Chapter 17
Laura fingered the leaves of the flowers as she watched Robbie make breakfast for the two of them. His words about the colors came back to her, threatening to make her cry again. "Robbie, by chance did James help you with the flowers?"
He laughed as he dished their breakfast onto plates, "Oh ye of little faith."
She watched him walk toward their table, following with the teapot. "You're telling me you knew all of that information or did you just make it up?"
He sat, motioning for her to do the same. "The only help James provided was picking a pub next to a florist."
Laura smiled cutting into her omelet, "So the florist helped you?"
Forking food into his mouth, Robbie shook his head. He met her eyes chewing methodically, enjoying watching her stew in her anxious desire to know the answer. With an exaggerated swallow, he took a sip of his tea. "She bundled them up for me and selected the prettiest blooms."
"Then how did you know about the meaning of the different colors?"
"How do you know I'm not a gardening savant?"
She laughed, "Because the last time I went to London for the weekend you almost killed every plant in the house and garden."
"It wasn't all that bad."
"Robbie, an ivy I have had for 10 years was on life support."
He pulled his phone from his pocket and slid it across the table to her, "If you must know Dr. Hobson, it's this newfangled creation called Google. You should try it sometime."
She looked at his phone then burst into laughter, "I'm impressed James finally got you to use your phone for more than calling and texting."
He ate a few more bites then smiled at her, "Don't be too impressed, it was Maddox, not James."
Leaning forward she kissed his cheek then whispered into his ear, "Remind me to thank her later."
Capturing her chin in his hand, "Don't I get a thank you? I was the one who did the googling."
She sat back in her chair, "I'm pretty sure I thanked you last night and again this morning."
"I believe there is a three thank you rule for flowers with a meaning."
Standing, she picked up her plate, "I don't believe I am familiar with that rule."
Robbie pointed at his phone, "You can google it if you want." He grabbed her arm pulling her back to him and into his lap. He took the plate from her setting it on the table, "Or you can take my word for it."
She wrapped her arms around his neck, lowering her head to kiss him, "I've never known you to lie, so it must be true."
He captured her lips, a soft kiss she instantly deepened. Her hands raked through his hair as his hands pulled at her shirt seeking bare skin. She stood slightly moved to straddle him. He pulled at her shirt trying to lift it over her head, breaking the kiss. His lips traced across the smooth skin of her chest as he pulled her down to him. Her sighs filled the room.
Spurred on by the eager noises she was making he lifted her. Pushing their breakfast dishes to the side he placed her on the table his hands going to her waist, eager to unfasten her pants. Her hands matched his movements. Their eyes met, both eager, excited, aroused.
He lowered his head to kiss her when the all too familiar buzzing started. One glance at the phone told him it was James. Learning from his mistake, he ignored it.
Then a second buzzing noise joined it from across the room. She laughed pulling him down for a blistering kiss. His head was spinning as she pulled away, tucking in her shirt and refastening her pants. "Consider than an IOU on your third thank you."
Leaning into the table, trying to catch his breath, "I'm going to hold you to that Dr. Hobson."