Page 36 of Accidentally in Bloom

“I know, I know.” Lily waved her hands around. “Sorry, plants.”

“That’s right. They’re going to pay our bills.” Violet straightened her shirt with self-righteousness.

Rose loved her weird little sister, who preferred plants to people. Well, both her weird little sisters, she realized as she saw Lily holding fake plants between her teeth as she wrestled with them into the grid.

“Any luck with the notebooks?” Violet asked.

“Hardly.” Rose hefted them on her hip. “Did you ever look through these with Dad?”

Violet layered bits of eggshells into her soil as she spoke. “Honestly, he hardly ever wanted me to deal with the business. It’s like he…” Violet shook her head. “...like he wanted me to do more. You know, he never really had a choice about the flower shop.”

“Yeah, I know.” Rose sat the notebooks down. They’d gotten heavier in her arms. “Grandma always made him promise that he’d never lose it—”

“On her death bed,” Violet interrupted. “If you remember. Maybe Gray can help you with those.” Violet jutted her chin to the record books.

“I can handle this on my own, thank you.”

Violet picked up pots to carry into the prep room. “Your loss. He looks pret-ty dreamy with his tool belt over there.”

Rose had to admit the powerful combination of Gray’s permanent stubble, tool belt, and a black t-shirt that highlighted his large biceps had her mouth-watering. His arms ranged up, holding up the long shelf he was installing.

Rose was mesmerized by his drill going in and out as he screwed in a shelf. His shirt lifted at the bottom, showing a glimpse of taunt skin across his stomach. What would it taste like if she licked him right there?

Get yourself together, girl. She shook her head to clear the X-rated pictures forming in it.

“Hey, Gray,” Violet called over the blare of the music. “When you’re fixing the shelves in the cooler, could you look at the door? It keeps accidentally locking.”

“Sure thing.” Gray grabbed his toolbox and headed to the back room.

“Oh, and Rose needs your help,” Violet called. Rose followed him to the back room and stuck her tongue out at Violet. Sisters are the worst.

Gray sent a smug smile over his shoulder as he walked to the back. “You needed me?” His curved lips and green eyes sent sparks shooting straight down into her belly.

Nothing will happen. Lily and Violet are here. We can handle a simple conversation.

Rose rolled her eyes and tossed her hair. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but yes. I need your help decoding my dad’s old vendor books.”

“Ooo, so you don’t know everything.” Gray smiled, enjoying his moment of victory. He walked into the plant cooler in the back, and Rose had to tell herself to focus. The cooler was barely large enough for two people, so Rose put as much distance between them as possible.

Yes, he has on a sexy tool belt. Yes, he smells amazing. Yes, his shirt hugs his chest perfectly, but we don’t care about those things because he’s our business partner, you absolute horn dog.

“It’s these vendor names. My dad put everything in initials, and I’m not sure what they mean. Do you recognize them?” Rose shoved a book toward him.

“Frank wasn’t much of an organizer, but he did have a system.” Gray sidled up beside her and leaned over, closer than she thought was wise. He peered over her shoulder and pointed to the first one.

“H.F., that one’s probably Hadley Farms. They sell daisies and lavender. Looks like he got deliveries of both.”

That was…shockingly helpful. “Ah, that’s great. Could you write down the names of the ones you recognize? I need to see what they can deliver in two weeks.”

“Eh.” Gray stepped back and started unscrewing the wobbly shelf in the cooler on the adjoining wall. “It’d be easier if I called the farms. I already have relationships with most of these guys. Plus, they like me and will give me a better deal.” He held a pencil between his teeth as he yanked out the screws and let the old wire rickety shelf fall to the ground.

“Excuse me.” Rose crossed her arms and stepped toward him, catching his eye. “Why on earth would I let you be the face of our business? You’re a minority shareholder.”

He tucked the pencil behind his ear. Goddamn him for doing something so innocuous and making it so sexy.

“I don’t know, Rose. Maybe because people like me.”

“I’m likable,” she screeched. She heard the shrillness and hated herself for it.

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