Page 110 of Inked in Bloom
“Yes. And it will remain that way until the next ceremony.” He slips his hands into the pockets of his jeans. His white shirt has the top button undone, and for a moment,I’m back in the bookshop, eyes glued to the foxgloves reaching across his chest. I can’t see them now, but knowing they’re there, inked into his skin, warms me with feral pride. “There’s a steady amount of activity taking place in The Nestling Fields on a daily basis, so anything grown there or in the near vicinity doesn’t take much upkeep.”
We step onto his porch, and he opens the door, holding it for me. I drag a hand down his chest, my mate mark tingling when my fingers graze over his. The sensation pools lower, and I nibble my bottom lip.
Later, when we’re alone,I tell myself.Briar’s been so delicate with me, most likely due to my hesitation about the bond, but all I can think about when he gives me space is how indelicate I want him to be…
The door snicks shut behind us, and I’m snapped into the present.
Something is wrong here.
Usually the girls are bouncing off the walls with energy they’ve held at bay during their lessons at the Sprouts School, but it’s eerily quiet when we get inside the house. “Where are the?—”
The back door creaks open, and Lilliana runs in, sliding across the wood and running straight into Briar who grunts in pain. Pretty sure she just smacked into his nuts.
She bumps his fist, then shuffles over to me. “Monroe! Perfect timing.”
“What is it, Lily?”
“We need your help with something.” She gestures with her thumb over her shoulder. “In the backyard.”
“Of course.” I take her hand, waiting for her to lead the way. “Let’s go.”
She bounds off so quickly, she’s dragging me the first fewsteps. I kick off my heels so I don’t twist an ankle. She opens the door, and?—
“Surprise!” A dozen Blooms pop out from behind bushes and the long table that’s been set with full tea trays, pitchers of lemonade, and a stack of macarons as tall as me.
I nearly stop in my tracks, jaw going slack, but the sheer force of her excitement pulls me across the threshold. “What is this?”
“It’s your birthday party!”
I can’t contain my smile. “It is?”
“Happy birthday!” Millie shouts, running over with Juniper. “We asked Daddy when your birthday was and he said September seventh.”
The last few weeks have been such a blur, I hadn’t realized. But even if I had, I didn’t think it was something we’d celebrate. I can’t believe I’m forty-one. My fortieth swept in and out without much notice.
Taylor’s chest puffs up, her purple braids swinging against her shoulders. “We got to work right away.”
“Did the decorations ourselves,” Juni adds. “But Daddy did the flowers. We can’t do those just yet.” She points to the ornate teapots on either side of the table. Oversized blush and mint peonies fill them and encircle the space.
“Monroe,” she says, tugging on my skirt. I kneel so I’m level with her. “Do you like it?”
“I love it.” I pull Juniper in for a hug and wave over the other three to join in. “Thank you, girls.”
All of Briar’s family is in attendance except Corrigan, though that doesn’t surprise me. Despite what Briar said about her being protective of her brother, I’m still certain she hates me. Cherri arrives with Dani, giving me a big hug and kiss on the cheek, and behind them Roxy and Kendrick file in to wish me a happy birthday.
“It’s so good to see you,” I tell them. While I see Cherri when she comes by the house and sometimes at Briar’s when she and Dani are over, my other two roommates are a rare sight. I see Roxy at Novel Nibbles if I pop by during the daytime, but I haven’t seen Kendrick since they moved to the mated side of The Fluffle.
“Guest of honor sits here,” Briar says, pulling out the lush purple wingback chair for me. I sit, and he leans down, a few strands of his hair brushing my cheek. “Taylor will be presenting the itinerary.”
“How very official of her,” I reply with a wink.
He takes a step back, and everyone turns their attention to the precocious ten-year-old who stands up from her seat.
“First on the agenda is a craft. Every good party has a craft.” Her tone is very matter-of-fact as she waves toward the table. “We’ll be painting this tea set.” There’s a group of large teacups and saucers situated around a tall, curvy teapot. Taylor’s eyes lock on Dani. “Everyoneis required to participate.”
I laugh. So do a handful of the other guests as Dani gives their niece a mock glare. “Why do I feel like I’m being singled out?”
She sticks out her tongue at them in response. Her spine straightens and she continues down the paper held in her small hands. “Next, everyone’s favorite party game, pin the tail on the bunny.”
