The tiny bell on the door dings, announcing a customer’s arrival.
“Be there in a minute!” I yell, heading to the other side of the room where five bouquets of pink carnations lay and add the one I’ve been working on to the bunch.
“Cole!” Elon says, sounding almost relieved. “It’s so great to see you again.”
Shit.
I can’t breathe. I press my shaking hand on my chest and take deep breaths to bring my breathing under control.
“Alright, Nor. Call me if you need me,” Elon yells, sounding all too happy. Her footsteps echoing around the shop as she walks toward the door. The bell dings, announcing her exit and leaving Cole and me in silence. A silence that’s very quickly filling with heavy tension and the sound of my thudding pulse in my ears.
AS SOON AS I STEP inside Phoebe’s, I spot her, surrounded by pink carnations. Her red hair is tied up in a loose braid, and my fingers itch to undo that knot. Set that braid free. I know the moment she senses me because her body stiffens and she clutches her chest as it rises up and down quickly. She doesn’t look at me, though, which is fine with me. I need a few seconds to take her in, strategize the ways to add weight on her bones and her cute little ass.
As soon as Elon leaves, I walk back to the door, flip the sign from OPEN to CLOSED, and then turn and walk toward Nor. Immediately, she drops her eyes, a red flush filling her cheeks.
I tip her chin up and then drop my hand and sign, “Keep your eyes on me because you and I have a lot to talk about and I need those pretties focused on me. Starting today you and I will work on that. I will cook for you and my daughters. You will eat. I will take care of you, all right?”
Her eyes narrow at my words and she takes a step back. I follow her, invading her personal space, letting her know without words that I’m not leaving. If she wants to be stubborn, I’m all for it. Hell, every part of me is made of stubborn.
“All right?” I ask again.
Her eyebrows shoot up and she crosses her arms on her chest. “So, your word is law now. Aren’t we going to talk about this?”
“Yes, we will. I want to make sure we are on the same page first.”
She purses her lips, a little frown on her face. I duck my head to be eye level with her.
“One more thing, Nor. I’m not leaving. I don’t care how long it takes for us to work on this. I’m not leaving.”
She bites her lip. She’s worried about something and I need to find out what it is.
“Talk to me,” I say.
“Do you think this—” she points between us, “—is too soon?”
My determination falters at the worried look on her face. “Snowflake. The only people that matter to me right now are you, Cora and Joce. If you feel that you are not ready, I will respect that. But I won’t keep my distance. I need you to understand that.”
She rubs her forehead and nods. “Can we continue this conversation later at home?”
“Sure.” I stare down at her mouth. Restraint is such an alien feeling when it comes to this woman. Glancing at the door to make sure there are no customers waiting outside, I turn and stalk forward. Her eyes widen.
“Cole?”
I reach for her hips and walk her backwards until we make it to the small hallway that leads to the storeroom, hidden from the public eye. I wrap my fingers loosely around her neck, running my thumb on the vein pumping furiously beneath her skin, I feel vibrations from her soak into my palm and I know she moaned or groaned. Angling her face up, I crash my mouth on hers and she doesn’t resist. Her breath fans my face as she tries to catch her breath, her arms going around my neck. I drop my hand and tug her wrists, shackle them in one hand and pin them on the wall above her head. Her chest pushes forward, her lips parting and she peeks at me through her lashes.
“You look incredibly sexy like this. So inviting. . .” I take her mouth with mine, slipping my tongue inside hers and exploring her sweetness and warmth. I finish the kiss with a slight tug on her bottom lip and then raise my head, watching her as her eyes slowly open. Her cheeks pink, her chest rising and falling quickly.
Fucking perfect. I unshackle her wrists and run the pad of my thumb along the soft skin on her jaw.
“That is my apology for being a jerk before I left for Boston,” I tell her.
She rubs a finger on her lips, looking dazed, then smooths her hair back “You already apologized.”
“It wasn’t enough. I wanted to show you how sorry I am.”
She rolls her eyes, her lips twitching and drops her head back on the wall before shutting her eyes.
“Will you be all right?” I ask her, feeling way too cocky about that kiss.
She nods, her eyes closed. I turn to leave the shop, but pause mid-step and turn around to face her again.
“What time do you close?” I ask.
Her eyes slowly open and she signs, “Six.”
“I’ll pick you up at six. Be ready.”