Rose (2 page)

She throws her arms around my neck, and I inhale the smell of baby powder. I think I find it just as comforting as Lara does. “Thank you,” I say quietly as I pull back. I can see it in her eyes that she understands I’m talking about more than the job. She doesn’t know my whole story and it’s likely she never will. I don’t want to appear weak in her eyes, but how could she see me as anything else? She lived a life of hell and remained strong. In comparison, I’ve been treated like a princess but tried to end my existence twice. I never want her to know that. I want to be the woman who
she
sees me as, and she’s giving me that chance.

“You’re the one doing me a favor.” She smiles. “And I know Lee will be thrilled when he finds out you’re coming on board. Oh, and I wanted to tell you that Lara and I are taking one last business trip with Lucian this week. He’s flying to New York this evening and we’re tagging along. We’ll be back on Sunday.”

Shaking my head, I give her a smile. “You two can’t be without each other, can you?” She doesn’t even bother to deny it—which I love. Again, I feel a pang of loneliness but force it aside to enjoy my time with her.

We stay for another hour discussing my salary as well as a basic plan to get started. Lia has already been working part-time to get things in place, and on Monday, I will join her. Lara has been going to the office with her, but they have hired a nanny who will begin on Monday as well. I hope the poor woman is strong because Lucian and Lia will drive her crazy worrying about their daughter.

I feel lighter than I have in years as we part ways. There is a spring in my step that has never been there. I have almost reached my car when the sound of a text chimes from my purse. I pull my cell phone out slowly, almost as if it’s a snake that will strike at any moment. I know without looking that it’s my father since his text tone is the theme from the movie,
Jaws
. I think the sinister melody fits him perfectly.

Dinner at six sharp.

That’s the extent of the message. No greeting, no pleasantries. It’s from my father, of course, and it’s in no way an invitation—it’s an order.
Way to piss on my happy, Dad.
It’s as if the man is so in tune with me that he knows when I might be anything other than miserable. And when that happens, he immediately seeks to correct it. With a sigh, I unlock my Prius and get behind the wheel. Truthfully, I had planned to tell him about my new job via email, but maybe a surprise announcement would be best. I’ll drop the bomb as I’m leaving, and then turn off my phone for a few days. Easy, right? Even as I sing along to the radio, trying to pretend I’m not scared, my hand trembles and I curse my weakness. As if reminding me that there is another way to cope, my thigh throbs from a recent cut. And I know that despite my best intentions, there will be another mark before the night is over.

I
loosen
my tie and toss my jacket over the back of the sofa within seconds of walking through the door. It’s been a long day, and I’m exhausted. I open a drawer in the kitchen and pull out the array of takeout menus there. Luckily, I live far enough out of the city of Asheville, North Carolina to enjoy the peace and quiet but close enough to take advantage of a delivery service. Sadly, I make my meal decision based solely on what will go best with the beer I intend to have. Pizza it is. Being a man with no one to think of tonight but myself, I go for the Meat Lover. The last woman I dated would only eat the veggie patch with a gluten-free crust. What a fucking waste of a good pizza.

As if on autopilot, I go through the almost ritualistic motions: pop the top of a much-needed Heineken; take a quick shower to remove the day’s grime and shit; throw on the comfort clothes—basketball shorts and a T-shirt; wander back to sit in front of the impressive flat-screen television.
When did I become like a robot again?
Awaiting a college basketball game, I flip channels restlessly. It’s nights like these that I miss my friends.

Lucian is my boss at Quinn Software as well as one of my best friends. We spent a fair amount of time together until he got involved with Lia. Not that I begrudge him his marital bliss. I’m damned happy for them both and their daughter, Lara, is about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. I find myself dropping by their place with some excuse just to see her. I’m a kid person apparently—who knew?

And Aidan, as much as he and I liked to bust each other’s balls, I miss the hell out of him. He’d left town after saving Lia’s life. Unfortunately, the woman who had tried to kill Lia was the woman who Aidan loved. Cassie had been certifiable, but Aidan had always wanted to believe that there was good inside her. In the end, he’d been forced to sacrifice her life to save Lia’s. Something I didn’t know if he’d ever recover from. None of us had heard from him since he left months ago, and to say there’s a huge void in our lives is an understatement. Man, I miss him.

The sound of the doorbell pulls me from my somber mood, and I jog embarrassingly fast to answer it. Has it really come to this? The highlight of my night was the fucking delivery guy? Hell, I even think about inviting him in for dinner and a cold one but manage to refrain. I’ve never been a party animal, so I’m not sure why I suddenly find it so hard to be alone. It had never really bothered me before Rose. I shake my head in denial as I realize what I’ve just admitted.

How could I possibly be in some kind of funk over a woman I’d never even had a real relationship with? She’s Lia’s best friend, and I’d helped her out of a couple of situations she’d gotten herself in. That was it. Well, she hadn’t missed any opportunity to touch me when we were together. Her straddling my lap in my car the first time I bailed her out of jail is something I’ll likely never forget. Having her grind against my hard cock was sweet torture. I’d pushed her away, though, when I’d wanted nothing more than to rip her panties off, pull out my cock, and fuck her until one or both of us passed out.

My attraction to her had only grown after that. I’d tried to tell myself it was just physical, but there was something about her that reached me on a level I hadn’t experienced in so very long. I still wanted to fuck her, but I also wanted to make love to her. Spend hours discovering that beautiful body. And even more unsettling, I wanted to take her out on a real date. To have an actual conversation with her that didn’t involve screwing her on the table. Okay—maybe, I’d like to do both…

She was gorgeous with her red hair and mesmerizing green eyes. She had a body that kept me up at night and a sassy mouth that never ceased to amuse me. God, the things that woman blurted out. Maybe it was the fact that her actions were at such odds with her appearance that so captivated me. She dressed like a wealthy, repressed socialite but shot out tires and discussed guns as if she were some outlaw’s daughter. Add that she also had no problem putting her hands and mouth on me anytime we were in the same room together for more than a few moments …

I’m not in the market for a relationship, though, and haven’t been in years. Once upon a time, I tried the whole long-term, white-picket-fence thing, and it blew up in my face. I haven’t been in a relationship since, and I don’t see that changing. I have sex when I want it, and no one’s feelings are involved. I avoid women with ticking biological clocks and expectations of something more.

While helping Lucian and Lia through the situation with Lucian’s ex-girlfriend, Cassie, Rose and I became closer than I should have allowed. Tragedy tends to unite you, no matter how hard you try to keep your distance. We had both leaned on each other while supporting our friends. We hadn’t slept together, but we had shared a few dinners and spent time in each other’s arms, without sex. In the end, though, we’d parted ways after Lara was born, and I hadn’t seen her since. I missed her, though—worried about how she was doing. I knew she had problems dealing with her parents, but I didn’t know how deep her problems went. And truthfully, I think I’m better off not knowing. I’d be tempted to wade in and save her—which would only hurt us both in the end when I walked away.

I’d had a recent momentarily lapse, though, and had asked Lia about Rose. I’d wanted to take it back the minute I’d uttered her name, but my curiosity wouldn’t allow it. I’d continued to bombard her with what I hoped sounded like a friendly conversation. I’d been shocked and uneasy to find that they were planning to work together. That meant we would likely be in close proximity at some point as Lucian had asked me to be the legal counsel for Lia’s new business venture as well. I’d already agreed and couldn’t very well back out now. I would try to handle everything possible via telephone to avoid running into the woman I was trying so hard to forget.

Life had a way of showing you that sometimes you had only as much control as it allowed. Fate had never been particularly kind to me, and I had a bad feeling that it wasn’t even close to finished yet. I only hoped I was strong enough to handle whatever was in store for me next.

I
park
in the circular driveway at my parents’ stately home and take a deep breath before opening my door. Even with the weather turning cold, the grounds are still vibrant with color. We have always had full-time help both inside and out. My parents would never lower themselves to actually do the yardwork, but they damn sure didn’t miss it if one single weed made its way into the immaculate beds that surrounded the house.

I feel a certain kinship to the landscaping. We all have a part to play in Hoyt Madden’s world and looking perfect is a requirement. There was hell to pay when that didn’t happen. Having an off day just simply wasn’t allowed, and I’d learned that the hard way through the years. Now, I just wear the plain cardigan sets that cost hundreds of dollars and try not to think about how much they age me. I’d be freaking thrilled over an outfit from Walmart. At least, it might actually have some personality to it.

I glance down at my watch and curse. Damn, I’ve stood outside for so long that it’s a few minutes past six. I hurry up the stone path and come to an abrupt halt when my father himself stands in the now-open doorway.
Shit!
“Good evening, Daddy,” I manage to get out of my rapidly tightening throat. I hate this. I hate that I become a wallflower around this man.
Why do I let it continue?

“You’re late,” he snaps. “Now, our dinner will be cold because you can’t tell time.”

I fight back the urge to point out that it’s only five minutes, but I know better than to argue when he’s in a mood. Instead, I say meekly, “I’m sorry. I was just admiring the lawn and lost track for a moment.”

He steps back and motions me ahead with an impatient gesture. “By all means then, let’s go before anything else further distracts you. I swear, Rose, I’m not sure how you manage your day-to-day life.”

It’s childish, I know, but I stick my tongue out when I know he’s safely behind me and can’t see my face. Just once, could the man not ask me how I’m doing instead of insulting me? I walk straight to the dining room where my mother is already seated and sipping a glass of wine. Our cook, Letty, gives me a quick wink before walking off toward the kitchen. “Rose, you know it’s incredibly rude to keep people waiting,” my mother murmurs with an exasperated sigh.

“I’ve already apologized to Daddy,” I say defensively as I take my seat at the table. Letty comes back in with bowls of tomato bisque soup, and everyone is silent while we eat.

I’ve just started to relax when my father says, “Now that you’re finished with school, it’s time for you to move back home. I’ll terminate the lease on your apartment and have some movers collect your personal effects. We’ll donate any furniture you’ve purchased to a thrift shop.”

“I … what?” I gasp out. “Why would I do that? I love where I live now.”

“It’s hardly appropriate for a young woman your age to live alone in the city,” my mother interjects. “You’ll return home until you marry.”

This was fast getting out of control as the two of them joined forces to tell me what I was going to do. Before I was even aware of what I was going to say, I blurt out, “I’ve taken a job and my apartment is just a few blocks from it, so I’ll need to stay where I’m at.”

Silence. Complete and utter silence. A quick glance shows my mother appears baffled while my father looks furious. His face is turning an alarming shade of red, and I know he’s seconds away from losing it. “A job,” he booms out as if the whole concept is somehow dirty. “And just who gave you permission to do that?”

“I don’t understand this at all, Rose,” my mother adds, before taking a large sip of wine.

“It’s fairly simple,” I say lightly. “You go to work, and they pay you. In this case, I’ll be working with Lia at the company her father purchased. We’ll essentially be running it, so it’s a great opportunity for me. Not many people are lucky enough to find a position like that straight out of college.”

“I should have known that girl was behind this,” my father sneers. “She’s always trying to drag you into her problems. She’s trash, pure and simple.”

My mouth falls open in surprise, and then I have to wonder why. Hasn’t my father always been critical of anyone in my life? “Lia is married to Lucian Quinn—who could probably buy and sell us many times over. How can you act as if she is beneath us?” I ask incredulously.

My mother refills her glass but remains silent as my father shakes his head in seeming disgust. “She’s a gold-digger who got lucky. Of course, from what I’ve heard of Quinn, he’s got some strange habits, and she’s no doubt part of that.”

“Her father is Lee Jacks,” I point out obstinately. “I’ve been told he owns half of the state of North Carolina. Or doesn’t that count either?”

“For heaven’s sake, Rose.” My mother sniffs while rubbing her temple. “You’re giving me a splitting headache with this tantrum. Do what your father says and stop being ridiculous. Why would you possibly want a job?” The confusion in her voice is somehow disturbing to me. She acts as if I’ve just admitted to wanting a scorching case of herpes. Is she really that far removed from reality?

“What’s so wrong with wanting to make it on my own? Do you really want me to be dependent upon you my whole life?” I ask, genuinely curious as to their answer. My father opens his mouth with the obvious intention of blasting me before he shuts it again. He stares in a calculating way that has me squirming in my seat.

“So let me see if I understand you,” he begins. “It’s your goal to get a job and support yourself financially? To be completely self-sufficient—with no assistance from your mother and me, is that correct?”

I clench my hands together in my lap, feeling a moment of panic at his words. Is that what I want? The smirk on his face tells me clearly he’s expecting me to back down. And for a moment, I almost do. Then I find myself saying, “Yes, that’s exactly what I want.”

My mother opens her mouth to speak, but my father holds up his hand, effectively cutting her off. “You heard your daughter, Celia. She is an adult and wants to make her own decisions. I believe we owe it to her to honor her wishes, don’t you?”

“Bu—but, what about bridge tonight?” she stutters out. “We need another person to play.”

In this one instance, both my father and I are united as we stare at her. Has she even been listening to anything that has been said? We’re having a serious discussion about my future and she’s worried about balancing her numbers in a fucking game? “I’m sure Rose will be happy to stay for an evening with the Roberts.” He then turns to me with a pleasant, almost indulgent smile and asks, “Could you spare a few more hours for your parents before you leave, honey?”

Holy shit, what’s going on?
I think to myself as I smile nervously. “Oh, uh, sure. No problem. I don’t have any plans.”
Dammit! Why did I admit that?
Now, they won’t believe me if I make an excuse to leave early. He excuses himself to make a couple of calls before the guests arrive, and I take the opportunity to escape to the bathroom and regroup for a few moments. I splash some water on my face, not caring about my makeup and take a couple of deep breaths. Just a few more hours and I’m free.