Page 30 of Bloom and Burn
My heart tries to dig a hole out of my chest all the while electricity crawls under my skin. “Yeah?” Sparks surge through my bloodstream as my stomach coils in anticipation. “Smooth enough so you are feeling like going out on a date with me, I hope.”
My voice comes out a little hoarser than intended, but that peek I caught of his tongue has me feeling hot all over. I’ve done my best not to think about him every free minute I have, and it’s somewhat worked because I’ve kept myself too busy to have downtime. But now that I am standing across from him with just the two of us in hisshop, I can’t ignore the desire within me. I want him, to get to know him and spend time together, to taste him again, to hear him say my name amidst pleasure.
Ryan is quiet for a couple of loud heartbeats that I’m sure he can hear, too. He lifts the flowers and sniffs them, closing his eyes. The suspension is killing me; I’ve never been so nervous even though this will be our second date if he agrees. But I can’t help it, because it feels different from last time. Deeper, more serious, like it’s not just about the possibility of hot sex.
When Ryan opens his gorgeous eyes, they pin me with even more intensity, their green color so captivating I can’t look away even if I wanted to.
“Hmm… I do feel like going out on a date with you, so I guess that’s a yes.”
Hell yes.My heart rate soars and my grin widens even more. Relief floods me before my stomach twists in excitement again as he steps closer to me. I’m suddenly overly aware of his presence, of the melting distance between us, of his flowery scent that I can pick out even in the middle of a flower shop.
“Dinner, then a movie? Or we could go for a walk? I’ve been wanting to check out the trails,” I rush out, feeling like a rabbit in the crosshairs of a hawk.
He hums, undeterred, as he continues to inch in. He’s close, so close. Goosebumps cover me from head to toe. The urge to reach out and pull him in so I can taste him overrides every other thought, but before I can act on that impulse, his arms loop around my neck and he stands on tiptoes so he can kiss me.
My brain shorts. Stars explode inside me. His soft lips slot against mine, sweet like cotton candy. I moan, he does too, opening for me as self-control slips me. I plunge mytongue into his willing mouth, licking everything I can get to. Every inch is mine, every crevice. My head spins.
“I think I’m feeling like a walk,” he whispers when we part for air, cheeks rosy and eyes gleaming. He moves around the floral bar and places the flowers I gifted him in a vase. “We could do both actually, as long as you are okay with junk food instead of fine dining.”
I don’t respond immediately. I can’t. My heart is racing like mad, and my body is still shaking from that kiss.
He licks his lips obscenely. I growl. “Stop teasing me or I’ll bend you over the floral bar and have you for dinner instead.”
He taps his fingers against the bar’s edge. “Is this supposed to discourage me or something?”
This devil.
“I’m a gentleman. And no offense to Estacada, but if I wanted to take you out for fine dining, we’d go to Portland.” It’s too late to go now, and besides, most of the really good places require a reservation. “I’m happy to grab a sandwich or something and eat while hiking.”
“Great. Let me close up.”
As I wait outside for Ryan, I can’t help but smile. This feels monumental somehow, like we’ve taken the next step forward. It’s scary, and I don’t really know what to do with myself because I’ve never really wanted someone in the way I want Ryan.
I never expected to find a man like him here, someone who gets along with me with such ease and keeps me up at night because I can’t stop thinking about him. But even if it terrifies me, as soon as he walks out and aims that radiant smile at me, I know right here and now, that I am not alone in this.
He has it just as bad as I do.
11
Jack
Afterpickingupsandwichesfrom the deli by the gym I’ve started going to, I drive us to the edge of town where the hiking trails begin. There are a few cars in the parking lot, so evidently, we aren’t the only ones that want to enjoy the nice weather and nature. We don’t say much for the first ten minutes as we head down a path as both of us focus on our sandwiches.
“What’s with the workshop, by the way?” I ask when we are done eating.
“Emily was asking me about stuff and I kind of want to test out a workshop I designed for when I… expand the business. We thought it was a good opportunity,” he explains enthusiastically. “It will be more practical stuff than theory, so I guarantee it will be somewhat fun.”
We stop by a trashcan and get rid of our rubbish. “I don’t doubt that, though I’ll let you know how I find it only in exchange for a cookie.”
My bad joke rips a scoff out of him. I’m hilarious, I know. But to be fair, even if it was a dry lecture style workshop, I’d still probably enjoy it because it’s fun watching Ryan talk about his passion.
“Speaking of cookies, how is it going with the bakeries? You didn’t say much,” he comments, giving me an expectant, hopeful look.
We start walking again, following a trail along the edge of a field. The sun is obstructed by the crowns of trees and so its diminished warmth is making us both keep our jackets on.
“Good. It’s all set up. We have more than a dozen responses online, last I checked, and it’s been just a couple of days.” His face lights up at my good news. “Even if we are looking at similar numbers for the rest of the promo’s duration, we’ll get plenty of useful data which we can present to your parents.”
I realize after the words are out of my mouth that I never asked Ryan why he agreed to help us so easily. He did say he didn’t mind relocating, but seeing as how troublesome it is to get his folks onboard, surely he could’ve just used that as an excuse and turned me down.
