Blood and Petals

ubtle sweetness of flowers as they spilled from their vendor carts, brightening the otherwise grimy streets. Among the flower vendors, Emilia Rivera stood, her small flower

ises were somehow louder, they were more disruptive. Perhaps it was because she'd been expecting this. The fresh scent of roses

of her stall, its powerful engine purring as th

Lomba

him lived in worlds she could never touch. Adrian was the epitome of everything she despised about the Lombardi fam

ortless as his wealth. He stepped out of the car, a hint of amusement in his gaze as he looked down at the displa

Can I help you with something, Mr. Lombar

'm just browsing." His voice was smooth, it was a velvet whisper that was almost too charming for someone she knew

someone born into money, someone who viewed people

ed, holding his gaze. "And my flowers are ju

her response. "Bold," he said,

loom over her, his eyes locking onto hers with a penetrating intensity. He was standing too close now, too dangerous

ten?" he asked with

terior. He might be a stranger, but there was a magnetic pull to him she could

he flowers, deeper than the street corner. It didn't last long, and the mask of arrogance returned. "I'm sure your flowers are as goo

udden tension build between them. "I d

tugged at his lips. "

ttentions to the commotion just a few feet away. A delivery man, clearly frustrat

stepped back with an unreadable expression, and his hand reached into his pocket, pulling out a c

this stall, and he was offering it without hesitation, as though it wer

of you," she replied sharply, cutt

ths of his expression. Something more than the playboy arrogance. "I'll decide what I'm worthy of

. She'd learned long ago not to let men like him walk over

her the woman standing before him. There was a shift in his expression, it was a

ng else in his eyes. "You'll regret that, Emilia. The world doesn't play by your rules." He turn

ed back. "But I'll take those lilies," he said,

disbelief and fury swirling within her. She couldn't be sure why she felt such a pull tow

last time their