Page 26 of Where We Bloom (The Blackwells of Montana #3)

Millie: Just black. If you’re making him coffee at seven in the fucking morning, that means that you spent the night together! Spill it. Tell me everything. Use the naughty words.

When I didn’t reply to that, she sent a follow-up.

Millie: Hopefully, your silence means he’s got his face between your legs to thank you for the coffee. Fill me in later. Go get him!

With a laugh, I set the phone aside and get to work on our coffees as the cinnamon rolls cool.

Maybe I made a rash decision. Cassie isn’t my employee, so giving her the day off might have been out of line. Hopefully, it doesn’t piss Connor off.

With a cringe, I set the coffees on a wooden tray that I found in the pantry, then add two warm cinnamon rolls and a small bowl of frosting on the side.

After putting the leftovers in the fridge and covering the rolls with plastic wrap that I also found in the pantry, I carry the tray upstairs and find Connor just coming out of the bathroom, sliding his glasses on his nose.

“You didn’t leave,” he says when he sees me.

I set the tray on the bed and look around. “Where would I go, and how would I get there?”

He tugs me to him and kisses my lips, then raises an eyebrow and gestures to the food on the bed.

“I have a confession,” I say, climbing on the bed. “But we might as well enjoy these before they get cold while I make said confession.”

His eyes narrow as he pulls on his gray sweatpants, and then he sits next to me and sips his coffee. “Tell me.”

“I sent your cook home for the day.”

He lifts an eyebrow but doesn’t seem mad, so I take that as a good sign. “Go on.”

“Okay.” I let out a breath and stare at his chest for a second, trying to decide how I want to phrase this. “It was … jarring to walk into the kitchen this morning and find a hot woman making breakfast.”

Immediately, Connor sets his cup down, scowling, and I shake my head.

“No, let me finish. I’m sure she’s a nice girl, and a good cook, if the smell of these cinnamon rolls is anything to go by, but I had no idea that I’d walk into that, and I walked down there like this ”—I gesture to myself and wrinkle my nose—“although, she didn’t seem to mind, or bat an eye, as if that happens all the time, and I?—”

He scoops me into his arms and, with his hand on my throat, kisses the hell out of me, sending all thoughts of the chef right out of my mind .

“I’m sorry,” he says against my lips. “I forgot to warn you that she was coming this morning.”

“Your cook is not an old lady.”

His lips twitch. “No, she’s not. Would you rather she was?”

“Maybe.” I chuckle at myself, feeling so silly, but I can’t help myself. “Which is ridiculous.”

“I like you jealous, angel.”

I narrow my eyes at him and feel my cheeks heat. “I’m not jealous. I just don’t like surprises when I’m mostly naked.”

He nods, but his lips are still turned up on the side. “Right. Do you want me to fire her?”

I gape at him, panic searing through my chest. “No. Of course not. She didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Then how do you need me to fix this? Just tell me what you need.”

With a sigh, I bite my lip and stare at his mouth. “I feel stupid.”

“Well, stop that. Also, let me clear something up. Yes, Cassie is a pretty woman. No , I’ve never even considered fucking her.

I met her after I met you, and I was already consumed by you, but even if that weren’t the case, I don’t pursue employees, and she’s not my type.

Second, I need you to be comfortable here.

I want you here as much as possible. Bring a suitcase full of your things and move right in, as far as I’m concerned.

So if having Cassie here makes you uncomfortable, I’ll either make other arrangements, or we’ll make do without a cook.

You won’t walk into another situation like that again, I can promise you that.

There is nowhere in this house that’s off-limits to you, and if you want to walk around as naked as the day you were born, by all means, do so. In fact, I highly encourage it.”

I snort and lean my forehead on his shoulder as relief floods me. He’s not mad. He wants me to be comfortable. And he wants me to stay.

He lifts my chin so he can look into my eyes.

“Understand?”

“Yeah, and thank you. I actually liked her. If you’re happy with her, she’s fine, but not on Sunday Fuckdays.”

He barks out a laugh at that, and I grin at him.

“Deal. Sundays are just for us, then. Also, you’ll want to talk with Cassie so she knows what your preferences are.”

“My preferences?”

“For meals. Snacks. That sort of thing.”

“How often do you plan on me being here, billionaire?”

“Like I said, I’d be happy if you were here all the time.”

I stare at him, skimming my fingertips down his cheek as I take a long, deep breath. “I guess it’s not exactly fast since we’ve known each other so long, but when you decide to get swoony, you really go for it, don’t you?”

He frowns at me. “What does that mean?”

“We went from Connor barely speaks to me and only kisses me at family functions to move your shit into my mountain mansion and tell the sexy cook what you like to eat in about ten minutes flat.”

“I know what I want,” he replies, setting me aside so he can reach for his now tepid coffee. “If you prefer we stay at your place, that’s fine. I’ll bring a bag over later today.”

I blink at him, then reach for my own coffee. “Maybe we bring things to each other’s places.”

He grins, that full smile that takes my breath away, and I feel like I just won the lottery. “Deal.”

Sunday Fuckday was a success, and now that it’s Monday, my body feels loose from all the amazing sex. I’m well rested after two full nights of blissful sleep, and I’m ready to get back to work.

I have four interviews first thing this morning. Once the fourth is finished, I join Tiffany at the checkout counter and grin at her.

“Which ones do you like the best?” she asks.

“All of them. There’s no way to choose. I’m hiring all of them.”

“All four ?” Tiffany questions. “Holy shit, that’s awesome.”

“Gina said she loves working with online orders, shipping and packing, that kind of thing, which is so great because our online store is starting to go bananas. I think all of them will be assets to the team. And they can all start this week.”

“This is amazing .” Tiffany grins. “I love it here, Billie. The store is so inviting and cozy, and hell, I would live here.”

“You already come in on your days off to read,” I remind her with a laugh. “You’re almost too dedicated.”

“Never.” She loops an arm around my shoulders and gives me a squeeze. “Tonight is Spicy Girls Book Club?”

“Yep. Are you coming?”

“I can’t. I have other plans, but I’ll be there next month for sure. What’s the next read going to be?”

“I think we’re looking at dark hockey romance. The Pucking Wrong Number by CR Jane. I hear it’s super sexy and more than a little unhinged.”

“I love hockey romance. I’m in.”

“I need to finish this month’s book,” I reply with a frown. “Maybe I can take a couple of hours this afternoon if things slow down.”

“I don’t see why not.”

The bell over the door dings, and I turn to welcome the customer, then freeze.

“Juliet?”

My heart thumps, and I rush around the counter to run to the woman I considered a big sister for so long. I wrap my arms around her, hugging her tight.

She sniffs next to my ear, clinging to me.

“Hey, bug,” she says, calling me the nickname she gave me as a kid. “God, you’re fucking gorgeous, you know that? I missed you so much. ”

“I missed you, too,” I whisper as I let the tears flow. “I’m still mad at you.”

“I know. I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”

I pull back, and she brushes my tears from my face.

“Is it true? Are you really moving back here and opening a restaurant?”

She wipes at her own tears and nods. Her dark hair is a riot of curls, just the way I remember it. She’s not wearing any makeup and dressed casually in a pink tank top and shorts. It’s so good to see her.

I always thought she was the most beautiful girl in the world. I was so lucky that Brooks loved her, and I got to have her as my big sister.

Then the world blew apart, and them with it, and she was just … gone.

“It’s true,” she says. “And you own a whole bookstore, which is so fucking badass.”

“Check it out,” I say, gesturing to the shelves. “It’s mostly all romance, with a little women’s fiction and thriller thrown in. Do you still like to read?”

“Are you kidding? Of course, I do.”

“Good.”

Juliet used to sneak me her romance novels when I was much too young to be reading them, but she’s why I love books so much.

And she’s back.

“What do you recommend?” she asks.

“You need Laura Pavlov in your life, my friend. Brandy Hynes. Marni Mann. Adriana Locke. Come on, I’ll hook you up. ”

For the next hour, we talk about books, and Jules builds a stack that she wants to leave with, making me laugh.

“I didn’t expect you to buy me out,” I tell her while I’m ringing her up.

“Are you kidding? I’ll be your best customer.” She winks at me and taps her card to the screen. “How’s your brother?”

And just like that, my smile falls.

“Jules, I can’t?—”

“I just need to know that he’s okay.” Her voice is quiet, her eyes pleading with me, and I let out a breath.

“He’s okay.”

“Thank you.” She holds up her hand. “I know that if I want to know more, I should seek him out. And maybe once I’ve had enough liquid courage one day, I will.

But today is not that day, so I’m going to bury my nose in one of these stories, satisfied with the knowledge that there will be a happily ever after in them. ”

“Come back often and keep me posted on the restaurant.”

“Will do, bug.” She smiles and walks out, and I rub the spot over my chest.

God, I’ve fucking missed her.

Seeing that there’s no one else in the shop, I fetch my Kindle from my handbag and take a seat in one of my plush lounge chairs.

Good God, my glutes, my inner thighs, and my core are all so … tender .

I can’t help the smug smile that comes at the thought.

“Goddamn, your mouth looks so fucking good wrapped around my cock,” he said as I worked him over in the kitchen, unable to keep my hands to myself while we made lunch.

And later, in the lounge area off the bedroom, we snuggled up watching a movie when Connor slipped his hand between my legs.

“I need to make you come again.”

His fingers pressed inside me, all the way to the first knuckle, while his thumb brushed over my hard clit, and I saw stars as I came apart, my climax rolling through me in waves.

“You’re so bloody beautiful when you come.”

With a happy shimmy of my shoulders, I open my book.

This month’s read is Crossroads by Devney Perry, and it’s brilliant. I’ve cried so much while reading it, so swept up in this beautiful second-chance story, but I only have about 15 percent left, so I hope the tears are finished for this tale. It should be a happy ever after from here on out.

Fifteen minutes later, I couldn’t be more wrong.

I have to set the device aside and bury my face in my hands as I sob, not even caring anymore about the state of my makeup. Suddenly, I feel a hand brush down my hair, and I open my eyes to find Connor squatting before me, his concerned eyes so full of worry as he cups the side of my neck.

“Who hurt you, angel? ”

I shake my head and brush away the tears, taking a deep breath. “No one.”

“Just tell me, and I’ll take care of it.”

I can’t resist taking his hand in mine and kissing his palm. “No one hurt me. I’m finishing my book for tonight’s book club meeting, and it’s so good, and so fucking sad. This author has such a brilliant way with words, and I just fell apart.”

My breath is choppy. Connor stands, pulls me to my feet, then sits and tugs me onto his lap. He holds me against him, and it feels like I belong right here, snuggled up to him.

“In the book,” I continue, resting my head on his shoulder as he presses kisses to my forehead, “she loses her dad, and it’s so sad, and it made me miss my dad because they didn’t come home this summer.

Mom’s been volunteering for a lot of stuff in Florida, and I don’t have time to go see them. Anyway, it’s silly.”

“It’s not silly.” He tightens his hold on me and kisses my forehead. “Would you like to go visit them tonight, then?”

I frown and pull back so I can stare up at him. “What in the hell?”

“I have the jet. We can leave after your book club meeting, and you can join them for breakfast tomorrow.”

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

“Okay, billionaire, take the rich-guy thing down a notch. That’s crazy.”

“It’s not crazy, mo rúnsearc .” He kisses my forehead and then my cheek. “You miss them. I can make sure you see them.”

This man likes to fix things. And I love that he wants to do this for me, but it’s a little over the top.

“Thank you.” I kiss his lips softly as I wrap my arms around his neck. “I know you’re not kidding, and you’d make it happen.”

“Just give me the word.”

“But I can’t leave tonight. I have new employees to see to.”

He narrows his eyes at me. “You hired them, then?”

“Yes. Four new girls, and I’m excited.”

He tilts his head and nods. “Good. It scared me when I walked in and saw you upset. I don’t like it when you’re unhappy. It doesn’t sit well with me.”

“You’re sweet.”

Connor laughs at that. “I don’t think anyone has ever accused me of being sweet a day in my life, angel.”

“Then they’re wrong.” I kiss his cheek and breathe him in. “I’ll be late tonight. I’ll just crash at my place.”

“I’ll meet you there,” he replies.

“You don’t have to?—”

“I’ll meet you there, bumble. No arguments.”

With a smile, I hug him back. “Okay, billionaire. No arguments.”