Title: The Right Touch

Rating: K

Category: Romance

Disclaimers: These guys aren't mine but I love 'em.

Author's Note: Don't forget! Italics indicate signing or use of the Blackberry/computer. And thanks for the feedback.

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The Right Touch

Chapter 7

Early Saturday night

"You were right," Darcy told Bobby over the phone. "She's very talented. I just hope they can handle the order. It's only the two of them and the delivery person."

"I'm sure Sue wouldn't have taken on the order if she didn't think she could handle it," Bobby assured her.

There was a pause. "Um...I thought you said you've never met?"

"We haven't," he answered matter-of-factly. "Just a bit of chit chat on the phone."

"Then how would...?" she stopped. "Never mind."

"How 'bout getting a bite to eat?" suggested Bobby.

"I'd love to but I'm swamped," she said regretfully. "It seems this is the event where everything that could go wrong is going wrong. I have to put on my 'Little Miss Fix-it' hat and solve another problem. Maybe we could meet for breakfast tomorrow?"

"Sounds good," he agreed half-heartedly. "Call me."

"Bye—and thanks again for the suggestion. You saved my sanity."

Bobby hung up. Well, if Darcy was busy, he might as well do some work, too. He'd been putting aside some things to be with her but maybe this would be a good time to catch up.

He reached for his briefcase and searched inside for the project he was wanted to work on. Rifling through the papers once, then twice, he couldn't find it. Drat! The papers must still be at the office. He glanced at his watch. A security guard would still be downstairs to let him in. He could run up to the office, get the papers and work on the project tonight. He grabbed his jacket and keys and left.

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The Right Touch

Sue stretched. She'd chased Lucy and Myles out to have dinner telling them she could work much better without the two of them hovering over her. She promised she wouldn't stay late.

"Well, Levi," Sue said, "this is our big break. A lot of important people will be there at the gala. It could mean a lot of new customers. We make a lot of money so Myles and Lucy get married sooner than later. Does that sound like a plan?"

He barked once.

"Thanks. I knew you'd like it," she smiled.

She gathered her drawings and placed them neatly in a folder. She would look them over when she got home and show them to Lucy and Myles when they returned from dinner. She looked around the shop to make sure she had everything when Levi started to paw her.

"What's up, boy?" she asked.

He barked again then looked in the direction of the front window. Sue's eyes followed. There was a man peering in.

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Bobby parked on the street instead of his usual stall in the garage since he intended to only take a few minutes. As he got out, for the first time he noticed the sign 'The Right Touch' a couple of windows down. Smiling, he thought of his conversations with Sue and decided to take a look at the shop.

As he approached, he noticed a light was on. Peering in, he thought he spotted a figure in the back. He didn't know what prompted him to do it, but he knocked on the glass to get the person's attention.

He heard a dog bark. He knocked again. The bark was louder and the figure paused in the doorway. He waved. The figure flipped on the front light and approached the front door. It was the blonde from the theatre. Sue.

"I'm sorry, but we're closed," she said through the closed door.

"Sue?" he said loudly to be heard through the glass. Was this Sue? He was surprised at the excitement he felt at the thought of finally meeting his favorite florist. He wondered if she would be as warm and friendly as her voice. "Are you Sue?"

She stopped and looked at him in puzzlement. "Yes, but... "

"It's me, Bobby...Bobby Manning."

She looked taken aback momentarily then unlocked the door. "Bobby? But you're...you're the man from the theatre with the little girl," she recalled.

"My niece," he explained. He stared at her for a moment "Every bit as lovely as I'd imagined," he said in a satisfied voice.

She blushed slightly under his appreciative look. "Um...this is my hearing dog, Levi."

He looked down at Levi. "Hello, Levi. Nice to meet you, too." He looked back up to Sue. "Megan mentioned you mentioned you're deaf. How...?"

"I read lips."

"Well, I can't tell you how glad I am we've finally met. I'd love to chat with you longer than a few minutes. What say we go somewhere for coffee, a bite to eat and some conversation? Not necessarily in that order," he suggested. "That is, if you're not busy."

"As a matter of fact, I am busy," she said holding up a folder. "And it's your fault."

He had a questioning look on his face. "Your girlfriend is hiring us to provide the floral arrangements for the Heart Fund benefit gala. We need to come up some designs," she explained.

"But you still have to eat," he pointed out. "Have you had dinner yet?"

She shook her head. "Tell you what," he proposed. "You can run some ideas past me while we eat. How's that?"

"What do you know about floral design?"

"Not a thing," he said cheerfully, "but I know what I like. You'll be getting the opinion of John Q, Public when you ask me."

She looked at him thoughtfully as she considered his offer. "You know, my mother always told me not to talk to strangers."

He dismissed her concern. "We're not strangers. We're friends. We've been talking to each other for months."

"But you could be a wolf in sheep's clothing," she teased.

He looked down the street and spotted a favorite eatery still open. "We'll have dinner at Ernie's. Close by in familiar surroundings and if I decide to reveal my true colors to you, Ernie himself will rescue you. How does that strike you?"

She gazed at him a moment before smiling. "I accept."

"Good." Bobby gestured towards Levi. "What about Levi here? Is there anything for him to eat at Ernie's?"

"He's eaten already," she said. "Unlike me, Levi eats on schedule."

"That's good," he nodded. "Shall we?" He offered his arm.

"Let's," she agreed as she slipped her arm through his.

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Ernie's

The spark of friendship the pair enjoyed over the phone only grew during their first face-to-face encounter. Teasing and laughter were generously sprinkled throughout their dinner conversation.

As they drank their coffee, Sue grew serious. "I really do want to thank you for recommending our shop to Miss D'Angelo. You can't buy the kind of advertising something like the Heart Gala will bring us—that is, if we're good."

"You'll be the talk of the event," he said firmly.

"I hope it's because the attendees admire our flowers."

"Of course! Is there any doubt? Your phone will be ringing off the hook the day after."

"How can you be so sure?"

"It was your flowers that persuaded Darcy to forgive me—remember?" He gazed at her with a smile in his eyes. "I do."

Sue looked into his blue-grey eyes and felt a definite connection. Bobby was far more charming and attractive than she had imagined. There was something very appealing about his personality. She had to remind herself he had a girlfriend...a very pretty girlfriend.

It was as though they'd known each other for years instead of a few months. Bobby was pleased that the friendliness he detected over the phone was genuine. Sue was a very satisfying person to be with. He was thoroughly enjoying himself.

Hearing a buzzing sound, Bobby's hand automatically went to his cell phone. No, that wasn't his signal. Then he saw Levi put his paw on Sue's lap.

"What's up, fella?" she asked.

Bobby leaned over to tap her hand. "I think it's your phone."

"Oh, thanks." She reached into her purse and pulled out her Blackberry. She read the name. "Hello, Lucy."

"Where are you?" scrolled across the screen. "It's nearly ten and when you weren't here when we got home we got worried something happened to you! Myles is ready to call the FBI."

Sue looked stricken. "I'm so sorry," she apologized. "I ran into a friend," she explained looking at Bobby. "We had dinner and I guess we lost track of the time. I'm sorry to have worried you," she apologized. "Tell Myles I'm sorry, too."

"Well, as long as you're okay."

"I'm fine," she assured Lucy. "I'll be home soon."

She closed her phone. "I had no idea it was so late. I'm sorry to have kept you so long," she apologized. She returned her Blackberry into her purse and took out her wallet. "Let me pay for dinner," she said.

"No," said Bobby putting his hand over hers to stop her. "I invited you so it's my treat."

"But I want to thank you for helping my partner and me," she protested.

"No," he said decisively. "My treat. If you really want to thank me, do a smashing job at that gala and take me out to dinner after. And I promise you, you won't get off so cheaply," he grinned.

Sue eyed his attractive face. She noticed his dimples. Stay focused, she told herself.

"Well?" he asked.

"It's a deal."

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"I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this evening," commented Bobby as he walked Sue to her car behind the shop.

"I did, too," she smiled. "I'm glad to know you have a sense of humor in person."

He stopped to stare at her. "What does that mean?"

"Well," she began to explain, "some people are more comfortable talking over the phone so they're relaxed and funny over the phone but when they're face to face with you, they get so tense they..." she stopped when she noticed the confused look on his face. "None of this makes sense to you, does it? You don't get tense?"

"Not over talking." They stopped by her car.

"Thanks again for everything," smiled Sue. "I'm glad we got a chance to finally meet. Now I can imagine a face to go with the voice when you call on Tuesday."

"Now that I know what your face looks like, perhaps I'll call more often," he teased.

"At ten forty?" she quipped.

"You got it." They smiled at their little joke. As she opened the door to let Levi in, Bobby looked at her. "I was serious when I said I'd be happy to help you with your designs. I may not be able to tell you one flower from another but I can give you my honest opinion, for what it's worth."

"I think," she said slowly, "your opinion would be valuable. If you'd like, why don't you come over tomorrow? I'll make you breakfast and you can take a look at some of the sketches."

"I can't," he said regretfully. "I'm supposed to have breakfast with Darcy. Maybe later?"

"Sure. That'll work." She took out a small notepad from her bag and scribbled something on it. "Here's my phone number and address. Call me if you can make it."

"Great," he smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow." He waved as she drove off. Smiling, he headed back to his own car. It turned out to be a good evening after all.

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