Page 97 of The Florist and Her Alphas

“I love you both, but I have a shop to open,” I say, and both alphas groan in unison.

August buries his face in my neck, his arms tightening around my waist. “You do not have to work another day in your life,” he mumbles against my skin. “We can take care of you. All four of us. You will never need to lift a finger.”

Cole rumbles against my ear, his hand sliding down to rest on my stomach. “The four of us can provide for you for the rest of your life. You could do whatever you wanted. Paint. Read. Garden. Sleep in our bed until noon every day.”

I laugh softly, the sound warm in my throat. “It is not just a shop. It is the only thing I ever built for myself in the whole world. It is mine. It brings me happiness.”

Both of them go quiet for a beat. I can feel them processing this, feel the shift in the air as they understand. Then August kisses my cheek, soft and reverent. “Of course you should take care of your shop,” he says. “We will help however you want.”

I roll out from between them.

My legs are not entirely steady when I stand, and I grip the edge of the dresser for a moment, feeling their eyes on my naked body. “I’m going to take a shower now.”

The shower is hot and perfect. I’ve been using their products since I haven’t brought mine from my apartment. After my shower, I quickly dress in jeans and a shirt. The new ring on my finger catches the light, and I admire it. My grandmother’s locket around my neck, familiar weight. I braid my wet hair down my back, my fingers working automatically, as I make my way out to the kitchen.

The four brothers are already at the island.

Cole, in jeans and a black shirt, is on the phone in clipped, low tones with someone, his jaw tight in a way that means business. Ezra is at the island in a charcoal suit, looking at his laptop with a small crease between his eyebrows that I have learned means complication. August is making coffee, his back to me, his sandy hair still damp from his own shower. Julian is pulling a pan of croissants out of the oven.

Pepper is on his perch by the windows. He fluffs his feathers up at my entrance, his emerald body gleaming in the morning light, and announces at the top of his lungs, “Hello gorgeous!”

“Hello Pepper,” I say, smiling, and he bobs his head in what I have learned is satisfaction.

I kiss each of them on the cheek as I pass. The morning has the cozy hum of a real morning in a real home, and I let myself feel it. Because it’ll be my mornings forever.

Cole hangs up the phone. He crosses to the island, and I look up at him, fork halfway to my mouth. His face has not changed, but his shoulders are different. Tighter.

“There was an event flagged on the building’s surveillance overnight,” he says, quiet enough that only we can hear. “I need to handle it in person at Frostwood Tower. I’ll see you later, Lia.”

“Okay,” I say, and he gives me a quick kiss on the lips before he disappears out the door.

Ezra closes his laptop and makes his way over to me. He kisses my neck, just below my ear, and I get horny immediately, my pussy clenching despite how sore I am. I lean into him, my voice going soft and flirty.

“If you knot me, I will never be able to leave the house.”

His hand finds my waist, thumb pressing into the soft flesh there.

“What if I do not want you to leave?” he murmurs against my hair. His mouth is hot and demanding, his tongue sliding against mine, his hand cradling the back of my head. The kiss goes on and on, stealing my breath, making my heart pound against my ribs.

When he pulls back, his gray eyes are dark.

“I will make up for it tonight,” he says, and his voice is rough before he leaves the penthouse too.

Julian and August are left at the island with me. Julian is sipping his coffee, watching me with that warm, knowing look.

“We are going to drive you to the shop,” he says, easy as anything. “Not going to let you escape.”

I grumble, setting down my fork. “I do not need to be babysat. You put in all that security. It should be enough.”

“No, no, no, beautiful,” Julian tsks, and he is suddenly behind me, his hands finding my hips as I stand to wash my dishes. He kisses me while I am standing at the sink, my hands in soapy water, his mouth hot and distracting. “We are going to go with you because we like spending time with you. Not because you need us to.”

I make a soft sound against his lips, and he pulls back, grinning. I text Mira while Julian and August argue about who’ll be driving.

Meet at my shop at 8:30

!!!

She responds with three exclamation points and a photo of a pastry box that makes my stomach growl despite the breakfast I just ate. I laugh, the sound bright in the quiet kitchen.