In Full Bloom [Second Chances 1] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Michelle Roth

  He held the door as she hobbled in on the crutches. He waited until she sat down and he asked again, “What happened?”

  “Remember my baby elephant? We were giving him his first shots today. Well, mama didn’t like it. She knocked at me with her trunk and I stumbled back, hit a puddle. Now, here we are.”

  He wrapped his arms around her and said, “I’m sorry. Do you want me to help you upstairs so you can put your foot up?”

  “Nah,” she said. “I’ll make my way up there. I need to shower anyway. I ended up in a mud puddle. I was able to get most of it off, but I still feel dirty.”

  “Wait for me,” he said. “I’ll help.”

  She arched an eyebrow at him and he said, “Not like that. God knows I’m willing to help you out with that any time you want. I meant that you can’t shower in your bandage and you’ll probably end up hurting yourself again.”

  She smiled at him and said, “Thank you. I believe I’ll take you up on that offer.”

  “But I’ll totally help you out with the other thing, too,” he repeated.

  She reached up and tugged his T-shirt until he leaned down. His mouth was a breath away from hers when she said, “Damn right you will.”

  After a brief, but highly pleasurable moment, she said, “I need to elevate this. It’s starting to throb.”

  As he helped her stand, he asked, “You’re sure you don’t need help up the stairs?”

  “I’ve got it. You’re working,” she said as she situated her crutches and moved toward the door.

  He said, “When I close up shop, I’ll make dinner.”

  He heard the slight clatter of her crutches as she turned back around to face him. “You’ll make dinner?”

  “I don’t cook as well as you do, but I do cook some,” he said, mildly insulted.

  “Considering I cook every night, I’m a little bit surprised,” she said, teasing him.

  “For the next two weeks, I’m cooking,” he said. He thought back to the last time he’d cooked for her and realized that it had been the night they’d grilled steaks with Jamie and Cora.

  He’d kind of taken the whole dinner thing for granted. Usually she had started on it by the time he made it upstairs. He didn’t want to take her for granted.

  She rolled her eyes and said, “Hollow promise, Evan. I’m gonna be gone half that time.”

  He frowned at her and said, “Don’t remind me.”

  “Yeah,” she sighed. “Sorry.”

  “We’ll make it. It’s only a week, baby.”

  “I know,” she said.

  He opened the shop door and watched her hobble her way around the side of the building. “Be careful, please,” he called.

  “I will,” he heard her voice trail off as she rounded the side of the building.

  He walked back into the shop and finished cleaning up. He closed up a few minutes early and made a quick trip to the market down the street. He picked up some chicken breast, and a few other items. He’d throw together a quick casserole. That would give him time to help her in the shower.

  Granted, he wasn’t as good as she was in the kitchen, but as he surveyed the contents of his basket, he figured he’d be able to make something edible. Plus, he’d grab some rosemary from the garden.

  Twenty minutes later he let himself into her apartment and set the grocery bags down on the counter. He walked into the bedroom and found her sprawled out with her leg propped up on a pillow.

  She said, “You’re here early.”

  “Closed up shop a bit early, then ran to the store. Let me go throw dinner into the oven and I can help you wash up,” he said, leaning in to press his lips against hers.

  “Thank you,” she said, smiling.

  He gave her a slight smirk and said, “Wait until you’ve tried it before you thank me.”

  She rolled her eyes at him and then settled back against her pillows again.

  By the time he’d gotten the casserole in the oven and wandered into the bedroom, he thought she had fallen asleep. A moment later, her eyes flickered open. She said, “Hey you.”

  He watched her tenderly for a minute before he asked, “Shower now? Or rest?”

  She sat up and shifted her foot off the pillow. “Shower,” she said. “Definitely shower.”

  With his help, she hobbled into the bathroom. He helped her sit on the edge of the counter and fiddled with the knobs. When the water was warm, he turned on the shower. Gently, he undressed her, taking care not to jar her ankle as he slid the shorts and panties down her legs. She stripped off her top until she was standing there naked.

  He tried to ignore his body’s reaction but wasn’t having much success. Shrugging, he crouched down to gently unwrap her ankle. He heard her wince as he peeled the bandage away. It was swollen and an ugly shade of black and purple already.

  “Oh, god,” he said. “That looks awful, baby. Are you sure it’s just a sprain?”

  “Yeah,” she said. “They x-rayed it. It hurt like a bitch.”

  “I’m sure,” he said, as he pulled his clothes off.

  She eyed his prominent erection, reaching her hand out to touch it.

  He stopped her and said, “I don’t want to hurt you any more than you already are.”

  “Good point,” she said, sighing wistfully.

  They managed to wash her hair and get the remaining dirt off of her without him fucking her senseless. It was a close thing, though.

  Still wrapped in a towel, he helped her lie back down and moved the pillow back under her freshly rewrapped ankle. He moved back up to adjust her pillows and froze when he felt her hand slide up his thigh.

  “Baby,” he said, his voice strained. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  She arched an eyebrow and said, “My hands and mouth are working just fine.”

  He shook his head and said, “You don’t have to do that, baby. Just lie back and relax.”

  “I know I don’t have to,” she said.

  Her ankle was wrapped but, with the way she moved, there would be no way that he’d be able to return the favor without hurting her. He shook his head and said, “There’d be no way I could…I don’t want to hurt you. I would end up hurting you.”

  She tugged at the towel until it slipped from his waist and fell to the ground. She looked greedily at his cock and said, “Consider it an IOU that I’ll be collecting at my earliest convenience.”

  With a groan of surrender, he moved closer to the bed.

  Twenty highly pleasurable minutes later, he lay next to her, his whole body completely and utterly relaxed. He said, “Your mouth,” as he nuzzled her neck. “You’re sure there isn’t anything I can do for you?”

  She said, “Probably not without hurting me, I don’t think.”

  He realized that dinner had been in the oven for quite a while and said, “Shit. Dinner.”

  As he moved to slide back into his jeans, he heard her mumble, “Bastard elephant.”

  “Agreed,” he said, a smile on his face.

  He brought a glass of iced tea and a plate of casserole in to her then came back with silverware, his own plate and a drink. She propped herself up and took a bite.

  A moment later she raised her eyebrow and said, “Connolly, you’ve been holding out on me. This is really freaking good.”

  He rolled his eyes at her and said, “It’s no truffled pasta.”

  “Few things are,” she said. “This is damn good though. What did you put in it?”

  They spent the rest of the meal with her trying to guess ingredients. She had gotten most of them. She was really impressive. The only thing she had missed was the red pepper flakes.

  After dinner, they’d lain in bed reading. He’d gone next door to get a book and she’d grabbed her e-reader. When she’d slipped on a pair of reading glasses, he’d been surprised.

  “How did I not know you wore reading glasses?” he asked.

  She shrugged and said, “You never asked.”

  He leaned over and brus
hed his mouth against hers, then said, “Sexy.”

  Chapter 15

  Over the next two weeks, her ankle started to feel better. She had been able to lose the crutches and was almost back to normal by the time the arranged photo shoot happened. They had pushed San Diego back a week, so she’d gotten her two weeks of cooking.

  Sunday was Evan’s only day off, so they’d arranged for everyone to meet. There was a semi-secluded spot on the beach that they all used to go as children that Evan had suggested.

  She’d gotten Gene’s wife, Paula, to come and take the pictures. She owned a small portrait studio in Culver City. She had been absolutely delighted, according to Gene, to come and take the picture despite the really short notice.

  Taryn watched as Paula organized everyone together like a general. She apparently knew exactly what she wanted and would accept nothing less than that. The last of his family stood there near her, waiting to be placed.

  When Evan said, “You realize, you’re gonna be in this picture, too.” She shook her head.

  “No. It’s a family picture,” she said. “Not gonna happen.”

  He said, “Baby. This entire thing was your idea. You need to be in the picture.”

  “It's a family picture. Your mom isn't going to want some random chick in her family photo, Evan,” Taryn protested.

  Maureen snorted and said, “Taryn. My mom is gonna kick your ass when I tell her you refused to be in the picture. Do you really want to upset my mom?”

  She gave her the same steady gaze that Evan did when he knew he was right and was just waiting for her to admit it. Taryn sighed when she turned and saw that Donnie and Patty were giving her the same look.

  “Jesus,” she said. “You people all have that same look. I just feel weird. It’s a family thing.”

  Maureen gave her arm a squeeze and said, “You’re honorary. You need to be in the picture.”

  “Fine, fine,” she said. “I’ll be in the picture. It’s still weird.”

  Evan shook his head and said, “No, it isn’t. It was your idea. This is the best possible gift you could have come up with. You belong in the picture.”

  “Mmkay,” she said, still doubtful.

  Taryn couldn't remember the last time she had been involved in a family anything and she didn't feel entirely comfortable with this. Clearly she had been overruled, though.

  Paula had taken several shots of them and promised to e-mail them over to Taryn once she’d picked out the best of them. She’d thanked her and taken a business card. She doubted she’d be in need of much photography work, but she’d happily recommend her to anyone who was.

  Several hugs and kisses later, the family had all piled back into their cars and gone their separate ways. They really were an incredible bunch of people.

  On the way back home, they stopped to have a late lunch at a little Italian place on the beach. While they waited for their food, Evan said, “My mom is going to love the picture. Thank you for being in it.”

  “I still feel like that’s weird,” she said.

  He just rolled his eyes and said, “She’s going to love it.”

  “She seems to be really into her family. I thought it would be a nice gift,” she said.

  He casually tore a hunk of bread off and dipped it in the oil and vinegar mixture then said, “Gonna go get your present next week since you’re going to San Diego.”

  They’d discussed present exchanging at great length. She had initially been against the idea but when he told her he was getting her something, regardless, she’d caved.

  Once she thought about it, though, she had come up with a great idea. She’d talked to a botanist at the zoo. She had asked him for a species of orchid that would grow well in a greenhouse here. Something really out of the ordinary. He’d recommended a reliable source and something he guaranteed would blow Evan away.

  She’d called the woman, who had been really nice considering she didn’t know anything at all about orchids, and placed the order. She was assured it would be delivered the Monday after she got back from San Diego. She didn’t want to leave something like that sitting in a box, so she’d arranged to take the day off.

  As she chewed the bread she had in her mouth, she said, “Already ordered yours.”

  His eyes gleamed as he asked, “Ooh. What’d you get me?”

  “Well,” she said, leaning forward. “I’m totally not telling.”

  “I had to try,” he said, his lips twitching. “Whatever it is, I’m going to love it.”

  “You better,” she teased.

  She would end up giving it to him early. There was no way she was killing a $300 orchid. The seller said she would include care instructions but no way was she giving him a dead orchid on Christmas. Tradition be damned.

  “Long thoughts, there.”

  “Nope. Just thinking about how awesome the gift I got you is.”

  He narrowed his eyes and said, “Tell me. You know you want to tell me.”

  Grinning, she said, “No. No, I don’t.”

  “You’re a cruel woman,” he lamented, hand over his heart.

  She tore off another small hunk of bread and shrugged at him as if to say, “Yeah, kind of.”

  The rest of the day flew by. Shirking all responsibility, they’d spent the afternoon in bed. Now, Evan lounged and watched as she packed the large oversized duffel bag that Cora had lent her for San Diego.

  “Ya know,” he said lazily, “They’re just dumb pandas. You should just skip it and stay here.”

  She pretended to think about it, then said, “You’re right. Fuck the pandas.”

  Pushing the bag off the edge of the bed, she crawled back over and pressed herself up against his side.

  “That’s my girl,” he said, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “I’m going to miss you.”

  “I’m going to miss you, too. It’s only a week though. Not even a week. Only five days.”

  “Still,” he said. “I can’t remember the last night I slept alone. I’ve gotten accustomed to your loud snoring.”

  She pinched his side and said, “I do not snore!”

  “You don’t,” he said, grinning. “You’re so adorable when you’re outraged though.”

  They lay there for a few more minutes before she got up with a groan and continued to pack. She had included five work shirts and five pairs of khaki shorts. He stared as the put them into the bag.

  “Jesus, baby. How many pairs of khaki shorts do you own?” he said, laughter in his voice.

  “None for pleasure,” she said. “These are strictly for work. I wish I could wear whatever I wanted. Like some people.”

  “You should buy your own zoo,” he said. “That’s really all it takes.”

  She stuck her tongue out at him as she continued to pack. By the time she had finished, the bag was pretty heavy. She grunted as she pushed it off the bed.

  He said, “Five days, huh? I looks like you’re moving out. If you want, I can drop you at work tomorrow so you don’t have to lug that.”

  “No need. Mike is coming to get me here,” she said.

  “Hmm,” Evan said, frowning.

  “You can wait outside with me if you want so you can size him up, if it makes you feel better,” she said, her lips twitching.

  “No, no. It’s fine. I trust you,” he said.

  “Do you?” she asked, curiously.

  He looked slightly taken aback for a second and then said, “Of course I do.”

  “Good,” she said as she curled up next to him again. “You have nothing to worry about. He’s an old guy. Married, kids, the whole nine.”

  “Oh,” he exclaimed. “Yeah! That’s right. He’s so old. Like, forty, right?”

  She giggled and said, “You were being ridiculous. It distracted you, didn’t it?”

  He conceded the point with a sour look and said, “Smart ass.”

  “But I’m adorable,” she said, grinning widely at him.

  “Yes,” he agreed drily. “Tha
t’s the exact word I’d use right now.”

  Completely ignoring the sarcasm, she pressed her lips to his until they softened against hers again.

  He rolled, so he lay partially on top of her and said, “The age difference doesn’t bother you, does it?”

  “That’s kind of a strange question from a guy that’s currently lying on top of me and was very recently inside me. Multiple times today. No. I don’t even think about the age difference, really. Does it bother you?”

  “At first I was a little worried about it, but when you so elegantly informed me of your age on the roof, I felt absolved of any guilt over…what was it? Staring at your tits on the stairs?”

  She laughed and said, “The look on your face was priceless, Evan. And I hate to be indelicate here, but you were definitely staring at my tits.”

  “True,” he agreed. “They were beautifully displayed, though. Come to think of it, I haven’t seen that top since that night.”

  “You made a good point. They were kind of out there.”

  “I’ve gotta say.” He grinned at her. “I enjoyed that moment immensely.”

  “That was the start of several long nights of sexual frustration,” she joked.

  “You’re not kidding, baby.”

  At 7:00 a.m. sharp the next morning, she and Evan headed down to the front of the building to wait for Mike to arrive. The entire way down the stairs, he griped, “Jesus Christ, babe. Did you cram this full of books?”

  “Maybe I did. Please don’t throw it down the stairs, though.”

  “I’m gonna miss that smart mouth of yours,” he said.

  “I’m not going to Cambodia. We’ll still talk. Plus I brought my laptop so we can even video chat.”

  He gave her a speculative glance as he held the door open for her and then said, “That could be fun.”

  She grabbed a handful of his T-shirt and dragged his mouth down to hers. The moment before her lips touched his, she said, “Always thinking.”

  He set her bag down and devoured her mouth, eliciting a low moan from her.

  They were both breathless when they separated. She said, “Stupid pandas.”

  He nodded and said, “They are stupid.”