Forget Me Not by Crystal B. Bright Page B

outfit.
    She had on her standard uniform of droopy sweater, well-worn jeans, broken-in sneakers, and a turtleneck. Gideon, on the other hand, looked like sex on a stick in his T-shirt, jeans, sneakers, and a leather jacket.
    He had his hair pulled back into a ponytail like Janelle had seen in pictures online. His stare bored a hole through her soul. If he asked her to drop her panties, she might do it, a strange reaction considering she had only heard of him yesterday.
    “Um, hi.” Janelle’s voice broke when she finally addressed him. She had her hands to her hips at first, but thought the stance looked too aggressive and so lowered them to her side. Damn, now she looked like a stiff-armed mannequin. “How can I help you?”
    “Yeah, you need a bouquet for a young lady?” Penny came around the counter and stood next to Janelle. “Or maybe you need something for your brother Gunnar?”
    Janelle whipped her head around to Penny. Under her breath, she whispered, “How do you know that?”
    “Google,” Penny replied through her smile to Gideon. “We heard about the shooting yesterday. How awful.” She poked Janelle on her side to get her to speak.
    “Uh, yeah. Horrible. Hope they catch who did it.” Janelle nodded. “Good that you rushed back home. That was very, very—um—sweet.”
    Penny groaned and lowered her head.
    “Thanks.” Gideon’s deep voice rumbled over Janelle.
    Her stomach twitched as soon as she heard him. Yep, definitely a panty-dropper type of voice.
    “I’m looking for Janelle Gold.” He pointed to Penny. “Is that you?”
    Penny started to nod when Janelle pushed her friend away. “I’m Janelle. I own Flowers Galore. Penny Lister is one of my employees.” For now, she could say that with some authority.
    Penny held her hand up to Gideon. “Hi.”
    Despite Penny positioning her hand in a way that begged for Gideon to kiss the back of it, he, instead, held it like a gentleman and shook it. She slipped out of his grip and stared at her hand like an oddity.
    Penny leaned over to Janelle and whispered, “I’m never washing this hand again.”
    “Good to know.” Janelle patted her friend’s back and nudged her back to the counter. Then she turned back to Gideon. “You’re looking for me?”
    “Yes, my mother said that if I got in a bind at her store to come see you.” He moved in closer to Janelle.
    She stood her ground. No way would she run away from someone within her own establishment. Plus, once she smelled his musky scent, she wanted to take it in more. Gideon smelled like what a man should smell like. Earthy yet fragrant, like a cherry blossom tree. His aroma mixed well with the flowers in her establishment. Although she didn’t want to admit it, he fit.
    “Oh, yeah? Who’s your mother?” Janelle couldn’t imagine who would refer Gideon Wells to see her.
    “Elizabeth Sommerville. Queen Elizabeth. You know her?”
    Janelle’s jaw dropped again. After all the conversations she had shared with Elizabeth, how could she not know that Elizabeth had adopted Gideon and Gunnar Wells? The different races and last names shouldn’t have had anything to do with her not knowing. She would have thought she would have heard something about it considering what he did. Then again, Janelle had shut down all conversations about sports with Penny during the game last night. Before then, she hadn’t been open to hearing about athletes and sports.
    Elizabeth talked about her family, but never mentioned her sons’ names or professions. That shouldn’t have surprised Janelle. Elizabeth, despite the moniker from the neighborhood residents, had always been down to earth. She talked about the success of her children in their chosen professions like any mom would. So what she had a champion MMA fighter son and now a Super Bowl - winner son? Now that Janelle thought about it, Elizabeth did mention a third son. She wondered what he did for a living.
    “I didn’t know you’re Elizabeth’s