Page 27 of Bloom

How much time do you have?“No one. Just a self-observation.”

He doesn't look like he entirely buys my flimsy response, but he lets it slide, and I'm grateful for that. A heavy sigh lifts his shoulders as his frown falls away, replaced with something so startling sincere, it makes my eyes itch. “I really am sorry, Caroline. You just caught me off-guard. I came here to work, not to make friends, or to…” He trails off, waving a hand in the air, and I take sick pleasure in watching him suddenly become as awkward as I always feel around him. “Y’know.”

“No.” Am I smiling? I think I might be smiling. I can’t help it. There’s something deeply satisfying about not being the one stumbling over their words for once. “I don’t know.”

His eyes drop to my mouth, then narrow. “Todate, Caroline.”

My smile drops so hard and fast, I swear I hear it hit the ground.

I sit up so abruptly, I almost collide with Hunter. “What?” I splutter, awkwardly scrambling backwards a little. “What does that have to do with me?”

Hunter crooks a brow, and I really, really don’t like the amused accusation behind it. “Like you said,” he drawls. “You came on a little strong.”

“I—” I’m lost for words. I’m praying I’ve misunderstood him. I’m hoping the ground will open up and swallow me whole. I’m practically screaming, “Not likethat. I wasn’tcoming on to you.”

He freaking shrugs.

I would get up and run away if my limbs didn’t feel like jelly. “You’re kidding, right? Please tell me you’re kidding.”

He’s not. He’s really not. He really thinks I was…Oh my God.I feel like I’m dying. “Hunter, I was not flirting with you.”

Thateyebrow. I want to shave it off. It’s freaking mocking me, as jibing as his tone. “Caroline, you were checkin’ me out.”

“I was not.”I definitely was.“I don’t check people out.”

“Then I’m honored I was the first.”

I take it back. I don’t want him to like me. I want him to go back to pretending I don’t exist.Thisis so much worse. This, I don’t know what to do with. This—

“Hey.” A hand lands on my leg again, higher this time, just below the hem of my shorts. His fingers are so long, the tips graze the underside of my thigh, tickling the sensitive skin. “I’m just teasin’. I know you didn’t mean anythin’ by it.” He pauses.Smirksa little, and I can’t even enjoy the sight. “Now, I know.”

Why now?I want to ask. What changed his mind? After months of him living on the ranch, my complete ineptitude at flirting has finally made itself clear?

Dragging my knees up to my chest, I hide my face in them. “I’m sorry. I’m so embarrassed. I really wasn’t trying to…” God, I can’t say it again. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I was just being nice.”

“I know.” His hand is still on my leg. Trapped between my thigh and torso. Squeezing comfortingly and ensuring I know it’s there—like I could possibly forget. “You’re nice to everyone. I’m not special.”

What am I meant to say to that? Insist he is? Tell him I know what it feels like to be the new guy, the odd-one-out, and I just wanted him to feel welcome? No way.

“Caroline, c’mon. Look at me.”

I hesitate before tilting my head to the side and squinting at him through one eye.

He’s not smirking anymore; he’s all soft and sincere again. “I’m sorry,” he repeats, and I store those words safely in the backof my mind, savoring them because who knows how long it’ll be before I hear them again. “Okay?”

So drunk off his apology, I barely pause to think about it before parroting, “Okay.”

9

Never before has worn, blue denim caught and held his attention so unrelentingly.

"Zia!"

A smile splitting my face, I step out from behind the counter just in time to catch Chiara’s small body as she crashes into me. I don’t hesitate to duck down and hug my pseudo-niece properly, dropping a kiss to the crown of her head. “I missed you.”

“I missed you more.”

Twining a perfect dark ringlet around my finger and tugging, I puff out a dramatic breath. “Impossible.”

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