Rose Bloom is the baby of the Bloom sisters. The one that was the hardest to get a read on. The one that held it all in rather than burden her sisters. She has secrets she’d rather not share and they are in her past where they belong. If they’d jaded her opinion of men, well, she didn’t have much of a favorable one since her father skipped town when she was a baby. Then why is she wondering and waiting for their sexy attorney to finally make a move toward her? Or is she just going to have to bite the bullet and make it herself?

Thomas Klein spent too much of his life trying to be someone he wasn’t. Years of having his mother lecture him to not be like his father drove him to move across the country. But his father calls and asks him to take over the family firm and finds it’s what he’s been waiting for. The minute he meets Rose Bloom, he is intrigued. Yet it’s been seven years while he’s trying to get a read on her. Maybe it was time to just be himself and make that move. If she shoots him down, then he knows he can move on, but he’d still continue to protect her and her sisters like he’s been doing for years.

Prologue

Bode Bond adjusted his tie one more time, then cursed his mother when he got out of his truck.

Her crazy harebrained idea to auction off the singles in this generation and try to pair people up. Worse yet, his brother Drew managed to sneak out of it by saying he was dating someone. He couldn’t get any information on her other than it was a tenant that gave Drew cookies during a house visit. He supposed it didn’t matter other than his brother outsmarted him and Bode got stuck with Coy going up for auction for a date.

He walked in the door, his mother noticing him right away. “Smile now,” Helena Bond said. “You look like you’re going to be up on the stand for murder.”

“I might be if I get stuck with some bimbo. Or maybe that will serve you right for doing this to your own flesh and blood.”

His mother smiled at him, adjusted his tie that he thought he’d fixed, but obviously not, then curled her finger for him to lean down. He did because, as much as she annoyed him, he did love her.

She kissed his cheek. “You’d never end up with a bimbo permanently though you attract them like stink on fish. But maybe you’ll get an exciting night out of it and loosen your tight ass up.” His jaw dropped. She’d never talked to him like that before. She patted his cheek, then said, “Go relax and have a good night. It’s for charity.”

 He stopped himself from storming off like he wanted to, found his table with his brother Coy already there with Hunter and Hailey Bond and Hunter’s fiancée, Kayla. “What are you smiling about?” he asked Coy.

“Just watching Mom get the best of you like she always does.”

“Jerk,” he said to his baby brother. “How come you don’t have a dress on tonight?”

“Talk about being a jerk,” Coy said, laughing. It was a running joke for a lot of reasons, but mainly because Drew and he managed to convince Coy to put a cousin’s dress on at a party when he was younger. “But you aren’t going to rile me up tonight. You want someone to take your frustration out on and it’s not going to be me. And here comes Drew with his date too. Damn. Don’t embarrass him.”

His other younger brother stopped in front of the table with a stunning blonde on his arm. “Boys, this is Amanda Moore. Amanda, my brothers Bode and Coy. You already know Hunter, Kayla, and Hailey.”

“She’s the cookie lady!” Bode said. “Dude, you’re an ass. You made me think she was a cougar.” There was laughter around the table over this. Now he knew what Hunter, Hailey, and Kayla were grinning about because they obviously knew who Drew’s date was.

“Cookie lady?” Amanda asked, shaking her head with a grin and taking a seat next to Kayla.

“You sent Drew home with cookies after that first meeting. I asked if you were a granny. Then when he said you were dating I asked if you were a cougar. He never corrected us.” His brother would pay for that too.

“As you can see, I’m not either. I’m the same age as Drew,” she said.

“And she should be called the cookie lady,” Hunter said. “She supplies Kayla and junior with sweets each week. She doesn’t send enough because Kayla isn’t good at sharing. And, Drew, I know you haven’t formally met my fiancée.”

Drew held his hand out and shook Kayla’s. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Kayla.”

“You too,” Kayla said. “I’m having a hard time keeping everyone’s names straight. So I will apologize upfront if I call you the wrong name. Though since you’re dating my best friend I don’t think that will be a problem.”

“No, she’ll just confuse Bode and me,” Coy said.

“Not likely,” Bode said. “We are nothing alike.” His baby brother never got his hands dirty a day in his life. He was as comfortable as could be in his suit. He probably wore one daily as a dentist rather than scrubs.

“Ignore my brothers,” Drew said. “They are still ticked I got out of this and they are stuck.”

“I’m stuck too,” Hailey said. “But it is what it is. I’m going to prove to you guys I can bring in more money.”

“Not if I don’t like who is bidding on you,” Hunter said.

“Whatever,” Hailey said. “Becoming a dad is making you think you can control things with me. It doesn’t work that way, Hunter.”

“Guess I’ll have to see who you end up with tonight then,” Hunter said.

Dinner had been served and they were just waiting for the dreaded auction. Amanda and Kayla excused themselves and while they were gone, over walked one of Drew’s exes. Or more like someone he dated once. Now Bode could get some entertainment for the night watching this.

“Drew, I haven’t heard from you in months. Your mother thought we’d be perfect together, but after that one date you never called me again.”

Yep, that was his mother. Always trying to set her boys up. It never worked out. He knew firsthand and if she tried it one more time he might disown her. He wouldn’t tell her that, but he’d want to. 

“Excuse me,” Amanda said. “I believe you’re in my seat.”

The woman stood up. He hadn’t even caught her name. “I’m sorry. And you are?”

“I’m Drew’s girlfriend, Amanda.”

The brunette squared her shoulders and stuck her bottom lip out. “I didn’t know that Drew was dating anyone. His mother never said a word when I saw her last month.” Bode started to grin and looked at Drew to see what the next move would be. This entertainment was worth what he was going to have to do on stage.

Amanda didn’t bother to say anything, just took her seat, proving Drew’s date had a lot of class. Bummer on the drama he was hoping to witness. “Thank you,” Drew said. “I didn’t want to be mean, but I knew she could put on a show. She wouldn’t with you saying something.”

“I was afraid you were going to end up in the gentleman’s lap behind you if you moved back anymore.”

He and Coy started to laugh. “Drew always was the nice guy between us. That’s why he tries to get out of being set up so much so he doesn’t have to deal with that crap anymore,” Bode said. 

“You’re the grouchy one in the family,” Hunter said to him.

“Just call me Oscar and I’ll go find my garbage can right now,” he said. Gladly, and anything to get out of this room.

He didn’t get that lucky though because the auction started and he was first. 

He grudgingly got on stage and stood there like a fool while his name was stated and what the opening bid would be. There were enough eyes on him that he started to sweat but resisted pulling the collar of his shirt away from his neck.

It wasn’t even a second before numbered cards were going up. All women. None that he wanted anything to do with. Nope, he shouldn’t be judging, but he was. He’d seen all those types in his life. They heard his name, they looked him over and they saw dollar signs and a way to try to reform him.

Fuck that. He was who he was and damn happy to be that way.

When a man’s hand went up on a bid he flushed, but thankfully the older gentleman was quick to say he needed something fixed in the house. Once he said that the man’s wife grabbed the card out of her husband’s hand and kept upping it until she won, saying, “I’d like whatever he wanted fixed to be completed. It will never get done any other way.”

There was a lot of laughter after that statement, and in the end, Bode figured he got the better end of the deal.

When Bode came back to the table he was actually relieved. “That wasn’t so bad,” he said.

“You didn’t think so when that redhead in the corner was bidding pretty heavily on you,” Coy said. “You started to sweat. I could see it from here.”

“Yeah. I’m glad that didn’t work out. Just wait your turn,” Bode said, then shut his trap until the bidding was done.

When the auction was finished, he found the woman that’d won him for the night. He was still hoping it was what she said and wasn’t something kinky he was getting sucked into. And of course that was just making him lose his mind considering there shouldn’t be anything dirty about the auction. His mother would smack him over that thought.

No, she wouldn’t. She made the stupid comment about him getting some excitement when he walked in and he was positive it was to wind him up. Damn her. She knew what buttons to push to get him nervous. He didn’t think she was that sneaky.

He reached the couple and stuck his hand out. “Hi, I’m Bode Bond. Though you’re aware of that.”

“I am,” the older woman said. “I’m Ella Cartwright and this is my husband, Dr. John Cartwright. We have a house on the island and some things need to be done and updated. I can’t get him to call anyone to come work on it so I bid on you to check it out.”

“So you don’t need any work done immediately?” he asked.

“Well, we’ve got a few leaks here and there, but I wouldn’t do that to you. It’s more that I’d like you to come and look things over and let us know what our options are, maybe some costs. What a contractor would do. I also know you are extremely busy so I’ll consider this faster than calling to get an appointment.”

He laughed. “That works.”

“I need the leak in the bathroom fixed,” John said. “Seriously. I can’t get a plumber out here and if I have to listen to my wife complain about the dripping one more night…”

Ella slapped her husband’s arm playfully. “That is what he was bidding on you for. We do have a leak and it is driving me insane. But while you’re there, if you could humor me on some other work?”

“I’d love to,” he said. Not only did he get out of a date with someone he had no interest in, it looked like he could be getting some business out of it too. He couldn’t wait to tell his mother how this all backfired on her. 

Bode Bond was the grouch of the family. The one that didn’t like people and had no problem telling them that when he’d had enough. Women wanting him for his name, money or an attempt at reforming him only pissed him off more. If he wanted what his parents had, he realized it would never happen because as many had said in the past, no one would put up with him. Until Sam…

Samantha Cartwright couldn’t seem to be the person her father wanted. She wasn’t the boy he’d been longing for and she didn’t follow him into medicine like her older sisters. When work stress gets the better of her and she ends up in the ER, everyone babies her more. Including her boyfriend, Bode. He was the last person she figured would be that way when she finally found someone that seemed to understand her. Maybe she was just wrong once again. It’s not like her life wasn’t imploding around her and she’d be damned if she’d take him down with her.

If you haven’t checked out the PROLOGUE you can here.

Chapter One

Giving Me Fits 

“Come on, Kaylee,” Walker said to his thirteen-year-old daughter. “I’ve got a stop to make before the office and an early morning interview.”

“I’m coming,” Kaylee said, running down the stairs as she threw her purple backpack over her shoulder. She was wearing jean shorts that seemed a little too short for him, but they did cover her thighs halfway down. She had an aqua T-shirt on that just touched the waist of those shorts. She was covered if she stood still, but if she lifted her arms her belly would be exposed.

He was ready to send her back to her room to change when she stopped in front of him. “What’s on your face?”

“What?” she asked and moved toward the mirror in the hall to look. “Nothing.”

He moved to stand behind her and pointed to the pink on her cheek with one hand and the soft shimmer on her eyelid with the other.

His daughter frowned. “Mom said I could start to wear makeup.”

“Mom is only one of your parents.”

“But, Dad. All the other girls are.”

“I don’t care,” he said. He was going to have words with Tiffany over this. They shared custody of Kaylee and had since his daughter stopped breastfeeding while he was starting law school. He’d gone around the block more than once with his ex over her allowing things like this without talking to him first.

“Can I wear just a little bit? Please? You like to negotiate.”

His daughter always had his card, but he liked that she wasn’t a pushover either. He had to get over the fact she was growing up before his eyes, but he wasn’t ready to let her be older than what she was. The thought of buying her first sports bra was still traumatic to him. Thankfully she was more into them than anything lacy and pretty right now.

“No eyeshadow,” he said. “Blush and lip gloss.”

“Cool. Mom said no lipstick.”

He paused. “I should talk to your mother,” he said.

“No,” she said, quickly running into the hall bath. He watched her take some toilet paper and wipe her eyes. “Lip gloss is different. It’s like Chapstick now. Can we buy some?”

He let out a sigh. Kaylee would be with him for the next few days. She spent half her time with him and half with her mother. He found lately it was more with him and wasn’t sure the reason but would have to find out soon enough. Just not this morning.

“If I’ve got time after work we can run to the store. I’ve got the final say.”

“Thanks, Dad,” she said, hugging him. Just like he thought, her arms went up and so did her shirt.

 “Go change that shirt.”

“I thought the makeup would distract you from that.”

Like her mother at times, trying to play games. “I’m always paying attention. Shirt, now. Hurry up. We’re going to be late.”

Kaylee ran back to her room where she had more than enough clothes, but she did bring things back and forth all the time between both houses.

When she came back down in the same shirt he was ready to open his mouth, but she lifted her arms and he saw she had a tank top on under it in the same color tucked into the shorts. “I’m covered.”

He wanted to be annoyed but realized she’d make a damn fine lawyer someday if she wanted to be. She’d have a spot at the family firm if she did.

When they were finally in the car, Kaylee turned to him. “I like you in that suit.”

“Now you’re trying to butter me up.”

“Maybe,” Kaylee said. “But I do. It’s a nice color. More modern than your black and gray ones.”

“It’s because you picked it out and knew I didn’t want it,” he said. Somehow he’d let his daughter talk him into this dark blue suit that wasn’t navy but wasn’t a normal blue either. It was more muted but dark. With the white shirt and blue-and-brown-patterned tie and the brown shoes she’d made him buy too, he had to admit she had good taste.

“But you know you look good. Maybe now you can land a woman.”

His shoulders dropped. He dated on and off, but he never brought anyone home to meet Kaylee. Unlike his ex. Which made him wonder if that was the issue. “Why does it matter if I’m dating someone?”

“Because you’re always alone.”

“Not always and you know it,” he said. “You don’t need to meet everyone I go on a date with.”

“I know. But maybe I want to. They’ve got to be better than who Mom brings home.”

“What’s going on with Jason?” he asked.

Tiffany had been dating Jason for about six months now. He knew because even though Tiffany never mentioned a man in her life, Kaylee always did. 

“Mom said he wants to move in. I don’t want to be there if he does.”

He ground his teeth. “She didn’t tell me someone was going to move in.” That was part of their agreement of joint custody for years. He wanted to know those details or he’d go for full custody and he’d win. Hands down and she knew it.

He didn’t want to be an ass, but he’d been played enough by Tiffany in life and he didn’t want that influence on his daughter. But a daughter needed her mother at times too.

“He stays there now but doesn’t live there. I heard them talking last week about it. Jason wants her to talk to you. He’s pissed that he can’t just move in without you knowing.”

“I don’t give a shit if he’s pissed or not,” he said. “You’re my daughter.”

“I know. Mom said she wasn’t ready yet for Jason to move in. So maybe it’s just him being pushy. She never likes that. She’s libel to push him away soon.”

His ex had a habit of wanting her way and calling the shots. It didn’t work the way she planned with him and it never would. “You know I’m here to talk to if you need anything.”

“Thanks, Dad,” she said. He pulled into the parking lane to drop her off. She leaned over and kissed him and he was thankful she didn’t feel the pressure to distance herself from him like so many her age did. “You’re the best.”

“That’s only because you got your way this morning.”

“Half my way and half yours. Compromise. Have a good day. Remember, lip gloss tonight.”

“You won’t let me forget.”

He pulled out and went to Fierce Engineering to pick up some documents for work and then had to get to his office for the interview that was set up first thing by his assistant.

He made his way to the fourth floor. It was barely eight, but he knew Grant and Garrett would be in. They always started early like his father did.

The receptionist wasn’t at the front desk so he made his way to the wing where Grant and Garrett had their offices and saw the twins talking in Grant’s.

“Morning,” he said.

“Walker,” Grant said. “We were just talking about you.”

“All good I hope,” he said.

“Always,” Garrett said. “How is that sweet girl of yours?”

“Giving me fits like a typical teenage girl,” he said.

“Grant never had those headaches,” Garrett said. “He got lucky with all boys.”

“You love Jade,” Grant said. “She’s your baby and your little girl.”

He knew the Fierces well. He’d been friends with Bryce all through high school and college. The two of them roomed together for their last two years before he went to law school. He’d moved into an apartment for those two years.

“She is,” Garrett said. “And now she’s going to have a baby of her own in a few months. I can’t believe all my children will have children before the year is over.”

“Just like you, Grant,” Walker said. Sam and Bryce both had boys around one. Ryder, a ten-year-old and he’d heard Marissa was pregnant. He’d never thought he’d have a kid at twenty-three, but shit happens in life. He wouldn’t change a thing.

“Kids are the best part of our lives,” Grant said. “Here are the papers. We are sitting here talking your ear off and I’m sure you’ve got to get to work.”

“I’ve got an interview scheduled soon, so I should hit the road.”

“Good luck with it,” Grant said. “I’m glad to hand over that task to someone else now.”

“I wish I was so lucky,” he said, “but this is a person that will be working more with me, so I’d like to have somewhat of a say.”

He left a few minutes later and drove to his office fifteen minutes away, parked his Mercedes sedan and made his way to his office.

“You look nice today,” Amelia said. She was his assistant and had been since he started at his father’s firm. She was married with a few kids in high school and one in college.

“Thanks. Kaylee is taking credit for the suit.”

“She has good taste,” Nicole said, turning the corner toward her office. Nicole was one of the law clerks that worked with him the most. She was young and eager and flirting more than he cared for at work. He just kept it professional though.

“Compromise,” he said, remembering his daughter’s word. It was better to let his daughter pick out one suit for him and get her away from the clothes she wanted that he felt were too old for her.

Since Kaylee’s mother was so cheap, most of Kaylee’s purchases fell on his shoulders and gave him some of the control. The only time Kaylee got things he didn’t know about was when Tiffany was playing her games again.

“I’ll let you know when your first interview is here,” Amelia said.

Nicole was still standing there watching him with a big grin on her face. “First?” he asked. He’d seen his calendar blocked out for ninety minutes and didn’t realize there was more than one.

“Yes. There are two candidates that it was narrowed down to. One of these should be great. Either one,” Amelia said.

“Okay,” he said, turning and moving to his office. He heard Nicole sigh when he did that and pretended he didn’t.

At least he’d have a choice in the decision. Which was more than he felt he got other times in his life.

Prologue 

“I can’t believe you’re a mother,” Stella White said to her sister, Lindsey McNamara. Her sister had given birth to her daughter, Ava, a few days ago and was home resting in the new house they’d lived in for a few months.

“Neither can I,” Lindsey said. “Less than a year ago I didn’t even know who Mick was and now I’m married with a baby.” 

Her sister looked down at the baby in her arms drinking a bottle. The dark hair was more Mick than Lindsey’s blonde. 

“It all started with Carolyn too,” she said. Carolyn Fierce was a very close friend of their mother, Maggie. They all knew the story of how Carolyn set up her children with their spouses and their mother had a hand in it with their stepsister, Adriana, who was not only married to Wyatt Fierce but pregnant with their first child too.

At Wyatt’s wedding, Dr. Mick McNamara had caught Lindsey’s eye, one of Wyatt’s best friends from college.

“I wasn’t on their radar for Mick,” Lindsey said. 

“You keep telling yourself that,” Stella said, grinning.

“He didn’t talk to me at the wedding. I noticed him though,” Lindsey said.

“And he noticed you,” she said.

“True. But it wasn’t until he called from work and said his name.”

“You only knew his name because Carolyn came over and caught you looking at Mick and said who he was.”

“You win,” Lindsey said. “Because once Carolyn and Mom heard me say his name again they got their heads together.”

“They did,” Stella said. “Then came this darling little girl. How long are you taking off of work?” Lindsey worked in a retirement community as a case manager. 

“Three months,” she said. “Then Mom will be taking over for daycare on the days Mick is working. I feel bad she retired and then is going to do this, but it’s better with Ava being so little. When she is older we’ll look at other options.”

“It’s what Mom wants,” Stella said. “She’s been waiting for one of us to have a baby.” 

“She offered to watch Wyatt and Adriana’s son too, but they have daycare lined up,” Lindsey said. “Carolyn said she’d watch their son, but with Noah and Drake both having twins a few weeks ago, there is no way they were letting Carolyn watch five kids.”

“What is everyone doing with their kids?” she asked. “Do you know?”

In the past Stella could have cared less about babies and marriages. She was out for fun and trying to find a guy for herself. She was realizing now that all that fun was leading to misery and it was time to slow down and figure her life out.

“Kara and Paige are both taking off three months too, but I didn’t get too many details. I’m sure they are all going to daycare at least part time. Kara has the most flexible job of them to take time off.”

Kara Fierce worked for Fierce Engineering as a Finance Director, Drake an engineer. Noah was a high school principal and Paige a dental hygienist. 

“I’m sure they will figure it out with Carolyn leading the charge and helping out as needed. But Mom will have Ava in a few months and I’m sure Adriana’s son at times too.”

“Do they have a name picked out yet?” she asked.

“Not that I’ve heard. They are still arguing. They’ve got about six weeks though. Do you want to hold her?”

“Can I?” she asked, reaching for Ava. “Where is Mick?”

“He’s at the grocery store picking up things for the week. He’s taking two weeks off to be with me too, but he knew you were here for the weekend and wanted to give us time to visit.”

She’d driven in from Wilmington last night, the two-hour drive not that bad. She’d stay until Sunday…maybe longer. It could be time to broach that now with her sister and feel her out.

“I’m thinking of moving back,” she said.

“Really?” Lindsey asked, her eyes lighting up. “That’s great.”

“Do you think? I want to get to know my niece.”

“I do think it’s wonderful. I know we both wanted to leave the area. Too many bad memories for me, but it was time to come home.”

“I didn’t want to get away like you did,” she said. “I didn’t care about Dad as much. Or I didn’t let it bother me.”

Their father cheated on their mother. He remarried the woman he’d had an affair with and they’d had two sons. Brent White decided sons were what he really wanted and doted on them and only did the obligatory time with his two daughters.

Stella never let too much bother her in life, or so she let on. But Lindsey struggled more.

“You wanted to go out and have fun and not get lectured by Mom,” Lindsey said. “Be honest.”

“Maybe,” she said. “But I’ve had enough fun to last me a while.”

She was running her fingertip across Ava’s cheek as she drank the rest of her bottle. When it was empty, Lindsey took her daughter back and put her on her shoulder to pat her back. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” she said.

“It’s me you’re talking to. I know you.”

“You’re talking to me like it’s your job,” she said, squinting one eye at her sister.

“Maybe you need that. But I feel like something is going on.”

Stella wasn’t ready to say it completely. Maybe a little. “I was seeing someone. We worked together. It didn’t end well.”

“So things are dicey at work?” Lindsey asked.

“Not anymore,” she said. “I left a few weeks ago.”

“You’re not working?” Lindsey asked, shocked.

“I am. You know I’m a notary and a signing agent. I’m working independently and making my own hours. It’s just I never know when I’ll get work or how busy I’ll be.” 

She was hustling and taking every job she could. What she thought would be fun turned into a lot of driving and paperwork. She never blocked her schedule off for work and text messages would come in giving her little to no notice to accept a job. She grabbed every one she could if she could fit it in.

The work itself was easy enough. She’d done enough of it in her job at the bank she’d worked at for years. She’d moved around helping in the mortgage department, the legal department. Anywhere they needed her, she moved or she trained. She was flexible and always willing to meet new people.

 Now, thinking back, she should have stayed more focused, but it didn’t matter. She had a lot of experience and figured she could find a job somewhere. She hadn’t even tried because she’d been deciding where she wanted to live.

“But that isn’t stable. You’ve probably got no benefits or insurance.”

“And there you go sounding like Mom.”

“Sorry,” Lindsey said. “I can’t help it.”

“I know. And that is why no one knows. Don’t say anything.”

“I won’t. But maybe you should move back here. I’m sure you’ll have no problem finding a job.”

“I shouldn’t. I can and will continue to do what I am. But I don’t want to live with Mom either, so I’d have to find a place, and that might be hard without having a job.”

“Well,” Lindsey said. “I might have a solution there if you want a roommate.”

She hadn’t had one in years. “Depends on who it is.”

“You know Julia got a teaching job here. When Julia said she was thinking of moving closer to spend time with Ava too, Mick decided not to sell his townhouse and instead let Julia pay the mortgage. She wants a roommate to help with the bills and is looking, but I’m sure she’d be fine with you. You’re family.”

She’d met Mick’s younger sister a few times and liked her a lot. She could see them living together. That could work out. “I’d have no problem with it, but you should ask Julia.”

“I’ll call her if you are serious about this,” Lindsey said. “Take some time to think it over.”

“There is nothing to think of,” she said. “If Julia is willing, then I’ll do it.”

Maybe it was the push she needed. “Then give me a minute to call her if you want to take Ava for me. Are you sure?”

“You know me. I make a decision and I’m set. I don’t need time to think things through.”

Which was probably how she got in this mess but wouldn’t mention that. She was downplaying it for now. Her mother would be on her case enough when she found out. 

Maggie Lopez would be thrilled her baby was moving home, but then less than thrilled it was done without a steady secure job. She’d find one, she was positive and until then she had enough money and could make more.

Things always had a way of working out in life. That was how she’d lived for most of her adult years.

“Very true. I just don’t want to get Julia set up for you to come and then have you decide on something else tomorrow.”

Stella grinned and stood up to walk around the room while she rocked Ava. “Not happening.”

“Then I’ll call now.”

She watched as Lindsey talked to Julia, explained briefly that Stella wanted to return and was looking for a place to stay, then heard Julia’s excited voice. 

When Lindsey hung up the phone, Stella asked, “So it’s a yes?”

“She’s thrilled. She was struggling over having a stranger as a roommate. I guess it was fate. You live that way, right?”

“I do. But what is better than fate is the Fierce interference. Do you think Carolyn will put me on her radar now?”

“Do you really want that?” Lindsey asked. “You just said you didn’t have a good breakup and you left your job.”

She sighed. “You’re right. It’s just they are so good at what they do, so I figured if they put some work into me, I wouldn’t have to.”

“That’s always been your problem,” Lindsey said. “You don’t want to put the work or effort into the important things.”

There was no use arguing because her sister was one hundred percent right.

Stella White decided it was time to return home after dating a coworker resulted in her leaving her job. She’s promised herself she’d never do it again. Only she finds herself extremely attracted to her new boss. It might not be smart to jump on that ship again, but they were keeping it quiet for now. Until the Fierces decide she is their next target and give her the push and approval she had been waiting for.

Walker Olson was burned once. He was played by his ex to be her meal ticket when she got pregnant on purpose. He didn’t give her what she wanted and has spent the past thirteen years dedicated to his daughter. But now even his daughter has told him it’s time to find a woman and is determined to have a hand in it along with his friends and family. Maybe having someone else pick out a woman for him would work better than when he tried on his own.

Prologue

Cash Fielding stood between his mother and sixteen-year-old sister at the cemetery as the priest spoke words about his father he didn’t hear.

There were sounds all around him, people too, but his eyes were glued to the casket of the man he’d idolized his entire nineteen years.

Roc Fielding was too young to have a heart attack. The big man worked his ass off doing hard labor running the family landscaping business.

The one Cash was now going to have to manage in his father’s place.

He’d always known he’d work alongside his father. It’d been his plan most of his life. He just didn’t think he’d be running the show so young.

Addison was sniffling next to him. He moved his hand to the side to touch hers and she grabbed it and held on. His mother was holding it together just like he was. They’d grieve in private. He was a private person and always had been.

“Would the family like to come up and say a few words?” the priest asked.

Cash looked at his mother. She’d had a few things prepared but was going to keep it short and sweet. 

Madeline Fielding moved to where the priest was and said, “Listen. We all know Roc. We know what he’d want us to do and it’s not to stand here gabbing about him. If I talk too long he’d make some crack about needing a few more holes dug for people standing in this heat.” There were some chuckles around over that and he felt his lips curve slightly. His father was one for bold statements. “Roc was a good man. A great husband and a wonderful father. He’s going to be missed, but he wouldn’t want us to mourn too long so I’m telling you all you better not.”

He lifted his eyes and met his mother’s. She was saying it to him. He knew it. 

His mother said a few more words, then asked if he wanted to talk. He’d been on the fence about it but decided to end the way his father had joked about for years.

“Like my mother I’ll keep this short. Dad told me once when we were at one of these…he said, ‘Don’t give me a long speech or anything. Just throw the dirt on me and get a beer in my honor.’”

There were a lot of grins after that letting him know he’d said the right thing. Many heads nodded too, telling him his father must have made that comment to several before. 

“We’ll be having a gathering at the house if you’d all like to attend,” his mother said.

There were probably close to a hundred people here today. Their house wouldn’t fit them all, but they had a massive barn in the back and his mother paid to have it catered. His father would want that too. A big old party in his honor on the property he’d beautified over the years.

An hour later, he was getting a soda when Ryan Butler came up to him. They’d been friends all through school. They had similar personalities too. Both of them not giving a shit about material things and parties but rather being more basic.

“Sorry about your dad,” Ryan said.

“Thanks.”

Ryan was in college but home for the summer working for Butler Construction. Since Fielding Landscaping’s biggest contract was with Butler Construction, he’d known and been around Ryan and his cousins for years while they all worked summers. But for Cash, he wasn’t going to college. No reason to. He just went right to work.

“If you need to just hang out or something, you know where to find me.”

“I do. I’ll let you know,” he said. 

Ryan was good that way. They’d spent a lot of Friday or Saturday nights chilling at one of their homes in the basement just watching TV or playing video games. Neither talked much and didn’t need to. There had always been a silent understanding.

Throughout the day Michael and Matthew Butler came up to him with condolences but he’d seen them talking to his mother. He wanted to know what was going on but decided to wait until later.

Later came after seven when his mother was cleaning up in the garage. He and Addison were helping. His sister was holding it together as best as she could. His sister and he were like night and day. Her friends were there all hugging her and almost babying her. She needed it and he wasn’t equipped to give it to her.

“Come here, you two,” his mother said. “Have a seat.”

“Are we going to lose the house?” Addison asked, crying.

He felt his heart thump in his chest. He wouldn’t let that happen. He’d find a way to make it all work.

“No,” his mother said. “I wanted to tell you that I’m still running the business from the office like I always did. Matthew and Michael both assured me the contracts were still in place. They’d help me find some men to help with the work if I needed it. Your father did the work of more than one man.”

“I’ll get it covered,” Cash said.

“Cash, you’re nineteen.”

“Dad would want me to step up. I can do it.”

His mother sighed. “He would and he’d be proud of you, but you’re still learning. Other men have been here longer and you can learn from them.”

He didn’t want to hear that but knew he didn’t have much of a choice either. 

“We aren’t losing anything,” he said firmly. “I won’t let it happen.”

His mother walked over and put her hand on his shoulder. “Neither will I. Your father is going to continue to watch over us. We are going to be just fine and you know it.”

He wasn’t so sure of that deep down, but he’d never let his mother know he felt that way. He was the man of the house now and he’d do anything it took to keep them together.

Hannah Shepard had never been a risk taker. But with some newfound confidence and a little encouragement from the girls in her salon, she ventures out to strike up a conversation with the hottie working on her building. Total fail, making her wonder why she bothered to try. Failure has always been her fear and here she was striking out in her personal life almost as much as her professional one.

At nineteen, Cash Fielding lost his father. His idol. The man that ran their landscaping business and kept their family as one unit. He stepped up as his father would want, growing up faster than he should have had to. Along the way, he realized his personal life took a major hit. Now he feels like he’s lost in space when he’s around women. It was better to stay alone, or so he thought, until a cute blonde came out to offer him a bottle of water one day and he messes up more than once.

Here is the Prologue if you missed it!

Chapter One

Good Fun 

Twelve Years Later

“How was Vegas?” Lily asked when Poppy showed up for work on Tuesday morning. Rose came in the exact second the question was asked.

“It was great,” Poppy said. “It would have been better if Rose wanted to let loose some more.”

Lily laughed. “She’s not you.”

“That’s right, Poppy,” Rose said. “Excuse me if two glasses of wine are my limit and I don’t care to attract that many men at the bar.”

“It was all in good fun,” she said. Geez, you’d think she was out there having threesomes with the way her baby sister by one year was talking. 

“Did you have to pull her off the bar?” Lily asked.

“No, she didn’t,” Poppy said. “I had four glasses of wine in a three-hour period. I just drink faster than Rose. I wasn’t drunk, as Rose will tell you. And since we shared a room and went there at the same time each night, she knows I didn’t hook up with anyone.”

“It was your choice not to do it,” Rose said. “You had enough men coming onto you.”

“That doesn’t mean I accept it,” she said. 

Sure, she liked sex. She had ever since her first experience with Reese McGill so many years ago and he left, breaking her heart.

But that didn’t mean she slept with every man she came in contact with. She didn’t sleep with strangers either and that was what all those men were to her in Vegas.

Did she have some friends with benefits situations over the years? Yep, she did. She was a modern day professional getting a business off the ground. She was busting her butt to prove to her older sister that she could hold down the fort too. That she wasn’t the silly girl that was emotional and cried every month when she got her period because she hated the cramps.

Well, maybe she still did that during that time, but not because of the cramps. It was more her hormones. But now it was in the privacy of her condo.

The one she bought with her money from the hard work she’d been doing for years. She could buckle down when she needed to.

“We know you aren’t loose,” Lily said, rubbing her hand on her arm. “We are only picking on you.”

She did know that deep down. “What can I say? Maybe I’m jealous of what you’ve got going with Zane.”

Lily started to date Zane Wolfe last spring. Now the hot construction owner and his daughter were living in the house the three girls had moved to after Lily married Carl Blossoms who died of a heart attack, leaving Lily a widow in her early twenties.

She was happy for her sister, but she was being honest in that she was jealous too.

“If you weren’t always out for fun maybe you’d find that with someone too,” Rose said.

“Please,” she said. “Like you are one to talk. The only person who dated less than you was Lily. She’s making up for it now though.”

“I’m not dating anyone,” Lily argued. “I’m in love.”

“Real love,” she said to Lily. “And don’t argue anymore. You sacrificed everything for the two of us and you can deny all you want. Rose and I aren’t stupid. Hell, nothing would surprise me about the marriage you had with Carl. I still don’t know how you married him when he was old enough to be our father. Let alone slept with him. Or maybe you didn’t?”

“Leave Lily alone,” Rose said. “Her marriage to Carl is old news and we know it. She’s happy with Zane and she deserves it. We should all be happy with what we worked for too. And back to the convention because I know Lily is dying to hear about it.”

She should have figured Rose would stop Lily from answering the questions she’d had for her older sister for years. But she supposed it wasn’t her business either. What was done was done. 

Carl had been more a father to her and Rose. Well, not a father, but more like an uncle. He put a roof over their heads—a nice one—they all went to college. They were left money and the business when Carl died. Though by then, the three girls had started their own branch of Blossoms.

Candles, soaps and lotions, with her accessories and Rose’s jewelry in the works.

Man, if she never had to make a bar of soap or candle again, she’d be one happy girl. 

She’d always been more into fashion than her sisters, but money was tight and she didn’t get to buy half of what she wanted.

So she learned to make it. She had a good hand at sewing and when she got sick of the products to their original business, she broached her plan with Lily. Scarves, purses, handbags, belts. Any accessory she could think of and they stuck to the floral theme.

She was in her glory and more so when she got a booth at the craft fair and sold out in two hours.

When Rose saw the results, she said she wanted her own line too. Jewelry was born and now all three of them could say they were equally contributing with Lily running the business as a whole.

Lily was born to lead. She’d been more a mother than their own mother at times. That guilt Poppy felt, she was trying to push it off as much as she could. She might like to have fun, but she’d caused enough grief for her sister over the years. 

Which was why she’d never told Lily or Rose anything about Reese when she’d snuck out to be with him each night that week. The only week she had with him.

And she had to stop thinking of the man too. 

She’d pushed him from her mind for years, but in moments of weakness, she’d do an internet search and see what he might be up to.

A professional poker player. She’d never imagined that in a million years. But the fact she’d spent a week in Vegas with Rose, her eyes looking around for any chance he might be there, could be why he was entering her mind now.

“I’ve got a bunch of fabric samples from different vendors. I love the way they look and I’ve got them in the car to bring in and try out. I’m more concerned about the sustainability of them. If I can only use them for scarves, then so be it. But I did get a list of contacts for possible placement of my products too.”

“Wonderful,” Lily said. “If you want to give me the list, I’ll look into them.”

“I can do it,” she argued. “I know you are used to doing it all, but let me reach out first. I’m fussy about the way my products are displayed. How they will be placed and represented in shops and boutiques.”

Poppy might be flighty about a lot of things in life, but this was her livelihood and she took it seriously. Maybe the only thing she took seriously in life in years, some would say.

“Okay,” Lily said. “If you need help let me know. I’m so excited and happy for you.”

“Thanks,” she said. She knew Lily meant it too. 

“Now your turn, Rose,” Lily said. “What do you have to report?”

“I got a few lists of contacts too. I saw some great processes that I want to try out. Some of the contacts I got are the same as Poppy’s. They seemed to want all the products we have.”

“You didn’t tell me that,” Poppy said. She hated when they didn’t tell her things. “How come?”

“Because you were too busy flirting the last day there and I was by myself at my booth. Then we packed up and caught our flight home,” Rose said. “I just figured I’d talk to both of you together.”

“This is all exciting,” Lily said. “Why don’t you let me know who those are and we can all meet to work it out. It’s best to reach out to them as a business unit, and not individually. Agreed?”

“Yes,” Poppy said. She’d been so proud of herself for getting those names and now it seemed like it wasn’t just for her but for them all.

She had to get over it. They were a unit and it wasn’t all about her.

“Now if you’ll excuse me,” Lily said. “I need to check out the flower shop and make sure Jasmine and Violet are all set along with the rest of the girls. Valentine’s Day is Monday and we know how busy they are going to be.”

“The shop too,” Rose said. “We’ve been running specials all week. I feel bad we were gone for most of it.”

“That is what we’ve got other employees for,” Poppy said. She and Rose ran the storefront while they created in the back. All her products were produced at the manufacturing plant too. The same with some of Rose’s jewelry. 

“I know,” Rose said. “And of the three of us, I hate working the store the most but will do it. I’m dying to get back to my shop and start working on new designs, but we should check in the store before we do anything else.”

Poppy hated that both her sisters always felt like they had to tell her what to do. That she wasn’t smart enough to figure it out. Or maybe they thought she was still flighty like she’d been accused of as a kid.

It seemed like she was forever trying to prove her worth to everyone even if they didn’t mean to make her feel this way.

“I planned to do that,” Poppy said. She looked at her watch. “We’ve got an hour before the store opens anyway.”

Lily was in her office before eight each day. Poppy and Rose normally came in around the same time too to get to work and then would fill in at the store if they had to. In the past several months, they didn’t have to much at all, but rather had to keep inventory to their specialties and schedule the staff more than anything.

It was nice being the boss, but sometimes it’d be nicer to not worry about those things.

“Then let’s get to work,” Lily said. “You two know where I am if you need me. Maybe we can plan on meeting at the end of the week once you’re both settled to figure out what contacts you’ve got and what we want to put together to send them?”

“That works for me,” Rose said.

“Me too,” she said. She and her younger sister left Lily’s office above the flower shop. “Thanks for throwing me under the bus.”

“What?” Rose asked. “What did I do?”

“Talking about me drinking and flirting.”

Rose looked at her, her eyes a little wide. “I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true or what we’ve picked on you about for years. Let me guess, you’re going to get your period again and are just hormonal?”

She let out a sigh. “No,” she said. “I just feel like I’m always trying to prove that I can handle my end of the business.”

When they got to the back where both of them had offices that were more workrooms, Rose stopped and looked at her. “I’m sorry. I’m the one with more self-doubt than you. You’re killing it right now and you know it. Maybe I’m jealous that my branch isn’t taking off like yours.”

Rose was the quietest of the three of them and Poppy knew it took a lot for that confession to come out of her sister’s lips. “There is no reason to be jealous of me. You’re doing great. Hence, getting the contacts like me. Remember, we are stronger together than apart.”

She’d been told that so much by Lily over the years that she finally started to believe it. “We are,” Rose said, hugging her. “And I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings.” Her baby sister must really feel bad but she normally ran at the first sign of any affection.

She laughed. “You didn’t. I’m emotional and we all know it.”

“One of us has to be. You got all my genes for that. I’m the stone cold one.”

“You’re not cold, Rose. Don’t let anyone tell you that.” She hated when Rose put herself down. 

“I know. We all have our faults. But we all have our strengths too. And we better get to work before Lily comes down and cracks the whip.”

She grinned and bumped hips with Rose. “That’s her strength. Keeping us in line.”

“Even if we don’t want to admit, we need it.”

“We do,” she agreed.

Prologue

“Come on, Poppy,” Lily said. “The faster we get everything set up, the faster we can get back to the shop.”

Poppy looked out at the beautiful grounds of the McGill estate where she and her sisters, Lily and Rose, were delivering flowers.

At seventeen years old it was the last thing she wanted to be doing on a sunny summer day. But nothing that she wanted in life had ever been hers.

Their mother died from a hit-and-run accident last summer, and Lily, who was eighteen at the time, said she’d keep the three girls together. Little did Poppy know that meant her sister would marry the man who owned the flower shop where they and their mom worked.

Lily hadn’t even told her and Rose she was married for months, letting them continue to live above the shop—Blossoms—until school started.

Then Lily spilled the beans and said they were moving to Carl Blossoms’ house.

Sure, it was the nicest place they’d ever lived and she was happy the three girls were all together. Carl was nice enough to them, but they were on their own, working more often than not.

Lily continued with her plan to go to college last year and commuted while she worked at the flower shop, cared for the home they lived in, and took care of her new, much older husband. Poppy and Rose’s lives hadn’t changed all that much to the outside eye.

But inside it was hard. 

Starting her senior year of high school next month would be just another year of the looks, the laughs, and the teasing of what she was and how her sister married an older man for his money.

She’d never said those words to Lily and wouldn’t. Carl might have had more money than they’d ever seen, but it was nothing like the grounds she was standing on now.

“I’m working as fast as I can,” she said. Lily was always in a rush to get it all done. Poppy, she just wanted to enjoy her surroundings. The carefree one. The happy one—at least to those on the outside—the party girl.

Middle child syndrome. Yeah, she had it. She liked attention because she didn’t think she got much of it growing up.

Their mother tried to raise the three girls alone, but as horrible as it sounded, Holly Bloom was on the flighty side. And Poppy knew she took after her and had it pointed out enough.

 “We’ve got a lot of deliveries today,” Lily said. “The three of us move faster than the other staff.”

Poppy let out a sigh and then went back to the van to get the bouquets that Carl had been putting together for the past few days.

The McGills were a big deal in Mystic. This was their summer home. She was sure they had homes all over the world. She wasn’t even sure where their money was from, but it was millions. Probably billions. If anyone made that much. She’d have no clue what that kind of money would feel like.

She grabbed one of the vases and was carrying it across the grounds when she saw a boy coming out of a shed with a hammer in his hand. Probably help too.

“Hi,” she said. He was hot. Really hot. Brown hair, dark eyes, much taller than her and she was figuring about her age. 

He smiled and made his way closer. “Those sure are pretty,” he said of the flowers in the vase.

“Thanks. Just getting everything set up for the party tonight. You?”

“Trying to fix a nail sticking out of the window sill. I’m Reese.”

“As in peanut butter cups?” she asked, tilting her head.

“Yes. And you are?”

“Poppy,” she said.

“As in a flower?” he asked back with a huge grin on his face.

“Very much so.”

“Poppy,” she heard Rose yell, then turned. “Come on.”

“Sorry,” she said. “My older sister, Lily, is a little bit of a tyrant when it comes to schedules and she’s got my younger sister, Rose, following behind.”

“So you all have flower names?” he asked, his grin never leaving his face.

“We do. Does anyone else in your family have candy bar names?”

“You’re funny. And cute. I don’t suppose you could maybe catch a movie or something tonight?”

“I’d love to,” she said. Maybe this day wasn’t going to be a total waste.

“Why don’t you give me your address and I can pick you up when it works for you?”

“How about seven?” she said. She could sneak out and say she was meeting friends. “But I’ll meet you.”

She’d just take Lily’s car. It was their mother’s old car and Lily would be home by then anyway. Or could get a ride home with Carl. 

Reese hesitated a minute and then said, “Sure. How about Mystic Pizza?”

This time she hesitated. If she was lying and saying she was meeting one of her friends, someone would see her on Main Street. They all knew her since the flower shop was there too. “Mystic Seaport?” she said. She could blend in more there.

“That works,” he said. “I’ll see you at seven tonight.”

She nodded her head and then turned when she saw Lily moving back toward the van. “I’ve got to get back to work. See you tonight.”

She went about her job now faster than normal. She had to make up the time she’d spent talking with Reese.

An hour later they were in the van returning to the shop. “Can I have the car tonight?” she asked Lily. “I’m going out with friends.”

“Sure,” Lily said. “Remember your curfew.”

“I’ll be back by nine, I promise.” Maybe she should have had Reese pick her up because then she could stay out until eleven. But if she had the car, at seventeen that meant nine. Damn it, why didn’t she think of that? Because she didn’t think things through. 

Hours later, she was pulling into the Seaport and wondering how she was going to find Reese. She’d changed into a pair of jean shorts that she knew showed off her long legs. She’d put a plain black T-shirt on, but the minute she was out of sight of their home, she pulled over and swapped it for a bright red halter top, grabbed her makeup bag and touched up what she could, then tousled her hair. 

She drove around looking for a place to park in the family sedan and then noticed Reese standing next to a new BMW. What the heck?

She parked and walked closer to him. “Hi,” she said. “Nice car.”

“Thanks.”

“Is it your father’s?”

He frowned at her. “No. It’s mine.”

Hmmm, maybe she figured his age wrong. “How old are you?”

“Eighteen, almost nineteen,” he said. “You?”

“Seventeen.”

He let out a sigh. “You don’t know who I am, do you?”

“Is your name not Reese?” she asked. She was wondering how fast she could run back to her car. She was always impulsive, but this might be an idiot move.

“Reese McGill,” he said. 

“Oh,” she said. Guess another idiotic thing. Thinking he was hired help. “So that was your family’s house I was working at?”

“My grandparents,” he said. “I figured you thought I was working with the hammer in my hand.”

“You could have corrected me,” she said. She had no business being here with him. She’d been looking forward to this all day and now she felt out of place. Just like she did most of her life.

“You were busy. What’s the big deal?”

She snorted. “I think you know the big deal.”

“I don’t live my life like my family wants me to,” he said firmly. “But if you’d rather not be seen with me, that’s fine too.”

Now she felt bad that she might have hurt his feelings. “It’s not that. It’s more I’m sure your family wouldn’t want you seen with someone like me.”

“Someone nice,” he said. “Cute. Funny. Is that what you mean?”

She grinned. “Yeah, that.”

“Then let’s go where no one can see us. We can take my father’s sailboat out. What do you say?”

She thought for all of five seconds and realized that it might be one of the crazier things she’d done in her life, but what was one more?

“Sure. If you don’t laugh that I need to get home by nine. Curfew and all driving.”

“We’ll get back in time for that and then maybe I can pick you up next time if that means I don’t have to have you back by nine?”

“Let’s get through tonight first,” she said.

“Let’s,” he said. “Follow me to Fort Rachel Marina where the boat is.”

She went back to her car and pulled out to follow Reese. Her giddiness was returning like never before. Maybe it was time she went back to having fun and not worrying about everything so much.

Except at the end of the week, Reese was gone from her life, along with her virginity. So yep, stupid on her part when she should have known better.