Iris in Bloom: Take a Chance, Book 2 Read Online Free Page A

nodded. Who knew the signs better than she did? “Long term relationship?”
    Sadness swirled around him like a sudden, cold fog. “Marriage. Ended.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    “Thanks. So am I.” Then he seemed to pull himself together and remember that he was talking to a woman he’d asked out on a date. “You seem nice, like someone I could talk to.”
    Of course she did. He was going through a tough time and he wanted a sympathetic shoulder. Naturally. She should say no. She should tell him that she was a hot chick with a lot going on and she only dated men who were emotionally available and completely into her. But the truth was that she could no more ignore someone who was hurting emotionally than a doctor could step over a person having a heart attack. At least he’d be interesting to talk to.
    “All right. I’d like to have dinner with you.”
    He looked relieved and she realized that some of her hesitation must have shown in her face.
    He hadn’t asked if she was seeing anyone but then after hearing her assistant say she needed to get laid he could safely assume she was single.
    The horrifying thought popped into her head that he thought she was so desperate for sex that he’d be getting more than a burger. But there was no way she was going to tell a man she hadn’t gone out with yet that she wasn’t planning to have sex with him.
    Not only did Iris not do casual sex, his ex was too big a presence in his life. And Iris didn’t do threeways.
    A young woman’s voice cried out, ”Geoff, you made it.”
    Iris turned to see a woman who looked to be a couple of years younger in jeans so tight you just knew she had to lie on her back on the floor and wriggle into them. Paired with the jeans was a clingy blue top that revealed spectacular cleavage. She had layers of long blond hair and a big smile. Iris had seen her around town but never met her.
    “Tara, hi.” He glanced between the two women. “I’m guessing you two already know each other?”
    “Actually, no. I’m Iris,” she said extending her hand.
    “Tara Barnes. I teach chemistry and physics at the high school. And you run that nice little bakery.”
    Tara had a Texas accent so it was hard to be certain but Iris got the feeling that the subtext was, I’m so smart I understand compound chemistry -- and you bake muffins for a living .
    Which was probably completely unfair of her. So she said, “Yes, that’s right. The Sunflower Tea and Coffee Company.”
    “I keep meaning to come in and have a coffee but the place is always full of my students.” Subtext: you’re not only dumb but you run a hangout for juvies .
    She smiled. “I think I’d better go help my sister with the coffees. Since I’m an expert.”
    And she excused herself, heading into the kitchen.
    Ever since their mother had taken up pottery and bought her own kiln, no one in the family was short of pottery, especially coffee mugs. Daphne Chance’s clay creations tended to mirror her moods. When she was feeling serious, the mugs emerged from the kiln in a single color and all approximately the same size and shape.
    But Daphne was rarely serious. Especially when she was potting. She sold the best of her work at local gift shops so her family tended to get the seconds. The mugs that Marguerite was pulling from the cupboard and lining up on the counter ranged from rainbow colored mugs with bulbous bottoms to curvy cups that hinted at the female body, to gnomes and fairies. “I’ll make coffee,” Iris said as she walked in.
    “Already on.”
    Iris neatened up the rows of mugs. A newish collection caught her eye. “Is this supposed to be Snow White and the seven dwarfs?”
    “I think so. Though Snow White looks like she melted a little bit.”
    “So did the little guys. Look, here’s Sleazy. And Dumpy.” She began to line them up. “And Dumpier.”
    Iris pulled a red-faced gnome over. “Is this one Bashful?”
    “Or had a snootful?”
    Her sister went to the fridge for the