“Or we can spend more time together.” His voice was close, his heat almost burning my skin.

Ignore him, keep walking. But it’s so hard.

He followed me all the way to the gift shop.

“Are we spying?” He leaned closer, so close I could feel the warmth of his body.

“Nope. Trying to find out where these beauties come from?”

I touched a beautiful purple necklace with a butterfly charm.

“Owl Creations?” He read the sign. “Why don’t you carry this? Not that I understand why you carry so much stuff in a flower shop.”

“They’re from some exclusive designer. The stores that carry them never reveal much information. There’s no website or phone behind it.”

I grabbed a yellow and teal bracelet with a bird charm. It was beautiful but almost two hundred dollars. How much of a profit could they be making?

“It looks a lot like your business card.”

“That’s what I was thinking. It’s gorgeous.” I put it back, but Kaden took it and went to the register.

I observed him from afar, while he flirted with the cashier. A part of me wanted to stop him—and felt jealous. The other part was curious about this exchange. Was he trying to pry some information out of her? Patiently I waited until I saw her handing him a small bag. He paid with cash.

“Enjoy,” he said and handed me the little bag.

“I can’t accept it, but did she tell you where they’re from?”

“She said they’re exclusive, that the owner handpicks who sells her merchandise.”

“It’s never going to happen, never in a million years.” I frowned, crossing my arms so he couldn’t give me the little gift bag he was carrying.

“Why not?” He pulled out his phone.

“What are the chances that the artist would think of me? I own a flower shop.”

“There’s always a possibility.” He tapped his phone, then winked at me.

“Make sure to be at your store next week, though. Just in case someone happens to know the artist.” He winked at me again.

“You’re a strange man, Mr. Hades.”

“So where to next?”

“You’re going home. I’m going to the grocery store.”

I continued my way down the street to the market and grabbed a shopping basket from the stack. But Kaden, who appeared to be bored and in need of following me, took it from me.

“Any plans for today?” I asked while picking out produce.

“So far just grocery shopping followed by the bookstore.” He took my hand and slipped the bracelet over it.

“It looks perfect.” Kaden stared at my lips. “You’re lucky we’re in public.”

I stared back at his face speechless. He bought me a bracelet. But I narrowed my gaze. “Why am I lucky?”

“Because I’d be kissing the fuck out of you if we were alone.”

“You don’t kiss friends.” I picked an imaginary piece of lint from my sweater.

“What happens if I do?”

“You’ll be banished for life.”

“That’s harsh.”

“No, it’s realistic.” I grabbed two cartons of rice milk.

“Is the milk a preference?” he asked scrunching his nose.

“No, I’m allergic to dairy, soy, and peanuts. That’s why the coffee shop where you played is my favorite. They get their pastries from an allergy-friendly bakery.”

“How about ice cream?”

“Allergic to dairy,” I repeated and grabbed a bag of frozen blueberries.

“Sorbet?”

“Only if it doesn’t have any traces of dairy.”

“Chocolate?”

“Sometimes I can eat dark chocolate, but it’s not my favorite.” I scrunched my nose.

“Then I have to cancel the chocolate covered strawberries for Monday.”

“Stop sending me things,” I said when we stopped by the deli counter.

“That’s impossible. I want to make up for the last …” He started counting with his fingers. “How old are you?”

“How old do you think I am?” I stared at him, sucking on my lower lip.

“You look young, but not that young.” He eyed me suspiciously. “Mid-twenties?”

“Maybe,” I shrugged.

“Let’s say you started dating at sixteen, so between nine and twelve years that I need to make up for,” he responded.

“Why do you assume I started dating at sixteen?”

“Guessing, since that’s the age my daughters are allowed to start dating.”

“Impressive. A father with timelines.” I turned around when my number was called.

“What can I do for you, ma’am?”

“Everything is going to be a quarter pound. I need turkey bacon, corned beef, smoked ham, and pastrami.”

“Can you give us a pound instead of a quarter, please?” Kaden requested.

The attendant nodded and left.

“Does everyone do everything you say?”

“Sometimes they do, other times they want to kick me out of establishments because they don’t like how I look.”

“I don’t care if you think you can boss me around. You can’t change my list. I don’t eat that much deli meat.”

“But I eat for two—or three. I’m a growing man, you know.”

“You’re not eating at my house,” I said, glaring at him.

“We’ll see about that.” He walked away toward the bakery.

He came back with a baguette and several pastries. Cookies in case he wanted some during his evening coffee. Who did he think he was?

“We, Mr. Hades?” I arched an eyebrow as we walked to the auto check out registers. “You have to go back to first grade and learn your pronouns.”

“Pronouns?”

“I.” I pointed at me.

“You.” I touched his chest lightly. “There’s no we.”

“Yet,” he said and began bagging the groceries as I scanned them.

I feigned anger because so far, I had enjoyed his company. Our interaction felt so comfortable. The familiarity between us both scared and excited me. I hated that I enjoyed his friendship so much. I’d never had so much fun closing the flower shop or going to the grocery store. Once I was finished, I searched for my wallet, but he had already inserted his credit card into the reader. Before he could complete the transaction, I canceled it and replaced his card with mine.

“You’re not paying for my groceries.”

“I added things that weren’t on your list,” he argued.

“Well, next time you make your own trip and pay for everything.”

“You’re stubborn, aren’t you?” He smiled.

He turned around, bending to pick up the bags. My mouth opened slightly when his t-shirt pulled giving me a glimpse of his muscular stomach. My eyes lifted and looked around us. Everyone was admiring Kaden as if he were on stage.

Something about this guy captivated every person in his proximity. The simple act of turning around, shoving his longish hair away from his face, and picking up the bags was sexy. His larger-than-life presence, his confidence, and determination made him attractive and desired. Or maybe it was something else. I had no idea how to describe it correctly, but he dragged everyone’s attention toward him.

“I can take those.”

“You paid, I carry.” His logic made no sense, but I was still drooling too much over the idea of his abs to fight him. “This way, you can browse around the bookstore freely.”

“I think I’m going to skip it.”

“We can always go later,” he suggested.

No, you have to leave. I don’t remember why I don’t want you around, but I still have a few functional brain cells that keep reminding me that you’re dangerous.

The store wasn’t far from my place. When we arrived, I regretted not buying a bottle of wine or beer to offer him. Inviting him for a drink would be the least I could do for him. I’d figure something out. Maybe I should squeeze his oranges. I burst into a loud laugh when I recalled Raven’s comment about Kaden’s big cock and wondered if his balls were as big as oranges.

Get a grip, Sadie. You need to get laid soon.

It had been too long since the last time I had sex. Lately, I was getting off with the vibrators that Raven gave me for my twenty-seventh birthday, while I watched some quick, dirty video on Tumblr. As turned on as I was, I decided to kick Kaden out and take care of myself with the shower head.

“You can leave the bags on top of the kitchen countertop.” I swung the door open.

“Are these the flowers I sent you?” He pointed at the arrangement on top of the table.

“Yes, thank you again, for sending them.”

“It was my pleasure.” He walked closer to me, lifting my chin.

Our gazes met for a few seconds. My skin began to burn under the heat of his lustful look. “You’re crossing the lines.”

“I wouldn’t dare.” He broke eye contact and moved away. “But I have to know one thing.”

“What?”

“Would you say I delivered the perfect first time?” His eyes crinkled as his grin widened. “Because I plan on giving you the best first, last-time of your life.”

My cheeks heated up with that comment, and every logical thought disappeared. I remained standing, staring, blown away by the double meaning of his words.

“Where’s the little tree?”

“That’s a great question.”

Raven had the keys to my apartment for emergencies. Or when I misplaced my keys in the flower shop. I scanned the living-dining room area and then walked into my studio. It was right in the middle of the table.

“Cool room,” Kaden stood right behind me. “It’s like a reading nook?”

I entered the room, and he followed. “It’s where I design the wedding arrangements.”

He scanned my bookshelves and took one out. “So, there’s a college degree for what you do. Flower shop ownery?” He smiled, taking one of my grandma’s botanical books.

“That’s not a degree,” I giggled and cover my mouth because I wasn’t the kind of woman who giggled.

“Actually, there’s landscape design and various botanical degrees. But nothing that’s specifically for running a flower shop.”

“I was kidding, but that’s cool. Which one did you study?”

“Neither,” I said, taking the book away from him. “But my grandmother was a botanist, and she taught me everything she knew about plants. We spent a long time in her garden planting seeds, pruning rose bushes … I knew my way around wildflowers by the time I was five.”

I wasn’t sure if he was listening to me since he continued browsing my books without acknowledging me. If he was looking for a thriller or some science fiction, I didn’t have it in my collection. My shelves were filled with textbooks and biographies. Unlike many, I only read non-fiction books.

“Helping out without Hurting, DBT,” he read out loud. “Statistics for Social Workers, Research, and Behavior for Effective Social Work.”

He frowned touching my old textbooks and reading materials from college and from my other life. “As I said, you care for others.”

He turned around and crossed his arms examining me. “I bet you were one of the few good ones in the system.” He held my face and stared into my eyes.

“What system?”

“According to your books, you’re a social worker.” It was a statement, not a question. “I bet you left because you realized the system was corrupt, didn’t you?”

“You’d be wrong. I accept that the system isn’t perfect,” I paused, studying him.

How did he know? Is that part of the darkness that surrounds his soul? He lost his parents, or they lost him because …

What’s your story, Kaden Hades?

“Nothing is perfect, but I’d like to think that it’s better than it was when I was a little girl,” I defended what I knew. My truth.

“I wish we had more resources,” I continued. “Sometimes we didn’t have enough foster parents, and our budget was too slim.”

There were times when I had to use my own money to buy clothes for the children that came to us.

“You believe that?” He crooked his thick eyebrow, tilting his head to the side. “Because I bet there are still hundreds, if not thousands of children neglected or abused at home.”

“That’s a complicated subject. Some parents know how to hide their wrongdoings.” I exhaled in frustration. “Like everything that involves humans, you can only help so much. Some days I worked twice as hard without making any progress.”

I slumped my shoulders, staring at the wooden flooring. “Many adults only care about themselves, their addictions … nothing else matters as long as they got their fix and a check from the government.”

My mind traveled to the last case I managed, the one I wanted to forget.

“Is that why you quit?” His voice was loud, angry. “Why didn’t you just take the children and put them in a safe environment?”