanted to grind her teeth but couldn’t. In her work clothes she tended to be, but for her everyday life she liked more color. Her mother knew that.
“It will all get worn,” she said. “Did you like the candles and lotions?”
Her parents didn’t buy the things she made. She tried not to take offense to that and sent them baskets of it for all holidays along with other gifts she’d purchased. She knew they used them because they made comments all the time.
“We did,” her mother said. “They always make the house smell wonderful and then on top of it, my hair is so soft and shiny.”
The smile filled her face. She needed to hear that. She was hired to do those things over a year ago.
Shampoos, a men's line, and herbal lotions and candles. She had an idea for more and would broach it with the sisters when the timing was right, but she still had her hands full.
Her heart was fuller to know she was appreciated too and that the Bloom sisters were so impressed that they invested in machinery to keep up with production now rather than most being done by hand.
“I’m glad,” she said. “That is the best compliment there is.”
“Do you have any plans today?” her mother asked.
“No,” she said. “Nothing more than Daisy and I are going to watch some Christmas movies and have dinner later.”
“I’m glad you aren’t completely alone,” her mother said. “You could have brought Daisy home with you.”
Her mother wouldn’t let it drop. “I know, but it was more I wanted to stay for the party. You know that.”
There was silence on the other end and her father said, “We’ll let you get back to your day then. Enjoy it and we’ll talk tomorrow.”
She hung up and then walked into the living room. “Bad conversation with your parents?”
“You heard?” she asked.
“No,” Daisy said. “But I could tell by your tone it wasn’t good.”
“Just more of the same,” she said. Daisy knew the relationship she had with her parents. The ups and downs. It wasn’t going to change.
“I talked to my mom too. She’s having the time of her life in Florida with friends.”
“That’s great,” she said. “You didn’t want to go too?”
“No,” Daisy said. “She didn’t ask and my mother has never had a lot of vacations in her life. She deserved this. I’m happy for her.”
“That’s nice,” she said. She wished she had that close of a relationship with her mother in adulthood but knew it’d never happen.
4
Nowhere To Go
“You don’t need to help me paint,” Luke said on Monday. “I can do it myself, unless you don’t trust me.”
Zane laughed. “I trust you. But it’s my place and you shouldn’t be doing the work anyway.”
He needed to get out of Zane’s house where he was staying until the cottage was ready. Between the party and seeing Heather on Saturday night, then spending Christmas Day with Lily and her sisters and their spouses, he’d felt like the odd man out.
Zane’s parents were there too. His sister, Zara, Zara’s fiancé and his son, Max, then Rose’s father-in-law, Tom. It was the biggest gathering he’d ever been part of in his life and couldn’t wait to get away.
The only problem was he had nowhere to go.
That had been the story of his life. Nowhere to escape to. Nowhere to hide. No one to talk to half the time when he could have used it the most.
Zane didn’t want him moving into the cottage until today and he couldn’t fight with the guy. The people who had been renting it didn’t finish cleaning it out until earlier this morning anyway.
Now they were here painting and he’d move in tomorrow. He wanted to move in today and was thinking of staying anyway.
It’s not like he had anything more than clothes and sheets and towels in a few boxes.
He’d sold everything he had to move here and that wasn’t much. He’d been living in furnished apartments his whole life, if not on the base.
Thankfully, Zane had some furniture in storage that didn’t go to Lily’s when he’d moved in there. That was part of what they were going to do once they painted the bedrooms and living room today. Nothing major in his eyes. He could deal with the colors the renters left.
“It’s only paint,” he said. “And I told you it was fine.”
“I don’t like the blues and browns they put in, but because it is only paint I didn’t have a problem. We’ll get this knocked out today.”
They were just priming those three rooms and painting them a light gray. Then they’d move the furniture in that was in the big barn where it’d been stored. Zane’s old bed was there and he was thankful for that, but he had a mattress being delivered today. He’d bought a TV a few days ago and then some things for the kitchen.
Simple stuff. Coffee maker, plates, utensils. The things you can buy in a big package of everything. Like a gift for a new homebuyer.
He was a simple man and would get the rest as it came. He had all week to get it before he started the academy next Monday.
“We can move fast,” he said. “I was thinking, if you don’t mind, maybe I’ll stay here tonight anyway. I can get everything set up and out of your way.”
Zane laughed and turned to him. “I told Lily you were going to say that.”
“I don’t want to overstay my welcome. You’ve got kids to deal with and Lily doesn’t need to be waiting on me too.”
Zane’s wife was a born mother. She’d been asking him nonstop what he wanted to eat, what he liked, to help himself. He’d never felt more welcome and yet uncomfortable at the same time.
Luke was a loner and liked it that way. Growing up the way he did, he wasn’t used to anyone helping him or even offering. Sure the hell not waiting on him.
“Lily is a caregiver. I told you before, she raised her sisters.”
He’d heard the story. That Lily Bloom was the oldest of three girls. Her mother had worked a lot and wasn’t around. Then Holly Bloom was killed when Lily was a senior in high school and eighteen. She married an older man to keep the family together, and her first husband died and left her the flower shop.
Before Carl’s death though, Lily and her sisters had already started their own business and had grown it much bigger. Now it was huge and still expanding.
Those girls, they came from somewhat of the same life as him.
Maybe not as harsh, but he could see it and there was hope for him yet that people could look past someone’s upbringing.
Even though Heather had been on his mind a lot, he knew she was too good for him and for that reason he was glad they didn’t exchange numbers over a year ago.
She didn’t seem to mind though. Unless she just wanted to get in bed with him.
Though she didn’t seem the type either.
“She did. She’s wonderful,” Luke said. “You hit gold with her.”
“I did. Never thought it’d happen. You’ll find someone if you want to.”
He grinned. “I can always find someone to warm my sheets.”
Zane smirked. “Can’t we all, but that isn’t what you need in your life and you know it.”
Zane was the only one who knew much about Luke’s life. And even then it wasn’t everything. No one knew it all. No one ever would.
He’d never been one to share and wasn’t sure why he said what he had to Heather about being from the wrong side of Baltimore.
It’s not like he volunteered he’d spent some time in foster care when his father went to prison. His mother was arrested for possession on top of it. Working the streets to get money for her next fix. She’d been arrested for that too.
His parents weren’t married. They weren’t even together. But if one of them got in trouble, which happened often, he could go to where the other was living.
Neither of his parents wanted him around. He was a punching bag for his father a few times so was thrilled when Norm Remington went to jail for armed robbery. But that meant the next time his mother was arrested he’d end up in the system until she got out.
Eighteen couldn’t come fast enough for him and he was just lucky he made it through high school and got the hell out of Dodge.
“This is going to be the nicest place I’ve ever lived. I’m going to have a great secure job. To me I’m living the dream I never thought I’d have.”
He wasn’t going to be making a ton during his months in the academy. More than his military salary and he had money put away since he never spent much. But once he was stationed he was going to feel rich with his salary almost doubling, which wouldn’t even count the OT.
It’s not like he had anyone to come home to, so he’d take all the time he could get.
“I’m just glad you’re close by again,” Zane said. “And you know damn well Lily is going to want you over for meals. You’ll be around for the weekends.”
He would but wouldn’t take advantage of things either.
“Now and again,” he said.
The two of them got to work and finished in a few hours, then they brought the furniture in through the snow that had fallen yesterday.
“Do you need help with your stuff at the house?” Zane asked.
“No. It will all fit in my SUV. I got it here just fine. If not, I’ll take two trips.”
“Nonsense,” Zane said. “We’ll do it together and get it done in one trip.”
There was no use arguing with his best friend.
“I think you just want to get out of the house.”
“Nah,” Zane said. “I told Lily I’d bring back pizza. She’s done enough cooking the past few days.”
As much as he wanted to be alone tonight, he said, “Why don’t I grab it? My treat for all she’s done.”
“Only if you have dinner with us.”
Which he knew Zane would say. “Sure. We can eat and then bring everything here and I can spend the time setting up and unpacking. They got the internet set already, as I called the other day to just put it in my name.”
He was good to go. He’d have TV he could watch and he’d get some food at some point. The stores were open late. Or he’d go tomorrow and buy everything else he figured he’d need.
Then he’d spend the rest of the week trying to kill time until he started at the academy. He’d never been one to sit around and do nothing, and though he offered to help Zane with any work he needed done this week, he’d been shut down and told to take a much-needed vacation. That he wouldn’t get time off for a while.
This life was going to be completely different from any he’d ever had before, but he was looking forward to it.
And trying to figure out how he could see Heather Davis again. But there was no way he’d admit that to anyone.
5
So Confused
“We have to stop meeting like this.”
Heather turned and saw Luke standing next to her in the beverage store. New Year’s Eve and she was alone. Daisy had a date and she was happy for her roommate who’d offered to cancel last minute to spend it with Heather. She’d told her no way. Finding men in this area wasn’t easy and Daisy had had three dates with this guy she met online and they were going to a party.
“Seems like something is drawing us together,” she said, then realized how stupid that sounded.
He laughed at her. “Could be. I’m just getting beer for the night. You?”
“I was going to get wine and then decided beer would be better. I’m not much of a beer drinker, but the headache is less the next day.”
He smirked. “Depends on the amount you are drinking.”
She saw he had two four-packs of craft beer in his hands. His large hands that she remembered on her body and wished that she didn’t.
Why couldn’t she get this guy out of her head?
“That is true, but I was only thinking of one or two.”
“No plans tonight?” he asked her.
“Nope. My roommate is going to a party,” she said. “After I had to force her to go and not cancel to stay home with me. I’m fine being alone. You?”
“The only person I know is Zane and he and his family are in for the night. They asked me over and I declined. I’ve infringed enough.”
“I don’t think they feel that way,” she said. “Lily is all about family and making people feel like they belong. Trust me, no one knows that as well as her employees.”
“I got the feeling she and her sisters inspire great loyalty.”
“They do,” she said. “It’s hard to explain, but it’s the best place to work on top of it. I didn’t go home for the holidays for a number of reasons and still have the guilt from it, but honestly, I feel as if my coworkers are my family and I wanted to be with them.”
Heather wasn’t sure why she was sharing that much with him. She wasn’t one to share much with anyone. Even her roommate, it’d taken time for her to tell Daisy as much as she had.
“You shouldn’t feel guilty for doing what you want in life,” he said.
There was the same heat in his brown eyes again that she’d seen that night over a year ago. She felt a flush through her skin. She was afraid he could tell what she was thinking...maybe even feeling too.
“Easier said than done,” she said.
“Since we are both alone tonight,” he said. “How about dinner?”
She hesitated. She wanted to say yes but wasn’t sure if she trusted herself. “Is that smart?”
He laughed at her. “It’s dinner, Heather. You can say no. It’s not like we haven’t shared much more.”
