Page 11 of Where We Bloom

Her fingers curl around mine, settling something in me, the way she always does when I touch her.

“So what brings you all this way once a month?” I ask.

“We don’t share personal things, remember?”

I scowl down at her, but she doesn’t look up at me, and I don’t push her. When we reach her car, I pull my phone out and send a text to Miller.

We’re leaving for BV now. Pick me up outside Thrifty Threads.

Miller: On my way.

“Well, I guess I’ll see you around,” Billie says and circles her SUV, unlocks it, and lowers inside. But when she pushes the ignition, nothing happens. I see her narrow her eyes, and she tries again, and after the third time, she simply rests her forehead against the steering wheel.

It’s a good thing I’m here.

I circle the bonnet and open her door. “You can ride back with me.”

“I have this, Connor. I’ll make some calls.”

“No, you’ll let me handle it, and you’ll ride back with me. I was heading back now anyway. My last meeting just wrapped up.”

Okay, that’s a lie. I was supposed to be here for two more days, but plans have changed.

“Seriously, thanks for the offer, but I can call Brooks. He’ll call someone, and they’ll tow me back. I can catch a ride with them.”

“If you think for one moment that I’ll let you ride for four hours from here with a strange tow-truck driver, you’ve lost your bloody mind, angel.”

Miller pulls up right behind her.

“Now, get in my fucking car.”

Billie narrows her eyes at me, then sighs. “Fine, I’ll ride back with you. But I’m not leaving my clothes behind.”

She stomps to the back of her SUV, opens the hatch, and points at two plastic totes full of clothing.

“I have to take these, too.”

“They’ll fit in the back, miss,” Miller says. “Please, allow me.”

“Oh, hi, Miller,” Billie says as she steps back to let Miller get the totes. He takes them in one trip, stacking them on top of each other, and I close the door behind him.

“Lock it up,” I say to Billie, gesturing to her car.

“Obviously, it’s not currently worth stealing,” she grumbles, but she presses a button on her fob, locking the vehicle, and I escort her to the back of my SUV.

She climbs into the back seat, and I walk around to join her on the other side.

“I’ll have our things sent to us,” I inform Miller as I pass him, and he nods in return. Once we’re all seated, Miller starts the car, and we’re headed toward Bitterroot Valley.

Billie seems intent on staring out the passenger window.

“So tell me about those clothes.”

She’s silent for so long, I don’t think she’ll respond. When she sighs and turns my way, I want to drag my knuckles down her cheek.

I want to pull her into my lap and feast on her delicious, plump lips.

I want to feel her against me so badly.

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