Page 71 of Cocky Choices: Zoe Cocker

Perry mutters a sarcastic, “Yeah, can’t wait to keep paying bills forever.”

“However,” I repeat and continue, “When you’re paying bills, you’re paying for freedom. I have this loan, sure, but how I run the business is up to me. The bank isn’t telling me how to. They just want to be paid back. So this place is completely how I want it to be. But say someone else paid for it, like a husband…”

Amelia smiles, “Which he will!”

“No, he won’t. I told Caleb I don’t want his money.”

Perry blinks at me. “What?!”

“If Caleb paid off my loan, he might push me further to have my shop look more ‘up-scale’ or ‘elegant,’ as he called it.Histaste. And he’d have a right to enforce his opinion and desires for Florist Shop because hepaidfor it. With the bank loan, it’s my money paying it off. My control. My decisions. Does that make sense? I have more financial freedom taking out a loan than I do having someone pay for me who could then control my business because it’s theirs. Their money. Not my money. Get it?”

“Ew,” Perry mutters, fine-tuning the enormous centerpiece. “You cannot give up control of this place. I love it the way it is!”

Amelia asks with careful curiosity. “Then why marry him?”

I stare at the floor. “He’s very nice. Handsome. And…he needs me.”

The hours pass into a blur of colors and scents, our normal laughter all but missing from our work, even as we share stories to spend well our time. I love my team, the camaraderie between us, and for a little while, their positive energy lightens the heaviness in my heart. But thinking of Tom alone in his cell, as the clock ticks closer to quitting time, and we’re not finished with all we have to do, the weight returns. I got here late, and they needed direction. Other orders had to be filled before we got started, too.

Amelia pulls me from my thoughts as I leave my table for the refrigerated room. “Zoe, while you’re back there, can you please grab more lilies from the fridge? We’re running low again.”

“Sure,” I mumble and pause as Florist Shop’s bell roars the arrival of a new customer. The first thing I think is,I hope we have enough flowers for their order.Turning around, my eyes widen and jaw drops at the blessed sight of the man I didn’t think I would see today. “What are you doing here?!”

Perry tosses him an apron. “Good! You’re here! Join in!”

Tom easily catches it as he walks, putting it on while a gaze of determination remains locked on me. “Hey Boss.”

“How…” I stammer, utterly confused, “How are you here? How did you get out of jail?”

He smirks, “More about that later,” so handsome as long, steady strides bring him to me. “But first…” Tom gracefully grabs the back of my head, presses our bodies together, and kisses me, strong and possessively.

Amelia and Perry go wild.

THIRTY-TWO

Zoe

Their hollering.

The clapping.

It fades.

Into nothing.

Nothing exists besides this.

Tom Bennet’s lips.

Claiming mine.

His hands firmly owning my body, fingers pressed into the small of my back, spread and powerful.

Our thighs.

Touching.

And the heat.

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