Page 107 of Where We Bloom

The elevator opens, and Miller walks in with the pizza.

“Let’s eat,” she says.

“Wake up, angel.” I love seeing Billie in my bed. Her dark hair and golden skin against the white linens, sleeping peacefully as the sun shines in through the wall of windows makes my chest ache.

I love her so much, I don’t know what I’d ever do without her.

“Time is it?” she murmurs, not opening her eyes.

“It’s about seven.” I kiss her cheek. “I have to go to the office, and I need to talk to you before I leave.”

She stretches and the covers pull down, revealing her hot-as-hell breasts. She didn’t last long in my clothes once we came to bed just five hours ago.

“Okay, I’m awake.”

But she burrows down into the pillow, hugging it to her.

“Just give me five minutes, and you can go back to sleep, baby.”

She moans, then turns onto her back and pries one eye open. “Hi.”

“Good morning, beautiful.”

“Okay, I forgive you for waking me up.” She grins up at me. “I wouldn’t want you to leave without saying goodbye anyway.”

“And I wouldn’t do that. I left my credit card on the table right there. Go use it today. Shop and have fun.”

She frowns and glances over to the table, and then those eyes blow wide. “Connor, that’s a black AmEx.”

“I’m aware.”

“You’re such a rich guy.” She blinks, then sighs. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Cool, I’ll do some shopping.”

I push my fingers through her soft hair. “Good. You’ll have a driver today. His name is Simon, and he’ll take you wherever you want to go.”

“I can take a cab or an Uber.”

“No. That’s not negotiable. I’m not asking you, Billie. I’m telling you.”

She bites her lip. She likes it when I get bossy. But then I think back to our discussion last weekend and reconsider my answer.

“I know you don’t love having decisions madeforyou rather thanwith you.I heard that, angel. But there will be times when I need you to adhere to my demands without question, especially when we’re in a city that’s strange to you and you’re outside your comfort zone. Accept the ride. For me.”

“Thanks for the ride.” She sits up, unconcerned about being mostly naked, and wraps her arms around me. “And for the computer and shopping. Seriously, I don’t need it.”

“I do.” I kiss her shoulder, then her neck. “Now, I have to leave this room before I say fuck it all to work and pound you into the mattress.”

“I’m still sore from last night.” She chuckles and drags her hand down my cheek.

“Excellent. I want you to feel me there all day.” Unable to resist, I kiss her once more, then walk away. “Have fun, bumble.”

“I plan to,” she yells after me, making me smile.

“The facade of the building has to remain the same because it’s a landmark,” Julie says as she shows us renderings of the new boutique hotel we’re about tobreak ground on. “But we can change the interior however we see fit.”

My phone rings, startling the people at the conference table, and when I see it’s Simon, I stand and excuse myself from the room.

“Update,” I bark into the phone as soon as I’m in the hallway.

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