Page 103 of Accidentally in Bloom

It wasn’t a proposal exactly, they weren't ready for that, but it was a promise. Hell, they'd only been on one date, but like Pop said, when you knew, you knew. And he’d known about five seconds after meeting her that she would drive him nuts for the rest of his life.

ROSE

“Wait,” Rose remembered, coming out of her fog of self-centeredness of the last twelve hours. “I thought you had a big delivery?”

“My parents took it.”

Rose’s eyebrows shot up.

“I took your advice,” he said, his thumb tracing her bottom lip.

“And accepted some help?” Her eyes narrowed on his lips that she desperately wanted back on her mouth.

“And accepted some help.” He brought her to him, pulling her in for a hard, quick kiss. He peered around the corner, looking back at the crowd still chatting under the lights of the gazebo.

“I think we have time.” He pulled her hand, weaving through the baskets of peonies.

“Time for what?”

He pulled her into the supply closet, shut the door, and pinned her against it. “I think we have about five minutes until our friends and family—”

Because they were a family, she realized. All of them. Not just her sisters, but Nash, Mrs. Maroo, Pop, everybody.

“—invade the store and celebrate your success.” His mouth came to her neck, and she was pinned to the door with the hand on her waist. His arm bracketed beside her head as he towered over her.

“Rose, I need two things from you.”

“Anything,” she whispered as his hand slid underneath her skirt. His large rough palm ran along the edge of her panties.

“I need you to move in with me,” he said, pulling back slightly, still pinning her between him and the door, his eyes searching hers.

Get this every day? Yes fucking please. She nodded dumbly.

“Yeah?” A youthful light brightened his eyes as hope bloomed between them.

A smile curled her lips. “I mean, I’m mostly moving in to see my boyfriend every day.”

“Me or the one who has four paws?”

“Take your pick.” She nipped at his jawline. His hand dipped underneath her panties.

“I need to see you every day. I need to wake up to you. I need to roll over and know you’re right where you belong every morning,” he said into the curve of her neck. She was completely enveloped by his scent and the wall of muscle surrounding her.

His mouth worked along the column of her throat. She gasped from pleasure.

“What was the second thing?” she muttered.

“Always have to be on task, don’t you?” he chuckled into the curve of her shoulder. Her knees started to buckle as his hands gripped her ass. He pulled back and locked eyes with her.

“The second thing I need is to be inside you right fucking now.”

Chills ran down her arms. His mouth was going to get him out of a lot of trouble.

Gray stepped back suddenly, holding her hand out.

Rose was confused. “What?” She looked down at her dress.

“I want a good look before I muss you up,” he said, spinning her around. He let out a low whistle as she turned her back to him. “I need a minute to admire this view.”

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