“Look, Linda, I don’t want to get you intotrouble, but don’t deliver any more flowers to me. I don’t wantthem.”
“Goodness, the guy must have done something reallybad.”
Jamie frowned. How did she know the flowerswere meant as an apology?
“I put the cards in the envelopes,sorry.”
The woman was only doing her job. “It’snot your fault. What about if you delivered them tothe local hospital? Afterremoving the cards, of course.”
“I could, I suppose, but the next deliveriescome with chocolates, and champagne too.”
Jamie pursed her lips. Over the top didn’tcome close. Pushy, conceited bragger, annoying; she could go on.“You can have thechocolates and champagne. I’ll be having words with Mr Beckett,that’s for certain.”
“Hey, it’s none of my business,” Linda said,chuckling. “I’m just the delivery lady. I’ll take this lot to yourneighbour, okay?”
“Thanks. Bye, Linda.”
Jamie closed the door, headed into herkitchen again and switched on the kettle.
Cujo yapped then tilted his head to the side,his big brown eyes blinking.
“Don’t you look at me like that. I know youlike him, and that cheeky daughter of his, but it’s not happening. I wouldn’t forgivehim if he was the last werewolf on the planet.”
She turned off the kettle and poured herselfa glass of wine instead.
It would take a lot more than flowers andchocolates to make her trust another man with her fragile heart.
Chapter Five
Grayson checked his watch for the umpteenthtime. Jamie still hadn’t called, and it had been hours since he’dhad the flowers delivered.
She would have received all the gifts bynow too, including the chocolates and champagne. What woman wouldn’t be impressed by allthose gifts?
Ms Jamie Osborne, apparently.
He wasn’t expecting a thank you, but he atleast hoped she would give him a chance to explain.
Grayson scrolled his messages. Nothing. Atthis point, he would have settled for an abusive text, but the silence?
Maybe he needed to up his game.
Luna skipped into his office. “Hi, Dad, whatare you doing?”
He put his phone back in his pocket. “Nothingmuch. Come and sit with me, Luna. I could do with a hug.”
His daughter wriggled between him and his desk and perchedon his lap.
“Not too old to sit on your dad’s knee,eh?”
“Never,” she told him, reaching up to arrangehis hair. “What’s wrong, Dad? You look sad.”
He kissed the top of her head. “I’m fine,little pup. I wasexpecting someone to call and they haven’t, that’s all.”
“Who, Jamie?”
Grayson chuckled. When did she get soobservant and grown-up looking? “Yes, Jamie. I sent her someflowers and I thought she might have rung me by now.”
“I like her, and her cutelittle dog. She smelledlike strawberries. Not like that nasty Imogen, who always made mesneeze with her gross perfume.” Luna screwed up hernose.
“Luna, that’s rude,” he reprimanded gently.“But I know what you mean. Anyway, I finished with Imogen, so Iwon’t be seeing heragain, except for the pack gathering next month.”
Luna pouted. “The one you won’t let me goto?”
“Yes. I told you, you’re not old enough tocome to pack gatherings yet. They’re dead boring anyway, andthere’s usually trouble. I have to hold it here in the ballroom because I’m the alpha,but you, my darling girl, will have a choice.” He tapped her nose.“When you’re older.”
“I’m nearly a teenager,” she pointed out.
“Yes, you are. Any ideas what you’d like todo for your birthday?”
She tucked his hair behind his ear. “I don’tknow yet, but maybe we could invite Jamie over for dinner?”
How did she manage to wangle the conversationback to Jamie?
Grayson rolled his eyes. “You’re a cheeky little pup, you knowthat? And I love you.”
“I love you too, Dad.” She nestled her cheekagainst his chest. “So, when are you going to Jamie’s house to askher out?”
“I’m not. I’m waiting for her to callback—” He stopped mid-sentence. His daughter hit on something there. If Jamiewouldn’t ring him, he could go to see her. He had another gift forher, a rather special one. What better way to apologise than faceto face?
He cringed every time he thought of howhe’d offered to pay her to go out with him.
“You know what, Luna? I’m going to do exactlythat.”
She grinned. “Can I come?”
“No, you cannot. You have studying todo.”
Luna pouted again.
“Go on, off you go.”
She pecked his cheek and wriggled off hislap. “Good luck with Jamie.”
The briefest frown crinkled his forehead. It hadn’t crossed hismind that he would need any luck, but what if Jamie refused toforgive him?
Maybe that’s why she hadn’t called.
He watched Luna leave his office. There wasonly one way to find out—visit Jamie.
* * *
After a quick shower and change of clothes,Grayson donned his helmet and straddled his Harley. He checked thebreast pocket of his leather jacket, making sure the jewellery boxwas securely tucked in.
He weaved carefully around the potholes inthe lane, then revvedthe throttle to full speed as he hit the dual carriageway intotown, enjoying the cool evening air ruffling hisclothes.
Half an hour later, he pulled up outsidean exclusive apartment block. He rummaged in his pocket to checkJamie’s address. Yes, hehad the right place, but he hadn’t expected her to live somewherequite as affluent.
Grayson parked his Harley, locked his helmetonto the handlebars and headed into the building.
Her apartment was on the top floor.
He took the lift, his palmssweaty, his nerves playinghavoc with his system.
What was up with him? He’d never felt thisnervous, ever.
The lift pinged and the doors slid open.
Taking a deep breath, he walked along thecorridor, found her apartment and pressed the doorbell.
Her little dog yapped inside.
“I swear if that’s another delivery, I’ll gomad,” came Jamie’s voice, muffled from within.
Grayson rubbed his clammy palms on hisjeans. Whatthe hell are you doing, you fool? He plastered a grin on his face as the dooropened.
Jamie gasped. “Grayson…?”
The way she said his name warmed parts of himhe’d forgotten existed.
She smelled good too, like freshly-pickedstrawberries. “Hi, Jamie, I…” He swallowed, only now realising hehad no idea what to say to her. She wore a baggysweatshirt that swampedher petite figure, and her hair was piled in a messy bun atop herhead. Her previously orange face was
