The Flower Box
Alice longs
for love. Oliver wants to give her flowers and candy until he thinks she has another
lover. Will his jealousy drive him away from Alice or straight into her arms?
READ the Tease
Oliver threw the bread into the pond, and offered Alice his
hand to shake.
“Oliver.” He told her his name in an effort to get hers.
She reached forward and shook his hand.
Her hand was small and cold in his, her skin soft and
smooth. Oliver heard her speak, but his mind was on her lips, and the feel of
her skin under his fingers. He thought her hand trembled and then he let go.
“Alice. Good to meet you.”
He was closer to her now. It surprised the hell out of him
when desperation to kiss her came over him. He stared at her mouth, knowing he
couldn’t do it. A woman would scream the place down if a man did that in the
deserted park. He saw her lean as if drawn to kiss him too and then she blushed
just faintly and looked away.
She fumbled in her coat pocket and brought out a cling
wrapped piece of bread. As she gave the swan a piece of it, she talked softly
and quickly.
“I wonder why the bird is alone. I know they hang out in
groups or pairs at least. It seems lonely.”
Oliver stood by her side as close as he dared. It hadn’t
occurred to him that he might really want this young woman. He’d thought of her
as a project, and she could still be that, but everything about her attracted
him right then.
She scrunched the wrapping up and put it in her pocket. She
turned to go.
“I should get back to work.”
Oliver was so near her now he looked right into her eyes. He
saw something he didn’t expect. He saw desire. Her eyes darkened at him and her
expression baffled him. It was as if they were already lovers. She looked at
him as if they knew each other well. He wanted her to stay.
“You’re right about the swan. It’s probably lonely. Its mate
was killed in the summer.”
He saw her expression of sorrow and wanted to kiss it from
her face.
“Oh, that’s so awful. Do you know what happened?”
Oliver sighed. “It’s not a pleasant story. Are you sure you
want to hear it?”
Alice shook her head. “No.”
Oliver nodded. “Which way are you walking? I’ll walk with
you, now I’ve upset you over the swan.” He would use any excuse to be with her
longer. He wanted to hug her.
She waved her hand towards the path that led to the back
park exit.
“I’m okay.”
He smiled. “I’m going that way too.”
They walked along toward the gates. Oliver got as close to
her as he dared. The silence unnerved him and yet he couldn’t think straight to
make small talk. More than halfway along the street where he knew the flower
shop was situated, he grew desperate.
“Alice, what time do you finish work, maybe we could get
coffee together? It’s been great talking with you.”
They were paces away from the shop and she stopped. She
moved closer against a building so as not to clog the sidewalk.
Oliver stopped too. He waited.
“I’d like that, but I work late tonight. We’re doing late
Thursday and Friday opening. It would be about nine forty-five before I was
free.”
She looked hopeful and her eyes were full of another emotion
Oliver couldn’t quite read. He had to hold himself back from grabbing her head
and kissing her mouth hard. Somehow, her lips seemed fuller this close. Her
eyes seemed dreamier. A wave of desire flooded Oliver’s lower stomach and rose
up his body. He swallowed it down. His cock stirred as he saw her lick her
bottom lip. She’s nervous or maybe she
wants me too.
“I could come by then and pick you up. There’s a good café at
the end of the pedestrian precinct. We could walk there from the shop.” He knew
he was gazing at her mouth, leaning closer. He put his hand on the wall of the
building behind her. It enclosed them in intimacy.
She nodded. “Yes, that’s great. Thank you.”
He had to move and let her leave. It was hard to do. He
walked with her to the flower shop and then in pretense at going further down
the street he smiled. “See you tonight.”
Oliver made a right turn and darted down the alley leading
to a street he knew wound back to the park’s back gates. There were shops along
the alley and he glanced at them as he passed.
Get a grip. Get back
to work.
Copyright Elodie Parkes 2014 Hot Ink Press All Rights Reserved
The Flower Box
A story to fall in love with.
The Flower Box contemporary romance from Hot Ink Press by Elodie Parkes
...It’s romantic – with a special sort of whimsical feel to it. So… dreamlike. Their path to happily ever after was intimate, erotic and full of a romantic passion. The author created two characters that stick with you long after you’ve finished reading the last page. Her story building was done to perfection, and I’m thrilled to have gotten the chance to experience this wonderful book.
Reviewed by Cocktails and Books for Manic Readers with 5 yummy cocktails
(5*)
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