Page 126 of Wallflower in Bloom

He started walking her toward the orchard. “I tried to quit outright and leave the show immediately, but they sweetened the deal by offering me the option to produce a new show. I was thinking…” He squeezed her hand, and they stopped at a picnic blanket he’d laid down, sprinkled with hydrangea flower petals. “…maybe a home and garden show where a hapless host and a gorgeous, curly-haired expert help people with their gardens.”

A thrill ran through Violet, and she bounced on her toes. He wanted to do her idea. “My idea? We’d do a show together?”

He pulled her into him, and she felt dizzy with happiness. “Only if you want to. I told them we’d need ultimate flexibility to accommodate ballet lessons, Little League…” His nose ran the length of hers as his voice went soft.

“Trips to the zoo?” She whispered.

His thumb came to her chin. “With the three or four or five musketeers.”

His voice was low as his mouth hovered over hers. “You are the last thing I expected and everything I’ve never deserved. I finally realized what I was waiting for my whole life.”

“What’s that?” she asked, her voice quiet in the dark, as if she was afraid of the answer.

“A bloody adorable plant mom.” His eyes fell to her lips, and as he lowered his mouth, she sank into him, slowly melting as their lips met.

His tongue licked her lip, curling her toward him like he’d hooked a finger and pulled her in. Her hands fisted in his shirt, needing to feel how real this was.

His arms corded around her, crushing her into the nook of his chest. She completely melted into the feeling of him surrounding her.

Yes. This was her forever.

This was worth risking everything for, she thought as he slanted his mouth against hers.

He sucked and pulled harder. Their breath caught as though they’d wound together, forming a strand that couldn’t be broken. An insistent throb started deep inside her as his hand moved to her ass, pressing her against him.

She ripped herself away. “I love you,” she blurted out.

A hint of a smile ghosted over his lips as he tried to keep up with her.

She might be living her dream life, but she’d always be Queen of Awkwardlandia.

No time to back down now. She closed her eyes and barreled on. “I’m in love with you. And not just because you’re gorgeous—even though you are—but you’re kind and funny, and you care about people, and you don’t have to say it back, but I just wanted you to know you’re loved just the way you are, without all the glitz and glamor.” She gasped for breath.

He was silent, and she willed her eyes up to meet his. He stared at her, blinking slowly in the dark.

“My darling love,” he whispered. “You have been patient through all of my irritating indecision, never failing to support me and to show me who you are: someone who is kind and good, who cares for others, even though I wish she cared for herself more.”

Violet sniffled as her heart pounded.

He moved toward her, his lips grazing her cheek. “And I would not bring my good tea and every book I own to Fairwick Falls if I did not love you with my entire soul, being, and body.” He leaned down and gathered her in a fierce hug, the dam breaking behind his emotions.

He murmured against her hair. “I’ve had a glimpse of my future, and I want it all. With you and you alone.”

Violet tried to memorize this earth-shattering feeling. He loves me.

His mouth placed kisses along her jaw.

“I love you, Violet Parker. I love this spot,” he said, kissing her neck as goosebumps showered down her skin. “I love that you angle your head just like this when listening to me babble on about Todd.”

His hands moved to her waist, and her core turned molten with wanting. “I love that you’re strong and work harder than anyone I know, but that you have delicate places, like here.” He kissed each side of her collarbone. He kissed her neck, his hands unbuttoning her pants. “And I love that you’re mine, and I intend to keep you for however long you’ll have me.”

“Wait!”

He froze, panic in his eyes.

She looked around for a cat carrier, his words finally clicking into place. “Where’s Todd?”

“Christ, woman.” His hand came to his heart with a sigh of relief. “I thought you were going to toss me to the curb. He’s happy as a clam with my dad and June. He never left.”

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