Page 19 of Falling Again For My Best Friend's Brother

Trevor

Floral aromas washed over me as I stepped into Petals & Blooms. My heart hammered against my ribs like I was heading into a four-alarm blaze rather than Amelia's flower shop.

Amelia looked up from arranging a vase of vibrant sunflowers, and a delicate blush crept across her cheeks as we gravitated toward each other, an invisible force pulling us closer.

Our lips met in a tender, slightly awkward, but very real first kiss since agreeing to explore our feelings. Electricity sparked through me, igniting every nerve ending. I leaned in, craving more, my eagerness causing the tray of coffees to wobble precariously. A choked laugh escaped me as we broke apart, our foreheads touching so much for maintaining my cool, firefighter composure.

"Good morning." Amelia's voice was soft, a hint of amusement dancing in her warm brown eyes.

I cleared my throat, holding up the tray and paper bag. "Sustenance and ideas. I thought you could use some fuel for another long day of flower whispering and budget planning." Hero walked behind the counter to a bed Amelia had put there, and if I had to guess, there were probably a couple of dog snacks waiting for him.

I glanced around the shop bursting with fresh flowers—tulips, roses, lilies, daisies. Their sweet fragrance mingled with the earthiness of the soil. "Wow, the shop looks incredible today."

"Thanks. I made several new arrangements and tidied up a bit." She winked playfully. "So, you mentioned ideas?"

"I did.” I grabbed a folder from my backpack and pulled out a folded-up sketch I had drawn up last night.

"I've been brainstorming ideas to expand the shop's potential." I unfurled the large sketch across the counter, my finger jabbing at the empty area toward the back of the property.

"I was thinking, what if we cleared out this area? We could create more garden space for you to grow more of your own flowers. And maybe even build a greenhouse for some specialty varieties."

Amelia leaned in closer to study the roughly penciled lines. "That's a fantastic idea, Trevor! It would save me so much money in the long run. I have wanted to expand, but I haven’t had the money or the time."

"I'd be happy to help with the labor." I flexed my biceps jokingly. "These muscles aren't just for show, you know."

She rolled her eyes, a smile tugging at her lips. "Oh, I'm sure. The big, strong firefighter to the rescue."

I hesitated with my next suggestion, unsure how Amelia would respond. "I could pay a little extra for rent to help ease your financial burden."

Amelia's brows furrowed, and she shook her head. "Trevor, that's sweet, but I couldn't ask you to do that."

I placed my hand on hers, marveling at how perfectly they fit together. "You're not asking. I'm offering."

She chewed on her bottom lip, a habit I found incredibly cute. "I don't know, Trevor. It feels like too much."

"Hey," I said softly, tilting her chin with my finger. "We're in this together, remember? I want to help in any way I can."

Amelia's eyes searched mine, and I could see the internal battle raging within her. Her independent nature warred with the desire to accept my support.

Just as Amelia opened her mouth to reply, a loud growl erupted from her stomach. We both burst into laughter, realizing we'd been so engrossed in each other that we'd forgotten about the croissants.

I grabbed the bag of croissants, handed one to Amelia, and pulled another one out for myself. I took a bite and then sipped my coffee.

A dollop of whipped cream from my coffee had found its way onto the tip of my nose. With a mischievous grin, Amelia leaned in close enough that I could make out the subtle shimmer of lip gloss on her full lips. Her fingertips, tantalizingly soft, grazed my cheek as she wiped away the cream.

Our faces were mere inches apart now, close enough to share the same breath. I wanted to pull her into a kiss, but judging from my lack of control earlier, I felt like that wasn’t the best idea.

"You know," I said, trying to distract myself from the temptation. "I just had a brilliant idea for a fundraiser."

Amelia cocked her head, curiosity piqued. "Oh? Do tell. The suspense is killing me."

"Picture this: a firefighter calendar. Twelve months of Rivermint Cove's finest, shirtless and glistening. I bet I could get the guys to agree."

Amelia's eyes danced with amusement as she gave me an exaggerated once-over. "Trevor Phillips, are you volunteering to be Mr. July?"

I puffed out my chest, striking a ridiculous pose. "I mean, I wouldn't want to deprive the good people of this town of these abs."

Amelia's giggles continued. "You're incorrigible."

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