Page 89 of The Floral Arrangement

“After that conversation with Matt, it was like a switch had been flipped. I suddenly saw how toxic our relationship was and that I needed to get out. Two days later, I moved in with Matt and Mel while I looked for a new place to live.”

“That sounds really awful,” I said. “I’m glad you left.”

“Me too.” Roz pressed her lips together.

As interesting as her story had been, I was still none the wiser on the reason for Roz’s flower phobia. “So, um, how did your dislike of flowers come about?”

Roz chuckled softly as she pushed some more roses into the chicken wire. “Ah, yes. Sorry, I got so carried away I forgot why I was telling you in the first place. Sadie sent me flowers. Almost every single day we were together. I could tell how she was feeling about me based on the arrangement. If she was angry or annoyed with me, she’d get me a small bouquet of carnations or daisies—or not send me anything at all. If she was in her ‘showering me with affection’ mood, I’d get these over-the-top designer flower arrangements that were almost too big to lift. My office at work was filled with flowers; you could have mistaken it for a small flower shop. My colleagues thought it was hilarious. By the end of our relationship, I couldn’t stand the sight or smell of the things.”

My stomach sank. “Oh shit. And here you are, surrounded by them.”

Roz smiled across at me. “Perhaps they’re not so bad after all.”

My heart ballooned. I furrowed my brow. She’d just said she wasn’t interested in anything serious. But she also used to want kids, and she clearly changed her mind about that. Perhaps she might change her mind again?I clenched my jaw. Pursuing something casual with Roz on the faint hope that she might change her mind was a terrible idea.

Roz knelt down on the grass and carefully selected another rose, which she pressed into the bottom of the arch. I couldn’t help picturing Roz, kneeling before me, my back pressed to the front door of Sapphire Blooms as she pushed her fingers inside me. My eyes dropped to her mouth.Big mistake. The sensation of her soft lips making their way down my stomach last Friday night flooded my memory and sent my core thrumming. I swallowed.Don’t look at her mouth.My gaze lowered to her hands delicately maneuvering the rose into position.Or her hands!I jerked my head away, focusing on the arch. That was safer.

But even with my eyes averted, my body still pulsed with desire. My mind whirred as I stared blankly at a particularly spectacular red rose. I wasn’t planning to start dating again until after the paperwork for Fred’s investment was signed anyway. Would it be such a terrible idea to extend our fling another week or two, until it was all finalized? Surely in that time I wouldn’t get more attached than I already was… I swallowed. It quite possibly was a terrible idea, but never getting to kiss Roz again felt even worse.Fuck it.

I looked down at Roz through the foliage. “Okay.”

She looked up at me, tilting her head. “Sorry?”

I cleared my throat. “Let’s try casual. But only until Fred’s paperwork is signed.”

Roz’s eyes widened, her face breaking into a wild smile. “Really?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

“Are you sure?”

Doubt washed over me. I could just imagine the look of horror on George’s face when I told her. And Blake would be even worse. Casually dating my enemy-turned-fake girlfriend when I wanted more than she could offer? Heat pricked my neck.

“Yes. But do you mind if we keep this between us? It’s just that I announced to the world last year I was turning my life around. Instead of jumping from one job and one relationship to another, I was going to make my thirties all about settling down.”

Roz chuckled. “Sure. We’d just mastered the art of fake dating; now we can hone our skills in the art of fake not casually dating. We don’t want to get too comfortable.”

Roz’s eyes twinkled and I laughed, feeling lighter. Maybe it all would be okay. If it was anything like our fake-dating experience, at least we’d have some fun along the way.

Roz stood on the other side of the arch to me, roses framing her head, her gaze soft. “Can I kiss you?”

My eyes darted around, checking no one was about. Making out under the floral arch hours before my clients would be married under it did not feel entirely professional. But the only sign of life was a bird flying overhead.

“Yes.” I laughed, leaning in to kiss Roz. Our lips met and I closed my eyes, letting out a low moan as Roz’s hot tongue slipped into my mouth. Tingles raced down my spine.Oh god.I fisted the collar of her flannel shirt. Roz’s hand slid to my ass, giving it a squeeze, and I grabbed onto the arch to stabilize myself. The arch wobbled, bringing me back to reality.

I was under a time crunch to finish setting up for the wedding. I couldn’t let myself get carried away or bring it all toppling over in a fit of passion. I disentangled myself from Roz.

“I would love to continue this later, but I really need to finish getting the rest of the flower arrangements done before Jenny and the wedding guests arrive.”

Roz stepped back, grinning. “Another raincheck? I’m okay with that, as long as it doesn’t take as long as last time to call it in.”

I laughed. “There is absolutely no risk of that.”

“What are you doing tonight?”

My grin widened. “You?”

Roz chuckled. “Sounds like a plan.”

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