Sighing, she tucked the hair that had fallen out from her braid behind her ear. It was one thing to dress down, but quite another to look like this while your hot neighbour happened to be watching you from his deck. Her face flushed with embarrassment at the thought of him seeing her like that.
Growing up, she’d always been labelled the most beautiful of her sisters. But right now she’d never felt less beautiful, less confident of her appearance. Seeing your husband in bed with someone else did that to a woman.
She dried her hands on the old towel she’d grabbed from the dresser. Her nail varnish was chipped again. An occupational hazard for somebody who spent most of her time working with her hands, but also another reminder of how much things had changed. Thank goodness none of the Marshalls could see her now. It would only confirm their opinion that Juliet could never be the kind of wife they’d envisaged for Thomas.
She shook her head, flipping on the kettle to boil some water. That was the problem with her weekends off – the ones Poppy spent with her father. Too much time for introspection. She’d spent most of the day in the shop, doing her accounts, and sending out quotes, anything to take her mind off the empty house. Then this evening she’d worked on the backyard, determined to make this house look a little less ramshackle and a little more lived in. But now the sun was dipping beneath the tree line behind the house, she’d run out of distractions.
That had to be the reason her mind kept drifting towards the imposing house next door, and its intriguing owner. Because try as she might, she couldn’t stop thinking about the way Ryan had offered her a beer, suggesting they watch the sun go down together. He’d said it so easily, so naturally, and she’d been desperate to sip an ice-cold drink on his deck. Desperate and afraid in equal measure.
She flicked the kettle off before it had even come to a boil, and reached into the refrigerator, pulling out a bottle of chilled white wine.
She might not have been a beer drinker, but right now the thought of mellowing out with a glass or two of wine was more temptation than she had the willpower to resist.
And maybe, just maybe, it would be enough to get Ryan Sutherland out of her thoughts.
5
Come not between the dragon and his wrath
– King Lear
‘Okay, that’s the last one. We just need to get them into the van and drive them over to the hotel now.’ Juliet tucked her hair behind her ear. It must have fallen out of her hairband when they were head down tying the flowers together. ‘Thank you for all your help.’
Lily smiled. ‘It’s a pleasure. And I can drive them over if you like. Save you the journey.’
‘No, it’s already half an hour past your finish time. I feel guilty enough. And anyway, I wouldn’t subject you to the manager’s wrath. I swear he always finds fault in the arrangements, no matter how carefully we do them.’
‘He can’t find that much fault. He offered you the contract after all.’
‘That’s true. And thank goodness he did.’ Thanks to the Shaw Haven Hotel’s contract to supply them with their weekly displays, Juliet had enough regular income to hire an assistant for the shop. Lily was a floristry student at the local community college, and she’d jumped at the job offer.
It was a match made in heaven. Their mutual love of flowers might have brought them together, but in the past weeks that Lily had been working here, a friendship had budded between them, too. They’d found themselves talking non-stop as they worked alongside each other, creating floral displays and serving customers.
Lily had filled a void in Juliet’s life she hadn’t even known was there. A space left empty by the fact her sisters were so far away, and the friends she’d thought she had in her previous life had stuck firmly to Thomas’s side.
It was nice to have a grown-up to talk to, sometimes.
There’s always the man next door, a little voice inside her head whispered. Juliet shook it off and picked up the first floral display, heading towards the back door. She didn’t need to think about Ryan Sutherland right now. She’d thought about him enough on Saturday night, after they’d talked across the yard.
Lily pushed on the back door and kicked the wedge beneath it to hold it open. The van was parked just outside. She unlocked it and unlatched the back door, taking the first display from Juliet and sliding it into the trunk.
‘I really love what you’ve done with the trailing vines,’ Lily said, standing back to admire the displays she and Juliet had created. ‘It’s so pretty.’
They worked methodically, Juliet carrying out the boxed displays, and Lily carefully arranging them in the van. By the time they’d finished, it was five-thirty p.m., half an hour past closing time, and more than an hour since Lily was supposed to be home.
‘I’ll pay you for the overtime,’ Juliet reassured her, shooing her back into the shop to get her coat and purse. ‘Now get out of here, your mom must be wondering where you are.’
‘You don’t need to pay me, I’m learning so much. I feel like I should be paying you.’
‘Yeah, well that’s the highway to becoming bankrupt.’ Juliet shot her a smile. ‘I won’t be taking you up on that offer.’
‘You should get out of here, too.’ Lily threw Juliet the van keys, and then pulled on her jacket. ‘I know you like to see Poppy before bedtime. If you hurry you should make it.’
‘Thank heavens for good babysitters.’ Juliet smiled. ‘At least I know she’s well taken care of.’ She leaned forward to give Lily a quick hug. ‘Now shoo, get out of here. I’ll see you tomorrow.’
‘Good luck with the delivery.’ Lily walked over to her car.
‘Thanks, I think I’ll need it.’