Chapter One

 

 

Rose Maddock knew it was taking a great deal out of her friend to accept the guard that had been assigned to her. She dropped to her knees, barely breathing and waved the two of them past, ignoring the laughter from Daphne, continuing on when Rose weakly waved a couple palms at her.

“You’re evil, woman!” Rose called loudly with the air her body was screaming to hold onto.

“Yeah, yeah…Vlad tells me that all the time,” she chuckled as she kept running.

Her behind rested on her heels, her head hanging as her body tried finding the air her mind swore to her was out there. Somewhere.

“Insane people run and enjoy it,” Rose breathed through a low growl.

“I’ve heard that.”

Rose lifted her head, reluctantly, one eye opening with even more reluctance. The voice was smooth and soft with a lilt to it that made her think of St. Patrick’s day coming up in a few days. He was perched on his heels in front of her, hands dangling between his knees and head tilted to the side. He wore a good pair of running shoes and simple, grey sweats, the sleeves on the hooded shirt shoved to his elbows. Nothing glittering, she noticed except the brightest pair of blue eyes she’d seen on a guy. Ever.

“Water?”

Rose stared at the half full bottle he pulled from behind him, offering it to her easily, one midnight colored brow arched patiently.

“I…no…probably…” Rose slowly forced her muscles to wake up, her abdomen protesting as she straightened, pulling a soft moan from her lips.

“I’m not concerned with germs,” he teased, flipping the lid up and offering the frosted bottle once more. Full lips parted when the grin slashed his face.

Rose took the bottle and gratefully drained half the contents.

“Thank you…really…”

“I think you might live,” he teased, accepting the bottle back.

“It was a lunatic idea to begin with…some insane distant nut memory of running when I was a kid…” she shook her head ruefully. “And Daphne…and you…you make it look so flippin’ easy, it’s…just wrong…barely survived two laps…”

“I should apologize,” he murmured, humor in his tone that had her eyes narrowing in her appraisal. “I’ve been running for a good many years. You?”

“Some idiot notion I had this morning,” she mumbled testily. “I think it’s passing. Just because you got these long legs, people think you should be able to gallop around like a…a pony on a track…”

“They should be horse whipped,” he agreed in the break.

“It’s my own fault,” she sighed. “Daphne isn’t keen on having a guard…so I thought if we were together, maybe the guard could take the morning hour break…but probably not…Vlad would have both our hides if something happened to her,” she stretched toward the grey skies above them when he stood up and extended his palm. “Thank you.”

“The blonde running at a very fast clip?” He nodded toward the distance.

“Daphne Paddington…except she was married recently…no matter…I hope her guard survives,” she chuckled, turning toward the back entrance to the lockers and indoor gym. “I’m sorry if I interrupted your run.”

“I had just about finished,” he lied smoothly, leaving off the curiosity that had him ending his morning ritual a little sooner. “Why does your friend require a guard?”

Rose sighed, one palm up and rubbing over her neck.

“Escaped stalker who didn’t like being rejected,” she said quietly. “It’s been a long month…I know it’s bothering her. She runs more when she’s stressed. Vlad, her husband, he’s not a runner at all. Me, I’m sticking to pools, rowing, weights and racquet ball.”

“Are you visiting the resort long?” He found himself asking as they entered the building.

“I’m not visiting at all. I work here,” she told him with a bright smile, glancing over at the midnight colored hair and the thin leather cord hanging down his back. It was tied snugly around strands that would cover his collar were it set free.

“Perhaps I can entice you to breakfast this morning?” He stopped outside the entrance to the female locker rooms, his wrist tipped up. “It’s barely six-fifteen.”

“I…alright…give me ten to shower and get dressed,” she said decisively, nodding when he extended his palm.

“Ryan Flannary. I’ll wait for you here…Miss…?”

“Rose Maddock. Alright, I’ll hurry,” she promised, slipping her fingers free and disappearing into the locker room.

Rose.

His smile was unconscious as he quickly went through a hot shower and preparations for the day ahead. The silver and deep blue tie hung open, fingers fastening the buttons down his vest as he stepped into the hall, blue eyes focusing sharply on the woman standing facing away from him. He hadn’t noticed her height until his eyes ran from the three inch wide heeled boots that stopped at her knees, picking up with faded blue jeans.

Slim fingers were sunk into the back pockets, hastily pulled free when she spun at the noise of the door closing behind him. A comfortably fit scoop tee shirt in coral displayed a little bit of bare shoulder, a smoky quartz crystal on a silver chain and fluffed and feathered hair in shades of bronze that never touched her shoulders.

Eyes the color of melted caramel and filled with both humor and intelligence met his with a smile. Her eyes had drawn him in from twelve feet away when he first peered into them. A small backpack hung over one shoulder, her stride easily matching his along the wide corridor.

“Seeing as how you helped me recover from a choice of questionable judgement on my part, I feel I owe you breakfast,” Rose told him easily. “The employee cafeteria does an outstanding spread.”

“Ahh…privileged to the inner workings…”

“No secrets to divulge, Ryan,” she assured him easily. “But much simpler and faster.”

Ryan Flannary couldn’t recall the last time he ate in a cafeteria and certainly never one quite like this one. He followed her through the fast moving line, choosing and filling a large cup of coffee, giving in to the urge to watch the animation on her face as she chatted with passing friends and swiped her card for the meal.

“You’re not here on a vacation, are you?” She asked when they settled into a quiet table in the far corner of the cafeteria.

“What gave me away?” He asked, watching her spread cherry jam down the center of a slice of French toast and roll it before taking a bite, one finger held up as she chewed. He topped his with syrup and took a hungry forkful of the cinnamon and buttery toast.

“Not many tourists tour in three piece tailored suits,” she teased. “Does your company send you to lots of places? Interesting far away places?”

“I’ve been here and there,” he answered with a casual shrug. “It’s been part of the job that‘s about to end, I think.”

“Will you miss it? The travel, I mean.”

“Different times, different challenges. I think the next chapter will make up for all the travel,” Ryan answered, meeting the wide eyes that seemed amazingly easy for him to read. “I knew some Irish Maddock’s in Boston. Largest food distributors on the east coast.”

“A lot of space between here and Boston,” she said after a quiet minute. “Almost as far as you can get without swimming. I’m sure it’s a common enough name. I grew up some in Boston…it was a very long time ago.”

“Hmm…you do appear quite worn and ancient,” he teased, meeting the lowered eyes with a grin. “I grew up in Dublin…and I know that was too long ago to even speak about.”

“So we’ve established that we’re old and transplanted,” Rose nodded at the step forward. “Is that where you live? Where the company is you work for, I mean.”

“The closest I was to Ireland was London about five years ago. No, the company’s main office in Southern California. At least for a few more months. I’m here to complete negotiations on some property just north of here.”

“This is very different than California…climate wise, at least,” Rose commented. “Relocating is a big task…and a headache.”

“So I’m learning. Makes us crazy people enjoy a quiet morning run all the more. How is your friend?”

Rose sighed, her hands wrapped around the glass of almost gone juice.

“Annoyed. I know she’s frightened, but…we tend to work at hiding that kind of thing,” she said, draining the juice and glancing at the clock with a wince. “It’s been lovely, Ryan, but I have to go to work. I can show you the way out and catch the trolley to the health center.”

He drained the coffee and followed her lead, carrying their trays to the conveyor before striding down the wide corridor at her side.

“I’ve got a ton of meetings, but I thank you for the companionship and the meal, Rose. You said you enjoy a good game of racquetball? Perhaps this afternoon?” Ryan looked over, their eyes meeting as they walked through the wide doors and into the winds kicking up in the early morning. He watched the light and dark tones of bronze swept into the winds, traces of red glimmering when a flash of light caught her hair just right.

“About five? I’ll call and reserve a court for us,” she said, nodding and making a quick dash across the street when he agreed, her palm up with a wave as she swung onto the open trolley headed toward the health center.

“Corrupting my employees, Ryan?” Logan Sheffield had been striding into the main entrance of the huge hotel when he’d seen his friend in the distance, a black limo pulling alongside them.

“You know…” He began slowly, meeting the dark eyes in honest confusion. “If you had asked me that two hours ago, I would have gladly said you’d lost your mind.”

“Huh,” Logan dragged one palm over his goatee, his grin relaxed. “How goes your relocation?”

“A bloody pain in the ass, but well enough, given the massive changes,” he admitted with a shake of his head, pulling his mind away from the woman he’d spent the morning with. He looked at his watch and swore softly. “I’ll check in later, Logan.”