Page 43 of Accidentally in Bloom

“Rose, honey, you gotta talk to me.”

Ragged breaths clawed through her as she fought for each one, but that one word rang in her ear like a lifeline.

“Rose, look at me.” Gray’s voice turned commanding, and he snapped his fingers at her. “Look at me.”

“Don’t—” she gasped through clenched teeth “snap—” she gasped “at me.” God, he could be such an asshole, even when her world was crumbling apart.

“That’s it. Get mad. Name three things you can see that make you mad.”

Rose lifted her face, only too happy to name them. “Your stupid hair,” she said through a shaking voice. “How it falls,” she gasped for a breath, “in your face.” How she wanted to run her hands through it. It fucking taunted her every day.

“How you never shave.” His jaw, with its shadow of artful stubble that contrasted against his olive skin, made her crazy.

Her heart rate fell from near-dying to just-finished-a-run. She took in a full breath. “The trite, ‘artistic’,” she used a hand to give air quotes, “tattoos.” That was a lie. She thought those tattoos were the hottest thing about him.

“Everyone had these in 2016.” His lips wrapped into a sardonic smile.

She sucked in a full breath and sat back on her heels. Looks like it wasn’t her day to die today, just a typical panic attack. But he knew that, of course. He’d effortlessly coached her through it.

“See?” he snapped at her again. “I knew I could fix it.”

She snatched his hand frozen in the air, and locked eyes with him.

“Do not snap at me,” she threatened, even as a sizzle of heat passed between them where they both crouched. A strand of hair hung in her face as she panted, still getting her breathing back to normal. His other hand tucked it behind her ear, his eyes softening as he glanced at her mouth.

She needed to put distance between them. She dropped her hand from his, and a glimmer of a smile passed through his lips. They both stood, and Rose stepped back.

“Thank you for,” Rose bit her lip and met his eyes, “well, several things, I guess.”

Gray nodded and stared at the floor. “Welcome.”

Say it, Rose. Woman up and apologize.

“I’m sorry—”

“I shouldn’t have—”

They both stopped and laughed nervously.

Rose bit the inside of her cheek. “I’m sorry, Gray. I am. Partners?”

Gray headed toward the front door as he locked eyes with her. “I’m sorry too. Partners. C’mon. I’ll give you a lift.”

Rose grabbed her bag and double-checked the back door was locked. “Gray, I can walk.”

“The hell you can. I have a one-time per night policy on rescuing prin—” he cleared his throat, catching himself, “business partners.”

Rose sent him a bow of her head in recognition of her rightful title. “Thank you. And I’ve been meaning to ask,” Rose chose her words carefully, “if you’d like to meet with a real estate agent with me. To get Dad’s house settled for the estate.”

Gray opened the door for her as she walked through. “Look at you, little miss Pilates-pants. Collaborating with a partner and everything. You should have more panic attacks.”

Rose locked the door and sent a prayer up to whatever god was listening to protect her little store from the asshole debt collector. They’d get it sorted and profitable soon. She just needed time.

“It’s only four blocks. I can walk home.”

“And I can haul you over my shoulder back to my car. Get in.” He opened the door for her.

A secret part of her desperately wanted that, but she’d never admit it to anyone, especially not him.

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