Page 47 of Where We Bloom (The Blackwells of Montana #3)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

BILLIE

H oly fucking shit.

He built me a library. A legit, enormous, two-story motherfucking library with a ladder and the softest chairs I’ve ever seen, and oh my God.

I’m so overwhelmed. This house already felt like home, even though I’ve technically barely lived here, but he’s made it mine.

He built me a whole addition to this already gigantic house.

“Thirty minutes, bumble!” he calls out, which gets me moving.

“Coming!”

I run upstairs, directly to the bathroom, where I take a quick shower, shave my legs, and then brush out my hair and twist it up into a messy bun.

I don’t know where we’re going today, but it’s still summer and warm in Montana, so I pull out my favorite summer maxi dress and sandals. After putting on makeup and grabbing my handbag, I rush downstairs with a minute to spare.

“I can be speedy,” I inform him as I boost myself up on my toes to kiss him, then he’s leading me outside.

But we don’t climb into the SUV in the driveway.

No, he guides me around the house, and I stop in my tracks.

“No way.”

“It’s perfectly safe, a ghrá .”

I shake my head, staring at the helicopter where Miller and Simon are waiting.

“I’ll get sick.”

“You’re sitting up front, so you won’t get sick,” he says, soothingly rubbing his hand up and down my back. “You’ve got this. Trust me.”

Tentatively, I stumble forward, and Connor helps me climb into my seat. He buckles me in, then hands me a pair of headphones with a microphone to wear.

Simon and Connor climb into the back, and Miller takes the pilot seat.

“You can fly this ?” I ask Miller.

“I’ve done it once or twice.” He winks at me, puts his own cans on, and starts the engine. The blades above us start to whirl, and my stomach is in knots. “Relax, miss. I was a helicopter pilot in the Air Force.”

My gaze whips to his. “You were?”

He nods solemnly. “You’re perfectly safe. The weather is calm today, so there shouldn’t be many bumps. I’ll get you where we’re going in about an hour. ”

I blow out a breath and glance back at Connor, who reaches forward and squeezes my shoulder.

“Okay.” I turn back around, and Miller lifts us off the ground, making me squeal. “Holy shit.”

“Breathe, bumble,” Connor says in my cans, and Simon and Miller chuckle.

I have to admit that seeing the mountains this close from above is absolutely spectacular. I forget all about being afraid or having motion sickness and am enamored with the herd of elk I can see through the trees.

“Two o’clock,” Miller says, gesturing to our right, and I gape at the grizzly bear, meandering through a field with two little cubs in tow, romping around and playing.

“It’s so damn beautiful up here,” I murmur, taking in the blue water of rivers and lakes as we fly over the mountains. So green and full of life. But it’s always the mountains that take my breath away.

An hour later, Miller sets us down on another helipad, and a black SUV waits for us.

“How did you get … you know what? Never mind.”

Connor chuckles and presses his hand to my lower back as he guides me to the waiting vehicle.

He changed into dark jeans and a blue T-shirt, showing off his magnificent muscles, broad back, and flat abs. I can’t resist reaching out to drag my hand down his arm.

“Later,” he murmurs against my ear just before I climb into the car and slide over, making room for him. With Miller and Simon up front, we take off.

“Where are we?”

No one answers me. Connor simply smiles over at me and kisses the back of my hand.

Soon after, I recognize exactly where we are, and my heart fills.

“Are you trying to make me cry all freaking day?” I demand as I feel the tears want to come. Miller parks in front of Thrifty Threads , and I burst out of the vehicle and run inside. Martha offers me a big grin and a tight hug.

“Hey, friend,” she says with a laugh. “Happy birthday.”

“Thank you. Oh, my gosh, Connor surprised me.”

“I know.” She backs away and winks over my shoulder, and I follow her gaze. Connor’s standing about ten feet away, hands in his pockets, his happy gaze on me.

This man sees me like no one else ever has.

And I’m so fucking addicted to him.

I hold my hand out for his, and he presses his palm to mine, stepping forward to join me.

“Okay, I have instructions,” Martha says, clearing her throat. “Anything you want, it’s yours. I’ve held some pieces aside for you because you’re going to lose your shit when you see what I’ve recently got in.”

I’m jumping up and down by the time she reaches the end of her speech, then proceed to spend two hours hunting for designer gold.

Which I find in spades.

And the whole time, Connor hangs out, giving his opinion, smiling, and chatting with us. Not once does he take his phone out to see to work or to scroll .

I have all his attention, and it’s the best feeling ever.

“This Louis Vuitton cross-body is so cute ,” Martha says, showing it to me. I tilt my head to the side, thinking it over.

“The strap is too short for me.” I shake my head. “On a skinny girl, totally cute, but it would sit too high on me. However, that little top handle Gucci bag is adorable. Is that vintage?”

“You have such a good eye,” Martha confirms. “This just came in.”

“I like the red.” I pick it up and pet the soft leather. “Someone loved this bag. I’ll take it.”

“Sold,” Martha says with a grin. “Anything else?”

I eye the small pile of clothes and two bags that I found and shake my head. “This is great, thank you.”

She folds and then bags everything up and passes it to Connor, but when he pulls out his credit card, she shakes her head.

“No, this is on me. Happy birthday, beautiful friend.”

I blink at Martha in surprise. “Uh, I think you’re supposed to charge people for your stuff when you own a business. You’re doing it wrong.”

Martha laughs but holds firm. “You always bring me books, and you are one of the sweetest people I know. This trip is on me . Next time, you can clean me out, and I won’t even give you a discount.”

I wrap my arms around her and hug her again. “Thank you.”

“I hope you have the best day ever. ”

“I already have.”

“Good.” She steps back and smiles at Connor.

“Thanks,” he says, his voice soft.

“My pleasure. Truly. Now, you two kids, go have fun.”

I bark out a laugh. Martha is younger than me. “See you soon!”

Once outside, Connor passes my bag to Simon, who slips it into the SUV.

“We’re walking over to the hotel,” Connor informs the others.

Simon walks behind us while Miller drives the car to the hotel, and I breathe in the summer air around us.

“I can already feel fall trying to sneak in,” I say as I grin up at my man. “It won’t be too long now.”

“What’s your favorite season?” he asks me.

“Fall. I love a good pumpkin spice latte. And sweaters. And crisp leaves.” I squeeze his hand as he leads me into the hotel he owns, where I saw him all those weeks ago, the last time I was in town.

And we’re shown to a table in the restaurant.

“I know you own the place,” I say when we’re left with drinks and menus, “but have you tried the whipped feta cheese with honey and pistachios?”

“I can’t say that I have.”

I sigh and roll my eyes back in my head. “You have to. It’s so good. ”

As we munch on the best food ever , sip wine and chat about our businesses and families, it hits me just how well we fit together. How comfortable I am with him, how he puts me at ease, and makes me feel alive and sexy and smart, all at the same time.

Connor Gallagher is my person.

The love of my life.

“You’re quiet, angel.” With the meal finished, he reaches over to take my hand. “Is everything all right?”

I huff out a short laugh. “I’d say that’s an understatement. I’ve been well and truly worshipped today.”

He lifts an eyebrow. “It’s not over yet.”

“Connor, I can’t do any more gifts. I’m telling you right now, I can’t handle it.”

“Trust me.” He stands and helps me to my feet, and guides me through to the hotel lobby, where he’s handed the key to a room. After a short elevator ride to the top floor, he unlocks a door, and we’re in a beautiful suite with a view of the ski mountain.

“Wow, this is pretty.”

“We’re not staying the night,” he says as he folds me into his arms. “But we’re going to have a nap date.”

I jerk back, staring up at him. “You remembered.”

His thumb glides over my bottom lip. “I remember everything, mo rúnsearc. I’m going to get you naked, and we’re going to climb into that bed and sleep, skin-on-skin, for a couple of hours.”

“Holy shit, I love you.”

His smile is a mile wide as he tucks my hair behind my ear and kisses me sweetly. “Other things might happen since nakedness will be involved.”

I lift an eyebrow. “Really? What sort of things?”

I know exactly what he’ll do. But flirting is fun.

Slowly, he leads me to the king-sized bed in the bedroom and squats before me, helping me out of my sandals. Then he grips the hem of my dress, and as he stands, he pulls it up my body and over my head. I’m left standing in a black thong and strapless bra.

“Christ,” he whispers, taking me in. “There’s nothing more beautiful than you, angel.”

With a soft smile, I help him out of his clothes, and once we’re both bare, we climb into the bed and he pulls me to him.

We’re lying on our sides, facing each other.

He has one arm under my head and the other wrapped around my back, and I lift my leg to hitch it up over his hip, hugging him closer.

“Thank you for today,” I whisper, loving the intimate quiet surrounding us. “For every single thing.”

“You’re welcome.” His fingertips dance up and down my spine in long, lazy strokes, sending goose bumps over my skin. I’m so turned on, lying here like this, our mouths mere inches apart, being held by this strong, incredible man.

“Before we sleep …” I reach between us and guide his hard cock to my opening, and he slowly, so slowly, pushes inside me. “ Yes. ”

“Is this what you need, a ghrá ?”