Page 4 of Accidentally in Bloom

He angled an eyebrow, challenging her. “That a special Pilates move?”

Now she really wouldn’t accept his help. She placed a hand down and planned to gracefully slide off the roof...

...but her heels had other plans.

Her feet slipped out from under her, and she launched herself from the roof at a 6’3” wall of muscle.

Her life flashed before her eyes, and sadly it was mostly a montage of Zoom meetings of her saying, “You’re muted, Rob.”

Until she felt a vise wrap around her hips.

Hot Biker Dog Dad caught her.

Rose peered down in shock and admiration into the sculpted face staring back up at her.

Those stormy eyes locked with hers, and her breath caught. He was in no hurry to put her down, apparently.

“I might suggest taking off the spikes next time.”

His eyes roamed her face, and she could almost feel their caress against her cheek.

Her feet dangled in the air; her shoes had flown off in the slip and slide off the car.

Rose felt a solid wall of muscle pressing against her stomach and was pretty sure one of his hands was perched on her ass.

“Sorry for almost killing you,” she said softly. Her eyes had locked themselves on his lips. Why couldn’t she take in a proper breath?

He slowly — painfully, excruciatingly slowly — slid her down his body. She felt every ripple in his chest, then abs, and phew, thighs.

The stranger gently lowered her to the ground. He held her in his arms, pressed close to him.

He smelled like pine and leather, and... was that lavender?

The heat of his arms radiated through Rose, and she was sad to leave them when he stepped back.

A ghost of a smile played across his lips as he bent down, grabbing one of her shoes and holding it out for her.

A gorgeous man was on bended knee in front of her, holding a thousand-dollar pink heel out like a roadside Prince Charming.

For the first time in her life, Rose Parker became tongue-tied.

He slipped her shoe on and held her hand so she could balance as she slipped on the other.

He held onto her hand as he stood but let go after a second. “Do I get to know your name since you almost pancaked me?”

“I’m Rose…”

Wait, don’t give him your real name. The hot ones are always murderers. Even if they do buy doggles.

“Ah…bertha,” she finished lamely.

A grin appeared as he dusted off his knees. “Roseabertha?” He snorted as he walked to the hood of her car. “That’s an awful fake name.”

He nodded to the hood. “Let me take a look. I’m Gray, by the way. The ‘bertha’ in my name is silent.”

He reached out a hand for her to shake, and she grasped it firmly, meeting his eyes briefly. Rose swallowed a smile, feeling utterly thrown off her game.

It was probably the jet lag, right?

---