Accidentally Falling for the Tycoon (Whirlwind Romance Series)

“Every cloud has a silver lining”—Proverb

Jen Anne Somers finished placing flowers on the display
shelf of The Special Gift Flower Shop. Though she loved her new job, it wasn’t
exactly her chosen field. However, she was grateful to find employment in the
tough economy. She didn’t know how she would come up with the full rent this
month, but she was going to take it one day at a time—or one worry at a time.
After her ex walked out of her life…things got pretty rough. She was going to
make a new beginning.

“So glad you could help out, Jen,” Mr. Myers, the store
owner said as he hobbled from the back, carrying boxes of ornaments.

“Oh, no worries, Mr. Myers. It’s my pleasure.” Jen took the
boxes from him and placed them on the counter.

Being in The Special Gift flower shop was a blessing—the
silver lining in her dark clouds of recent disappointments. Jen had just been
through a horrible break-up with her ex. Taking a break from men and finding
herself was the best gift she could give to herself right now—time. Not just
any time, but “me” time. Working at the flower shop was a special treat because
of its location which was a five minute walk from the beach. She enjoyed the
scenery and the sound of the ocean waves. It was perfect.

She had lost her job in the same week as the break-up. She
figured this was probably time to really stop and smell the roses, so to speak.
What a good way to get out of a slump—to be surrounded by beauty and the pretty
scents of nature. For the first time in her life she could finally relax on the
job and not have to worry about filling quotas or dealing with office politics
or working ungodly overtime hours. Maybe this was what she needed. She felt
like a person for once, not a work machine. Maybe it was time for a career
change to something less stressful.

Just then the door chime sounded and when Jen looked up to
see who her first customer would be, her heart stopped.

The tall, handsome stranger who walked through the doors of
the gift shop caught her off guard. She’d seen good-looking men before, but he
was—stunning! His dark, sexy eyes were captivating. The tall man looked
ravishing in his dark, expensive-looking suit with his silver tie.

Stop gaping at him, fool! Concentrate.
   

The very way he stood looking at the display shelf, his
hands shoved in the pockets of his tailored pants, oozed confidence. As he
scrutinized the floral arrangement on the shelf, Jen checked him out surreptitiously.
When he took his hand out of his pocket she noted there was no ring on his ring
finger. Okay. But he didn’t give off the unattached vibe. A guy like that
must
be taken. Certainly can’t be footloose or fiancé free.

Jen, focus.

What was with her all of a sudden? This wasn’t like her. It
was just that she’d never met anyone like him before. Not that she had much
experience in her thirty years. She’d spent most of it as a wall flower. Her ex
was the closest she’d come to a real relationship.

“Hi, um…can I help you?” Jen’s timid voice slid out from her
throat.

“Uh, yeah. I’m looking for a special…” Mr. Handsome paused
when their eyes locked for a moment. An awkward moment.

“Gift?” she finished for him.

He seemed a bit distracted for a moment. Did she have
something on her face? Jen began to feel self-conscious to the max. She stole a
discreet glance at the mirror by the display case to make sure.

He ran his fingers through his mane and continued.

“Uh, yes. The most beautiful floral arrangement you have.
Money is no object.”

“Oh, um…well sure.”

Jen tried desperately to calm the butterflies that let loose
in her stomach. “Well, let’s see,” she said as she led him over to the special
occasion section. “What’s the special occasion?”

She couldn’t help but catch the sweet scent of his
aftershave. He smelled delicious.
Stop it, Jen. He’s a customer, remember?
It’s the Special Gift Flower Shop—not the Special Gift Flirting Shop.

“Well,” he said, hesitating for a moment. “I’m actually
buying for someone special.”

“Oh?” How sweet, she thought. For his mom, probably.

“Yes, her name is Rose,” he continued.

Jen felt her stomach tumble to the floor.

“Oh?” She caught her tone quickly and tried to perk up
again. Why on earth had she thought there was a spark? She really needed to
focus. Was she that desperate to feel desired again after rejection from her
ex?

As Jen surreptitiously observed Mr. Handsome’s physique and
mannerisms, she couldn’t help but think to herself, Rose was one lucky woman!
She wished she had a man buying her the most expensive bouquet of flowers
today. She smiled and sheepishly led him over to the exotic display case where
there were the most beautiful floral arrangements in the store.

“You’re new here,” he commented. Was it a question or an
observation?

“Oh, yes. I just started this week. I’m in between jobs
right now.”

“Oh?”

Jen felt like biting on her lip. Why had she divulged so
much to this total stranger? There was something about him that made it feel so
natural to talk to him. He gave off that aura.

What a strange question to ask. Was it that obvious? “I
guess I give off the new sales girl vibe, do I?”

“Oh, no. Nothing like that. You’re very professional. Some people
forget to smile when they’re on the job, especially working in customer service.
I mean here you are in between jobs which I would never have known, by the way,
and yet you gave me the biggest smile I’ve seen in days.”

“Oh, my gosh, now I’m all flustered. No one’s ever said that
before. I mean I don’t really notice it.”

“Keep up that beautiful smile.”

“I will. I guess it’s just something I can’t help. I mean,
my mom always raised me to believe that every job is important, whether
cleaning the streets or running the country. Every person has value.”

“That’s true.” He smiled, his deep, sexy voice slid out like
smooth honey.

From the corner of her eyes she caught him glancing at her, a
grin on his face. Jen felt her insides tingle until she remembered he might be
hot, charming, and caring but…he was somebody else’s man. She quickly wiped the
smile off her face and regained her professional composure.

“Rose must be someone real special.”

“She is.” He wiped his brow and ran his fingers through his
dark, smooth locks of hair and grinned to himself. His dimpled grin was so
adorable.
Gosh, Rose was lucky.
 He was tanned, had gorgeous facial
features and broad strong looking shoulders. She wouldn’t be surprised if he
worked out regularly at the gym. He towered over her. She guessed he must be at
least six feet two inches. “Getting back to my asking you if you were new. I
didn’t mean anything by it. I just…come here often.”

“Oh?” It was Jen’s turn to be surprised.

“Yeah.”

“You buy Rose quite a lot of flowers. How sweet. Are you two
getting married?”

He grinned. “Oh, no.”

Jen didn’t know what to make of it. Just then another
customer rang the door chime as she entered, an older lady carrying a rather
large brown handbag. She started to peruse flowers on the other side of the
store.

Unfortunately, their conversation was cut short. Which was probably
for the best. She did not look at taken men, even if they were unmarried. Was
he living with Rose?
Stop it, Jen. He’s just a customer. It’s none of your
business.
 Still, she didn’t see any harm in appreciating a gorgeous guy
when she saw one, especially one who obviously had a gift of making even
strangers feel warm inside. He definitely had something. A special gift when it
came to making friends.

After she’d rung up his transaction she asked him if he
wanted any message on the card. He told her yes, “To the most beautiful woman
in the world.” His voice was deep, low and seductive.

Jen felt light inside. Was that a tinge of jealousy? She
felt terrible for feeling this way about a woman she didn’t know. She was happy
for her. It was a good jealousy. The I-hope-to-be-as-lucky-as-her-one-day kind
of jealousy. She truly meant them well. 

How sweet of him, she thought. Her ex never did anything
like that for her. Rose was very lucky indeed, she thought again.  

***

“He was
that
hot?” Kelsia leaned forward, gaping at
her friend Jen as they sat down at a table at Starbucks.

“Seriously. So I guess there
are
good guys out there.
Just not in my path,” Jen chuckled as she lifted her coffee cup to her lips.
She’d just finished her shift at The Special Gift Flower shop.

“Come on, you never know…he could be available.”

“Doubt it.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Because…”

“Because what?”

“Well, for starters he was buying flowers for a woman named
Rose
.”
Jen cocked her brow.

“Did you ask him if
Rose
was his
wife
?”

“No. He didn’t wear a wedding band. Besides, I was too
chicken. When I asked if it was for his mother, he said no. Then I told him
Rose was a lucky woman. And he agreed. So I just left it at that.”

“Girl, you give up way too easily. I would’ve come straight out
and asked him if he was single.”

“Kelsia!”

“What? If he was as hot as you said he was.”

“He was. Oh, trust me on that one.” Jen swallowed hard. She
had a lot more on her mind than men.