Page 50 of Firecracker

He bit the inside of his lip, then smiled at her. “Happy to help.”

She opened the worn wallet and pulled out a bill. She handed it to the man selling the flowers. “I’ll pay for his flowers too.”

“No, no.” Tyler held up a hand. She didn’t look like she had a lot of money. “You don’t have to do that.”

“I want to thank you,” she said firmly. “It’s nothing. Please let me.”

He still hesitated, then gave in. “Thank you.”

“You’re a lucky girl,” the lady said to Arden with a smile. “Hold on to him.”

“Oh, um…” Arden’s eyes went big as they met his. Then she smiled. And he smiled back.

The moment stretched out for an hour, or maybe a few seconds, while he admired her glowing face, the sparkle of her eyes, the curve of her mouth. Desire punched through his stomach.

Then they both blinked and stepped apart.

“Okay,” Arden said breathlessly. “Thanks for bringing me here. This was great. I love food.”

“Me too. Mostly eating it.”

She laughed.

The afternoon was heating up, but the big old trees shaded them as they walked home.

“You’re carrying all the stuff.” Arden reached for a bag. “Let me carry something.”

“I got it. But here, you can take these.” He handed her the big bundle of flowers.

“They’re so pretty. I love snapdragons.”

“Is that what they are?”

“Yeah. Didn’t you ever play with them when you were a kid?”

“Uh, no.”

“Look.” She plucked one of the blossoms off the stem and pinched it between her thumb and forefinger. “It’s a dragon mouth…see?” The flower opened and closed with the pressure of her fingers, indeed like a little mouth.

“Learn something every day. Although I wouldn’t say it looks like a dragon.”

She bumped him with her elbow. “Don’t mock me. It’s a nice childhood memory.”

“Wasn’t mocking you, princess.”

“Argh!”

He laughed.

When they got upstairs outside their apartments, he followed her into hers to unload her purchases. “I’ll just go put my stuff away, and then we can head out again.”

“Here.” She thrust her arms out. “Don’t forget your flowers.”

“No, those are for you.”

She tilted her head and pursed her lips, looking like she was going to argue with him. She glanced at the flowers, then her mouth softened. “Thank you. They’re beautiful.”

“Be right back.”

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