Page 55 of Where We Bloom

I snort, making his eyes narrow. “Hey, you’re stupidly rich. I don’t know if you’re up to speed on what us commoners do every day.”

Connor smirks and leans in to whisper in my ear, setting my skin on fire.

“You’re so fucking gorgeous, I can hardly breathe.”

I wasnotexpecting that.

He pulls away and winks at me, and I shift back and forth on my bare feet.

“Uh, thanks.”

I watch him walk out the back door onto my tiny patio to light the grill and let out a long breath.

Holy shit.

He’s kept me off balance all day. I’ve knownthis man for the better part of a year, and I’ve never seen him drop his guard the way he has today. I’ve never seen him be so physically affectionate and even a little silly. He’s laughed and smiled more at me in one day than in the whole time I’ve known him.

And, God, how I love his laugh. I want to make him do it all the time.

Just as I start chopping vegetables for the salad, Connor walks back inside and takes over washing the ones I haven’t gotten to yet.

“You’re handy.”

“Despite being rich?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.

“Yep.” I whip the kitchen towel at him, swatting him on the butt. He lunges for me, making me shriek as I move away, but before he can catch me, his phone rings.

“I have to get this.”

“Go ahead.” I’m still laughing when I grab the knife and continue slicing the cucumber. To my surprise, he doesn’t leave the room. He simply answers.

“Gallagher.”

I glance over and see him scowl as he stares out at the living room, listening to whatever the person on the other end says.

“When?” His voice is sharp. Direct.

It sends a shiver down my spine, and my panties flood.

Why do I love that so much?That hard, unrelenting, demanding tone.

I know how it sounds in the bedroom when he’sdriving me wild with his fingers, with his mouth, with his cock.

And fuck me if I don’t miss it.

“Send Sean first thing in the morning and let it be known that if they can’t back the fuck off, we’ll dump the entire bloody project. No, I’m not bloody kidding, Fiona.”

Fiona.His ex-wife.

“I’m not playing this game with them. Bleedin’ hell, there are plenty of other sites to build a resort on in Sweden.”

He hangs up and blows out a breath. His jaw muscles tick, his shoulders are tight, and I don’t know why, but I want to touch him.

Setting the knife down, I walk up behind him, wrap my arms around his middle, and rest my cheek against his back, hugging him.

And slowly, the tension seems to seep out of him.

“It’ll be okay,” I murmur as his hands cover my arms. “Sometimes people just suck, Connor.”

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