I needed a gift, and I needed it now. I looked around my office as if somehow something would appear out of thin air. Movement caught my eye as a branch waved in the breeze.
Branch.
Tree.
Flowers.
Women loved flowers. I could get her a massive bunch of flowers and send her home early.
And I knew just where I could find some.
The bell jingled over my head, and Jax looked up from washing his ass as I walked in. I inhaled the sweet scent of Lily’s store.
“Be right there!” she sang out from the back.
I headed toward her voice, rounded the corner, and caught my breath. Today, she wore a brilliant red, loose dress that swirled around her knees in an explosion of lace. Thin spaghetti straps held up the tight bodice, and her hair was piled on top of her head, long tendrils drifting over her bare shoulders. There was another tattoo behind her ear, and I felt the intense desire to get closer and see what she had etched into her skin.
“Hey,” I breathed out.
Startled, she turned, a long red rose in her hand. She beamed at me, and the warmth of her expression made me smile. We stared at each other, the air bubbling with heat, until she broke the silence
“Hello. Everything all right?”
“Yeah, but I need flowers.”
“Your mom didn’t like the tree?”
“She loved it. I screwed up again.”
“What this time? Do I need the book?”
“You might. This is one of those, I-forgot-my-assistant’s-birthday-and-made-her-miss-her-birthday-lunch sort of flower requirement.”
She pursed her lips. “I need to inform the powers that be of all these new reasons to buy flowers.”
“Will you get a prize?”
“Maybe.” She shrugged. “I’ve wanted a new toaster oven. Mine only toasts the bottom of the bread. Then I have to flip it over and toast the top. But the bread gets hard. I’m not a fan.”
“Well, I hope you get it.”
She grinned. “You keep screwing up, I have a chance!”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Your eyes are happier today.”
I moved a little closer. “They, and every other body part, feel happier today.”
She arched an eyebrow at me, tilting her head. “Is that a fact?”
I ran a finger up her arm, tracing the lily on her shoulder. “It is.” I ghosted my hand up her neck, cupping her cheek. “You look very pretty today, Lily. I like you in red.”
She shivered. “I like you in fewer clothes.” She wrapped my tie in her hand, drawing me to her mouth.
I groaned, capturing her lips with mine. It was a repeat of last night—the instant her mouth touched mine, I ceased to care about anything else. Bending, I picked her up, lifting her onto the counter. Her legs locked around my ass as she pushed my blazer off my shoulders. I dragged my mouth down her neck, licking and biting, pushing the thin straps out of the way with my teeth. She gasped as I tugged her bodice down, capturing her breasts alternatively in my mouth, sucking and teasing her nipples into hard peaks. I lifted my mouth to her ear. “My turn to make your eyes smile, Lily.”
I pushed her back, cupping the back of her head so she wasn’t hurt. She lay on her cutting table, amid bunches of flowers, the most beautiful blossom of them all. Never breaking our locked gaze, I bunched her skirt, and lifted it, letting my hands drag along her soft skin. I inhaled hard when I reached her apex—bare and wet. Waiting for me. “Are you always …”
“I hate underwear.”
“Thank God.”
I ran my fingers over her skin, gently teasing the soft crease. Wrapping my hands around her thighs, I spread her wide, dragged her forward, and bent down, sliding my tongue along her folds. She gasped, arching her hips. Placing a hand on her stomach, I pressed down, keeping her in place as I buried my face into her warmth.
Licking, nipping, and teasing, I feasted on her. Her taste was intoxicating, rich and pungent—honey-laced musk. She undulated, chanting my name, grabbing at my hair and pulling. I hummed around her, sliding in two fingers and pumping hard. Her body stilled, and she cried out, her muscles fluttering and gripping as she came. I rode out her orgasm, softening my caresses until she lay limp and sated. Turning my head, I pressed a kiss to her thigh, sucking on the skin, knowing I had left a mark on her again today. A far more tangible one I hoped no one but us would see.
Lifting my head, I met her contented gaze. “Hey.”
“Hi,” she replied with a lazy grin.
“You’re amazing, Lily.”
Reaching out, she cupped my face, her fingers stroking the skin. “So are you.”
We stared at each other. I opened my mouth to speak, when the phone rang, breaking our moment. I helped her up, and she slid off the table, reaching for the handset.
I slipped into the small restroom and cleaned up. When I came out, she was busy creating.
Watching her was magical. Simple stalks of flowers became art under her hands. The same way I came alive under her touch, the blossoms became more than something pretty. They became beautiful. She turned, holding out a vase. “Will this do?”
“It’s perfect.”
“I didn’t spare any expense.”
“Good.”
“I added a gift certificate for the spa down the road. Women love that.”
I’d do anything she asked or suggested. I held out my credit card. “Perfect.”
Connie loved her flowers and spa certificate. I went from being an asshole to a hero. I sent her home early, and once she was gone, I was alone with my thoughts.
Lily was all I could think about—her taste, how she felt under my hands, the way she moved. How she made me laugh, the way she made me feel. My head fell back on my chair.
Once again, I got a wave and a kiss on the cheek when I left. No questions, no requests. I had wanted to ask if I could see her tonight, but another car had pulled in and she’d walked away. More than once I had lifted the phone to call her, but for some reason, I’d hesitated. Maybe she didn’t feel the draw. Maybe I was the only one who felt a pull between us. For all I knew, she had other men in her life.
Just the thought of that made my stomach clench. I wanted to be the only man who saw her when she came, heard her voice cry out in passion.
With a curse, I gave up and shut down my computer. No more work was happening today.
“You know this is my parking spot, Ethan.” One of my elderly coworkers stood in front of me, her arms crossed, glaring.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Tyler. I wasn’t thinking earlier. I was distracted when I got back from my errand.”
“I had to walk three extra rows, the lot was so full.”
“I apologize.”
“I’m not young like you. My knees are bad.”
“I know. It won’t happen again.”
She shook her head. “Make sure it doesn’t.”
I watched her drive away, heavy with remorse. I hadn’t been thinking clearly when I came back. All that had been on my mind was Lily.
I needed to do something to make it up to Mrs. Tyler.
I rubbed the back of my head, then grinned.
Flowers seemed like the right way to go.
The bell jangled, and Lily looked up. “You dropped the vase?”
“No, I messed up again.”
“Oh, boy. Hit me. What sort of mess up now?”
“The I-took-a-nice-old-lady’sparking-spot-and-she-called-me-out-on-it sort of mess up. You got flowers for that?”
She slid off the stool where she was perched. “I am so getting that toaster oven. I need to write this one down.”
“I can wait.”
“Azaleas.”
“What?”
“Old ladies like azaleas.” Turning, she pulled a plant off the shelf and placed it on the counter, waving her hand. “Ta-da!”
My face fell. “Okay.”
“You don’t like it?”
I shuffled my
feet. “I was just hoping it would take a little longer.”
She leaned over, opened a small box, and pushed a button.
“What is that?”
“I just shut the gate. I’m closed for the night.”
I had her in my arms in a second, my mouth on hers. I didn’t have to ask directions—the way to her small sunroom was etched deep into my mind already. I took the turns and hallway like a well-seasoned pro.
I set her on her feet as our gazes locked.
“I want you naked,” she whispered.
“Ditto.”
I discarded my blazer, loosened my tie, and tugged off my shirt. Her pretty dress flew over her head, leaving her bare and beautiful. With eager hands she reached for my belt, and seconds later, we were both naked and trembling with need. My cock was hard and throbbing, aching with desire for her. She wrapped her hand around me, pumping slowly. Reaching down, I cupped her ass, pulling her forward.
“You … I …”
I shook my head, grabbing for my pants. I held up a condom. “We’re covered.”
“A sure bet, was I?”
I smirked. “A hope, my gypsy-girl. I couldn’t stop thinking about you all afternoon. I stopped at the drug store.”
She held out her arms. “Come to me.”
As soon as we sank to the floor in front of her fireplace, our mouths met in a series of blistering kisses. Our hands brushed over newly discovered skin, soft curves, hard edges, and hidden secrets. When I slid between her legs, burying myself inside her, I stilled at the intense sensation of belonging. Wrapping an arm around her waist, I began to move. I took her hard, holding her close, my thrusts rough and fast. She clung to me, her hips meeting mine, her quiet gasps and pleas filled the room as her fingers dug into my shoulders. My orgasm rushed through me, and I buried my head into her shoulder, pressing my lips to her damp skin as my cock emptied. Her head fell back as she cried out. I covered her mouth, kissing her, swallowing her cries, and holding her as she shook in my arms.
For a moment there was silence. I drew back, gazing down at her. “I messed up your hair.”
“I can fix it.”
I kissed her. “You are astounding.”
“Your ex was wrong.”
“I’m sorry?”
“I don’t know the neighbor, but there is no way sex with him could be anywhere near that good.”
My shoulders shook with laughter. “I’ll let you in on a little secret. I don’t think I was that good with her.”
“Oh.”
I kissed her again. “Not that I wasn’t good …”
“But something’s different?”
“Very different.”
I messed up a lot the next day.
Four times to be exact.
I forgot I had Mrs. Tyler’s plant on the roof of my car, and I pulled out of the driveway and reversed over it. I had to replace it. That was my I-murdered-the-nice-plant-I-bought-last-night addition to the list.
That went along with a heavy make-out session with Lily that left me horny and needy, which I was sure led to the incident in the lunchroom.
I dropped my coffee, and Debbie, our resident custodian, cleaned it up with one wicked dirty look thrown my way.
I headed to Lily’s, confessed my sin of angering-the-nice-custodial-lady-after-she-just-washed-the-floors, got a humongous bunch of daisies, and another tremendous blowjob.
I felt much more content for a few hours.
Until I was walked down the hall and ran smack into my boss’s wife, sending her sprawling and embarrassed to the floor. I helped her up, apologizing profusely, and as soon as she disappeared into Grant’s office, I took off for Lily’s Petals.
Lily rolled her eyes when I walked in, arching her eyebrow in silence.
“Mowed-down-the-boss’s-wife-in-the-hall-and-need-make-it-up sort of flowers, please.”
Carnations, irises, and baby’s breath made Sophie smile and earned me forgiveness. Taking Lily hard over her cutting table made me smile harder and earned me a mind-shattering orgasm.
Just as I was getting ready to leave work, my sister Reagan called, asking if I had developed Alzheimer’s.
“No. Why?”
“You were supposed to meet me for lunch. You never called to cancel, and I waited for you for an hour. And you haven’t answered your phone, dipshit.”
“Fuck.” I had left my phone in the car.
“You can make it up to me tonight with dinner—my choice of restaurant. And it’s gonna cost you. See you in an hour at Gilmours.” She hung up.
I hightailed it to see Lily, picking up a huge bouquet of roses in a rainbow of colors and a quickie against the wall of her shop, while she kept one eye on the front door since she was waiting for a delivery. I was late, but Reagan loved her flowers, and dinner was enjoyable.
All and all, it was a busy day.
Connie poked her head in my office door. “Ethan, I know you said not to disturb you, but American Express is on the phone for you. The agent says it’s urgent.”
With a frown, I picked up the phone. “Ethan Thomas.”
“Mr. Thomas, this is Emily from the fraud section of American Express. We’ve detected an irregular spending pattern on your card. We think your account has been compromised.”
“Irregular pattern?”
“Yes, in the past three days, there have been multiple charges from a business called Lily’s Petals. Typically, no one would purchase that many flowers in such a short time. We’ll reverse the charges, cancel your card, and reissue a new one. We’ll investigate the business that initiated the charges and open a fraud case if necessary.”
I was on my feet in a second, almost yelling into the phone. “No!”
“Pardon me?”
“I bought the flowers! The charges are legitimate! All of them!”
“You bought that many flowers in that short of a timeframe?” She sounded incredulous.
“Um, yes, I did. I’ve had a bad luck streak lately. Lots of making up to do.”
“So you authorize all the charges.”
“Absolutely. And any others that appear from that business.”
“I will make a note in your file.”
“Thank you. Could you send me a summary of my purchases—for my records?”
“I’ll do that right away, sir. I have to say, Mr. Thomas, you buy a lot of flowers. Maybe you could give my husband some pointers.” She laughed.
I hung up, sitting back and running my hand over my face. I had visited Lily twice yesterday, stopping on my way to work, grinning when she shook her head.
“It’s only nine a.m., Ethan. What could you have possibly done to need flowers already?”
I stepped forward, unsure how to tell her all I really need was to kiss her. Instead, I shrugged. “I have a busy day today. I thought I’d pick up a one-on-hand-for-when-I-fuck-up bouquet for later.”
She nodded. “That toaster oven is gonna be convection.”
“I aim to please.”
I gave the flowers to Connie for her mother, who was recovering from surgery. I got my kiss from Lily. Lots of them—slow, dragging passes of her tongue on mine that filled my senses with her taste and lingered all day. I went directly to her shop later, stepping in and pausing.
She was watering plants, singing softly, and looked beautiful. Her hair hung over her shoulders, the curls swaying as she moved. She had on a simple dress but bright-colored scarves tied around her waist. I shut the door loudly, and she swung around, a smile breaking out when she saw me.
“What this time?”
“I owe the lunch lady flowers.”
“Because?”
“She made me a special sandwich.”
“So this is …”
“ … a no-mayo-extra-mustard-sandwich-for-the-picky-eater bouquet to say thanks.”
“Are you always this generous with people?”
“Lately, it seems, yes.”
“Any special reason?”
I moved a
little closer, winding my hand into her hair and pulling her face to mine.
“Yeah, something pretty special, I think.”
She whimpered as I lifted her, carrying her down the hall. That time we didn’t make it to the fireplace. I sat down heavily on the sofa, Lily straddling my lap. In minutes, she was riding me, my hands tight on her hips as she gripped my shoulders, slamming down on me over and again. Our mouths fused together, her moans and cries mixing with my groans. Being with her was amazing. She was amazing. I felt as if I came alive when I was in her presence, and I didn’t want to let her go—ever.
Her body stiffened, and I pulled her down hard as I climaxed, burying my head into her neck as I breathed her name. She whimpered my name, her voice shaky. I gathered her into my arms and sat back, not speaking, brushing kisses across her head and running my hands up and down her back.
I didn’t leave that time. Instead, we curled up on her sofa, a blanket draped around us, her back pressed to my chest. She had built a fire, and the logs crackled, the flames dancing in the dark.
“How are you not taken, Lily?”
She hummed a little, tilting her head up. “I’m not partner material, Ethan. I tried, but I’m no good at it.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I was engaged once. But Vince had his own ideas about how I should act, the way we should be. He said he loved me, but then he changed. He didn’t like how I dressed or the way I wore my hair. He hated my tattoos, my jewelry …” Her voice trailed off. “I think he started hating the real me.”
“I’m sorry.”
She shrugged. “It was for the best. I broke it off and moved here. I bought this shop and cottage—I was driving by one day and saw the For Sale sign, and I fell in love. I had worked at a florist while I was in school, and I enjoyed it. I live my life for me. I answer to nobody, and nobody can tell me what to do.”
“And there is no one?”
“There’s only been you for a very long time.”
I pressed a kiss to her head, her words making my chest ache. She was too special for anyone to ask her to change.
Love Happens Page 3
