Page 25 of Accidentally in Bloom

Gray ambled into the chaotic greenhouse. It was semi-transparent, with tables covering the interior and tools lying against the far wall. The overflow plants Gray had left here were doing nicely, despite the leaks he spotted. Grass poked through the dirt floor, growing now that they were safely out of winter’s way.

“I practically lived here when I first started. Frank helped me get my sea legs when I converted my grandparents’ farm to produce flowers.”

Starter seedlings of black-eyed Susans sat on the long tables. A few had started blossoming. “He didn’t use this space except when business was booming. Which was rare.”

“I gathered that last part,” Rose said drily, looking around.

The soft patter on the gray transparent ceiling signaled the beginning of the first big spring storm. Good. His crops needed water.

Silence hung between them, broken by the gentle drops.

“You really liked him, didn’t you?” Rose asked out of the blue.

He nodded as he looked around the greenhouse. “I know it’s hard to imagine since you now see a pillar of strength and stability before you, but I was in a bad place when I moved back. Frank saw my potential. For the first few years, he was more of a dad to me than my own.”

“I’m glad he had you.” Rose ran her hands along a small flower petal, caressing it lovingly.

Gray fought an idiotic urge to bring her close to him.

“My sisters and I reminded him of our mom, I think. We couldn’t connect.”

Gray’s eyes fell, not sure how to respond in a way that wouldn’t set off another round of angry discussions.

Blades of grass wiggled under their feet, and a cute little garter snake slithered by Rose’s foot.

“Rose, don’t look down and move over by me.” Gray calmly placed a hand on her arm to guide her.

Of course, she looked down and immediately screamed.

City girls.

She leaped at him, and he caught her before she toppled over a table. “It’s fine, it’s fine. Just a garter snake,” he chuckled.

His hands grabbed her waist, steadying her.

Her hands clutched at his shoulders, and her fingers dug in, gripping him like a lifeline. Their faces were inches apart, their breaths intertwined.

He stared into the caramel depths of her eyes and felt himself teeter on the edge of something.

Get your shit together, Roberts. He held her close as she got her bearings. The heat of her body next to his felt like absolute perfection. “You okay?”

Their eyes locked, mouths a breath away from one another. The gentle sound of raindrops filled the air.

“Uh-huh,” she said, out of breath.

Neither moved.

She felt so fucking good in his arms, and for a moment he considered pulling her head back and taking what he wanted from the red lips that taunted him.

He stroked his thumbs against her waist and felt her breath hitch. Gray tilted a fraction toward her, and her eyes went to his lips. He could feel her breath on him.

A clap of thunder boomed overhead, and they both jumped apart. His heart felt like it might leap out of his chest.

Rose took a step back and shook her head. “I should…uh, go. Lots to do.”

Gray dropped his hands. “Yeah, this thing isn’t leak-proof yet. We should go.”

Before I do something stupid.

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