Alpha Billionaire Series
Coming Home Chapter 20

I stopped for a coffee reward after walking up the block without my cane. The break also gave me sufficient time to regain enough strength to complete the walk back to the car.

Makenzie swept in like a fresh breeze. Instead of glaring at me, she actually gave me a small smile and a shrug.

"Okay, so I guess you aren't stalking me," she said as she stopped by the table where I sat.

"No, but it's good to see you. I'd like to see more of you."

She bit her lip and looked away. Was that a blush I caught on her cheeks? She started shaking her head.

"Come on, don't say no before I've even asked you out."

"Are you asking me out, Holden? Is that what's happening?"

"Go out with me Makenzie."

"I can't. The shop is opening in a few days. I'm swamped. I'll see you around."

She left and I was no less determined to get her to have dinner with me.

A few days later I found myself in a flower shop. I browsed the various displays. I didn't simply want to order a random bouquet to be delivered. Today was important, and the flowers needed to be full of deeper meaning.

Seeing Makenzie's daughter, really looking at her did not give me the confirmation I thought I would get. Babies so often look like their father, but Ainsley was a perfect mini replica of Makenzie. Same flaxen hair, the same bow of a mouth, and she probably had the same eyes.

The only way I would replace out for certain if I was the child's father was to get on Makenzie's good side. And the only way I could think of doing that was to convince her to go out with me. I began a relentless campaign; my first step was flowers.

"Do you see anything you like?" The young lady behind the counter asked.

I shook my head. "Not really. I was hoping you might have some information on the hidden meaning of different flowers."

"You mean like red roses signifying true love while white roses mean regret?"

"That's exactly what I mean."

"I can help you put together something that conveys your message. What are you looking for?"

I almost didn't want to say anything. After all, the message was very personal. Of course, there was a very real chance that Makenzie wouldn't be aware of the hidden meaning.

"Well..." I described exactly what I needed the flowers for. "A good friend, who doesn't realize what she means to me, has achieved something to be proud of. I want flowers that, if she knows, will provide the hint that I would like there to be more between us." The clerk smiled an ear-to-ear mischievous grin. "Friends to lovers, oh this one is my favorite. And we need to put in a smattering of success. What's the budget?" "Whatever it takes," I chuckled.

At first, I tried to follow her around the shop, and she swooped through collecting flowers. Eventually, I gave up and found a stool to sit on while she made her selections.

When she was done, she presented a very charming display in a cut crystal vase.

"Those are quite beautiful. What does everything mean?"

"I tried to pack this full of meaning, even the greenery is symbolic. I have one red rose, classic true meaning. But then I included orange roses for desire. Now the carnations, the reds, are a little more desperate and longing than a red rose." As she described the meaning of each, she gently touched the flowers, so I knew what each was. "The purple basil is for good wishes. The dahlias symbolize positive change. I pulled in yellows and pinks here to tie the daisies. Visually you need a cohesive presentation, while still wanting to deliver your secret message."

I paid extra to have them delivered that afternoon. I wanted Makenzie to receive them on the opening day of her quilt shop.

I left knowing that my wishes would be carried out. I had my driver park the car a few storefronts down from the quilt shop so that I could watch for the flower delivery. I climbed from the back of the car and began my slow walk to the quilt shop as soon as I saw the delivery boy go inside with my flowers.

Makenzie was still reading the note by the time I entered the shop. She looked up at me and smiled. It was the smile of hers that always got me in the chest and had me catching my breath.

"You really shouldn't have. But they are lovely."

I looked at her, my brows raised. There had been more to that card than a simple congratulations on opening her store.

She sighed. It was a big sigh, and the movement strained the buttons on her shirt. They were already fighting the good fight keeping her ample breasts contained. But that sigh was almost the end of a few buttons. "Holden."

I had been caught staring. I shifted my gaze to meet her eyes. "Well?"

She was shaking her head. "I told you, I don't have time."

That was a no. But it certainly sounded like a temporary no, not quite as definite as her earlier rejections had been.

"I'm still proud of you, you've done an amazing job here."

"Thank you." Her smile was sweet, and I held that picture in my mind as I made my way back out to the car.

Over the next few days, I formulated my plan. I was willing to play the long game to get Makenzie to go out with me. I could send flowers to her every day, but that would backfire on me if I overdid it. And I couldn't have Makenzie thinking that I was stalking her.

I needed to get her back in my life no matter what it took. I was in that coffee shop by 10 a.m. every single morning for the next week, just to make sure I was there when she came in for her morning break, usually around 10:30 a.m.

"I see you're becoming a regular," she said one morning after just over a week.

"They have good coffee and my favorite view."

"We're nowhere near the ocean."

"The ocean isn't my favorite view." I could not help but run my gaze over her. She looked better and better with each passing day.

The next day, she wasn't there. The shop was open, it was the middle of the week. I waited well over an hour before giving up. I pitched my cold coffee, and instead of turning back down the block, I made my way to her shop. "Good morning," Gloria, her business partner, greeted me.

"Is Makenzie around?"

With a tip of her head, she indicated that I should head into the back.

"Makenzie-" I stopped abruptly as I encountered a room full of curious faces looking in my direction.

"Holden, what are you doing here?" She stood at the front of the room holding up what I assumed was a quilt sample, it was a colorful collection of fabric.

"I ah..." I closed my mouth. I was not about to ask her out in front of all those women. Then again, maybe that was a strategy I hadn't tried. "You didn't get coffee this morning, I thought I'd check and make sure everything was okay." She gestured to her surroundings. "I have a class this morning, as you can see."

I pointed to the front of the shop. "Can I have a word?"

Makenzie excused herself, and I followed her out.

"What are you really doing here Holden?"

"I told you. I thought I'd check to make sure everything was all right when you didn't get your morning coffee."

"That's it?" Her shoulders bounced with quiet laughter.

"What's so funny?"

"You. You came to check on me, but not ask me out?"

"Why would I do that? You're only going to tell me no, that you are too busy with the shop, or that you don't have a babysitter. I can accept when I've been defeated. Unless, of course, you are going to say yes, this time?"

She sucked in air through her teeth and shook her head.

We were interrupted when one of her students stepped from the classroom.

"Honey, we can hear you in there, and I'm here to tell you, that life doesn't get any less busy. There is an entire room full of grannies in there willing to volunteer to babysit so you can go out with this nice young man. He came in here to check on you, even knowing that you weren't ready to go out with him." She patted Makenzie on the arm and then continued down the hall toward the back of the shop.

We looked at each other for a long moment before Makenzie dropped her gaze.

"What do you say? You've got your choice of babysitters." I gestured toward her classroom.

Makenzie rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Fine, I give in."

"I don't want you to give in, Makenzie. I want you to want to go out with me; it's not a punishment."

She held her hand out to me, and I wrapped my hand around hers. It was soft and warm.

"I've missed you," her voice was soft and quiet, almost a whisper. "I would love to go out with you."