Bowen quirked his eyebrow and with slow, calculated steps closed the distance between us. “It can’t be that good. After all, you’ve managed to keep your hands to yourself.” He stopped so close I had to crane my head back to hold his gaze.
“What I lack in verbal restraint, I really make up for in grab-ass.”
He let out a low hum. “That’s unfortunate to hear.” And with that, he moved the massive plant from between us, dipped low, and placed a chaste but no less toe-curling kiss to my lips.
“You’re supposed to kiss me at the end of the date,” I challenged, hoping and affirming I’d get another.
“Well, I also brought you a three-foot tree instead of a bouquet. It’s safe to say I’m breaking all the rules tonight.”
I couldn’t wait for later, so I pushed up onto my toes and stole another kiss. “You warned me you were a rebel.”
His smile against my mouth was almost as good as the kiss itself, but somehow, I managed to break the connection.
Dropping back to my heels, I ran my fingers over the Swiss cheese’s leaves. “She’s beautiful, Bowen.”
“It looked half-dead like Margret, so I figured it must be nice.”
“Well, aren’t you a quick study. She’s a Monstera too. She and Margret are practically sisters.”
“I hope it’s okay I stopped by. Amber gave me the address. I didn’t want you to have to lug…” He paused, slanting his head in question, waiting for me to fill in the blank with the name of the newest member of my plant family.
“Meredith.”
“Right. I didn’t want you to have to lug Meredith around with us all night. I figured you could drop it—I mean, her—off at your office.”
I smiled. “You know you could have dropped her off at my office instead of driving all the way out here.”
“But then I wouldn’t have been able to see you or find out about your pervy obsession with my ass.”
I winked. “It sounds like we both won here.”
“Yeah,” he whispered, staring deep into my eyes. It was a far cry from the man who only a week earlier refused to make eye contact. But then again, nothing about Bowen was the same as when I’d met him.
I’d been attracted to him when I’d thought he was broody and stoic. But this guy, the one who made jokes and brought me plants… Well, he was better. So, so, so much better.
A voice came from the front door. “Is the open house still going?”
I peeked around Bowen and found an agent I’d worked with in the past standing beside another starry-eyed couple. “Yeah, absolutely,” I chirped. “Come on in.”
Bowen dipped his head. “I’ll let you get back to work.”
I took Meredith from his arms and gave her a spin to really check her out. “You did good, Bowen. Way better than flowers.”
He grinned. “Good. Now don’t ogle me in front of your potential buyers when I walk away.”
I shrugged. “Sorry. I make no promises.”
Chuckling, he gave my hip a squeeze. “See you at three?”
“I’ll be there.”
“I’m counting on it.” Turning on a toe, he walked away, nodding at the agent and the couple as he went.
And despite my attempts to always remain professional in front of clients, I made no secret of watching his ass the entire way.
I hurried through the last showing. They weren’t nearly as interested when they found out it only had two bathrooms, but it worked out just fine when I saw the offer in my email for five thousand dollars over asking from the young couple from earlier. The sellers were equally as stoked and accepted immediately.
When Meredith and I got back to Grey Realty, I found her a temporary spot in my office. Quincy Cactus had pride of place on my desk, but regardless of what Mark and Aaron had to say about it, Meredith was coming home with me.
After I’d uploaded the offer into the digital signature software and emailed it to my sellers, I closed my laptop and mentally shifted gears. I was going straight from my office to the date with Bowen, so I’d planned ahead, wearing a cute jade strapless dress with a cropped brown blazer for a daytime look. But I shed the jacket to showcase extra skin for the afternoon and evening. I didn’t have much time to freshen up, but I spent the little I did touching up my makeup and straightening my hair. Bowen had already seen me, but conversely, I’d also seen him, and there was no way I was resigning myself to be the troll at the dinner table.
Miraculously, I wasn’t even late as I walked into the restaurant. Well, assuming the fifteen-minute grace period at my doctor’s office applied to dates as well. The restaurant was predictably empty for three p.m., but there was only one man who truly mattered and he was leaning against the wall near the hostess stand. When his gaze locked on mine, the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end.
