She winced and took a deep breath. “Still a little nauseous, to be honest, but better. The headache feels like it’s a permanent thing now.” She gently touched her nose. “This stopped for the time being.”
“When we know for sure tomorrow, you’ll feel better. Eat something as soon as you get inside.”
“I’ll do that.”
When the door opened behind her and two customers walked out, we had to move to the side, to the right of all the flowers she had put up. Her eyes caught on them as well.
“They look good, don’t they? I wanted people to take photos in front of it and post on social media so it can be its own advertising.”
“That’s smart.”
She smiled shyly, and even that looked beautiful on her. She hugged her coat tighter to herself. “It’s going to snow soon. It’s getting colder. I want to change out the roses for a winter theme with big beautiful wreaths on every window, and something for the entrance too. It would look gorgeous for winter and Christmas, but if I end up having surgery—”
“There are easier ways to ask for my help. You don’t have to resort to histrionics.”
She chuckled, and finally some warmth returned to her eyes.
“Okay. Will you help me? I’d like to do it with you again. Maybe that could be like a little tradition too. Not for show, for us.”
“I will.”
I looked over her shoulder and saw her two employees watching us with concerned faces. They were probably anxious to hear what had happened.
I gestured inside with my head. “Sally and your other employee are watching us.”
“Owen. His name is Owen.”
As if I didn’t already know.
She looked back and sent them a quick wave with a smile.
“So you have to work from your office today, huh?”
Did she want me to stay? If she asked, I would.
I checked my watch. “I rescheduled yesterday’s meetings for today, so I need to get back to them.”
“Oh, okay. Yeah. Then I shouldn’t keep you.”
I wanted her to keep me forever.
She pulled her hands out of her grey coat’s pockets and took a step forward. Placing one of her hands on my shoulder, she reached up and pressed a kiss on my cheek. “Thank you for today. It means the world to me,” she whispered into my ear.
“I didn’t do anything.”
My control, already frayed as it was, could handle neither her sweet kiss nor the whisper. I wrapped my arm around her waist and held her against my body before she could back away.
Her wide eyes were staring straight into mine while she was still holding on to my shoulder, so I kissed her like that. As I held her waist tightly, I parted her lips with my tongue and kissed her until she slowly relaxed in my arms letting me have her. When I tilted my head and sucked her tongue, a small gasp escaped her and she closed her eyes, pressing her body into mine even more. Then her tongue slid against mine and she turned eager. As the rush of pleasure started to get too intense for an outdoor kiss as people walked by us, I had to slow it the hell down, but even with that, I took my time and kissed her swollen lips a few more times, just for myself, just little pecks, just to hold me over until the next time I could get away with tasting her.
When her eyes opened lazily, I explained, “Your employees—”
“Are watching,” she interrupted, a little out of breath and flushed. “I guessed as much. Good kiss. You’re getting better and better. Practice seems to be working. No sighting of a turtle, but was it maybe a little bit because you wanted to kiss me too?”
I chuckled, and her eyes dropped to my lips.
“Yes, it wasn’t just for your employees,” I admitted, leaving it at that.
It was only because I wanted to kiss her. The only thing I had been about to say was a reminder that she had people waiting.
“Six.” It was just a soft whisper, but it was more than enough to stir my dick even further after our short-lived kiss.
“Go inside, Rose. Try to sit down for a while before you jump back into everything.”
Nodding, she turned away.
“Don’t work too much,” I added.
“I’ll talk to you later?” She opened the door halfway and looked back at me.
“Yes.”
Her smile was another favorite of mine, sweet and happy. “Okay then.”