Free The Birthday Deadline (Billionaire Brides) by Ella Cari Page B

standing. My mind was numb, feet somehow leading me past the shredded pieces of Sebastian's card as I walked dazedly down the stairs and outside. I squinted in the sun, staring up and down the street.
    Juliet was gone, there was no sign of her bright red hair in either direction. I turned, walking to the coffee stand that I frequented. If there was anything that I needed right now, it was a big, hot, cup of Joe. Nothing could clear your mind and set you off in the right direction like a coffee could.
    Except maybe a margarita. I could definitely use some tequila after the few days I’d had.
    As I stood in line, I begrudgingly turned my head towards my shop, hoping against hope that I wouldn't see bright red flyers posted all over it announcing its foreclosure.
    Instead, I saw people. Dozens of people, actually. They stood in front of my flower shop, peering through the windows and knocking on the glass.
    What was going on?
    Abandoning the coffee stand, I took a cautious step or two towards the flower shop, blinking my eyes over and over. Had it already been taken over and replaced with something more interesting than a florist? Is that why people were bothering to stop there?
    Quicker now, I raced towards the building, breathless by the time I stood in front of them.
    "Your sign says you open at ten in the morning?" One of them said with a frown, "Is that right?"
    "Yes!" I gasped, "I'm sorry! There was an...emergency."
    Digging the keys from my purse, I opened the doors to the flower shop, ushering the people in. It'd been two days since I was last at the store though, two days since I'd tended the plants. I was sure they'd all be withering or dead by now. I’d have gained customers just to have them turn and head straight back out the door again.
    Instead, I found every inch of my space fully stocked. Hundreds of blooms sat on newly painted shelves. My front cashier desk had been remodeled, now a sturdy metal that wouldn't get soaked down from the wet of the flowers.
    "What a lovely place you have!" Said an older woman, squeezing my arm, "I can't believe I never noticed it before."
    I was just as shocked at its beauty as the customers were. It was the very image of itself back in its prime when my parents had control of it. I wandered the shelves, letting my fingers explore the gentle green leaves of the flowers and plants. It was beautiful.
    Of course, I knew who'd done this. Sebastian. I headed towards the counter where people were already beginning to line up.
    As I pulled open a drawer to find a pen, a small note waited instead.
    'For you. I'm sorry.' it read, with a simple heart.
    I swallowed, slamming the drawer shut once more. I was gracious, but still so hurt. This was the kindest thing anyone had ever done for me. Had I kept Sebastian's card, I would have called him just to thank him, but, the card was gone. I would find some other way to express my gratitude, when I was ready. I was sure he would accept my need for time away from him after what had happened.
    Every day that passed, the flower shop bustled more and more with people. Soon, I even had regulars again. One man stopped by on his way home from work to pick up a different single stemmed flower for his wife each day. One woman came by frequently to fill her house with the fragrances of my flowers.
    "You have the best in town." She confided in me with a wink, "I told all my friends to come here."
    And she must have, because business continued to soar.
    Trisha let me stay on her couch, though we'd almost finished painting her nursery and Carl was expected any day. I was going to have to find my own place soon. I'd called the bill collectors to start paying off my debt, but found that Sebastian had already taken care of that as well. I was set for life, it seemed. Guilt weighed on my heart after that one, Sebastian had done so much for me, and I was seeming ungrateful. I’d gone to Burgendale’s in an attempt to get his number, but neither Jean nor Juliet