Page 41 of Love in Bloom

“Don’t you mean the bachelor auction date Mrs. Hart bid on for you, since you had to pay her with a painting?”

“Don’t argue the details, just answer the question.”

“Do you want it to be the bachelor auction date?”

“Leave it to a lawyer to answer a question with another question,” Wren grumbled and Miller chuckled, but didn’t say anything. He wanted Wren to answer his question.

“Well, it can’t be the bachelor auction date. For that, you promised a home-cooked meal—“

“Which you got.”

“And entertainment—“

“We watched the Wild.”

“Na-ah-ah,” she scolded, wiggling her finger at him. “You said we’d go to a Wild game. This was us sitting on your couch. Not much effort there.” She shook her head.

“Hey, I made you homemade pizza, including dough made from scratch. I put plenty of effort into this date,” Miller defended.

“This can be a date, but it can’t be the bachelor date, because for that you also promised dessert, and I haven’t seen any dessert.”

“So, you’re busting my chops for a technicality?”

“I’m afraid I must, unless you have dessert somewhere,” she teased. Miller tossed his head back against the couch and ran through the food in his pantry and freezer. He didn’t stock desserts, they were too tempting, but there might be a half-eaten pint of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream in the freezer and a leftover bag of chocolate chips in the pantry.

“Well?” Wren moved the hand that had been torturing Miller by playing with his shirt buttons slowly up his chest to his chin and turned him to face her.

“I’ve got nothing in the kitchen. Sorry.”

“Dessert doesn’t need to be from the kitchen.” She traced the outline of his lips with her slim finger and then stretched up to kiss him.

“Wren,” Miller whispered against her lips, “what are you doing?”

“I’m— I’m not sure. But I want to keep doing it.”

She tried to deepen the kiss by running her tongue along Miller’s sealed lips, but he pulled back.

“Ginge, you’ve had two glasses of wine and you’re tired. I don’t want you to regret this.”

“I had two glasses of wine over two hours ago and twice that amount in pizza,” she replied while peppering his jaw with tiny kisses. “And, I had a long nap, so I’m wide awake. Look, I know I’ve been keeping you at arm’s length. But I’m tired of fighting my attraction to you.” Her eyes met his and he could see the desire in them. “Not every kiss has to be the start of a relationship.”

Miller took her hand and placed a kiss on her palm. Wren braced herself against him and swung her leg around to straddle him.

“So are we having dessert or not, Counselor?” she asked, her eyes focused on his lips.

“I thought you were done with the Counselor routine?” Miller concentrated on his breathing. Slow and steady. In and out.

“I’m hoping it will get me into your briefs.” He felt her smile against his neck. She ran her hand down his chest. “Miller, I’m tired of fighting my attraction to you. I know what I want.”

“What’s that?” he asked.In and out. In and out.

“To spend the night.” She looked him in the eyes. Miller’s breath caught.

“Before I combust, I need to clarify,” he said, exhaling forcefully while shifting Wren further back on this lap. “Am I sleeping on the couch tonight or in my own bed with you?” Wren stood up and held out her hand.

“In your own bed, and I’m hoping there won’t be much sleeping” She looked down at him, and there was no way he could resist. He grabbed her outstretched hand and stood. Miller led Wren through the darkened living room and up the stairs to his master suite. Wren in his bed. Yep, the future was full of possibilities.

Wrenreacheddowntopull up the blanket. Her hand came up empty. She always had an extra blanket at the foot of the bed. Where was it? She opened her eyes and squinted at the sunlight sneaking in under the blinds. Odd, she didn’t get morning sun. As she came awake, it all came back to her. She wasn’t in her bed. She was in Miller’s. Alone.

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