Chasing Happiness by Raine English

Chapter One
     
     
    “We did it!” Zoe Goodwin draped an arm over each of her friends’ shoulders, and the three of them stood on the sidewalk, staring at the fluorescent pink sign in the window of the flower shop. “The Rosebud’s officially open for business.”
    “It’s about time.” A huge grin lit Katie’s round face, while the wind gently fluffed her fine nut-brown hair.
    “The shop looks fantastic,” Ariana chimed in.
    Zoe glanced over at the gorgeous blonde’s perfect profile and couldn’t help but wonder if she’d regret joining them in their business venture. Only time would tell. But for now, Ariana Black seemed as happy as Katie and she, and, for that, Zoe was grateful. Her friend needed the serenity of Lakefield, Maine after what she’d been through while living in New York City.
    The three women entered the shop and set about putting the finishing touches to it before their first customer arrived. Ariana made sure there was plenty of paper in the fax machine, while Katie swept the floor in front of the cooler for what had to be the fifth time. She hummed a Taylor Swift song, then used the broom as a microphone and belted out the lyrics in her rich voice. As if that wasn’t enough to throw them into fits of laughter, she spun around and shook her very generous backside at them.
    Katie Dunn’s personality was as large as her plus-size frame. People were instantly drawn to her, especially men, and she had no problem discarding them just as quickly. Until she’d met Jake Patterson, that is. They planned to marry, and the Rosebud would be providing the flowers, of course.
    Zoe shook her head at Katie’s antics and walked around her so that she could reach into the cooler for an arrangement. She chose one with hot pink and ivory roses, Sweet Unique and Vendella—her favorites—and carried it to the front of the shop where the antiques were displayed, then set it down in the center of a lovely mid-Victorian mahogany dining table. In order to set them apart from other florists, they’d decided to sell more than just flowers. Zoe’s mother had been in the antique business for years, so Zoe was well versed in treasures of the past. The pieces she’d selected for the shop went perfectly with its traditional décor, ornate crown molding, and gorgeous French doors that separated the front of the store from the back, where they did the messy work of making the arrangements. A part of her would hate to see any of the antiques go, but her business side was well aware that the sale of just one could pay their bills for a month.
    She turned when the sleigh bells she’d hung from the shop’s front door jingled and was pleasantly surprised to see Dan Stevens enter the Rosebud. His powerful well-muscled body moved with easy grace.
    “Hey, beautiful,” he said, coming to stand in front of her. He wrapped his strong arms around her waist before giving her a long, lingering kiss.
    “I didn’t expect to see you until tonight.” Zoe looked up into his clear green eyes. “Not that I didn’t enjoy this.” She brushed her lips against his.
    He held her out at arm’s length and studied her for a moment. “I can’t stand to be away from you.”
    She rolled her eyes.
    “I’m serious. Move in with me, Zoe.”
    She drew her brows together as she frowned. “You know how I feel about that.” She’d been seeing Dan for nearly six months, and their relationship had progressed to the point where she hoped to receive a ring from him, but about a week ago, he’d begun pressuring her to live with him. And that was something she’d never do—at least not until after they were married. She’d always dreamed that her first time making love would be on her wedding night, and there was no way she was going to change her mind.
    “Things would be so much better,” he went on.
    “I didn’t know there was anything wrong with us.”
    “There’s not,” he said. “What time do you want me to pick you up