Harm skipped lunch and looked out the window at the flowers on Harriet's desk, lilac, he thought someone had said. All day long women had been coming along and admiring them, sometimes even smelling them. It was the thirteenth and he had to do something to make Bobbi more open to talking to Sturgis or his whole plan would be for nothing. Jen Coates was walking by the office.
"Jen!" He called; the young woman stopped and moved to the doorway. "How much do you know about flowers?"
"They're pretty and most women love getting them." She smiled. "What's your problem, sir?"
He weighed the possible impropriety against his need for privacy against Sturgis and Mac. "Close the door please." The young woman shut the door and stood in front of his desk. "What if you don't know a woman's favorite flower?"
"Most have meanings. You can look them up on a website." She studied him. "Sir, this isn't the first time you've sent a woman flowers, is it?"
"No." Just these women, Harm thought to himself. He wanted to send Mac a flower too and he was as nervous about that as he was about his entire plan for Bobbi and Sturgis.
"May I, sir?" Jen asked, indicating the computer. Harm stood and moved out of the way, letting the young woman over to his desk. "Do you know what you're looking for?"
"I have no idea." She had helped Bud a lot with Harriet and the house and he was hoping her female sensibilities would come in handy this time too. He wished he could ask Harriet, but he knew the chances of Harriet telling someone else, even Bud, especially Mac, and everything would be ruined.
Jen nodded, typing something, and scrolling down some more. She wondered if the rumors were true. She had sensed something going on between the two officers since she'd first met them, when Harm was her defense lawyer instead of her commanding officer, but nothing had happened, at least nothing that she knew about. "Well, what are they for? Valentine's Day tomorrow or your mom or…?"
"They're for tomorrow." He finally decided on white violets for Bobbi and a full-bloom thornless red rose for Mac, the first flower he'd ever given her. He was nervous, more nervous than he'd ever been giving flowers to Renee or the others. What if Mac didn't like it? What if she didn't want him sending her flowers? Would it make things weird again?
Jen had heard rumors that the Commander used to be what they call a 'ladies man', but two flowers to two different addresses seemed a bit excessive to her. Then again, that might be why the closest thing she could come to a date was Petty Officer Tiner. "They'll like them, sir. They're both beautiful flowers."
He smiled. "Thanks, Jen."
"You're welcome, sir." She moved from behind his desk and out the door as Harm finished ordering the bouquet and then the rose. He wondered if he needed to do anything else, order candy or some kind of little trinket, but he thought that flowers should be enough. He sent an "I love you" card with Bobbi's, but left both unsigned. Signing Sturgis's name to it seemed like it would be going too far and, if Mac wanted to know, he was sure she would know who sent hers. He was nervous as he sent the order, but he tried to put them both out of his mind as he watched Mac go out to her new position as judge and then got back to work himself.