Page 43 of Love in Bloom

“Sometimes the partners and I don’t see eye to eye on everything.” Miller shrugged and turned on the wheel. Its slight hum filled the air.

“That must be frustrating.” She picked up a fired but not yet glazed bowl from the shelf and set it back down. “That’s one advantage to being my own boss. But when Dale or Cindy have an issue, we try to resolve it together as a team. I’d hate to think they were unhappy at work.” Wren finished her inspection of his studio and stopped in front of him. Miller grabbed the wire tool next to him, cut the bowl off the bat, and wiped his hands. He reached up and took her mug.

“Hey, Bucko, that’s mine. Get your own cup,” Wren said, reaching to reclaim her mug. He took another sip, watching her as he did so.

“For someone who was very generous in bed, you’re awfully stingy with your coffee.” Miller winked and handed it back to her.So much for light and impersonal, Wren thought cringing. This would be more difficult than she thought.

“Speaking of last night,” Wren started as Miller threw a lump of clay on the wheel and started it turning. “As good as it was, it can’t happen again.”

“Good?” Miller asked, focused on the clay. He sounded upset.

“Do you prefer fine?” she countered.

“How about”—he changed his voice to a slight falsetto as if to mimic her—“the best I’ve ever had, thank you very much, and when can we do it again?”

“Yes and no,” Wren admitted. She’d give him that. Compared to her ex-husband, the only other man she’d been intimate with, Miller was fantastic and therefore the best she’d ever had. Actually, he was likely the best she wouldeverhave. He wasn’t making this easy on her. “A relationship between us wouldn’t work.” At that, he stopped the wheel, scraped off the clay, and glared at her.

“What are you suggesting then? That we’re just friends with benefits?” he challenged as he threw the clay back onto the bat. It landed off-center. Just like them now.

“Miller, last night was a one-off. We needed to get each other out of our systems so we could move past it and be friends. I don’t regret it, but it would be a bad idea to repeat it.”

“Wren, it’s not just physical. There’s more to us than a ‘one-off,’ as you said.” He made air quotes as if to emphasize how ridiculous he thought that was. Wren couldn’t argue with him on that point since she was more attracted to the man than she was to his packaging. She needed to change tactics.

“I don’t know how this would work, Miller. Long term we want different things. You want to be a law partner and I don’t want that lifestyle.”

“What about the short term?” Miller asked without looking up from his clay.

“I guess I’m just an old-fashioned girl. I’ve never gone into a relationship thinking it was just going to be short term.”

“Wren.” His voice sounded calmer. “I’m not looking for marriage or anything long term right now, you know that. Hell, you just reminded me of that.” He cut the clay off the bat and threw it back on. Wren waited for him to give his closing argument, but he seemed more focused on throwing the clay. After a few more tosses, it hit dead-center, and he said, “I know I enjoy your company, and it’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed spending time with someone this much. I’d hate to lose out on some short-term fun because you’re worried about the long term.”

“I’m not hopping back into bed with you in the name of short-term fun,” Wren said.

“I’m not asking you to, but I wouldn’t complain, either.” He studied his shoes before looking at her. “I meant the kind of short-term fun we had last night before you fell asleep on the couch. You were right when you said the sharing was nice. I’d like more of that.” Wren heard the sincerity in his voice.

“I’m not sure I’m capable of short term.”Coward. Wren knew keeping it short term could be a problem.

“Fine.” It sounded anything but fine to Wren’s ears. Miller started the wheel again.

Spending time with him wasn’t a hardship. Wren didn’t need a man in her life right now, but having one now and then would be nice. “Can I think about it?”

“Fine, but while you’re thinking about it, know that I’ll be working to convince you of it.” Miller sounded confident and sure of himself, the opposite of how he’d sounded a few minutes earlier. Wren knew she was in trouble. It wouldn’t take too much for him to convince her of his short-term plan.

And when she thought about it, almost every relationship she’d ever had had been short term, even though she’d entered them with long-term expectations. Like the college boyfriends she thought she’d grow old with. Even her marriage hadn’t made it long-term, more like mid-term or short-mid-term. Maybe she could do this. She could have her cake and eat it, too. She’d have the benefits of a relationship without all the work. Wren could continue to devote her energy to her business and painting, and not have to devote it to a man and their relationship. Maybe she could enjoy Miller for the here and now.

“That sounds fair, Counselor. I’ll let you persuade me.” They shared a smile and Wren hoped hers wasn’t as goofy as his. She decided she’d better change the topic before Miller started his campaign to persuade her. “You mentioned you needed help with a project.”

“I was hoping to discuss it last night, but then you fell and asleep, and when you woke up you distracted me.”

“The project, Miller,” she reminded him before memories of last night distracted either of them.

“I’d like to make some mugs, serving bowls, and platters for Jackson and Emily as a wedding present.”

“That’s so sweet.” Wren smiled. “I know Emily would love it.”

“But I need help,” he admitted. “Usually, I don’t care too much about the color glaze I use and it can be difficult with my color blindness, which is why I glaze most of my pieces in brown or blue, or I use the tan speckled clay and a clear glaze. They’re fairly utilitarian colors.” Miller shrugged. Wren couldn’t tell if his color blindness embarrassed him or if he was apologizing for his finished products.

“I see some of your pieces are textured.” Wren wandered back to the shelves to inspect the completed items. “That adds a lot of visual interest.”

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