Page 6 of Accidentally in Bloom

“You sure can. Case in point, look in the mirror.”

“Just because I made something of myself?”

“No, sweet cheeks, you bought things and put them on yourself. There’s a difference.” He nodded to her shoes.

“These are adorable, thank you very much.” Acid hit on her every word.

Let’s have some fun. “Sure, for something that was three seasons ago.”

He held in a laugh, biting his lip at her indignant yelp.

“These are not three—you know what? I’m not arguing fashion with someone who was given a haircut with garden shears.”

He let the car hood slam down and stalked toward her. “Don’t pretend you didn’t rake me up and down with those big caramel eyes and practically drool into a puddle when I hopped off my bike. I know your type.”

“Too good for you?” she scoffed, crossed her arms, and stepped closer to him.

“You’re so high and mighty, but you want some big strong man to come and take charge.” He stepped closer to her, contempt in his tone, but his heart thrummed a million miles an hour.

“Oh, yes,” she huffed. “I definitely dream,” she waved her hand in front of him, “of slumming it with a farmer from the middle of fucking nowhere with his big, strong man hands and his tiny little man brain.”

Gray saw red at the corners of his eyes. He had a few raw nerves left after years of therapy, but she managed to hit every single one.

He took a step towards her, now nose to nose with her. “Slumming it, ice princess?”

“Princess?” She yanked back as if she’d been slapped.

“Yeah, you’re an ice princess.” A slow smile spread on his face. He’d found her raw nerve in return. “You think you’re so sexy, but there’s just a cold, shriveled heart inside that doesn’t give a shit about anyone else.” He backed her up to the car, boxing her in.

Her eyes narrowed at him with hatred. “You think you know me because I wear designer shoes? Because I left this redneck cow-filled county and experienced the world? That makes me a heartless, dried-up old shrew?”

“If the Louboutins fit, my friend.” He sucked in a breath and tried not to stare at her full lips, covered in some gloss that made him want to run his mouth over hers.

He fucking hated that he wanted nothing more than to take her pouting mouth with his.

She turned so fast that her hair flipped into his face, a cloud of apple blossom and vanilla wafting around him. He shoved his hands in his pockets to keep himself from yanking her back so he could pin her to the car.

“You’re welcome, by the way,” he yelled as she stalked to the driver-side door.

“We’ll see if it starts. I sincerely doubt someone who’s happy here has the computational brain power to fix a car engine.”

Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes bright with fire. She vibrated with crackling energy, and he hated that he found her even hotter. If the crazy woman on the car roof was gorgeous, she was nothing to this fire goddess in front of him.

“Oh, and please.” She shot a molten look over her shoulder. “Go to hell.” She slammed the door behind her.

“Don’t worry, princess, I’ve already been there,” Gray muttered.

She attempted to turn the car on, but it only made a whirring sound. She sent him a victorious “I knew you couldn’t fix it” laugh, but then the engine roared to life. He saw the self-satisfied look drain from her face, and a laugh bubbled out of him.

Her eyes shot daggers at him as she ripped the seatbelt from the holder and buckled it with fury. He half expected her to peel out with a middle-finger salute.

Just to fuck with her, Gray motioned for her to roll her window down. She huffed at him but rolled it down an inch.

“Sure you don’t want my number, princess? Mindless farmers are the best at melting ice off you in the sack.”

He sent her a wink and an air kiss. Her jaw fell open in outrage.

He hadn’t been this delighted in a long time.

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