Page 6 of Where We Bloom

I fuckinglovecurvy women.

“I won’t sleep,” she informs me, dragging a finger down my neck. “And I don’t want to keep you up. I’m fine in the chair.”

“You’re fine in the bed, and you won’t keep me up.”

She starts to protest, but I silence her with a kiss.

“I want you with me, angel.”

I lay her down, and once I’ve fetched a warm cloth from the bathroom and cleaned her up, I curl up behindher, tucking her back against my front. We lie like this for a while, watching the snow through the windows. But then, to my surprise, she wiggles around, presses her face to my chest, wraps her arm around my waist, and sighs as she loops one leg through mine. She snuggles into me so tightly, as if she’s worried I might get away from her.

I kiss her head and hug her close, breathing her in.

I’ve never felt such an instant connection to someone. I don’t remember the last time I was this attracted to a woman. I’m not in the habit of keeping someone in my bed overnight, and I’m not a cuddler.

That’s too personal.

But this lass had me trapped in her spell from the moment I saw her.

I glance at the clock. I’m leaving in five hours.

And I spend every minute of those holding her. She was wrong. She fell into a deep sleep and relaxed against me. I washed her face in the shower earlier, so she’s free of makeup and even more stunning.

The snow stops at around six, and it’s time for me to get ready to leave. My angel is sleeping so well, I don’t want to wake her.

Okay, the truth is, if she wakes up, I won’t want to leave her.

And I have to go.

So I cross to the walk-in closet and dress, grab my already packed bag, and carry it through to the front door of the suite. Then I return to her and watch her for a few moments. She’s still in my shirt.She can keep it.

I wonder, briefly, if she’ll hang on to itor discard it.

“Take care, angel,” I whisper before leaving the suite and quietly shutting the door behind me. I stop at the front desk and ask them to send up coffee and everything on the breakfast menu in two hours, then have a driver take her to her car whenever she’s ready. Then I leave for the airport.

Although I know I’ll be back in Bitterroot Valley often to see my sister, I also know that I won’t repeat this night with that glorious, stunning, and witty woman.

Because I’d lose myself to her, and there’s no room for that in my world.

Chapter One

BILLIE

This is my very favorite day of the month.

One Monday a month, I leave my bookstore in the capable hands of my two employees and drive the four hours to Big Sky, Montana, to shop. The only time this doesn’t happen is when it’s too snowy and the roads are treacherous.

But it’s summertime, which means that for the next few months, I’ll be able to come to this resort town and buy clothes on my usual schedule.

I’m a self-professed fashionista. I love clothes, especially expensive, high-end labels, but I don’t have the budget for that when it comes to buying brand-new.

That’s where Big Sky comes in.

This ski town isn’t so unlike Bitterroot Valley, except it’s where the rich come to vacation and own vacation homes. Mega celebrities, billionaires, you name it, and these wealthy women send their hand-me-downs to the local thrift store.

A little secret I discovered by mistake a couple of years ago, and I’m so glad I did. I find a place to park, then walk down the block to the darling boutique-style thrift shop and push inside.

“How are you, Martha?” I ask the owner, who’s hanging what looks like a red wool coat on a hanger.

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