White Offerings Read Online Free PDF

over to the far wall, which was covered in pictures of orchids. Jane joined her and pointed at the one in the center, the type of orchid that had appeared four times in her life during the past month.
    “Jane?” a voice said from behind them.
    Ari turned to see a tall, graceful woman approach. She was striking, but what Ari noticed was her sumptuous lips. There were no other words to describe them because they were absolutely perfect, and it seemed to Ari that her other facial features existed to frame her lips. She was dressed in a finely tailored gray suit that molded precisely to her lean body and small waist. Ari was certain the Scottsdale clientele was impressed by her memorable presence, and the woman was certainly Jane’s type.
    “Izzie!” They hugged as if they were old friends reuniting after a long absence. When Jane pulled away from the embrace, Ari noticed Isabel remained quite close to her.
    “What’s going on, darling?” Isabel asked. “I thought you would have called me, but I am glad to have a visit instead. How long has it been? Two months?” She attempted to sound playful, but a sharp edge to her tone conveyed her hurt feelings.
    “I’m sorry, Izzie. I’ve been so busy. I hope you understand. I told you how I am with dating, and we did have an incredible time, didn’t we?”
    Isabel said nothing in response, clearly understanding the meaning of Jane’s hollow explanation. Ari doubted if she even remembered Isabel’s visit to her bedroom, and Ari suspected it was her carefree attitude about sex that had made her the stalker’s target. It was amazing she had not been tarred and feathered by all of the regulars at Hideaway. What Jane couldn’t understand was intimacy and commitment and, more importantly, the normal female urge for both. Ari had made endless attempts to explain the female mind to her. Jane, though, was more like a man and loved her sexuality openly. She grimaced every time Ari made the comparison, and it was rather ironic that someone so femme could behave so butch, but Jane did not equate sex with a relationship. The fact that she dated femmes almost exclusively added to the problem, in Ari’s opinion. What Jane needed was a good butch.
    Isabel considered Jane’s apology and quickly forgave her transgression, paving the way for the reason for their visit. “How can I help you?” she asked, her perfect lips forming a professional smile.
    “Well, this is my friend Ari.”
    Isabel turned and gave a slight bow in her direction. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Ari. I’m Isabel Collins.”
    “Izzie, could you tell us about an orchid?”
    “Which one interests you?”
    “This one,” Ari said, gesturing to the middle flower on the wall, whose slender white petals burst from the center, like long fingers extended in greeting.
    Isabel nodded her approval. “That’s my favorite. The
Gigantic Angraecum
. It’s extremely rare. Usually it grows in Madagascar, but if it can be grown here, it will only bloom with one or two flowers. It is most fragrant at night.”
    “Have you been able to grow it?” Ari asked.
    Isabel smiled in pride. “Of course. My greenhouses are extensive, and my attention to my flowers is unparalleled.” Isabel paused and her face colored. “But as you can see, Ari, my modesty could use some refinement.”
    “Is it expensive?”
    “Oh, yes. The more exotic a bloom, the greater the price.”
    “Are there other shops that sell this flower?” Jane asked.
    Isabel’s eyes narrowed. “Very few, I would imagine. I can only think of two or three in the metro area.”
    “Is this the kind of flower you could order online or have shipped from somewhere else?”
    Isabel frowned. “Certainly not,” she said with disgust. “At least
I
would never try to ship such an exotic flower in PB size. It would be very difficult to keep it alive.”
    “What’s PB?”
    “Previously bloomed. It’s much easier to ship seedlings or nearly blooming flowers, but this