Page 5 of Seduction in the Mountains

God, no. Shit. Gotta run. Keep me posted. Love you.

The rest of the day passes quickly. Before I know it, Jeremy is barreling into the shop with his backpack slung over his shoulder, chattering away with his friend Jaxon about a video game.

"Hey, guys. I saved you some muffins. They're upstairs."

"Thanks, Mir." Jeremy hugs me, and Jaxon throws me a quick wave before they disappear, their floppy shoes clomping loudly on the stairs up to our apartment.

Smiling after them, I decide to take advantage of the short lull and run to the back to fill a mop bucket. After the up-close inspection of my floor this morning, I need to be mopping more.

Shining the floor leads to emptying the shelves under the counter, and before I know it, I'm stress cleaning like a boss.

"Hey!" The bell to the front door jingles as Jaxon's mom, Melody, comes bustling through. I swivel my head to the clock and realize I've been on auto-pilot for the last three hours.

Three hours? Snap out of this, girl.

"I'm sorry I'm late today. We had a last-minute wedding emergency for a couple who chose a different florist. Imagine that!" Melody grins as she throws herself onto a stool at the counter, and the fragrance of lilies and gardenias wafts over me.

I wave to her daughter, Iris, who heads to the coloring bins and paper. "Hold up, missy. I've got a brand new set with your name on it."

Iris's huge eyes light up. "Thank you, Miranda!" She reaches for the big box of crayons I hand over the counter, looking at her mom, who nods with a smile.

"Go test those out for me and make sure they work," I tell her.

Iris's curls bob up and down enthusiastically as she scampers to a table to get to work.

Melody runsPetals & Bloomsa few doors down and uses her architecture degree to construct amazing floral sculptures. Wedding planners come up from the city begging her to do their clients' weddings, but she prefers to stay local, which gives her better hours as a single mom. We try to help each other out as much as possible.

"I sent them down to Mom's shop since the bride mentioned she didn't like her dress either." Melody smiles as she rummages in her large bag.

"Keeping it in the family? Smart." I grab the coffee pot and pour her a fresh cup.

Melody's mom ownsGwen's Dresses, the most popular place to get bridal wear on the mountain.

"The boys upstairs?" she asks as I put the coffee in front of her.

I nod, hoping they are indeed still upstairs since I haven't heard from them in three hours.

"Thank you for this." Melody winks at me as she slides a book across the counter. "I'm effectively ruined for anything but dark romance after that one."

I grin. "Okay then. Second shelf from the top on the bookcase over there," I say, pointing down the counter.

"Yes, ma'am." She giggles, heading to the shelf. "By the way, the couple gave me anextra-largetip for saving their wedding, so I'm taking the kids to dinner to celebrate the start of the new school year. Can I take Jeremy with us?"

"That would be amazing." I grimace. "Because I planned nothing for the first day of school."

Melody comes back to her stool and pats my arm. "We'd be eating leftovers tonight if not for the money gods shining on me. You still have to close up here. I'll bring him back to our house after dinner, and you can come get him around nine?"

Fifteen minutes later, I flip the sign toclosedas they all head out the door. Iris hugs the crayons to her chest and grins at me. We decided they didn't work well enough to keep at the shop, so she's giving them a good home.

Having the apartment to myself and seeing a sexy-as-sin blast from the past means I'm racing to get everything set for tomorrow. Surveying the kitchen for the next task, I'm unsettled and agitated. I'm as vexed as a Bridgerton lady trying to nail down a suitor. This prickly anger and the throb between my thighs hasn't gone away all damn day, and I'm desperate to...alleviate some of the pressure.

The bell above the door jingles, and I sigh, realizing I forgot to lock it.

Damn distracting, sexy Cole.

Pulling the swinging kitchen door open, I muster as much patient cheer as I can, calling out, "I'm so sorry, but we're clos—"

My words die at the sight of Cole standing at the counter directly in front of me.

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