It didn't help that this entire week he'd had back to back orders of wedding bouquets. Five weddings the same time. And one of his flower shipments had been delayed. The bride had panicked, unsure of what to do until he left her cell phone a message, informing her when the flowers had arrived. He'd gotten that order done in the nick of time.

        He studied the numbers on the spreadsheet on his computer monitor, making sure every expense had been accounted for. Any opportunity to write off something was helpful.

        Not that he had to worry about money. He had so much one wouldn't know what to do with all the money he had. He was literally set for life. He technically didn't even have to work. But he had made a decision a long time ago about what to do with his life, and while it seemed rather...ordinary...he was happy with it.

        His office window gave him a view of his flower shop's interior, and from his vantage point, he could see his assistant scribbling down information on an invoice pad behind the register, cordless phone cradled between her ear and shoulder. He had offered to buy her a headset, but she said that she didn't like using one. Whatever worked for her...

        Dark eyes shifted back to his monitor, and he entered several numbers, seeing the program add the numbers up. Leaning back, he examined his work before hitting save and the print button.

        "Hey, boss," Xia, his assistant, spoke through the intercom that he had connected from beneath the cash register to his office. "Joanna Parks on the phone. She wanted to talk to you specifically."

        Glancing at the phone on his desk, he released a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding. He reached over to his phone, looking up to see his assistant watching him through the window. At his nod, she transferred the phone call to his extension.

        "Devlin here."

        "Hi!" the woman greeted on the phone. "I'm soooo glad I was able to catch up with you. You're gonna hate me for this..."

        The woman was the wedding coordinator of one of the brides getting married in a week and a half. She had used his services before for many of her clients. Joanna was a decent woman, hard-working...and one of so many wedding coordinators in New York City.

        "What happened now?" he found himself saying.

        She laughed. "Well...when we went to the reception hall today...we didn't realize that with all of the lights on...the walls are painted more of a peach-cream color...instead of white."

        Devlin braced two fingers against his forehead. "And...?"

        "I'm sorry, Devlin. She wants to change the color of the flowers to what she had picked originally."

        "Dammit." He sighed.

        "I'm so sorry..." Joanna continued to apologize. "I should have asked the catering manager to turn up all the lights in the first place..."

        "I've had worse happen," Devlin admitted. "I'll deal with it first thing Monday."

        "Thanks, Devlin, you're awesome," Joanna said.

        Once he hung up, Xia entered his office, a tall mug of steaming tea in her hands that she carefully set on a coaster on his desk.

        "What's this for?" he asked.

        She shrugged. "I made some for me but there was plenty extra."

        He took a sip, the subtle scent of jasmine tea wafting in the air. It was a very soothing tea. Strong taste, but not overwhelming. He looked up to see his assistant standing by his desk, a slightly hopeful expression on her face.

        Immediately, he set the mug down and pushed it away.

        "What?"

        Xia blinked. "What, what?"

        He narrowed his eyes slightly. "Why are you being nice?"

        She gasped. "I'm always nice!"

        "What do you want?"

        "Come on, boss. Can't a girl do something nice for her employer and not be questioned-?"

        "You can't," he stated firmly. "So what is it?"

        Xia crossed her arms, blowing one of her long bangs from her eyes. He settled back in his desk chair, amusement filtering in his eyes. It was funny trying to see his assistant put up an innocent front. She glanced down at her hot pink off-the-shoulder sweatshirt and flicked off an imaginary piece of lint. Then she ran a hand through her black, shoulder-length cropped hair and stomped her foot.

        "All right, fine!" she huffed, crossing her arms again to stare out the window to keep an eye out for customers who might wander into the store. "I need to leave work early tomorrow, so I was wondering if I could close the shop early."

        Only the two of them worked in the shop, six days a week. He'd work in the mornings and she'd come midday to close the shop in the early evenings. It gave her time to go to college in the morning. He was pretty flexible when it came to her schedule...usually he'd give her the week off before finals. The shop was only open eight hours a day, and it wasn't that difficult of a job. Dealing with customers...that was a different story.

        He arched a brow. "I see."

        Xia turned to face him clasping her hands together as if praying. "Please? My friends set me up with this really hot guy on a group date, and I-"

        "You want to close the store early to go on a date?" he asked incredulously.

        Xia pursed her lips before pointing out, "You're taking two and a half days off because you're girlfriend's flying into town."

        "It's our anniversary," Devlin countered. "And I can live without paying myself for two and a half days."

        "Aww, come on, boss!" Xia cajoled. "This guy could possibly be Xia's next boyfriend!"

        His assistant sure was a strange one at times. But she was determined. It was her determination that convinced him to hire her in the first place two years ago. She was also trustworthy. So much, that she was one of the few who knew one of his deepest secrets...

        "Please?" she begged. "I've REALLY liked this guy. For like...the last three months."

        He sighed, shaking his head.

        "He's so hot...he's funny...he's nice...he's...perfect! And he wants to go out with me!" Xia exclaimed.

        "Xia...you don't need to tell me about your personal life. Or who you want in it."

        "That's just it!" Xia cried out, pounding her fist at the edge of his desk, causing ripples on the surface of his now warm tea. "Everyone BUT me has a personal life!"

        He frowned. "What is that supposed to-?"

        "Tanaka's married," Xia pointed out, referring to their friend who owned a sushi bar just a few blocks down. "Happily married. You've been dating for what...a year now?" She flicked her hand in the air. "No offense, boss, but I still don't understand that. I mean...you. You've got to be the most indifferent man alive and you're in a relationship? I've seen you give brush-offs so many times...I thought I was in an alternate universe when you came back from Atlantic City a year ago to tell me that you started seeing someone!"

        He braced his elbow against his right armrest, his chin resting against his fist. "Do you want to leave early tomorrow or not?"

        Xia stopped short and stared. "You mean you're going to let me close early?"

        "Maybe," he shrugged.

        She grinned widely. "Please?"

        He'd wait just another few seconds of her squirming. "...Fine."

        "Thanks, you're the best!" She clapped her hands once and did a little dance of happiness.

        Ah well. No harm in closing the shop early. It's not as if there was anything that needed to be done, anyway.

        The phone rang, and he picked up the handset, holding it against his ear. "Chinatown Flowers."

        "Even when saying the simplest things you sound good," a female teased on the other side of the line.

        "Meliza...were you going to tell me when you're arriving tomorrow, or am I supposed to guess?" he asked, ignoring Xia's pantomime of a lovestruck person, hands pressed over her heart, sighing dreamily. She grinned at his dark look before leaving his office to give him some privacy.

        "Well..." his girlfriend said slowly, a mischievous tone in her voice. "I had plans to be at your place setting up for a nice evening to kick off our anniversary weekend...Nice champagne on ice...hot tub..."

        "I don't have a hot tub."

        "Don't ruin the fantasy," she said quickly.

        He smiled slightly. "So what time are you flying in?"

        "Four-thirty p.m.," she answered. "I'd like to have dinner as soon as I arrive. Someplace fun. We can do the couple anniversary thing on Friday night."

        "Hmm. You think you'll be in the mood for Japanese?" he asked. "I know a good sushi place..."