Page 21 of Where We Bloom (The Blackwells of Montana #3)

Chapter Ten

CONNOR

I had one whole day with her, and now I fucking miss her.

It took everything in me, every ounce of self-control, to walk away from her after dinner yesterday. Being with her is as easy as breathing. I wanted to stay, to ask her more questions, to simply hold her.

Sleep beside her.

And that’s not something I usually think about. No other woman, not even my ex-wife, made me contemplate the idea of curling up in bed to simply be with her. To fuck? Of course. But to hold and show affection?

I’ve never given it any thought.

Until my bumble bee.

“Sir, did you hear me?”

I drag my hand down my face and turn to Lyle, my site manager, then push my glasses up my nose.

“So the main lodge is here.” I point at the plans before me and look up and point at the land. We’re on-site today, and I’m approving phase two of the build.

Phase one is already under construction. The condos were the first to break ground because private investors own those. Some owned them previously and chose to stay. Others took the insurance money and ran, selling to others.

I’ll own the penthouse that I had added to the plans.

“As you know,” Lyle continues, “other buildings will be over there. Shops, restaurants, and equipment rentals. You’ve added downhill bike rentals in the summer.”

Among other things.

I nod, scanning the area and picturing it perfectly in my head. Of course, the renderings we’ve had done make it hard not to see it clearly. This resort will be stunning.

And it will make me a lot of money.

It’s hot today, and I’m in a suit, so I shed my coat, roll my sleeves, and take off my tie. For the next several hours, we tour the mountain, making sure everything is in place to begin the next phase of construction.

My phone pings with a text, and I pull it out of my pocket, pleased that it’s my angel.

Angel: Did you seriously send this?

Angel: *Photo of a case of water*

You need to stay hydrated. It’s your favorite.

Yes, I sent a case of her favorite water to the bookshop just to make her smile. Because her smile is my favorite thing.

How are you today? Is your shop busy?

I want to go in and see her, but I have to be here for this. Then I have work to catch up on from yesterday.

“I have to take this call,” Lyle says, stepping away from me and giving me a few minutes to enjoy my girl.

Angel: It’s Saturday, so we’re busy. I hope the interviews on Monday go well because I’d like to start being open on Sunday as well. Holy shit, now flowers are being delivered?

I can’t help but laugh at that. I love that she doesn’t have a filter and says what she’s thinking.

She’s not shy in the least, has no poker face, and it’s a breath of fresh air.

It makes me wonder how I’ve survived so many years of yes-men who’ve bent over backward to appease me but have never shown interest in me as a person.

She’s one of a kind.

Christ, I want to see her.

A few seconds later, my phone rings.

“Hello, bumble.”

“You bought out the whole florist,” she says, her raspy voice a little shaky. “Summer just said that you bought all of the flowers , Connor.”

And I’d buy her more if they’d had them.

“I hope you like them. ”

“Like them?” She huffs a breath, then chuckles. “The whole store? You couldn’t save some for someone else? What if someone has an anniversary or something?”

“Not my problem. Tell me you like the flowers, mo rúnsearc . And the water.”

She’s quiet for a moment, and then her voice is soft, and I ache to touch her. “I like the flowers and the water.”

“Good. I’d like to take you to dinner tonight, if you’re free.”

“I’ll be finished here around six thirty.”

I smile. Something that’s been happening more often. “I’ll be there, bumble. Have a good afternoon.”

“You too. And Connor?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you.”

“My pleasure.”

I pocket my phone and nod when Lyle raises a brow, wondering if I’m ready to move on.

“Let’s wrap this up,” I tell him.

I have to get ready for a date.

Her back is to me when I walk into the bookshop. Bouquets cover every available surface, filling the space with fragrance and color. Was it over the top to buy every bloom available at Paula’s Poseys ?

Yes.

I don’t care. She deserves them.

She’s wearing the blue Dior dress she bought that day in Big Sky, her dark hair is in the usual curls down her back that never fail to make my fingers itch with the need to touch, and she’s wearing black heels that make me think of her naked and writhing with her legs on my shoulders.

I want this woman more than I’ve wanted anything else in my life. Her body, with all its curves and soft skin, is my fantasy brought to life. I know she was kidding yesterday when she said she’d fucked the owner of this place to get him to sell, but at that moment, I saw red.

I wanted to kill a faceless man at the mere thought of him having his hands, or his cock, anywhere near my angel’s perfect arse. Hell no.

And I’ll make it crystal clear to her that she’s mine.

Later .

She laughs at something her employee says, then turns around and stops short when she sees me, but the smile doesn’t leave her gorgeous face.

I walk straight to her, tip her chin up, and cover her lips.

I want to deepen the kiss, to brand her here, but I respect that these are her employees, so I keep the kiss light.

“I missed this face,” I whisper against her lips.

“You saw it just yesterday.”

“Still missed it,” I repeat before pulling back. Now that I get a good look at her, I can see the fatigue in her eyes. She reaches up to press on the tension on her neck as she turns to her employee .

“This is Emily,” she says, turning to me. “And this is Connor.”

“Hello,” Emily says with a polite smile. “I know you sent the flowers to the boss lady here, but I’m taking some home, so thanks for the flowers.”

I nod and shove my hands in my pockets. “Enjoy.”

“Oh, we are,” Emily says, walking off to return some books to a shelf.

“They won’t all fit in my house,” Billie says. “So I handed some out. But I’ll have you know, I kept my favorites for myself.”

“As you should. Are you all right then, mo rúnsearc? ” I brush the pad of my thumb under her eye, and she leans her cheek into my palm, closing her eyes as if she’s exhausted. “We don’t have to do dinner. We can simply relax.”

“You’re going to deprive me of carbs?” She narrows her eyes, clearly teasing me. To my surprise, she takes my hand in hers and kisses my palm, sending a jolt of awareness up my arm and down to my cock. “Absolutely not. I’m hungry, Mr. Gallagher, and you promised me pasta.”

“Then I best feed you.”

Christ, I’ll give her the moon if it’ll make her happy.

She smiles softly and turns to Emily and another woman I didn’t see before. That must be Tiffany.

“Ladies, I’m heading out. Have a good day off tomorrow.”

“You too, boss,” Emily says with a smile and a wave.

With my hand on the small of Billie’s back, we walk to the front door and step outside. Miller stands in front of my SUV and nods at us as we step onto the footpath.

“We’re going to walk to the restaurant, Miller,” I tell him.

“Hi, Miller,” Billie adds with a smile. “Are you having a good day?”

My right-hand man cracks a smile and nods at Billie. “Yes, thank you, miss. I’ll be parked in front of the restaurant when you’re finished.”

But he doesn’t climb inside the SUV. He walks behind us down the block until we’re safely inside the restaurant.

“I’m Casey, your server tonight,” we’re told as we sit. She writes her name in crayon on the white paper and passes the menus. “Can I get you started with something to drink?”

“I’ll start with water,” Billie says.

“Same for me,” I reply and nod as she walks away.

“I have questions,” Billie begins, setting her menu aside and leaning on the table, giving me her undivided attention.

And I want her undivided attention. All the damn time.

“That makes two of us,” I reply. “Go ahead. Ask away.”

“First of all, do you want to get what we got last time and share?”

“And do you remember that, angel?”

She purses her lips. “I have an excellent memory.”

“As do I. That works for me. ”

“Good.”

The server returns with waters and a basket of bread with garlic piled on top of it. Billie grabs a slice and keeps talking.

“Sometimes Miller’s with you, and sometimes he isn’t. Why is that?”

I take her free hand in mine and rub my thumb over her knuckles. She’s not wearing any rings, but she has on the necklace I gave her.

“Miller’s with me most of the time,” I admit. “Some days, I go out on my own, but that honestly pisses him off.”

She lifts an eyebrow, but we’re interrupted by the server. I place our order, and when we’re alone again, she takes my hand once more and sips her water.

“Why do you have him with you?”

“For protection.”

She blinks at that, her eyebrows pulling together in a frown, and my angel suddenly looks concerned. I don’t ever want her to worry about anything. “What do you need to be protected from?”

I shake my head, ready to brush it off, but her hand tightens in mine.

“Don’t fucking sugarcoat it,” she says, her voice low enough that no one else can hear her. “Just tell me.”

“I don’t always deal with good people. I can be ruthless in business. I don’t care if I’m liked as long as I get what I want.”

“People want to hurt you?” Her jaw firms, and she squares her shoulders. “You don’t need Miller. I’ll kill them myself.”

“I have no doubt you could do that.” I can’t help the smile that spreads over my face because she looks so fierce.

It feels good to know that she’d try to defend me in any way she could.

Not that I’d ever let her put herself between me and anyone else.

“But you don’t have to worry about anything.

It’s mostly a precaution, and that’s the truth of it. Also, when he drives, I can work.”