growled.
I huffed and bit into it, mumbling, “Happy?”
He raised an eyebrow and I leaned in continuing to chew, making a big show of swallowing before grinning like an idiot. “Am I released, sir?”
“Don’t start shit you can’t finish, Pebbles,” he warned.
I snorted. “Please, I could bring you to your knees with one use of ‘master.’”
Closing the distance between us, he slid his hand to my neck and tugged me forward gently. “You wanna prove that?”
I shivered. “Hell, yes,” I whispered.
He grinned, leaning down to kiss me. “You’re on.”
“I really need to get this order placed.”
“Okay, Pebbles. You got ten minutes.”
He took the rest of the food into the back while I started calling vendors.
* * *
Rabbit
While Parker made her phone calls, I headed to the back where Dice was moving buckets from the cooler into the arranging room.
“Need help?” I asked.
“Nah, I got this, brother. All good with Parker?”
“Yeah.”
He nodded and lifted a bucket full of roses, hauling it into the arranging room. I made my way to the break room where I found Parker finally eating the rest of her food.
“Stevie up front?” I asked.
“Yep.”
I sat in the chair beside her at the small table. “Did you get your flowers ordered?”
“Yes. I had to call three vendors, but it’s all good. Got them for less than I expected, too, so bigger profit.”
I grinned. “Nice, baby.”
“Thanks for the sandwich, honey. It’s perfect.”
“Good. You feelin’ okay?”
She nodded. “Just a little tired. I feel like I do when I’ve had the period from hell.”
“Shadow and Otter are comin’ in a couple hours so you can leave early.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
She sighed. “They don’t need to do that, Rabbit. I’m good.”
“One week, baby. You agreed to take it easy for one week.”
Cocking her head, she sassed, “Technically, you dictated, and I just didn’t agree or disagree.”
“Well, I’d appreciate it if you’d humor me.”
“I want a bath and foot massage,” she bargained. “Or no deal.”
I chuckled. “I can make that happen, Parker. You just let me know in which order you require them.”
She gripped my cut and stood on tiptoes to kiss me. “Deal.”
I grinned and took her home.
* * *
Parker
I arrived home to find my mother pacing the hallway, waiting for me. “Mom. Everything okay?”
“I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d check in.”
I glanced at Rabbit who unlocked the front door, then disarmed the alarm. My mother never just popped by.
We walked inside and Mom set her purse on the console by the door.
“Tea?” I asked.
“Yeah, honey, that’d be great.”
“I’ll make it,” Rabbit offered. “You guys talk.”
“Thanks, baby,” I said, and led Mom to the sofa. “You sure everything’s okay?”
“Yes, of course.” She smiled, squeezing my hand. “You just had a scare a few days ago and I wanted to get eyes on my baby.”
“Thanks, Mama. I’m good. I promise.”
“Daddy said you’re thinking of adding a store?”
I nodded. “It’s an idea I’ve been tossing around. It’s a lot of work, but if Stevie takes it on, she’ll be closer to home, and I’ll have more reach.”
“Can you afford to lose Stevie?”
“Rabbit’s got a few guys we’ve been training and they’re doing well, so if I’m going to do it, now’s the time to jump in.”
“It’s all so exciting,” Mom breathed out.
“And scary.”
“Oh, pish,” she hissed. “You so got this.”
I chuckled. “Thanks, Mama.”
Rabbit arrived with two mugs of tea, setting them on the coffee table. “I’m gonna let you two talk. Got a couple calls to make.”
“Okay, honey. Thanks for the tea.”
“Don’t leave without saying goodbye,” he said to my mom.
“I won’t sweetheart,” she promised.
He walked back to our bedroom and closed the door, and I grabbed my tea, sitting back down facing my mom. For the next hour, we caught up on life, the universe, and everything in between.
By the time she left, I could barely keep my eyes open, even though it wasn’t even dark out. Rabbit forced me into bed, and I was pretty sure I fell asleep before my head hit the pillow.
Parker
TWO MONTHS LATER, Stevie and I left Dice and Bucky at the shop and drove across town to check out a possibility for a new store. It was five minutes from Stevie’s townhouse, and she’d seen the FOR LEASE sign on her way home from work the week before, calling the agent immediately.
“Holy crap, Stevie, this place would be perfect,” I breathed out as we parked in the back.
“Right? And I think we can get them down on the rent. It’s been vacant for a little while.”
I smiled. “What made