Page 24 of Wild Flower

“Any girl who’s willing to get with thetwoof us,” I continue, “doesn’t want everyday romance. Showing up at her work will scare her off. Trust me on this.”

“Because she has to come to us?” Finn asks.

“Now you’re learning.” I pat him on the cheek, which is a bit condescending, but I don’t want him ruining this. I live life for the thrills, but one can still be methodical about it. How do you think I scored that incredible house sitting gig? “It’s got to be her decision,” I continue. “And the fact that she didn’t show up last night doesn’t mean she’s out. It means she knows the invitation is open to come back. And shewillcome back.”

“Right …” Finn grumbles. “In the meantime, I pop my own cork and avoid going to my cousin’s florist shop like it’s riddled with plague?”

“Do you normally visit your cousin at work?”

“No.”

“So that won’t be a problem.”

“Except, I know where to find her now,” Finn admits.

Greedy shit.

I wrap my arm around Finn’s neck and put him in a headlock—a nice one, we’re playing. But fuck! Why can’t he chill out and wait for a good thing?

“Don’t scare off the mystical unicorn I’m only going to meet once in a decade,” I scold, squeezing on his neck a little harder. Not that I’m lucky enough to get another decade. “You don’t show up to a florist shop with flowers. Take itslow,cowboy. Our unicorn is just wrapping her head around the idea that shelikedhaving both of us. She needs space to realize she’s brave enough for a second round. Wait.”

“At what point do you realize she doesn’t want a second round?” Finn pushes, squirming in my grip.

I smile. This kid wants her all to himself.

“How about this,” I offer. “We already made a bet last night: when shedoesshow up, she gets my cock first.” Finn frowns, but nods. “But clearly, you need a time limit? How about a month? If Becca doesn’t come back to us in one month, you can go visit your cousin’s boss in her place of employment. Is that what you want?”

Finn tries to push off my arm. “And what if she shows up in the next month?”

I release him from the headlock and laugh. “Well then, I hope you like to watch,” I say with a sneaky grin. “Bet on what you want, Finn. Always. And my stipulation is that the first time she shows up, I get all the candy!” My cohort frowns. “That doesn’t mean you don’t get to touch or taste,” I clarify. “It just means you don’t get to fuck her ... the first time.”

“And why would I agree to that?”

“Because you need to learn patience,” I point out obnoxiously. “But once you have, trust me, the chocolate factory is going to blow your mind.”

Finn smirks, unconvinced.

“Oh, come on,” I tease. “You love watching. I know you love watching. In fact, I think you might like watching more than you like fucking.”

The muscle in Finn’s cheek feathers. He’s grinding his teeth and trying to decide if he wants to admit that. The reason I know it’s true is because I caught him watching me and a customer back here one night. I’d bent a woman over one of the rooftop pipes and Finn watched the whole time. It’s how our whole bet to see how far a customer would let us get started. And I’ve paid attention. Finn seldom touches the patrons, but God, does he love to watch.

“I’m not a shithead, Finn,” I continue. “I may get the candy the first time, but I’m going to make sure you love every second of it. In fact, I think you’re even more intrigued to find out how I’m going to deliver on that promise, and trust me, I will.”

Finn’s jaw feathers, not sure he wants to agree to my terms.

“Or go to that damn flower shop now and ruin it for both of us,” I assert. “But if you’re smart and wait, then you win no matter what. You get to go after the girl if she doesn’t show up, or—if you exercise a little patience—you get to see how wicked she is whenshe choosesshe wants in.”

My cock twitches.

It’s going to be a beautiful thing.

15

BECCA

Istride out of my parents’ guest house wearing the sexiest thing I own: an emerald, velvet cocktail dress. If I have to go on this blind date my mother set up, the least I can do is lookgood.

The dress has a deep v-neck and a wraparound skirt that shows off some leg. The green contrasts against my pale hair and skin, emphasizing the tattoos that peek out from under the fabric: vibrant yellow flowers on my breast bone, pink chrysanthemum petals on my shoulder, seductive red poppies on my thighs. I feel wild and confident whenever I wear this dress.

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