Page 36 of Where We Bloom (The Blackwells of Montana #3)

“Pizza’s in the lobby,” I say to Miller.

“I’ll get it,” he replies and crosses to the elevator.

“Does Miller ever sleep?” Billie asks when she reaches me. She wraps her arms around me for a hug, the way she always does when she greets me.

“I assume so.” I kiss her lips and skim my fingers over her neck. “How was your shower?”

“Heavenly. I think that whole bathroom is a religious experience. I might just live in there for the rest of my life. Toss food at me and I’ll be fine.”

I chuckle and brush my nose over hers. “You’re funny, bumble.”

The elevator opens, and Miller walks in with the pizza.

“Let’s eat,” she says.

“Wake up, angel.” I love seeing Billie in my bed. Her dark hair and golden skin against the white linens, sleeping peacefully as the sun shines in through the wall of windows makes my chest ache.

I love her so much, I don’t know what I’d ever do without her.

“Time is it?” she murmurs, not opening her eyes .

“It’s about seven.” I kiss her cheek. “I have to go to the office, and I need to talk to you before I leave.”

She stretches and the covers pull down, revealing her hot-as-hell breasts. She didn’t last long in my clothes once we came to bed just five hours ago.

“Okay, I’m awake.”

But she burrows down into the pillow, hugging it to her.

“Just give me five minutes, and you can go back to sleep, baby.”

She moans, then turns onto her back and pries one eye open. “Hi.”

“Good morning, beautiful.”

“Okay, I forgive you for waking me up.” She grins up at me. “I wouldn’t want you to leave without saying goodbye anyway.”

“And I wouldn’t do that. I left my credit card on the table right there. Go use it today. Shop and have fun.”

She frowns and glances over to the table, and then those eyes blow wide. “Connor, that’s a black AmEx.”

“I’m aware.”

“You’re such a rich guy.” She blinks, then sighs. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Cool, I’ll do some shopping.”

I push my fingers through her soft hair. “Good. You’ll have a driver today. His name is Simon, and he’ll take you wherever you want to go.”

“I can take a cab or an Uber.”

“No. That’s not negotiable. I’m not asking you, Billie. I’m telling you. ”

She bites her lip. She likes it when I get bossy. But then I think back to our discussion last weekend and reconsider my answer.

“I know you don’t love having decisions made for you rather than with you. I heard that, angel. But there will be times when I need you to adhere to my demands without question, especially when we’re in a city that’s strange to you and you’re outside your comfort zone. Accept the ride. For me.”

“Thanks for the ride.” She sits up, unconcerned about being mostly naked, and wraps her arms around me. “And for the computer and shopping. Seriously, I don’t need it.”

“I do.” I kiss her shoulder, then her neck. “Now, I have to leave this room before I say fuck it all to work and pound you into the mattress.”

“I’m still sore from last night.” She chuckles and drags her hand down my cheek.

“Excellent. I want you to feel me there all day.” Unable to resist, I kiss her once more, then walk away. “Have fun, bumble.”

“I plan to,” she yells after me, making me smile.

“The facade of the building has to remain the same because it’s a landmark,” Julie says as she shows us renderings of the new boutique hotel we’re about to break ground on. “But we can change the interior however we see fit.”

My phone rings, startling the people at the conference table, and when I see it’s Simon, I stand and excuse myself from the room.

“Update,” I bark into the phone as soon as I’m in the hallway.

I’m irritated as fuck. Why the fuck is Julie bringing this up again that we can’t change the facade?

Of course we fucking can’t. That was known before we signed the goddamn contracts after we’d filed for developmental approval.

This is such a waste of my time. I’d much rather be with my angel, buying her anything she wants, than sitting in this goddamn meeting rehashing irrelevant information on a new boutique hotel we signed on for twelve months ago.

“She’s in her third store of the morning,” he says. “She asked me to drop her off at a place called This & That in Downtown.”

My stomach drops. “What the hell do you mean, you’re in Downtown ? Why aren’t you on Fifth Avenue?”

“She didn’t want to go there,” he replies, with no change in his voice. “She wanted to come Downtown, to these specific shops.”

“What is she doing right now?”

“I assume she’s shopping. I’m parked around the corner.”

What. The. Fuck . “I didn’t hire you to be a goddamn taxi. You’re her fucking detail . I want you with her, eyes on her, every minute I’m not with her. Get to her, now , and send me a photo.”

I hang up and immediately dial Billie’s number, but she doesn’t answer, so I send a text.

Answer your phone, angel.

I wait ten seconds and try once more, but it goes to voicemail again.

Billie, I need you to answer your fucking phone. Now.

Before I can call her again, Simon shoots through a text, and it’s a picture of Billie.

She’s grinning ear to ear, holding up a handbag, and it looks like she’s having the time of her life.

I dial Simon’s number.

“Yes, sir.”

“Let me talk to her,” I growl at him.

I can hear her voice in the background as he approaches.

“Miss Blackwell, I have Mr. Gallagher for you.”

“Oh! Thanks, Simon.” Her voice is closer when she says, “Hey there, handsome.”

“You’re not answering your phone.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. The ringer’s off, and I’ve been so busy finding fun things, I didn’t look at it.

” I close my eyes as my heart settles, knowing she’s okay.

“Is everything okay? Did you get a message from the credit card company? I only spent a couple of thousand at that last store, but if that’s more than you’d planned, I’ll totally pay you back. Sorry about that.”

I take my glasses off and pinch the bridge of my nose.

“No , a ghrá, spend whatever you want. Spend a million dollars. I don’t care. Why are you in Downtown ?”

She’s quiet for a second, and then, “Because this is where the fun consignment shops are. I found a Chanel bag from 2022 that is impossible to get, Connor. And it wasn’t crazy expensive. There was an incredible pair of Dior slingbacks, in my size, never worn, and I had to have them. And then?—”

“Billie.”

“Yeah?”

“I love that you’re having fun. But why aren’t you shopping on Fifth Avenue for new things?”

“Do you even know me? I love the hunt, and you know it. I’m in New York City, where people consign everything.

Do you know that they have a Birkin in here, in my dream color and size?

But I would never pay that much for a bag.

I’m like a kid in a candy store, Connor. You can’t take this away from me.”

“I’m not trying to take anything away from you, mo rúnsearc. I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself. Buy the Birkin.”

She giggles. “Absolutely not.”

“Let me talk to the manager.”

“No. You’re not buying me that bag, billionaire.”

“Billie. Give the phone to the fecking manager or salesperson or whatever. ”

I hear her sigh, and then there’s jostling, and a woman says, “Yes, this is Olivia. How may I help you?”

“When the woman who passed you this phone checks out, she leaves with the Birkin she wants. If there are other things you think she’d enjoy, send them with her.”

“Yes, sir. I’m happy to help.”

After more jostling, Simon’s voice comes over the line.

“I’m back, sir.”

“If you want to keep this job, you won’t let her out of your sight again. She’s the most valuable thing in this world, and I want you to guard her like your goddamn life depends on it. Do you hear me?”

“Understood, sir.”

“Check in with me every hour.”

I hang up and walk back into the conference room. I want this day over so I can get back to my angel.

“Do you even know me? I love the hunt, and you know it.”

Fuck, I love that woman.