Love Happens

by Claudia Burgoa

  I entered the side door, looking around. Flowers, plants, and arrangements were everywhere. Cheerful music sounded from the speakers. The scent of blossoms hung heavy in the air. A lazy cat slept curled up on a chair in the corner, opening one eye to inspect the intrusion before curling back up and ignoring me. A bell over the door announced my arrival, and a singsong voice from somewhere inside echoed into the large room.

  “Be right with you!”

  “Thanks,” I returned, continuing to look around.

  A few minutes later, she appeared. At first, I blinked, unsure what I was seeing, then I smiled at the vision in front of me. A slip of a girl, pale-skinned and brilliant eyes, like that of an emerald. She was a throwback to another time—a gypsy. Her skirt was layers of colors—bright and wild. Her yellow blouse hung off one creamy shoulder, a vivid tattoo of a lily standing out on her white skin. Her glossy, brown hair flowed down her back in a wild array of curls and waves, brilliant magenta streaks highlighting the deep color. Bracelets jangled at her wrists, and her feet in jewelled sandals, the toenails a bright pink.

  “How can I help?”

  I met her gaze, immediately under her spell. Warm, intelligent, and gentle, her eyes were a verdant green—vivid and shining. They danced and sparkled, filled with life and laughter.

  “Um …”

  “You need some flowers?” she asked.

  “Oh.” I shook my head to clear it. “Yes.”

  “Then you’re in the right place. If you’d wanted Chinese takeout, you would need to go a little farther down the road.”

  I paused, then chuckled when I realized she was teasing. “No, it’s flowers I need, please.”

  “What’s the occasion?”

  “Occasion?”

  “Yes. Birthday? Anniversary? Fight with your girlfriend or wife?”

  “Uh, no.”

  She clapped her hands. “Oh, a just-because arrangement? I love those!”

  “I’m not sure what I need them for is listed as an occasion.”

  “Are you sure? I have a book. I can look it up.”

  “A book?”

  She nodded. “The floral world is filled with plenty of instruction books. Lists of all sorts of odd occasions you may need flowers for and suggestions. Tell me what you need, and I’ll figure it out.” She glanced around. “If I can find it. If not, I’m good on my feet. I can be creative!”

  I stared at her for a moment, trying not to laugh. She was mesmerizing. When she spoke, her voice was a low hum in the air. Her hands moved constantly, the bangles on her wrists crashing together creating a symphony of noise as she gestured and pointed.

  “Um … okay.”

  She thrust out her hand. “I’m Lily, by the way.”

  “Oh.” I extended my own hand, closing it around hers. “Ethan.”

  I looked down at the way her palm disappeared under mine. I had the strangest urge to lift her hand to my mouth and kiss it. Let my lips linger on her skin. I shook my head at the odd sensation and looked up, meeting her gaze. Her eyes opened wider, and I was close enough to see the small flecks of gold in the green, like bits of sunlight sparkling in glass. Her breathing picked up, and I felt my heart rate increase, then she stepped back, pulling her hand away and breaking the spell.

  “Who are the flowers for?”

  I cleared my throat. “My mother.”

  “Okay. Not her birthday? Are they sorry-I’ve-been-a-bad-son sort of flowers, then?”

  I scratched my head. “No. More like, sorry-I’ve-just-dumped-the-girl-you-hoped-would-give-you-grandbabies sort of flowers.”

  “Huh. I don’t have to look at the book. Pretty sure that one isn’t in there.”

  I smirked. “Told ya.”

  “I can work with it, though.”

  “Great.”

  She turned and disappeared among the flowers and plants.

  “Why?” she called out.

  I frowned, as I bent down to scratch the cat on the head. It opened up one eye again, glaring at me, and took a swipe with his paw.

  “Careful.” Lily grinned as she came around the corner. “He’s a mean one these days. I had him neutered a couple weeks ago, and he isn’t ready to forgive.” She patted him absently on the head. “Are you, Jax, my boy?”

  He turned his back and curled back up, ignoring her affection. I couldn’t say I blamed him.

  “You didn’t answer my question, Ethan.” She disappeared in another direction.

  “I thought if I brought her flowers, she might not be so upset.”

  Lily poked her head around the corner, rolling her eyes at me. “Duh. I meant, why did you dump the girl your mother liked so much?”

  “Oh, well …” I grimaced. “I decided, perhaps, she wasn’t the girl for me. She was far more interested in a few other things besides me.”

  She appeared again, carrying a large plant. “Such as?”

  “The size of my bank account, spending it, and having an affair with my neighbor.”

  She stopped midstride. “Oh, geez … I can see that being as issue. Well, all of those things, I suppose.”

  I snorted. “I thought she just didn’t like sex. Apparently, she disliked sex with me.”

  “Are you bad at it?”

  “No!”

  She pivoted, putting down the plant. “Not as good as the neighbor, apparently.”

  “I’m plenty good at it.”

  She patted my shoulder as she drifted past. “I’m sure you are.”

  It took everything in me not to grab her and prove to her exactly how good at it I was. Push that ridiculous skirt up and show her until she screamed my name.

  Holy shit. Where did that thought come from?

  I tugged at my tie. “She never complained.”

  “Hmmm.”

  “She didn’t,” I insisted, unsure why I needed to convince this woman. “Her only issue …” My voice trailed off, shocked at what I was going to say to her.

  Where on earth was my filter?

  “Issue?” she prompted, poking her head back around the corner.

  “She, ah, refused to …” I felt my cheeks flush and waved my hand in front of my groin area. “She said she didn’t like …”

  Her eyebrows lifted. “Oh, I see.”

  “That was a lie, too, it seemed. Since, when I walked in a few days ago, she was on her knees doing exactly that to that fucker.”

  “Oh, my. That’s awful.”

  “Yep. I should have known. No sex for over a month and never any … Yeah. I was an idiot.”

  “She sounds like a piece of work. And your mother liked her?”

  “She played us both well. She’s the daughter of my mother’s friend. My mother thinks I’m getting past my prime and I need to settle down. Get married. Have kids. She was sure Abby was perfect for me. I took her out to shut up my mother, and I thought she was nice. Funny, pretty, and she seemed to like me—at least at first.”

  She appeared in front of me, her voice outraged. “Your mother thinks you’re getting past your prime? What are you, thirty?”

  “Thirty-two.”

  She snorted. “In your dotage, for sure.” She looked me up and down, her appraisal making my body warm. “Is there something wrong with you?”

  “No,” I scoffed. “I’ve been busy with my career. My personal life took a backseat. My mother just likes to tease, that’s all.” I cleared my throat. “She thinks I’m too serious all the time. Too predictable.”

  “You look good to me. I’m sure you’ll find someone.”

  “I look good, eh?”

  She tilted her head to the side, staring at me. “Let’s see. Tall, well built, sexy. Your eyes are an amazing shade of blue, and that thick, riotous hair? Yeah, I’d do you.”

  I gaped at her, then ran my hand through my hair, tugging on it. What the hell was I doing? Talking to a strange woman about the fact my ex-girlfriend hated blowjobs, didn’t like sex with me, and my mother wanted me married off? Was I crazy?

 
; She frowned and leaned forward, pulling on my arm. “Your mother is right about one thing—you need to relax, Ethan. You are way too tense for thirty-two. You should loosen up a little.”

  “Easier said than done.” I sighed. “Did you figure out something for my mother?”

  “I assume since you’re rolling in it, you don’t mind spending a little extra on the perfect thing for her? You know, to ease the disappointment when she finds out the skank-ho isn’t gonna be joining the family and popping out little devil-ho spawns?”

  My lips twitched. This woman was outrageous—but I liked it.

  “No, I don’t mind spending a little extra to soften the blow.”

  She nudged my arm. “Was that a joke?”

  “Um … sure?”

  She shook her head. “I was so hopeful for a moment.” She held out her hand. “Come with me.”

  Without a thought, I placed my hand in hers. She pulled me along, turning up a couple rows, down a narrow hall, and into a large room. It was a sunroom, large windows facing a wooded area. A fireplace filled one wall, the mantle old and ornate. Two loveseats sat beside the fireplace, and in the corner was a huge armchair with two more cats asleep in it.

  Cushions were piled high on the small sofas, and an old, soft-looking blanket was draped over the corner. Books and CDs were jammed on the shelves around the fireplace, and plants took up every ledge by the windows. Unlike my pristine condo, it was chaotic and messy, and for some reason, I liked it. Lily pulled me over to a shelf and pointed to something on the top.

  “Ta-da!”

  I looked at the container and frowned. “I don’t understand.”

  “It’s for your mother.”

  “It’s a root covered in moss. I was thinking of something pretty—like flowers.”

  She rolled her eyes. “It’s not moss. It’s a bonsai tree, Ethan. It’s a living, breathing thing. You have to prune and water it. Take good care of it. It’ll keep her busy until she stops, um, grieving.”

  “And how much is this wonder?”

  “This one is one hundred and fifty. It comes with the pruning kit, too.”

  “One hundred and fifty dollars? For a stunted tree?”

  “People find them quite relaxing. It’s of a rare variety—it blooms in the spring.” She pursed her lips. “I have cheaper ones, but I think she’d like this one.”

  I gave in. I had no idea, really. “Okay. Fine.”

  She nodded, her hand on her hip. “Now, about you.”

  “Me?”

  “Your mother is going to be happy, but you need something, too.”

  I shook my head. “I’m fine—I don’t need a plant. I’m already late, so if you can pack up the root, I mean tree, I’ll be on my way.”

  “I wasn’t talking about a plant.”

  “What were you talking about, then?”

  She didn’t respond—she lunged. Her arms encircled my neck and her mouth was on mine, soft and pressing. I wrapped my arms around her waist, yanking her tight, meeting her frenzied caresses with my own. Our tongues slid together, her taste overwhelming me. With a groan, I lifted her, cupping her ass as she wound her legs around my waist. Burying her hands in my hair, she pulled and tugged me closer. It felt much better than when I pulled on it myself.

  “Sofa,” she mumbled against my mouth. “Now.”

  I knew I should put her down. Tell her to stop the madness. We didn’t know each other. But I didn’t want to—I wanted to keep kissing her. She smelled good. She tasted good. She felt good melded to my body, and I wanted her even closer. I stumbled back, my legs hitting the edge of the cushion, and fell back into the softness of the furniture. Lily was straddling me. My cock, apparently, had no issues with the fact we didn’t know each other, since he was hard and throbbing for the tiny woman. She rolled her hips, her warmth radiating through the layers of her skirt. I grabbed her thighs, holding her down, and thrust up. She pulled back, gasping, her cheeks flushed and lips swollen from mine.

  “Still fine?”

  “Better every fucking second.” I smirked, reaching for her again, but she shook her head, sliding off my lap. I opened my mouth to protest, but she sank to her knees. She ran her hands up my thighs, her mouth curling into a wicked grin.

  “I think I know something you need more than anything else. And I’m going to give it to you, Ethan.”

  My eyes widened to the point I was sure they would roll right out of their sockets. It felt as though I were having an out-of-body experience. I saw her hands open slide my belt buckle. I heard the low growl of my zipper as she tugged it down, and I felt her hands yanking at my pants. Hell, I even helped—lifting my ass so she could pull the heavy fabric and cotton of my boxers down past my knees. The rush of cool air on my cock was replaced with her lips, and suddenly, the experience was no longer me watching from the sidelines.

  “I’m safe,” I blurted.

  She pulled back long enough to wink. “So am I. Shall I continue?”

  “Oh, God. Please.”

  I slammed my head back against the cushions as the heat and wet of her mouth covered me. There was no gentle teasing, no light touches of her fingers or swirls of her tongue. Instead, she engulfed me, and the pleasure was so great, I buried my hand into her thick curls, hissing in ecstasy. She lifted her eyes, meeting my befuddled, lustful gaze. I traced her lips with my finger, my voice low and husky. “My cock looks so good in your mouth.”

  She pulled back, and I slipped from her lips, “It feels good.” She lowered her head. “It tastes good, too.” She plunged back down, taking me deep into her mouth.

  I shouted out, lifting my hips and I slid deeper down Lily’s throat. She rose up on her knees, taking even more of me. Her hands running up and down my thighs—her head bobbed, her throat constricted, and her tongue curled. Over and again, she took me until I couldn’t control myself anymore.

  “You need … Lily … Stop! … I’m … Oh God, I’m gonna …”

  And I came. Hard, pulsating and spurting. She hummed and swallowed around me, never wavering or pulling back until I collapsed, spent, and stunned. My body shook, mind reeling, and my cock was happier than he’d been in a very long time.

  Lily rocked back on her heels, smiling up at me.

  My hand was shaking as I ran a finger down her cheek. “What the hell was that for?”

  She chuckled as she rose to her feet, her face close to mine. “Because I wanted to see your eyes smile.”

  “And?”

  She studied me for a moment. “It worked.”

  I wrapped my hand around her neck, pulling her close. I kissed her, tasting the sharpness of my come on her tongue. For some reason, I found it sexy, knowing I had marked her in an intimate way. She was filled with me. With a low groan, I yanked her down, kissing her harder, losing myself in her for a moment, until she pulled back.

  “Your mom is waiting.”

  Those words killed the idea I had for an encore—one where she rode me on the little sofa in front of her fireplace. “Right.”

  “I’ll let you get yourself together.”

  “Yeah, thanks.”

  She started to walk away. “Is that cash or credit?”

  “Are we talking about the root thing?”

  She smirked. “You’re well off, Ethan, but I doubt you could afford what I would need to charge you for that smile.”

  I grinned at her. “No argument here. And credit, please.”

  “Okay.”

  Ten minutes later, I was in my car, heading to my mother’s place. Beside me was a stunted tree, wrapped in a pretty box with a bow. There was no extra charge for that, Lily assured me. She had walked me out to my car and sent me off with a wave. She’d said nothing about what occurred or asked to see me again. She’d only smiled and kissed my cheek.

  She was an enigma.

  A sexy, alluring gypsy of an enigma.

  One I wanted to solve.

  My mother loved the freaking branch, exclaiming over its “beauty.”
When I told her about Abby, she only rolled her eyes. “That one was trouble.”

  “I thought you liked her!”

  She shrugged. “I liked the idea of her. And I admit, she seemed nice at the start, but I got a bad vibe off her recently.”

  “You weren’t wrong. She was fucking Tom next door.”

  “Ethan! Your language!”

  “She was, though. I caught them.”

  She tsked. “Well, then, you’re better off without the bitch.”

  I gaped at her.

  “Don’t worry, sweetheart. We’ll find you the right girl.” She patted my cheek. “We need to do it soon, before you start to lose your hair. You pull on it too much. I’m not sure we’ll be able to peddle your ass if you’re bald. Not to mention, you’re already stuck in your ways. Predictable. We need to move fast.”

  I resisted the urge to tell her I’d just had a blowjob from a complete stranger. She wouldn’t be able to call me predictable then. Instead, I shrugged. “I’m still rich.”

  She shook her head. “Thank goodness we have that to fall back on.” Then she started to laugh, and I joined her. I loved her silliness, even when it was directed at me.

  I changed the subject. “How’s Dad?”

  I knew that would get her going. My dad was always in trouble, even when he didn’t try. He was working late tonight, so it was a good chance to hear the latest dirt. She picked up her wine. “Did I tell you what he did last week?”

  I lifted my glass, letting her talk. My thoughts were elsewhere. They were in a room with a lot of plants, sleeping cats, and a sexy, gypsy-girl named Lily, who had a wickedly talented mouth, both when she was teasing me … or teasing me.

  Connie slammed her hands on her hips. “You’re the worst boss in the world!”

  “What did I do?”

  “You need these when?”

  I looked at the prospectuses in her hand. “By two?”

  “I’ll have to work through my lunch!”

  “That’s nothing new.” I looked at my watch, brow furrowed. “Go now, and you’ll be done by two.”

  She slammed out of my office, stomping down the hall. I shook my head. What was with her today? She was usually an excellent assistant—always helpful and eager to pitch in. I glanced at my calendar, the answer becoming clear right away, and I groaned. It was her birthday, and I hadn’t remembered. I always had my mom help me pick out an appropriate gift, but with everything going on lately, I forgot. I hadn’t wished her happy birthday, and now I’d probably ruined her lunch date with her friends. No wonder she was so pissed.