Page 12 of Accidentally in Bloom

Gray had been itching to move his business beyond mom-and-pop suppliers. Distributing throughout an entire regional chain would be the first step in proving he could handle a larger load, especially after his failure last year with that fucking lavender crop that nearly ruined him.

“Yeah, that’s no problem. I’ll move some things around.”

He’d planned to fly to Montreal to visit his son, but he’d have to push it to the next weekend. This meeting was a once-in-a-life chance to take the next step for his business, the business he wanted to leave to Alex someday. His stomach churned at disappointing his little buddy, but he had to sacrifice for a better future.

“Great. Good to hear. See you then.”

Gray hung up and sent off a flurry of text messages. Alex’s mom wouldn’t be happy he was moving his trip, but it wouldn’t be the first time. He ran a growing business that required his full attention.

It was only Gray running the show; he had a part-time employee, but no one he felt like he could trust. He'd trusted Frank, and Frank had filled in for him when needed, but…

Emotion clutched at Gray’s throat, thinking about how Frank had filled the void in his life as a best friend, father figure, and mentor. It had been a rough few months without him.

And that goddess inside had the nerve to ignore one of the best people he’d ever met. It had eaten Frank up inside that he’d fallen out with his oldest daughter.

Gray glanced at the diner door and thought about the viper pit that waited inside. And idiotically, he’d wanted to grab Nash by the throat when he put his arm around Rose.

Gray desperately wanted to be in her orbit even though she irritated the hell out of him. She locked him by the throat with those molten caramel eyes fanned out with lashes so long they should be illegal. She’d glared at him with undeniable fury, and Gray had found it so hot and so irritating at the same time.

A laugh burst out of him. How the fuck was that woman related to Frank Parker?

Gray threw open the door, and though the familiar wave of comfort washed over him, he could feel Rose’s eyes roasting him. Lily got up to let him back in the booth.

“Don't get up. I’ll just sit right here.” He slid in next to Rose. He easily fit on the long bench seat but made sure to slam his body up next to hers. “There’s plenty of room, right?”

Rose slowly turned her head to glare at him. “We were just finishing up.”

Every syllable out of her mouth hit him like a blow to the cock.

“Looks like you haven’t made a dent there, princess. Those LA influencers getting to you?” He picked up a piece of toast from her plate and chomped on it.

She grabbed the bread from his hand and threw it down. “We are not friends. I don’t know who you think you’re talking to.” She threw fifty bucks on the table and shoved him to move out of the booth. “But we’re done. I have a long to-do list, and you’re in my way.”

He stood but crowded her as she got up. “I’m not on your to-do list, princess?” Gray smiled back at her, the innuendo flying like a checkered flag between them. Game on.

She leaned in close. His breath caught, and his entire body stiffened in surprise. He felt her hot breath whisper against his skin.

Her lip brushed his ear as she spoke low. “You will never, ever, under any circumstance, be lucky enough to be inside my to-do list.” She turned on her heel and glided out the door.

A searing heat spread through his body. That woman will be my downfall.

The will reading couldn’t come soon enough.

Chapter

Four

ROSE

Rose threw open the door of Canon’s and waltzed out of the diner. She hoped Gray’s jaw was still on the floor.

Rose pulled up her long To-Do List and clicked away on her heels toward her first stop.

“Holy shitballs.” Lily laughed as she jogged out of the diner.

Rose desperately wanted to change the subject away from Gray. No need to think about him or their irritating conversation that still had her blood boiling.

“Have you guys been to the shop yet?” Rose charged down the sidewalk.

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