Page 23 of Passions & Peonies

I’m shocked when he tells me how he and Josh own part of the marina with their uncle. But he lives in the Hamptons six months out of the year. Maybe I could see him after this vacation. No, I shouldn’t think past the last day of vacation or maybe even tonight.

“Does your uncle own the marina in the Hamptons too?”

“No. He owns a lot of hotels, including the Leonardo Grand in Manhattan.”

“No way!” I smack his arm playfully. “I guess I should’ve put two and two together. That is a beautiful hotel. I’ve been to a couple of weddings there. My brother, Drew, just got engaged, and that’s on their list of wedding reception possibilities. His fiancée, Sophia, loves it there. But who knows if a room will be available in such short notice.”

“My cousin runs that hotel. Maybe I can connect your brother with him.”

“That would be great. I love where it’s located because it’s near the flower district. One of my favorite florists is there. Every spring, I practically wait in line to buy the peonies. They’re my favorite flower, my favorite scent. The store stocks every color possible, but I usually focus on the pink and white ones. Flowers are my passion, but it’s too bad I have a little apartment with no balcony.”

“That doesn’t surprise me.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, pink hair, your shirt is pink, the tank top on the plane was pink. I think you have a pink fetish.”

I lean over him and brace my hands on the sides of his head. My chest barely touches his. His hand finds exposed bare skin on my back between my shirt and pants. Heat rushes through my blood like liquid silk.

“Maybe I do, and that’s why I find your pink lips so irresistible.” I hover my mouth over his, but just when he’s about to take the bait, I pull away.

“That’s mean.” He scowls but then a tempting grin follows. “They’re not that irresistible if you can easily deny me like that.”

“Oh, they are.”

“Then show me.” He draws circles on my bare skin, making me want to do more than kiss.

I refrain because I’m not usually so forward on a sexual level, but I slowly lower my head, my eyes never straying from his beautiful ones.

Until he licks his lips, and then all bets are off. My tongue slowly brushes his lower lip. Then I dip between his lips and his tongue greets mine with slow strokes.

And then this perfect moment is sadly interrupted by a group of people laughing as they walk past us on the boardwalk. I hide my face in the crook of his neck.

“So, back to the conversation. Which florist were you talking about?”

I sit back on my knees again. “Why?”

He tickles me. “Just answer the question.”

“Blooming Beauties.”

He laughs. “That’s my sister’s shop.”

“You’re lying!”

He shakes his head.

I push wisps of hair away from my face. “This is hard to digest. Your sister, Chloe, owns my favorite florist. I suggested her store for the wedding too. If there’s one thing I want to be involved with when it comes to the wedding, it’s the flowers.”

“Chloe creates all the floral arrangements for the hotel. She has one hell of a reputation for someone her age.”

“It’s kind of creepy that your family is connected to the same hotel and florist that might be used for my family’s wedding.”

“There’s nothing creepy about it. It’s just a coincidence.”Maybe.

“All three of you have your own businesses. They sound like successful ones, and you’re so young. I guess I shouldn’t say that because I have no clue how old you are.”

“Josh and I are thirty, and Chloe is twenty-eight.”

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