Page 26 of Accidentally in Bloom

Rose ran her hands through her hair, getting her bearings again as they walked to the door. “Gray, I’m just trying to do what’s fair. You know the tax bill we owe, and this could help a lot.”

They paused at the doorway, and Gray took a breath, weighing his options. He needed the extra greenhouse space if he landed the deal with Bailey’s. Building a new greenhouse would take forever, and this was right next to his farm. It was too convenient to ignore.

He glanced at her, and his breath caught. She was a perfect fucking picture in the doorway: hair tousled with her trench coat cinched on her waist and the rain falling behind her.

He crossed his arms so they didn’t do anything dumb, like haul her to the nearest flat surface. “I know you’re in a tough spot. But this is a big price change from what I was expecting. Can I text you in a few days? And then we can talk about what to do with the rest of the estate?”

“That only seems fair. I did ambush you.” Her mouth curled into an I’m not sorry at all for ambushing you smirk.

“It’s always a memorable day when I see you, Rose Parker.” He stuck out his hand and wondered if she’d even deign to take it.

She grasped his hand, and the jolt of electric need spread through him again, turning into slow heat that went straight to his dick. He saw her eyes flit to his mouth for a fraction of a second, and his breath caught at the possibilities of that look.

“Bye, Gray,” she whispered, and jaunted out to the car to avoid the pouring rain.

As he watched her jog away, he felt like something had been taken from him. He was entranced by her shapely, mouth-watering legs as they swished away to that damned old car.

She was the most intriguing woman he’d met since—well, maybe ever.

If she hadn’t been such a pain in the ass, he’d have run after her right then. Kissed her in the middle of the rainstorm. He pictured taking that smart mouth just the way he wanted. He shifted, his pants now feeling uncomfortable.

Gray shook his head to clear it. Keep it in your pants, Roberts. He needed to focus on the deal and figure out what he wanted to do, regardless of his undeniable, utterly unfortunate attraction to Rose Parker.

ROSE

Get the Fuck out of Fairwick Falls To-Do Item #1:

Deal with The Flower Shop

Sell the Flower Shop

...Relaunch? The Flower Shop.

Rose nervously tapped her foot as she watched Lily and Violet walk from their cars to the front door of the flower shop in the drizzle. It hadn’t let up since Rose had left Gray at the greenhouse earlier that day.

Lily swung open the flower shop door and shook the water off her coat and hair. “This better be good. I missed my mid-evening catnap for…” Her eyes went wide.

“Whoa, it looks completely different in here.” Violet craned her neck around.

After putting together a passable draft business plan, Rose had used her burbling anxiety to give the shop a good scrub, including the windows. The old wooden floors now gleamed without the dark display cases blocking the windows. Despite the setting sun and drizzle outside, the shop practically glowed.

Rose beamed a smile at them. “It’s amazing what happens if you just clean the place.”

“Rose, you are a miracle worker!” Violet exclaimed as she turned around, dumbstruck. “Who knew it could be this bright in here?”

Rose took a big breath. Now or never. She had corkboards propped up with cloths over them to pitch her vision to Lily and Vi.

“I wanted you to see the store to imagine the possibilities. I’ve been thinking…” Rose glanced nervously between them. “We should re-open the shop. We could redo the interior and sell the business in a few months for more than it’s worth now. But I would need both of you to help make it happen.”

Hope blossomed on Violet’s face.

“But aren’t you going back to LA in a few weeks?” Lily’s eyebrows drew together with confusion.

“I was...” A sick thud landed in Rose’s stomach. She had to tell them. “Fired.” Her voice wavered for a fraction of a second before she gained control of her emotions.

She didn’t even like those assholes. Why did it still hurt so much?

Lily walked toward Rose for a hug. “Those assholes.”

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