I grumble to myself but I don’t push the issue.

  I know she means well. Dot wants me to be happy, but bringing Major back into my life isn’t the way to do it.

  Not after the way he broke my heart.

  It doesn’t matter though. As soon as I get back to my apartment that night and get into bed, I’m convinced that he won’t show up. There’s no way Major Morris is going to deliver flowers around Norwood. People will flip. He’s basically a movie star around here.

  The next morning, I head into the shop early to get some work done, a cup of coffee in one hand. Dot shows up a half hour later and I’m so convinced nothing’s going to change. Major’s going to go back to the big city and I’ll never have to see him again.

  Except right at nine, an enormous black SUV monstrosity pulls up out front.

  I gape as Major steps out from behind the wheel. The rims are big and shining and the SUV itself looks like it’s worth more than everything I own combined. He strides around the thing like it’s no big deal and heads into the shop, a big smile on his face.

  “Morning, ladies,” he says.

  Aunt Dot beams. “I knew you’d show,” she says and shoots me a look. “I told you.”

  “Yeah,” I say. “Here he is.”

  Major grins at us. “I had to get a car, and since I’m doing deliveries I figured it should be kind of big.” He glances out the window, frowning slightly. “Is it too much?”

  Dot walks over and looks at the SUV. She lets out a little gasp. “Is this… a Mercedes?”

  Major shrugs like it’s no big thing. I guess in his world, it isn’t. “Sure.”

  “You bought a brand-new Mercedes… to deliver flowers?” I ask, flabbergasted.

  He grins at me. “If I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it right.”

  “Sweetie,” Dot says, “you could do it right in any old truck just fine, you know.”

  “Yeah, well, maybe I also like to do it in style.”

  I roll my eyes so hard I think I might fall over.

  Major walks over to the counter and leans against it while Dot goes outside to walk around his car. He watches her for a second, a little smile on his face, before turning back to me.

  I’m not smiling. He may have Dot charmed, but I’m not falling for it.

  “What are you doing?” I ask him.

  He shrugs. “Dunno. Just showing up for work.”

  “Nobody buys an expensive car like that just to come deliver flowers.”

  “I mean, I needed a car, too. Two birds and all that.”

  I let out an annoyed huff. “Major, seriously. You don’t want to deliver flowers.”

  “Not particularly,” he admits.

  “So what are you doing?”

  “Honestly?” He leans toward me. “I’m here for you, Sara.”

  I blink, taken off guard by his intensity. I figured he’d try and say some bullshit line about needing something to keep him out of the house and away from his father, but I didn’t expect that sort of… brutal honesty.

  “Oh,” I finally manage to say.

  “It’s been a while. I’ve been meaning to reach out for a long time, but…”

  “Lost my number? Forgot how to email?” I glare at him, heart beating fast. I hate him so much for making me feel like this. “Or maybe that’s just your style. You know, sleeping with someone and then disappearing.”

  He winces like I slapped him across the face. I turn away, face red with anger and I have to put some distance between us.

  “Look, Sara,” he says, “that wasn’t…”

  “Wasn’t what?” I turn back to him, pissed as all hell now. “Wasn’t what you meant to do? Don’t give me that bullshit. You broke your promise to me, but that wasn’t enough for you, was it? You had to take everything you wanted then… then you had to run away. And ruin it all.”

  I stand there glaring at him, breathing fast. I don’t know what his problem is. I don’t know why he’d say something like that, like he’s back for me.

  I don’t even know what that means. He can’t have me and there’s no way he thinks he can, not after what happened. And yet here he is, looking at me like he’s both ashamed of himself and still hopeful, and all I want to do is slap his gorgeous face.

  “It happened,” he says. “Can’t pretend like it didn’t. But I—”

  “You changed?” I sneer.

  “I changed,” he says. I have to take a step closer to hear him. “I know you probably don’t believe me, but I changed. Maybe not in the ways you’re thinking, but…” He trails off and lets out a sigh. “Anyway, I’m here now. I’ve been meaning to do this for a long time.”

  “Do what?”

  He comes around the counter suddenly. I glance away from him, out the front window, looking for Dot. My heart’s beating so fast and my mouth hangs slightly open, lips parted. Dot’s nowhere in sight, probably sitting in the car hitting buttons or something. Of course Major didn’t lock it.

  He gets closer to me. I bump into a glass display case and stop as he moves within inches. I can feel the heat rising off his body, or maybe that’s just the excitement rising off of me in waves. I feel it pooling between my legs and god, yes, I hate myself for it. Because I can’t stop thinking about what he made my body feel seven years ago… and what he could make it feel like now.

  Those hands, those muscles. Major’s older, wiser, and I bet a lot more experienced. If he was amazing back in high school…

  He’s probably ten times better now.

  God, I’m sick. I’m broken.

  I hate this man. I can’t forget it.

  “I’m sorry about your parents,” he says, looking into my eyes. “I always liked them.”

  I feel a lump in my throat. “Thanks,” I manage to croak.

  He nods. “Doesn’t mean much now since it’s so late, but I really am sorry.”

  “Yeah.” I look away from him.

  But he reaches out and pulls my chin back toward him. I bite my lip, so completely thrown off by his sincerity. I should jerk back or slap him or something, but the way he’s looking at me, and the mention of my parents…

  It has me reeling. I’m spinning, dizzy with it. I half want Dot back in here to save me from this moment and half want to lock the doors and make sure she can’t interrupt us.

  God, I hate this man. And god, I want him so badly.

  All the old feelings bubbling up to the surface.

  Lust, desire, hatred, need. The way he used to make me laugh and smile. My parents always really liked Major and my mom would make comments about the two of us getting married. Those comments stopped after Major disappeared on me, but still. She always wanted me to end up with him.

  I always wanted it to. I’d tell her she was being annoying, but she was right. I wish I had told her that back then.

  Major cocks his head, staring into my eyes.

  “You okay?” he asks.

  “Fine.”

  “I meant what I said.” He’s so close now, heart beating wild. “I came back for you, Sara. I could’ve gone anywhere… hell, the team told me to stay in the city. But fuck it. I know what’s important.”

  I stare back at him, not sure what he’s saying right now. “What’s important?” I ask, too dazed by the moment to think clearly.

  He doesn’t answer me.

  Instead, he kisses me.

  It’s like a breeze on a burning summer afternoon. Unexpected but it somehow makes everything seem just perfect. He tastes just like I remember, grassy and earthy and spicy all at once. His tongue rolls against mine and he’s an even better kisser now than he was back then. He pulls me against his body, his powerful arms gripping me, and I let myself fall into the kiss.

  It’s like finally waking up from a long dream. It’s like coming home after a trip abroad.

  It feels so good. And I want more of it, desperately, instantly. I want more of it so badly…

  It scares the hell out of me.

  Slowly he pulls back. Our eyes meet for a moment before I duck away from him. I walk away, toward the door to the back room.

  “You shouldn’t have done that,” I say quickly. “You shouldn’t have…” I shake my head, dizzy and unsteady.

  “I don’t care,” he says, turning back toward me. “I wanted it. And I know you did too.” He takes a step closer. “You’ve been thinking about that afternoon all these years.”

  “No,” I say.

  “Yes,” he answers. “Just like I have.”

  I bite my lip and slowly regain my senses. I glare at him, remembering that day… and remembering what came after.

  “No,” I say more forcefully. “I’ve been too busy thinking about how you lied to me, used me, and then abandoned me.”

  I can see the hurt on his face but I don’t care.

  “Sara,” he starts, but I interrupt him.

  “Enough. I don’t buy this bullshit at all. You’re just home and bored and looking for some fun. But I’m not going to be that for you.”

  I turn away, catching only the briefest glimpse of pain in his expression. I push my way into the back room and slam the door shut behind me.

  I stumble away and sit down on a little couch we use for breaks. I curl up, knees to my chest, lips tingling from where he kissed me.

  I’m confused, angry, turned on like crazy, and I don’t know what to do. Major’s back and he says he wants me, he’s sorry about my parents, but…

  I can’t trust him. How could I trust someone that did something like that to me?

  And yet that kiss.

  It was so much more than just a kiss. I mean, I’ve kissed guys since Major. Some of those kisses were really good.

  None of them can even begin to compare to the kiss I just had with him.

  I don’t know what this says about me. I wish I could curl up and go to sleep and forget about all this for a while.

  Fortunately, Dot sends Major out on errands all day long. I barely see him, although that kiss still lingers by the time we close up shop.

  “See you tomorrow,” Major says to both of us, though he’s looking at me.

  I turn away from him, unable to answer, and head home.

  Not sure what the hell I’m going to do about this raging fire he just ignited inside of me.

  4

  Major

  Delivering flowers is pretty easy, all things considered.

  You put the flowers in your car, first of all. Fortunately, the Benz I got has a ton of room. So I just make sure they’re all in there nice and safe.

  Then you drive to where you gotta be. You drop them off, get paid, and head back for more.

  Except when you’re famous. Then there’s a whole new step where you sign autographs, answer questions, and slowly but politely extricate yourself from the situation.

  I don’t know why but apparently Dot’s business is booming. She gets a ton of delivery orders all day long, the phone ringing off the hook. I’m forced out on the road all day when all I really want to do is hang around the shop chatting with Sara.

  I want to explain to her what happened. I want her to know that my father made me take the contract, that I never wanted to leave her. I never meant to break our promise.

  The only reason I didn’t call was because I thought it would be easier. Clean break, and all that.

  I was wrong. I was weak. I was a stupid fucking teenage kid, way too young to be thrown into the big leagues.

  I’m a different man now. My father doesn’t run my life. Nobody tells me what to do or where to go if I don’t want them to.

  This injury, it’s making me see things clearly. I’ve been dreaming about Sara for seven years, thinking about calling her constantly, wondering if she ever thought about me. And now that I’ve tasted her again…

  Well, fuck. I’m not letting go of this, not for fucking anything.

  After a long day of dealing with fans and delivering flowers, I’m finally back at the shop. Dot’s gone and the front room’s empty so I have to poke my head in the back.

  Sara’s standing over a table, finishing up a bouquet.

  “Hey,” I say to her.

  She looks up. “Hey. Busy day.”

  I nod and slip back. “Dot’s gone?”

  “Yeah. She closed the register out. I was gonna lock the door but I figured you’d need to get in.”

  “Thanks for not locking me out. I bet you were tempted.”

  She glances at me. “Yeah. I was.”

  I laugh and sit down on the arm of the couch, watching as she adjusts the flowers. “That’s nice. Dot teach you?”

  “Yeah,” she says. “She has a gift for it.”

  “I think you do too.”

  She snorts a little bit. I remember that sound. It means she thinks I’m full of shit, which, yeah, okay, maybe I fucking am. But I still think her flowers are pretty.

  “I’m fine. If it tells you anything, we price my arrangements half as much as Dot’s.”

  “Just means Dot doesn’t value you like she should.”

  That snort again, plus a little smile. “She pays me more than she pays you, so what’s that say?”

  “Means she knows I’m already rich.” I grin at her and she lets out a little laugh almost despite herself.

  But the laugh quickly dies.

  “Where are you staying?” she asks. “Home with your parents?”

  “No way,” I say. “I’m staying at the Days Inn.”

  This time she laughs for real. “You’re staying in some cheap hotel?”

  “Yep,” I say proudly. “Beats staying at home.”

  “Way more expensive.”

  “But private.” I stand up and walk over toward her, looking at her arrangement. “I don’t have to deal with the girls or my dad giving me shit all the time.”

  “I can see how that might stink,” she grumbles.

  “What about you?”

  “I was staying with Dot and Roger, but…” She trails off for a second. “I’ve got my own place now.”

  “That’s good. Living alone?”

  “Yep.” She says it almost proudly.

  “That can be a drag sometimes.”

  “It’s not so bad. I have dinner with Dot a couple times a week and I’ve been hanging out with Lexie lately.”

  I arch an eyebrow and run my fingers gently over the flowers. “Lexie Jones? From high school?”

  “That’s the one.”

  “They used to call her Slexie Lexie, if I recall correctly.”

  Sara winces. “Yeah, well. She’s not as slexie anymore.”

  “No?”

  “And anyway, kids can be mean.” She gives me a pointed look.

  I glance away. “That’s true. We should all hang out sometime.”

  “Why do you care?”

  “I don’t know,” I admit.

  “You weren’t friends with her in high school.”

  “Neither were you.”

  She hesitates. “Okay, good point.”

  “If I recall correctly, she was too cool for us.”

  She smiles a little bit. “She did hang out with all older guys.”

  I nod slowly. “Thus, the nickname.”

  She grins and hits my arm. “Stop,” she says. “Seriously, she’s nice.”

  “Okay then. I look forward to seeing her again.”

  She rolls her eyes and sighs. “Okay, this is fine.” She primps the flowers a bit more and sets the vase aside.

  “Isn’t it a little late to be making these?” I ask. “You should head home.”

  “You should too and yet here you are, bothering me anyway.”

  I shift a little bit, watching her closely. “I have nothing better to do.”

  “I guess I don’t either.”

  “We’re a sad little pair.”

  She glares at me and stops fiddling with the tools on the table. “We’re not a pair of anything.”

  “Right. Forgot you hate me for a second.”

  Her eyes soften and she looks down at her work surface. It’s strewn with cut parts and unused flowers. “Yeah, me too.”

  We dip into a silence while she cleans up. She throws out the clippings and tucks the good flowers away with other loose stems. She puts the wrapping paper back and sweeps up any final bits. When she’s done, the place looks pristine again.

  I sigh and stretch. “I don’t feel like going home,” I say.

  “What did you normally do, you know, back in the city?”

  I shrug. “Depends on the day. If it’s before a game, nothing. On days off, I don’t know. Sometimes I’d go out, and sometimes I’d just stay home and watch Netflix.”

  She grins at that. “Famous ball player sitting alone at home watching Netflix?”

  “Believe it or not, everyone loves binging TV shows.”

  “Your dad would’ve flipped if he ever saw you wasting time on TV.”

  I smile a little bit at that. “Yeah, he really would’ve.”

  I help her finish straightening up. I put the broom away and when I turn back, she’s standing close with a spray bottle of cleaner.

  “Here,” I say and take it from her. Our fingers briefly brush and I catch a look in her eyes. It’s half surprise and half…

  Something else.

  I put the bottle away and she’s still there, lingering close to me. I cock my head and step nearer. I half expect her to run, especially after that kiss… but she doesn’t move.

  “I really do hate you, you know,” she says, almost a whisper.

  Fucking hell. My heart’s racing, my cock half hard. She’s wearing a loose dress with flowers all over and it’s showing just enough of her perky little tits that I know her body has aged perfectly.

  She drives me fucking wild. She always has. Just standing near me makes my heart hammer.

  “I know,” I say.

  “You deserve it.”

  “I know.”

  “So why are you here? Why are you doing this to me?”

  I let out a soft growl and step closer to her. I put my arm around her lower back and pull her against me, my other hand snaking in through her hair. She lets out a soft gasp and I feel her fingers dig into my back.

  I kiss her hard and let my tongue slide into her mouth. Fucking hell, she tastes good. I’m rock hard in an instant, my blood pulsing behind my ears. She lets out this fucking sexy gasp, the same sort of gasp she made that first goddamn day I kissed her seven years ago. It drove me wild then and it drives me wild now.

 

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