Page 3 of Wallflower in Bloom

The Heartthrob of Her Dreams stood upright as though years of proper training on being a dashing English gentleman had been ingrained into him. A trainer had apparently made it his life’s mission to sculpt Jack’s perfect pec muscles, so he’d be required to stand upright to show them off.

He was probably wearing something dashing, but Violet couldn’t drag her eyes away from his perfect face, with its strong jaw, piercing blue eyes, and perfect proportions that would make a Hemsworth jealous.

He looked as if he’d been polished and shined, his light brown hair swept to the side, a casual shirt rolled up to his elbows, and designer jeans that hugged his muscular frame.

She’d stared at his shirtless chest countless times from the glow of her TV screen, but it was his kind blue eyes that caught her attention now. Warmth danced in them as his eyes connected with hers.

Was this what Miss Danbury felt like when she declared her feelings to his character, Lord Eagleton, in the season finale of Beyond the Manor Walls?

Good thing he’d never know how often she’d imagined him curling her toes in place of her vibrator.

Rose shoved Violet’s shoulder, snapping her out of picturing Jack in his 18th-century Lord Eagleton costume, stomping through the rainy moors, ready to win over the reluctant English governess.

Jack’s waving hand lingered in the air with confusion, and he wore a lopsided, friendly grin. As his brows drew together in concern, she realized she was being a gigantic weirdo.

Oh no, am I fangirling?

I’m fangirling.

I’m fangirling SO hard.

“V-Violet,” she stammered. “That’s…that’s what’s on my tax returns.”

Because it’s your name, you freaking Queen of Awkwardlandia.

“It’s nice to meet you, Violet.” His accent was intoxicating as it wrapped around her and into the roots of her soul.

She’d watched every behind-the-scenes interview and social media clip just to hear another second of his voice.

He offered his hand to shake. She yanked off a glove, and his large, warm hand wrapped around hers. A jolt went straight to her core and stoked the fire that already had his name on it.

A half-smile pulled at his lips as he waited for her to say something.

But her mind went blank.

This was it.

This was the new low point of her life.

Looking like an absolute dirt clod of a fangirl in front of the star of her comfort show.

Gray, Rose’s boyfriend and their business partner at Bloom, walked up beside Jack.

“We swung by the store and got some meds for the walking nose here. Did Rose explain the situation to you?” Gray handed a box of allergy medicine to Rose and kissed her temple. She took it with a smile and grabbed the water bottle he’d brought her.

“Sucks about your cat,” Violet said out of the blue at the British Hunk standing across from her.

‘Sucks about your cat?’ Why am I. So. Awkward.

Maybe she could schedule a weekend lobotomy to make this all go away.

“Right,” The Man Who Haunted Her Dreams said. “My cat’s a bit old and set in his ways, and three weeks is too long to be away from him. I am sorry, Rose. I never thought to double-check.”

“Three weeks. Long visit.” Violet tried to be normal in front of the most enormous crush she’d ever had and shrugged one shoulder repeatedly as if it was possessed.

It’s like her body was purposefully betraying her.

“Yes.” Jack’s gaze dropped, and he rubbed his neck. “I don’t know if you follow entertainment news, but I was caught up in a bit of a scuffle.”

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