Coming Up Daffy by Sandra Sookoo Page B

happy.”
    â€œWe can only hope. Let me herd the llamas then I’ll carry the flowers—”
    Sarge rushed the station wagon with Pippa not far behind. Mark, in his attempt to pull Alice out of the way, tripped over his feet. She reached for him but then they both went down in a tangle of limbs. He rolled them out of the way of llama hooves, and came to a rest in the gravel with his body partially on top of hers.
    â€œYou know, I’m really not a fan of those animals.” His heartbeat accelerated. Her lips were so close to his. All he’d need to do was barely move and they’d be kissing. Was this the right moment?
    Alice shifted her gaze over his shoulder and frowned. “Well, I’m not going to be a fan either if they don’t stop eating my pansies.” She slid her hands up his arms to his shoulders. Her eyes twinkled, giving him her full attention. “But, I say let’s forget about the llamas and just enjoy this cozy little moment.”
    â€œI can do that.” Mark gave into the impulse and brushed his lips against hers. When a tiny sigh escaped her, he fit his mouth over hers in a kiss that held no urgent heat, just affection and tenderness. There was something about Alice he couldn’t get enough of but wished he had endless days to figure out why.
    â€œMark?” His grandma’s call speared through his consciousness and shattered his enjoyment of feeling Alice’s body beneath his and the pressure of her fingers at his shoulders.
    â€œMmm?” He brushed his lips over hers once more, tasting a sweetness that hinted of apples. Maybe she’d had juice with breakfast this morning.
    â€œMark, get off that ground right now, and leave that poor girl alone. And for heaven’s sake, get the llamas corralled.”
    He lifted off Alice with a wry grin. “It’s so much fun mixing business and family.” Once he’d gained his feet, he helped her up. “Next time we do this, I’ll make sure Grandma is nowhere around.”
    â€œI’ve got just the place.” She scooted away from him. Amazingly enough, the llamas both backed away from her and ambled toward the paddock.
    â€œOh yeah?”
    She nodded. “Come with me tomorrow afternoon. I’m going down toward Grady Creek. I want to dig up some tiger lily bulbs. Before that, I intend to unearth some white daffodils I saw near the area.” A smile curved her pink lips and her eyes sparkled with excitement. “They probably lined a house back in the day. Only a few bricks of the house remain, but it’ll be fun to check out.”
    Digging for flower bulbs didn’t sound like fun to him, but he’d do whatever it took to be with Alice. His expression must have showed his skepticism because she continued.
    â€œIt’ll be a couple of hours alone, without my dad, your grandma, or the llamas.”
    â€œSold.” Finally, he glanced inside her car. The two flats that had most recently held vibrant yellow and purple pansies had transformed into tiny square-shaped pots of dirt with green stalks protruding from them. Almost all of the flower blooms had been eaten by the spiteful llamas. “Sorry about your flowers. I’ll pay for them and another replacement set.”
    â€œSounds good.” She waved him away in order to close the back door. “Maybe try stroking the llamas’ egos. You know, tell them how handsome and pretty they are. Sometimes, in order to make a stubborn thing — people or animals — do what you want, you need to pour on a bit of flattery.” She winked. “It’s worth a try.”
    â€œThanks.” He looked at the llamas then his grandma. “Well, I’d better put the animals away. Plus, I’ve got the shop.” His shoulders slumped. The morning he’d had planned with Alice wouldn’t happen since they could hardly plant the remains of the flowers.
    Sometimes, life in a fishbowl