Page 21 of Bloom

“Sorry, limited access only. Come on in,” he said, holding the doors for us so we could push the trolley in.

There was barely enough room for him, me, and Robbie, plus the trolley with a small tree and two rather large arrangements on it. Not to mention the tension between me and Linden and Robbie trying not to laugh.

“Ah, Linden, this is Robbie,” I said, breaking the silence. “Robbie, Linden.”

Linden smiled at him. “Oh, the one I have to thank for the photo of Keats when he was dying inside.”

Robbie’s grin widened. “I am he.”

“Oh god,” I grumbled.

Robbie gestured to the tree. “And this is...?” He looked at me. “What did you call it?”

I sighed and let my head fall back. “I said you could help me deliver these if you didn’t make it more awkward.”

Robbie and Linden both laughed, the doors opened, and thankfully we were moving again, pushing the trolley down a very expensive hallway, distracted enough to drop the conversation.

Linden swiped the card and entered a number into the pin pad and held the doors open for us.

The inside of the apartment was the kind of luxury you only saw in movies or magazines. The kind of money that bought this level of excellence was something I couldn’t even imagine. And the view... Wowzers.

“I’ve never seen you speechless before,” I said to Robbie, who was standing there, mouth open, staring out across Sydney Harbour.

“It’s something, isn’t it?” Linden said.

Something. That was one way to put it.

He pointed to the main balcony. “I’d like the tree to go there, perfectly centred to the door, if we could, please.” He picked up the huge arrangement of apple and magnolia blossoms, which was almost half his height, and placed it on the dining table. “Oh, this is so beautiful. It’s perfect.”

Robbie and I got the tree positioned right where Linden wanted it, and from inside, the door did frame it perfectly. Whoever was coming to inspect this apartment would have to be impressed.

He was fixing a display of pomegranates and oranges on the kitchen counter. There was also a pile of red cushions on the lounges I assumed he’d brought with him.

“So, when you said you stage apartments,” I prompted.

He waved his hand. “I add the personal touches to appeal to the list of buyers.”

On a hall stand near the bedrooms stood a rather large sculptured seahorse, red and black, metal, stained glass, and wood. “Is that your touch as well?”

He nodded. “Yes.”

“You have very good taste.”

He chuckled. “Because this client has a rather large budget, which allows for such things.”

Robbie finished perfecting the arrangement of red orchids. “Okay, boss, I’ll head out.” He made a point of looking at his watch. “It’s after five, so if we’re done for the day, I’ll leave you...” He looked pointedly at me and Linden.

I was going to kill him.

“Right. Yes, well,” I said. Then I gave Linden an apologetic smile. “I should be going too, if you’re busy. I don’t want to keep you.”

“I’m almost done here,” he said. “If you wanted to wait...”

“Yes, he does,” Robbie said. “Linden, it was so nice to meet you. Have a good date tomorrow. Be gentle with him. He’s beenout of the dating pool for so long he’s forgotten how to swim, if you know what I mean.”

I closed my eyes slowly, wishing I could just disappear. “Thanks, Robbie. Awesome. Remind me again why you’re still employed?”

He laughed. “Because I’m good at my job.” He got to the door, blew me a kiss, and waved to Linden. Then he disappeared into the hall.