Page 139 of Where We Bloom

“Because that’s what will make you comfortable.” I’ll never forget that morning when Cassie and Billie met, and Billie was jealous as she walked into the bedroom carrying that tray. I hated the look on her face. “I won’t have you uncomfortable in your own home, angel. From now on, you’ll be Cassie’s primary contact.”

She blinks at me and then shivers. “I’m always so cold on planes.”

“I got you something.” I stand to walk to the back of the plane. Retrieving her gift, I take it to her. I open the soft wool blanket and drape it over her. “This is for when we fly. I know you get cold.”

“Connor?”

“Yes,mo chroi.”

“You bought me aHermesblanket. Just for when we fly?”

“Aye, I did.”

She snorts and snuggles under it. “Thank you. Okay, I’ll add it to my calendar to chat with Cassie each week.”

“Thank you.” I move from my seat to the one next to hers, and she shares her blanket with me.

“Were you cold, too?”

“No. I missed you, angel.”

She flutters her eyelashes at me. “You’re just trying to get into my pants.”

I huff out a laugh and lean over to kiss her head.

“I had the best week with you,” she says softly, leaning against me as I pull her to me. “Every minute of it was fun. Kane and Anastasia areso nice. I loved having dinner with your parents. And the view of the ocean from your house is just amazing. I even loved it when we fought.”

“We didn’t fight.”

“In New York, we did, but then we had the makeup sex, and that was pretty fabulous. Also, I still can’t believe you bought that glass piece from Kane. I wasn’t trying to?—”

“I know. But it was obvious that it was meant to be yours. Where will you put it?”

“In our bedroom.”In our bedroom.“It’ll go well in there. I’ll see if someone will build a pretty stand for it. Chase Wild is an excellent woodworker. I bet I could talk him into it.”

“Chase is a man of many talents,” I reply.

“He’s a good guy. The whole family is great.” Shesnuggles up closer, and I tighten my arm around her. “When you hold me like this, it makes me sleepy. Not tired, but relaxed. And just like when I stood by the cliffs, it drowns out all the noise, and my mind quiets. It’s like a drug that I can’t get enough of. You’re good for my nervous system.”

“Good, because I have no intention of ever letting you go,mo rúnsearc. I want to be your peaceful place.”

“You are. Since the night I met you.” She looks up at me and brushes her fingers through my hair. “I wasn’t lying or exaggerating the other day when I told you that I’d like to go to the Galway house often. It’s serene. So freaking gorgeous. And it’s where you’re the most relaxed. Now that I’ve found my peaceful place, I need you to have yours, too.”

“I do, baby. It’s when I’m with you.”

“You have relaxed considerably since I first met you.” She kisses my shoulder. “But I saw the way your whole body relaxed when we were there, and I want you to have it as often as possible.”

“We’ll see what we can do.”

Her phone buzzes next to her, and she grabs it. “Beck just canceled family dinner tomorrow.”

“Oh?” My lips twitch, and I kiss her head.

Of course, he canceled.

I asked him to.

“Well, that sucks.”

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