Full Bloom

By Bianca Sarble

Tash Hathaway has moved back to Freewill to open her own flower shop—Freewill Flower Garden. She is actively seeking a man to fill her Mr. Right vacancy and has even signed up to find him online. But when she finds duds instead of studs Cassi, Tash's best friend, convinces her to take a break and live a little, make some of her cowboy fantasies come true before settling down.

When his riding partner is injured, Nathan Davis goes home for a break from the PRCA circuit. He returns to find his life changing in ways he's not ready for. Nor does he expect the distraction of a beautiful small town girl who fulfills his wildest fantasies.

Tash and Nathan collide in a lust-filled bubble, but neither of them are prepared when things get serious. Can love come to full bloom between two people determined to have a temporary bit of fun?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Decadent Publishing
• Release date: May 21, 2013
• ISBN: 9781613335376

Book preview

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Full Bloom

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2013 by Bianca Sarble

ISBN: 978-1-61333-537-6

Cover art by Scott Carpenter

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work, in whole or in part, in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Published by Decadent Publishing Company, LLC

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Full Bloom

A Western Escape

By

Bianca Sarble

~DEDICATION~

For the family, friends, and fellow authors who helped me walk on the cheeky side of life. Thank you for showing me the way.

Chapter One

Sitting in Wyoming Eats, the finest restaurant in Freewill, Tash Hathaway realized she was on one of the worst dates of her life. In his online profile, Craig Johnson had listed he was six foot two, with black hair, and in his early thirties. In reality, he was pushing five foot seven, black hair thanks to Clairol, and had left thirty behind a few decades ago. At least with her, he got what he expected: a five foot seven, twenty-eight-year-old, curvy brunette with a bubbly personality and a high-heel addiction.

Seeing the waiter bring the bill, she couldn’t help but be relieved.

Craig reached into his suit pockets coming up empty. Ahh, I seem to have left my wallet back at the motel. I’m so sorry. I feel like such a fool. If you want to come back to the motel with me, I can give you the cash.

Okay, officially the worst date ever. Did he even realize that made her sound like a hooker? Pulling out her wallet, she sighed. Thank you, Craig, but that’s really not necessary.

Tash signed the credit card slip and took her coat before letting him open the door for her. As she unlocked her car, Craig gently grabbed her elbow.

Please let me make it up to you. I’ve had a wonderful evening so far, no reason we can’t enjoy an after-dinner drink. He pressed against her side and leaned in. We could try out my Jacuzzi. He whispered, I’ve been imagining you wet and panting all night. What do you say?

Huh. I didn’t realize it was broken.

Craig met her eyes. What was broken, sweet thing?

My asshole radar, ’cause it didn’t light you up in neon lights. Tash shoved him off and managed to get into her car.

Her hands shook and her heart raced as she drove across town to her apartment over her floral showroom, Freewill Flower Garden. Taking a deep, calming breath before walking up the stairs, she fished out her cell phone and sent a text message to her best friend, Cassi Harris.

NO MORE INTERNET DATING EVER!

The second she opened her door, the Top Gun theme blasted through her phone. She smiled at the thought of Cassi wanting the nitty-gritty details. When Tash moved back to Freewill from Denver to open her own flower shop, she’d originally hired Cassi to help with deliveries. Soon the shop was so busy, she promoted her to full time. Becoming best friends with the petite blonde was a fringe benefit.

Let me guess. You’re dying to know all about Craig the Creep? Tash chuckled as Cassi laughed.

Come on, spill. He can’t be worse than that Bill guy last month.

Tash hung her handbag on the hook near the door and kicked off her Jimmy Choos. Oh yes, he can. Bill was only lonely. All he wanted was someone to listen to—

And give him a handjob in the movie theater!

Juggling the phone, she undressed and searched for her pajamas. Yeah well, at least he paid for dinner and the movie tickets. Tonight’s winner took me to the fanciest restaurant in town, then conveniently forgot his wallet. But, to make it up to me, he offered to take me back to his motel and give me cash.

Pause. What? Like an escort?

Exactly! He thought he’d sweeten the deal by telling me he had a Jacuzzi and had been imagining me ‘wet and panting’ all night.

Oh my God! Eww.

Yep. My thoughts exactly. Tash walked into the kitchen for a glass of water and programmed her automatic espresso machine for the morning.

Well, I can understand why he gets the new name. Well deserved by the sounds of it.

That’s it. I’m pulling my profile tomorrow and never going on an online dating service again. I’ll just have to look harder in Freewill to find Mr. Right.

You and your search for Mr. Right. Why are you trying so hard? Why not enjoy being single for a while?

This coming from my wing girl, the person who is supposed to help me find the father of my children? She slumped on the bed with a huff and pulled out her makeup-remover wipes. I’m twenty-eight, Cass. I thought I’d already be married by now, or at least heading toward it. That’s why I left Denver. The guys there were only interested in partying every night and avoiding commitment like the plague. I’m a hometown girl at heart and, to tell the truth, I’d wanted to come home for a long time to set up my shop. Now it’s doing so well, I want to get the other half of my life in order.

Well, it’s a good thing you have your best friend to fill in your lonely hours.

Yes, it is. It’s lucky I brought batteries for him today and ordered his rechargeable cousin online last week. She let her laughter drain away the disappointment of the night. Cassi was still giggling when Tash composed herself long enough to say, I’m hanging up now so I can crawl into bed with my Kindle. My cowboy porn is always guaranteed to satisfy.

***

The following morning, Tash let out a contented sigh as another satisfied client walked out of Freewill Flower Garden. The third walk-in by nine o’clock meant she was in for a busy day. She could hardly believe how well her business had taken off, and neither could her accountant. Since moving to Denver right after high-school graduation to study floristry at college, her goal had been to open her own shop.

Now her dream had been realized and was flourishing, Tash had to pinch herself. Being a florist in a rural area had its disadvantages, sure. But beautiful flowers were the perfect accompaniment for any occasion. They were the universal gift to say welcome or congratulations, I do, I love you, I’m sorry, or good-bye. The bouquets and arrangements that had flooded into her house when her father died her junior year of high school had inspired her to be a florist. To look over and see a thing of beauty in such a time of sadness had made the days much more bearable.

When old Mr. Deacon had retired, sold his hardware business, and moved to Florida, Tash had known the building would be perfect. The ground level had a large, open space in front for a showroom and workstation, while the storage area at the back could easily be turned into her cool room. Located at the end of Main Street, it had plenty of parking, but best of all was the one-bedroom apartment upstairs.

Tash loved her mother dearly but couldn’t live with her. After living apart for almost ten years, she needed her own space. Still living in the house she’d raised her daughter in, Fiona Hathaway had never remarried and had worked at Hometown Bakery for as long as anyone could remember, which was how Tash had come to know Cassi. From what her mother had told her, the twenty-two-year-old’s childhood hadn’t been the greatest, and she was still trying to