“Hello, beautiful.” Dan came into the kitchen holding a giant plastic pot with a small blooming rosebush in it. He set it down on the table where I was trying and failing to reconcile the schedule of events for the festival.
“Hey.” I leaned back in my chair and pursed my lips so Dan could kiss me. “Were you talking to me or…” I pointed my pencil at the plant.
“Definitely you, love,” he said with a chuckle and took a seat next to me. “But this,” he pushed the pot toward me, sprinkling my notebook with potting soil, “is also a work of art.”
“Explain.” I put my pen down and rested my chin on the heels of my hands, giving him my full attention.
“I did it.”
“Did what?”
He pointed at the rosebush. “I have succeeded in making a rosebush that even you couldn’t kill.” He waggled his eyebrows and grinned at me.
“Hey!” I grabbed a handful of potting soil and threw it at him.
“I’m serious.” He grabbed my hand and kissed it. “Do you remember when I told you I had that breakthrough?”
Did I? That night would forever be burned in my memory. I nodded.
“This is it. I’ve figured it out. This is the culmination of years of my life.”
“Oh my God!” I jumped up when the realization hit me. “This is amazing! We have to celebrate. These roses will be in every garden store and nursery in the country—in the world.” I started pacing around the kitchen, already formulating all the ways we could getpublicity for his discovery… morning talk shows, trade shows… I’d bet Max could help me if—
“Hold on.” Dan snaked an arm around my waist and pulled me into him, pressing a kiss to my neck. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. This is just the first step, and I’m not sure what I want to do with it yet. For right now, I’m happy it’s done, and I’m happy that you’re the first person I got to share it with.” I spun in his arms and pressed our lips together.
“Well, I never had a doubt,” I whispered.
“I did.”
“That’s why I had enough faith in you for the both of us.”
“You’re amazing, Emma.” Dan’s intense gaze made my belly do flips and my heart race. “Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me.” I gave him another peck on the cheek. “But you know what would make me really happy?”
“What is that?” He tightened his arm around my waist, pulling our hips together and alerting me to the fact that Dan was already very happy.
“If you would clean up all the dirt in kitchen… and on you and make me dinner.” I gave him my most adorable smile. “I’ve been working on this schedule for hours, and I haven’t eaten yet.”
“Anything for you.” He kissed me and patted me on the ass when I turned away from him.
“That was amazing.” I pushed away my plate and allowed myself a steadying breath before I rose from the table a few hours later.
“Where are you going, love?” Dan asked and wrapped a large, warm palm around my forearm as I backed away from him.
“I have a surprise for you.” I slipped out of his grasp and pulled a bottle of champagne out of the refrigerator. “I bought this bottle to celebrate.”
“But I just told you about it a couple of hours ago.” He furrowed his brow and chuckled. “How long have you had that?”
“I bought it the day after you told me you were almost done with it.” I grinned and set the bottle down in front of him. “I knew that we would need it.”
“You did, eh?” He wrapped one of his arms around my waist and pulled me into his lap.
“Yes.” I turned and planted a giant kiss on his lips. “I did. Now, should we open this thing?”
“You know, I usually don’t drink, but I’ll make an exception for you.” He grinned and kissed me before he twisted the top off the champagne bottle. I squealed when the cork shot out of the bottle with a large pop, hitting the ceiling while champagne simultaneously sprayed onto my lap.
“Dan,” I screeched, pointing at my alcohol-soaked leggings. “Look at my pants.”
