Page 15 of Bloom and Burn
“Well?” I swallow hard and feel my dick twitch in my pants.
“I was always interested in flowers and plants. I’ve wanted to run the Blooming Orchid since I was a child.” Joy and pride roll off him as he smiles at me and takes another bite of his cake. “I’ve got so many plans for it, you know. I want to expand, but mom doesn’t want to hear a word about it. Hopefully that will change soon, though.”
I can sense a note of apprehension in his voice, but I don’t mention it. When he wants to tell me more about whatever is going on between him and his mom, he will.
“What about you, Jack? Do you have any hobbies?”
Do I? Not really. My life revolves around Emily and the facility, so I don’t really have free time. We do hang out together and watch movies, but I don’t have a hobby of my own per se.
“Not really.”
“Aw, what a shame.”
I arch an eyebrow. “Do you? I went and assumed your passion takes up all of your time.”
He considers that, tapping his fingers against his cute chin. “I like to hike every now and then.”
He goes on to tell me about the trails around Estacada, which stirs more of my childhood memories. We used to explore the woods with Emily, pretending we were transported back into the past and had to fight monsters and wild beasts.
“Maybe we can go for a long walk some time,” I jokingly suggest, wiggling my eyebrows.
He smirks. “Maybe we could.”
I get the bill. Just as we step outside, it starts pouring down out of nowhere. We are both soaked in seconds.
“Shit, quickly! Get in!” I sprint over to my car and dive inside.
Ryan follows, laughing as he plops his ass into the passenger’s seat. “Holy shit, where did this come from?” We look at each other and he shakes his head, sending drops of water flying everywhere. “Sorry! I got everything wet.”
“It’s no problem.” I shrug, indicating the water dripping from my own hair and clothes.
It doesn’t take long to reach the Blooming Orchid, but there is nowhere to park in the vicinity of the shop, so I’m forced to go right past it and turn.
“There’s a community hall up the road. They are probably hosting some event,” he comments, gazing out of the condensation-fogged window.
I turn up the heating, but notice it does little to stop his shivers. “Do you have a change of clothes at your shop?”
He offers me a sheepish smile. “Nope. Took them home for washing the other day and forgot to bring them back.”
I guess sprinting through the rain and changing isn’t an option then. Which means… “Take off your shirt.”
His eyes go wide. His jaw hangs open a bit, too.
I frown. “What?”
“That was a bit direct. Not that I dislike it, cowboy…”
Awkward silence settles between us as I hold his intense gaze. My skin crawls with sparks, suddenly overly aware of him and the heat of his body. It’s like it has turned tangible, a veil of silk that can touch me even though my wet clothes.
Oh shit, did he misunderstand me? “Uh. It’s, uh… You’ll catch a cold otherwise?”
He flushes red like a tomato. “Oh… Oh, yes, of course! That’s what you meant. Oh my god. Ignore me. I think I’ll just go. I’ll be fine, don’t worry. Thanks for the food.”
He opens the door. Or tries to, but I don’t let him as I press the car’s locking mechanism.
“Wait!”
The air around us charges with crackling electricity that reaches as deep as my bones when he snaps his head back in my direction and I come face to face with his flustered expression.
