Page 72 of The Floral Arrangement

“Apologies, I’d better take this one.” Fred jumped out of the chair, and walked down the back steps of the deck, holding his phone to his ear and his coffee in his other hand. He strolled down the side of the house and disappeared out of view.

I stood up, my body still buzzing with adrenaline at the news.

Roz rose to her feet and stepped over to me. She wrapped her arms around my waist, pulled me to her and then swung me around, laughing. I was giddy. Giddy with the news the flower fields were safe. Giddy from being swung around. Giddy at Roz’s uncharacteristic show of excitement. I joined in, laughing, and circled my arms around Roz, squeezing tight.

“I can’t believe it!” I pulled back to look at Roz’s beaming face.

Our gazes locked. Her face was only inches from mine. Her mouth, red and soft, was only inches from mine. My pulse quickened, my tongue darting out to wet my lips. Were we…? Adrenaline shot through my body. Goddamn, I wanted to. I really wanted to.

Her eyes drifted to my mouth, and I leaned in.

Our lips locked.

Tingles zapped through all the way down to my core. Our bodies pressed together. I closed my eyes, a soft whimper escaping my throat as Roz’s tongue teased my lips apart. My mouth parted, my body turning into a puddle of molten lava as our kiss deepened.Oh god.

Roz’s hand cupped my cheek. She let out a small moan, sending my stomach swooping. I fisted the back of her flannel shirt with my hand.

Kissing Roz was just as amazing as I’d remembered. My mind felt like mush. Why hadn’t we been doing this all along?

My mind cleared enough for the reasons to bubble up.We are friends and, until very recently, enemies. Roz doesn’t want a relationship. I do.

My eyes snapped open. My cheeks flaming, I disentangled myself from Roz’s arms, and focused on tugging down my shirt, which had ridden up slightly during the kiss. What the hell were we doing?

We’d just gotten carried away in the moment. It didn’t mean anything.

I studied Roz’s face for clues as to how she was taking this development. Her cheeks were flushed, her breathing labored. She reached out her hand and my breath hitched.What is she doing?She gently swiped her thumb across my cheek, her gaze soft.

“You had a little egg on your face,” she murmured.

I swallowed. “Oh. Thank you.”

Movement behind Roz caught my eye. Fred was heading back toward us. I stepped away from Roz and straightened my shirt.

“Sorry about that, ladies,” Fred said as he sprang back up the stairs. “A work emergency. Unfortunately, I have to head back to my bed and breakfast to sort it out, but I’d love to celebrate tomorrow night if you’re both free? I’ve heard good things about Rivers Edge.”

“That sounds lovely.” Roz glanced at me. “Are you free then, babe?”

“Yes. I’d love to come,” I said, smiling. My only plans this weekend were working and catching up with my brother and his family who were in town.

We shook hands with Fred and walked him back to his car.

I exhaled loudly as we watched Fred drive off down the dirt road. “What a relief.”

Roz nodded. “I just wish he hadn’t suggested dinner.”

I glanced at her. “Why?”

Roz scratched her hand. “Until the investment documents are signed, Fred can pull out. I’m worried about just the three of us spending so much time together tomorrow night. There’s a lot of opportunity for us to slip up.”

“We’ve come this far. Surely we’ll be fine,” I said as we began walking back toward the farmhouse. “I thought things went pretty well this morning, all things considered.”

“But that’s exactly it.” Roz frowned. “We’re so close now. What if we fuck it up and lose everything?”

CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR

ROZ

I hitthe turn signal and pulled up in front of Sapphire Blooms. As the truck slowed, the door to the store flung open and—oh boy.

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