The sunlight fell on her face, waking Adelaide from her slumber. Before she opened her eyes, she relished the warmth spilling across her and resisted the urge to move. Sighing, she became aware of the soft fur nuzzled into her neck. A tiny nose moved pushing and pulling warm breath over her skin. She looked, and the rabbit was splayed out over her chest, using her breast to support his injured leg. “Well, you got it all figured out, didn’t you?” she teased quietly. “I can’t say I wouldn’t have done the same thing.”
She did the best she could not to wake the rabbit, but when she tried to examine his leg, he shifted to try to get closer to her skin. “I know. I don’t want to do it, either, but it needs to be done, little guy.” Careful not to move him, she made sure there was no blood seeping through the bandages. “Alright, good. I don’t have to mess with it anymore for now.” She smiled and nuzzled the rabbit before he burrowed into her neck again. His silken fur tickled her skin and she could not help but giggle.
A knock at the door drew her from her childlike reverie. “Who is it?” she frowned and the rabbit went still against her.
“It’s Peregrine, my Pet.” The low tenor invaded the safety of her home.
“Perry, go away.” Anxiety lurched into Adelaide’s chest. Instantly she found herself wishing she didn’t live alone. Whenever he showed up at her door it never ended well for her.
“Let me in, Pet.” She cringed when his whine came across her ears like a knife across a bottle. “I want to see your beautiful face to make sure you’re safe.”
Adelaide sighed heavily and held the rabbit to her. “One minute,” she called before groaning. More quietly she spoke to the rabbit, “Hopefully, he won’t stay long. We don’t like him. He invites himself in constantly. The only reason why we put up with him is because we don’t have a choice. He is the son of the second most powerful person in town, after all.”
He answered with a sneeze of disgust.
She chuckled to herself. “My thoughts exactly.” Keeping the rabbit in its place, she got up from the floor—stretching best she could. Her eyes closed and she steeled herself to answer the door. “I can do this.” The rabbit nuzzled into her neck again apparently trying to encourage her. She smiled down to him. “Thank you.”
Adelaide walked over behind the door. She barely had the knob turned before Peregrine burst into the house. He scooped her into his arms, and she clutched the rabbit to her while protecting his leg.
“Hello, Addy,” he murmured bringing his lips down towards hers.
“Hello, Perry.” She turned her head into the rabbit’s fur avoiding his kiss. Easing herself from Peregrine’s arms, she stepped back away from him. “What do you want?”
“So direct. Can a man not come check on the welfare of the woman he intends to court?” He gave her what she knew was his most charming smile, and it still managed to make her skin crawl.
Rolling her eyes, she shook her head. “You only show up when you want something. What is it?”
“I am here to take you on a picnic!” he declared with a wide smile.
“No,” she ground out between clenched teeth.
He encroached on her further. “I think you would have fun, Addy dear. Don’t say no so quickly.”
Adelaide backed up further and shifted towards the cage that was offering her an escape route. “I can’t leave him alone,” she said gently putting the rabbit into the cage. “He has a broken leg and it could become infected at any time.”
“Oh, you and your animals,” Peregrine said with a genuinely affectionate smile on his face. “He can come with us.”
“It happened only yesterday.” Her words were blunt as she turned from the cage.
“Pish-posh. He will be fine.” He waved off her concern and impinged on her once more. His body was nearly touching hers, and the pungent scent of fermented hops filled her nose.
“I said no, Peregrine. I have things to do. Can you leave, please?” Adelaide squared her shoulders, a fiery determination igniting in her eyes.
“There’s the spark that draws me in so quickly.” He reached out and caressed her cheek before pulling a lock of her long, blonde hair. His face inched closer to hers and she could smell the sheer amount of alcohol on his breath just before his lips touched hers.
“Peregrine, stop.” He had her pinned against the cage not allowing her to dart away to safety. The scent of the alcohol was nauseating. Her stomach started to rumble signaling the fear rising in her chest. He’s so drunk… STOP! She pressed her eyelids together, trying to transport herself to a different place, when an ear-piercing shriek filled the house.
“What the hell is that?!” Peregrine shoved her to the floor, clearing the path to reach into the cage. His large, dirty hand grabbed the rabbit by the neck and pulled it in front of his face. “YOU!” he bellowed.
“Peregrine, no! Put him down!” Panic filled her chest and she scrambled to support the rabbit’s rear with one hand. The rabbit glared the man down, seemingly unafraid of the monster, while she struggled to pry Peregrine’s hand from around his neck. “I said let him go, you dumb brute!” He refused to release the rabbit leaving her exasperated. Think Addy… What did Dylan teach you? Recalling what her oldest friend had taught her, she tried to pull Peregrine’s fingers back against his tightened grip. And then, inspiration struck. She balled her hand into a fist and brought it down on Peregrine’s wrist at an angle, ensuring she hit one of the outside bones head on. A satisfying crack echoed off the walls, and she was forced to catch the rabbit when Peregrine dropped it.
Peregrine bent over, holding his wrist and howling in pain. “You daft wench. You broke my wrist!” His blue eyes pierced through her after rising to his full height to tower over her. Sneering at her, he barely missed her when he spit in her direction. “You’ll pay for this.”
“I don’t doubt it. Now, get out of my house.” She cradled the rabbit against her. “Next time you come calling, you will be met with the end of a weapon.”
“We will see about that,” Peregrine growled slamming the door behind him.
Immediately, she knelt on the old wooden floor and looked the rabbit over. “What on earth were you thinking?” A heavy sigh left her chest and relief spread throughout her. She held him against her burying her face into his soft fur. “Whatever it was,” she pulled him back to press a kiss to his forehead. “Thank you.”
Curiously, she thought she saw a glance of affection in his eyes. So expressive for a rabbit. I don’t understand this one. Normally they just sit and stare at me. She rubbed her thumbs under his eyes and watched them close. He seemed to enjoy the affection—pressing his face into her hand. She picked him up and placed him on the pallet after nuzzling his nose and put more wood on the fire.
“Now, I’m not going to put you in the cage, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get into trouble.” She glanced back over her shoulder to see him look up to her wearing a look of complete innocence. “You know you get into trouble, and I don’t want to hear it,” she scolded while the fire blazed back to life. “I have to go into town to get some supplies and food for you. My garden isn’t quite ready yet, so I don’t have enough to feed you.”
“Be good while I’m gone.” A soft smile came on her lips when he looked up to her as if to say Don’t go. “I have to go or you’ll starve, Bunny. I’ll be back soon. I promise.” With one more affectionate pet, Adelaide put her hat on to shield her from the bright sun outside. Turning just before she left her home she saw him snuggle down into the pallet and quickly fall asleep.
Sighing to herself after closing the door quietly, she made her way to town. The spring day was warm. It was enough to make her want to grab a small patch of soft grass for a quick nap while the birds sang above in the puffy cloud-clad sky. The soil was still damp from an overnight rain despite the sun shining down over her.
It was not long before she reached the town. However, she found herself wishing she had brought a horse instead. “It definitely would have made it faster, that’s for sure,” she muttered to herself. Yet despite the aching in her leg from her fall, she found herself enjoying the day. It rained for nearly two weeks before, so the light was a welcome change as she made her way through the town market.
Adelaide did see Peregrine out of the corner of her eye— wrist bandaged— but she ducked back into the crowd before he saw her. Relief filled her chest when he faded from view, lost among the crowded booths. She took a moment to look around, and to her delight each cart was filled with different wonderful things. There were some filled with jewels, and others filled with delicious cakes. However, the one that always took her eye was the one filled with aromatic flowers. They always seemed to be the objects of perfection, not a bad bloom among them. She wondered how Dylan managed to know exactly what flower to have at any given time.
His cart was always just outside his shop. The inside of his shop was even more magical. Bouquets, arrangements, and even single flowers filled every open space, making her feel like she were walking through a pristine field of perfectly arranged flowers. Entering the shop, she could not help but smile. She absolutely loved coming into his store. It never ceased to make her stand in awe of its beauty.
“Good morning, Adelaide.” Dylan’s deeper voice filled her ears when a tulip appeared in front of her face.
“Good morning!” She turned around, a huge smile on her face as she took the flower. “I hope today finds you well.” Her heart skipped a beat when his fingers brushed hers.
“I could be better,” he smiled slightly, pain etched into the handsome angles of his face.
“What happened?” She frowned deeply.
“It’s nothing. Just a silly accident.” He smiled again, wiping the pain away. Taking the tulip from her hand, he deftly tucked it behind her ear along with a lock of hair. “Beautiful, as always.”
Adelaide blushed crimson. “What’s gotten into you today, Dylan?”
“Can’t a man tell a woman how beautiful she is without being accused of being off?” He teased with a wink.
“Well, yes, he can.” She blushed deeper feeling Dylan’s fingers brush away Peregrine’s earlier touch, replacing it with his own. He’s always known what to do. Eerily so. Truth be told, she was thankful. Where Peregrine had touched her earlier was burning until Dylan brushed it away. A frown slipped onto her lips when she saw his heavy, painful limp. “Did you break your leg?” Without asking permission, she slipped her arm around his waist and pulled his arm around her shoulders. “Let’s get you sitting down.” He leaned heavily against her while she helped him to the stool he usually sat at behind the counter.
“I think I did. I was clumsy and slipped while collecting among the rocks yesterday.” His heavy sigh of relief when his weight was lifted from his leg confirmed his statement.
“Why are you in here today, then?” She frowned seeing the swelling in his upper leg through his slacks. “You should be home, or at least visiting a healer.”
The look in his eyes took her breath away when he spoke. “I am, though. I knew you were going to be in here, so I had to make sure I made it down the stairs without killing myself so I could see you.”
“Oh, stop it,” she laughed, unable to hide her blush. “You’re a horrible flirt, and you know it.” She gently pushed his shoulder. “We both know Sarah has the hots for you and would be a far better fit.”
“I somehow doubt that, Addy.” She could nearly hear the smirk in his voice without looking. “Sarah is so dull,” he droned. “All she can talk about is fashion and what she would do to me if she got me alone. So not interested in that.”
Adelaide laughed to herself before setting about looking at the flowers that filled the shop almost to the ceiling. Picking up a flower here and there, she found herself unable to choose. Pursing her lips, she became frustrated with her indecisiveness.
“Look up in the window, Love,” Dylan called from his perch.
Adelaide made her way up to the front of the store where a huge bay window worshipped the sun. Colorful stalks with multiple blooms stood tall in the sun. There were five stalks of different colors. Crimson, a deep pink, bold orange, orchid purple, and white all blended into each other as they adorned a deep green stalk. She stopped in her tracks and her eyes grew wide. “Are those—”
“They are,” he cut her off, a proud tone lacing through his voice.
“But they don’t bloom until August! How did you get gladiolus this beautiful out of season?” She reached up to run her fingers over the beautiful petals.
“That’s what I was doing when I hurt myself yesterday. I found this amazing place last year and wanted to get the bulbs started. However, when I went to collect them yesterday, they were in full bloom.”
“They even have the bulbs attached!” She gasped with delight.
“They do,” he chimed. “I knew you wouldn’t want them cut. And your garden doesn’t have any of these. I wanted it to be a surprise.”
She turned around to see the proud smile on his face. “Well, it most definitely was,” she said, turning bright red again. “You chose well, Dylan.”
He was about to speak again when the door burst open, rattling all the vases. Her eyes darted to the heavy door when Peregrine barged through. “Sloughing on the job again I see, D—”
Dylan cut Peregrine off unceremoniously. “Mr. Reid to you.” His chocolate brown eyes seemed to smolder as he focused on the taller man. “What do you want?”
Peregrine waved off Dylan’s objection. “I need flowers for a certain lady-friend.”
Adelaide withered and felt Dylan attempting to keep the behemoth’s attention on himself instead of straying to her.
“It wouldn’t be Adelaide, would it?” he chuckled seeing Peregrine began to seethe at the mention of her name.
“I never want to hear the name of my betrothed exit your lips again, peasant,” Peregrine boomed, towering over the seated man.
Dylan cocked his eyebrow. “I do recall that you are in my shop, so I expect to be treated with respect.” He paused briefly. “And if I recall correctly, she is her own woman. Your word does not make you betrothed. That isn’t something you can say and it simply be true. You need to sober up, Peregrine.”
Peregrine slammed his hands down on the counter, obviously regretting his choice when his broken wrist made him immediately grimace in pain. “She is mine, and she knows it!” he bellowed.
Dylan laughed, waving off Peregrine’s outburst like one would an angry toddler. “Then who broke your wrist this morning?” His eyes met the other man’s, his lips curling in a smug half smile.
“Cocky little shit, aren’t we? You think you can go and act all smug when you won’t even stand to greet a paying customer. Disrespectful. I will make sure you are run out of business,” Peregrine growled into a smirking Dylan’s face.
“Oh? You think to threaten me? You forget my family founded this town that you are living in, and I can easily run your alcoholic ass out of it with but a few words,” Dylan said calmly. “And besides, how would Adelaide react when she found out you were harassing her oldest friend?” He laughed when Peregrine imperceptibly withered. “Get out of here. You are piss ass drunk, and I don’t want you in my establishment.”
Without replying, Peregrine stood and pivoted on his heel, barging out of the shop.
“And you should shower, Perry boy. You reek!” Dylan called after the man before he barged out through the door, slamming it behind him. He looked over to Adelaide and tried to stifle his laughter.
Adelaide covered her mouth and bent over nearly crying with laughter. “Oh…my…heavens…can’t…breathe,” she gasped between howls. It was not long before he joined her, nearly crying as well. She clutched her sides while walking over to him. “Does he do that a lot?”
Dylan wiped at his eyes, continuing to chuckle. “Nearly every damned day. Truth be told, I want to throttle the man. However, my father won’t let me.”
“Why not? He is a public nuisance.”
He sighed dramatically. “Because he is the son of a businessman here in town that feeds a substantial amount of money back into the economy.”
Adelaide made a sour face. “That’s hardly a reason to let a drunk run the town like that.”
“I know,” he said quietly and looked down. “But I don’t have a good reason to stop him. He isn’t going after my girlfriend or spouse, so Father won’t entertain the idea so long he doesn’t physically harm anyone.”
She frowned. “I’m sure that will change one day, Dylan.”
“I’m sure it will. But until then, I can’t do anything about it, sadly. Not without risking the ire of the townsfolk who seem to adore the dumb brute for heaven only knows whatever reason,” he sighed.
Adelaide watched her childhood friend shift uncomfortably on his typically cozy perch. The normally etched lines of his face were strained, and tiny white lines betrayed his pain. A frown came across her face while walking over to the counter and set down the flowers. “Dylan, you should go rest.” She cupped his cheek and watched him lean into her touch. Her heart quickened in her chest when he seemed to take comfort in her touch in a way he had rarely done before. She smiled soft and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I know this always helps.” She felt the blush stealing into her cheeks again feeling his arms glide around her waist, leaving peculiar fire in their wake.
“Mhmm,” he murmured nuzzling into her neck, his warm breath sending chills down her spine.
She ran her fingers through his hair and realized how incredibly thick and velvety soft it was, even cut close to his head. It had always fascinated her growing up when they were playing as children. It seemed to be what made up the inside of a kaleidoscope with so many undertones that shone through under the afternoon sun. Now it drew her in in a way that left her wanting more. He pulled her closer and the heat crept down her neck before she fit her body against his.
She always thought him attractive; however, in this moment, she felt wholly safe. If she were honest with herself, the thought of him with someone else left her green with envy. You’ve got it bad, Addy girl. Stop that. He isn’t yours. She reprimanded herself. Yet as the sun shone in the bright shop, she found herself not wanting to leave. He felt like he were made specifically for her.
Footsteps coming up to the door snapped her back from her thoughts. Adelaide pulled away quickly before she acted on what she was certain was unrequited emotion. “Please, rest, Dylan. In fact, you go lie down. I’ll watch the shop the rest of the day.” There was a look of disappointment in his eyes so fleeting it left her uncertain if she made it up.
He nodded and smiled. “You always know right. Just don’t sell those.” He pointed to the vase she carried over earlier. “I’ll be upset with you. This,” he motioned towards his leg, “happened when I was trying to get those.”
She laughed and shook her head. “I wouldn’t ever dream of it, you clumsy lug.”
“You are just as clumsy as me. I don’t want to hear it, Love.” He winked to her with a grin.
“I can’t argue there, but quit sassing me and go lie down.” She put her hands on her hips with a mockingly stern look on her face.
“Yes, ma’am.” He saluted her, and she could see the wince when he rose to his feet.
Adelaide nearly followed him back to help, but stopped herself. Would he really want my help? She picked at a hem on her skirt and bit her bottom lip. Of course not. She sighed hearing the cheerful jingle of the doorbell signaling the entry of a customer.
Putting on her biggest smile, she picked up the vase of gladiolus flowers and put it behind the counter for safe keeping. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Mox! What might you be looking for today?”