Page 143 of Where We Bloom

“No way.”

“What is it?”

She shakes her head and turns to me, those eyes shining up at me, and it’s enough to crack my heart open.

“It’s signed by Ellis Bell. How in the hell did you make this happen in a matter ofdays?”

“Money talks, baby.” I tip her chin up and kiss her lips softly. “Now, I know you’re a wee bit overwhelmed, but there’s one more thing in this room you haven’t noticed.”

She closes her eyes and leans into me. “I can’t do anymore. This is too much. I don’t deserve?—”

“Finish that sentence, and I’ll turn you over my knee, Billie.”

She blinks up at me in surprise, but her lips part, and her pupils dilate.

“Thank you,” she whispers.

“You’re welcome, but we’re just getting started. Come here.”

“Wait.” She carefully places the book back on the shelf, then slips her hand in mine. “Okay.”

I had blue fabric draped over the piece that Kane sent over, and when we approach it, I pull the fabric off and toss it aside, and my girl gasps again.

“Stop it.”

I laugh at that and tug her to me. “The blues and greens in this piece remind me of the mountains here, and when Kane sent me a photo of it, I knew you had to have it for this room.”

“Connor.” She’s crying now, wiping at tears.

“He had it hand couriered over from Seattle, so it would be here when we got home.”

She turns and launches herself against me, wrapping her arms around me tightly, and presses her face to my chest.

“Tell me these are good tears,mo rúnsearc.”

“So good.” She sniffs and wipes her face. “So glad I didn’t put my makeup on yet.”

With a chuckle, I kiss her forehead. “I do need you to be ready to leave the house within the hour.”

She blinks up at me, frowning. “What? Why? I plan to spend all day in here, organizing my books and pretending I’m Belle fromBeauty and the Beast.”

“You’re so fucking adorable.” I shake my head andkiss her once more. “That will have to wait. The surprises are just beginning for the day.”

“Connor.” She takes my hand before I can pull away. “I’m so grateful, sostupidlygrateful, but you know I’m not here for this. I don’t need you to spend all this money on me. I’m not a gol?—”

I narrow my eyes, and she smartly folds her lips together.

“We’ll nevereversay that word. Do you understand me?”

Her shoulders droop, and she nods.

“You’re mine, Billie. And in turn, I’myours.Everything I am, everything I have, is also yours. I’m a wealthy man, and I make no apologies for that because I’ve worked my arse off for it. As have you. I will shower you with whatever your heart desires because making sure that you’re happy and cared for is my number one priority.”

“This is more than happy and cared for.” The side of her mouth tips up in a rueful grin.

“It’s a privilege to give you everything I can. I will give you the world, angel.” I kiss her forehead, breathing her in. “Just as it’s a privilege to sit and talk with you. To make love to you. The simple, the mundane, and the extraordinary. We can have it all.”

“Thank you for sharing it with me. I’ll never take it for granted.”

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