Page 17 of Accidentally in Bloom

The sunshine warmed his shoulders, and a breeze blew around him. Birds chirped in the cheerful, blooming spring trees, and Gray wished he was anywhere else on the fucking planet.

Gray swallowed hard, suppressing the lump in his throat. Frank had been the nearest thing to a supportive dad that Gray had ever known. His father had always expected him to be more, do more. Frank accepted him for who he was and understood everyone fights their own battles.

The whole thing was worse since he’d have to see the prickly, know-it-all she-demon he’d met yesterday.

Speak of the ice princess. He saw the familiar old BMW rattle into a parking spot.

Frank’s three girls got out, looking like a bouquet of mismatched flowers. Lily had on a cropped, flowing top and flowery bell-bottom pants. Violet wore her landscaping company polo shirt and work khakis.

His eyes lingered on the third, most annoying one. He tried to convince his dick to pay less attention to Rose’s long legs and fantastic ass. She was a vision in tight black jeans, a designer coat, and a blouse that fit so perfectly that he had to force his eyes up from staring at her breasts like a creep.

Christ, he was going to a will reading of his close friend, and he coaxed every nerve in his body to remember that.

She glared at him from behind her sunglasses as she slammed the car door shut. He could feel her projected wall of “fuck you” from where he stood.

Time to get this shit over with. He ambled to the front door and held it open for them.

Lily walked through. “Thanks, Gray.” Violet kept her eyes downcast and sent him a shy smile.

He waved Rose through. “After you—”

She stuck out a finger at him. “Don’t you fucking dare,” she hissed through her teeth and stalked through.

“What? I was gonna say Rose.” He sent her an innocent shrug. “Or do you prefer Bertha?”

She glared over her shoulder, and he chuckled as he meandered in behind her.

The old wooden floor creaked as they walked through the cozy cottage that had been converted into law offices. Frank’s lawyer, Mrs. Maroo, stood in the back hallway waiting for them.

Mrs. Maroo, the unofficial grandma of Fairwick Falls, was one hundred pounds soaking wet, had white, tightly curled hair close to her head, and left a cloud of perfume wherever she went. She was one of the spitfires that kept Fairwick Falls running.

Gray fucking adored her.

She waved them into her doily-laden law office. “In you go, my dears.” She sent Gray a wink from behind enormous rhinestone glasses. “Hiya, handsome.”

He’d gotten roped into a charity date auction for the local food bank, and Mrs. Maroo had been vicious in her battle to win him. He’d taken her out to her requested evening of a biker bar and tequila shots—though his were just Sprite—and they’d been good friends ever since.

Gray sent her a winning smile as he leaned down for a quick hug. “How am I going to keep my head on straight with all those sparkles you’ve got on?”

Mrs. Maroo shimmied her shoulders and sent beams of light around the cottage from her sequined jacket. “You just keep your eyes on those pretty ladies in there, young man.” She swatted him into her office.

Gray couldn’t take his eyes off Rose in the small office, which only irritated him more. She stared straight ahead, ignoring him. Gray needed to bury his growing attraction to her. He’d never been so drawn to someone he needed to forget so much.

Mrs. Maroo closed the door and power-walked to her desk. “Let’s get down to business, shall we? I’m sorry to see you all here, but know that Frank always planned ahead.”

Mrs. Maroo adjusted her rhinestone glasses and straightened her back. “Frank had an unconventional request, which is why I wanted you here in person. I’m sure you’ve heard of an executor of a will? The person who handles someone’s affairs to close out their estate?”

All four of them nodded back.

“Frank named two executors. Unusual but not unheard of. Just like Frank.” Mrs. Maroo’s eyes went misty, but she blinked the tears back quickly.

Shit. Two sisters would be in charge, and the last one would be left out. Why did Frank ask him to be here for this?

“The two executors are Rose” —Mrs. Maroo cleared her throat, seeming to hide a small laugh— “and Gray.”

Mrs. Maroo steepled her hands and sat back, hiding a smile.

Gray’s eyes shot over to Rose with surprise.

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