Page 5 of Accidentally in Bloom

“Are you a mechanic, Gray?”

He peered over the engine of the car. “Nope, but I’ve kept that hunk of rust over there working.” He opened a gasket cap, looked in, and replaced it. “Why didn’t your boyfriend check this for you before you left?” He peered up at her with a smoldering smile.

An actual smile that was fucking smoldering.

Tingles flooded her body. Down girl. You do not have time for whatever distraction this might be.

She wasn’t dead, though. She could still flirt.

“No boyfriend.” She sent him what she hoped was a sultry smile. “And this is a rental. I’m just visiting. Can you imagine living in Fairwick Falls?” She sent him a conspiratorial laugh. With designer clothes and that handsome face, he had to be passing through too.

Rose sent him a mischievous look, but she was met with icy silence as his eyes narrowed back at her, the smile falling from his face.

Ah, shit.

Chapter

Two

GRAY

Gray Roberts stared at the stunning brunette who had gripped him by the balls since he first laid eyes on her.

Her killer smile had knocked him sideways when he’d hopped off his bike. Long chestnut hair fell in graceful layers and framed her heart-shaped face. She was tall and leggy with curves that he wanted to linger on.

He’d have given his next three-acre crop of dahlias to press her up against the car and steal that smug look on her face right now with his lips. Run his hands against her hips, her ass.

But as her mocking words rang in his head, he thought maybe this goddess of perfection might not be so perfect after all.

Gray crossed his arms and considered her. He leaned against the car, less willing to help now. “What’s wrong with Fairwick Falls, Bertha?”

Her mouth set into a smirk, chin jutted out in defiance. “Too many things to name? It’s nothing but mindless farmers, one stop light, and a barren wasteland of taste.”

“Barren wasteland?” Snob. He put his hands in his pockets and sent her a sharp glare.

He’d only lived in Fairwick Falls for a few years but adored the quirky little town tucked into the countryside. They’d taken him in, no questions asked, after he came out of rehab licking his wounds.

He pushed off the car, done with her game. “I’d rather be a mindless farmer than a know-it-all snob who thinks she’s too good for everyone else.” He glared at her and walked to his bike.

She clenched her jaw, but panic glinted in her eyes.

He ambled over to his bike and called back over his shoulder. “Your engine needs water. Too bad I’m just a mindless farmer, or I’d remember I have some extra water with me.”

“Wait. I’m,” she paused, gulping.

He turned to see her mouth turn down in disgust.

She closed her eyes and opened them slowly, chewing out the words. “...sorry. For what I said.”

“Was that physically painful for you? Cause it looked like it.”

“...No,” she said, clearly lying.

He paused, weighing his actions. Damnit, he couldn’t leave her out here even if she was a snob. He walked back to the car with a large bottle of water.

“This should get you to town. Maybe you can find two yokels and explain what a horseless carriage is so they can fix your radiator leak, snob.” He dumped water into the reservoir.

“I can’t be a snob. I grew up here.”

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