Dramatic, Mushy, Complicated Love

the front of Meadow’s shop, that was it.
“How ironic,” I muttered as I climbed out of the car, closing the door behind me. Since Ace remembered the important detail of this place, I had thought of nothing else but getting in my car and making my way here. My focus after finding out the address was for shit, ending my video call with Ace, I barely heard a word that the doctor said when he came to see my mother, other than declaring her good to be alone. Instead, I planned in my head what I was going to say to Meadow, how I would explain my appalling behaviour well enough to get her to forgive me and agree to see me again. I wasn’t privy to Meadow’s feelings over that night at the pub, but I had to assume she was going to be pissed at me. I know I would be annoyed if the roles were reversed and she had been the one to cut and run out on me.
Something passed between Meadow and me that night, it might have been brief, but it was real and rare. The chemistry between us, the fire that burned when I touched her and when she touched me, deserved a second chance to spark again. Every fibre of my being demanded to experience it again, and I knew from the lust in her green eyes, Meadow had the same reaction to me. I felt that all the way down to my soul.
Taking three large strides to the front door, I pushed the glass and wood door open, a bell rang to announce my arrival and stepped inside the main showroom. I could tell right away this place used to be a private residence at some point. The main room was substantial and I could see where walls had been removed to make the space bigger for the items for sale. A short hallway that was curtained off led me to believe that was where Meadow and Spring prepared the old furniture before putting it on display. Ace had been a little sketchy on the details, but from what he did manage to remember, Meadow and her sister took old beaten up furniture and gave it a new lease on life. It didn’t surprise me one bit that the woman I was so captivated with had a unique job. She struck me to be a constant bag of surprises, a woman to keep me on my toes. Something I was looking forward to dealing with on a daily basis.
A sound from behind the curtain had me walking to the other side of the room, skirting around a large ornate chaise lounge, absently admiring the antique and strangely inviting piece of furniture.
“Just a sec, I will be out in a jiffy.” The sexy voice of my woman sent tingles down my spine and around to the front of my pants. Pants that were getting tighter by the second when hearing her voice again after a seven-day wait.
“Jiffy,” I muttered quietly, chuckling at her choice of word, falling more and more with each little morsel of insight into who Meadow was. When I first met her, I saw her sassy side, then her sensuality when she was in my arms. Now I wanted to find out everything and anything until there was nothing left to discover. And I had a good feeling that it was going to take the rest of my life. My head was moving fast, words like future and forever not ones I’d ever used before where a woman was concerned.
Meadow was my game changer.
Soft footsteps alerted my nerves that this was it. Let the grovelling commence.
“I’m sorry I—” Meadow abruptly stopped when she realised it was me standing in her shop. I drank in her surprised hiss, quickly followed by a soft sigh. Her pink, pouty lips formed in the perfect O giving me a dick hardening image of what those lips would look like wrapped around my shaft.
“Luca?”
“Hello Meadow,” I greeted, proud of myself that I managed to not choke on her name. The beautiful, unique name flowed off my tongue like I had been saying it all my life.
Meadow’s green eyes were wide with surprise as she stared at me; in them, I didn’t see anger or fury, rather shock and … joy? Encouraged by her reaction, I moved two steps forward, forcing my hands into my pants pockets in an effort not to reach out and touch her.
“I need to apologise,” I started, not taking my eyes off her, “I should have gotten your number before I left the pub the other night.” Meadow’s eyes went from soft and happy to narrowed and angry, the minute the words were out.
Shit.
“Is that what you think you need to apologise for?” Meadow scoffed at me, with one hand lifted to her hip, which she jutted out.
Fucking beautiful attitude. Damn, this woman could very well own me if I am not careful.
“That is the first thing, but no, there is more,” I allowed, suddenly very interested in the scuff mark on the toe of my shoe. I wouldn’t blame her if she did give me a hard time for running out on her; in fact, I expected her to do so. I would happily take any amount of attitude from Meadow as long as she forgave me.
“I know I fucked up a week ago. That phone call was from my sister. She rang to tell me that our mother had collapsed and was taken to hospital in an ambulance.”
“I know,” Meadow announced softly, surprising me, “Spring told me. She spent the night with Ace.”
“Yeah, I know.” Nodding, not knowing what to say next.
“Is your mum okay?” she asked, her voice soft and caring.
“To be honest with you, I think so. We took her home that night after they held her for a few hours for observation. Her GP came and saw her today, I was a little unfocused, but I