Chapter Ten

 

They didn’t fight in the morning. He went out for his run just after the wake up call came, leaving her in the shower. She left him a freshly toasted bagel and a pot of coffee. It wasn’t until he was standing before the mirror knotting his tie that he noticed the cloisonne lapel pin, a brilliant vibrant red rose attached where one might be were it a real flower.

His Rose.

Hayworth entered the suite at the same time Ryan was completing a memo about a new purchase, nodding to the wording and shooting it off to his admin for execution.

“You look disgusting,” Hayworth commented. “I’m not used to you being this happy. It ain’t normal.”

“Adjust. Oh, and there’s milk in the refrigerator. Rose happens to like milk, it seems. I sent through a note to the real estate agent for a purchase. I want it settled today,” Ryan checked folders, dropped things into his brief case and checked his watch. “When will the cars be here?”

“Sometime today, along with the goods. It’s all traveling in the moving van together,” he filled his coffee cup and followed Ryan out of the suite.

“The agent is eager. She’ll make it work,” he said as they waited for the elevator. “I sent her your information. When she tags you, make the transfer. Then contact Oliver and tell him he can get started on the building project at the house. Let’s get downtown…I want these meetings finished and this property acquisition over with so I can get down to the buildings.”

 

****

Rose was locking down her computer, glancing at her phone before lifting it and tapping out a text.

“Off at noon on Fridays. I’ll be at my apartment taking care of laundry.” And she shot it off to Ryan, tucking the little cell into her bag at the same time a reply came zinging through.

“Do you have a vehicle?”

Rose sat and tapped. “Yes.”

She considered whether or not to move yet. Adding another text.

“Do you need a ride somewhere?”

“Meet me at this address, please, at two this afternoon.”

She was working on a snappy comeback when another text popped up.

“I don’t fight by text. Hold it until we’re face to face.”

 

Rose stuffed things in her pack and headed to her apartment, still growling as she entered her cozy place. She stuffed laundry into the washer and went to her computer, calling up her MMO and played while clothing was being washed and dried. She minimized the game enough to tap in the address and get a general map of where he wanted her to go, scowling and printing before going back to killing things and solving puzzles.

The drive was pleasant and scarcely ten minutes south along a quiet road through a nice housing area on the Point. The gates were open and a couple cars sat in the wide parking area, a three car garage off to the left and the house sprawling….it was the only word she could think of to describe it….the house definitely sprawled along a wide swatch above the coastline.

She felt her stomach lurch. She was positive her hands had become clammy as she slide from behind the wheel of her quiet four door. A big part of her was about to turn and run when a huge moving van came towards her, making her back up as he maneuvered.

“Rose,” Ryan came around from the outside corner, his shoes silent on the dark rust colored stones that made the pathway. He managed to snag her fingers before she could bolt. “Just in time.”

“For what?” Was the instant and suspicious retort.

“For a viewing, sweet…nothing painful,” he promised with that sleek smile. “I’d like you to meet Matt Hayworth…personal assistant.”

“Miss Maddock,” he extended his palm, shaking hers warmly.

“A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hayworth, please, call me Rose,” she felt her knees shaking, her feet hedging as Ryan tried leading her into the large house.

“Rose…your feet appear to be stuck…you’ll relax once you have a little tour…”

“You said viewing,” she jumped on the word change immediately, dragging her feet a little more. Somehow she knew if she went inside, she’d be doomed. “You said viewing as in it’s not a done deal yet…”

“It’s a done deal, Rose,” Ryan sighed, his palm tightening around her waist. “You’ll love the kitchen…we’ll start there,” he told her, that soft lilt in his voice making her groan and he laughed when he got her over the threshold and inside the house. “Open your eyes, Rose.”

“You’ve done it? You’ve really, really gone and…and…” Rose opened her eyes to stare into the biggest kitchen she’d seen in a very long time. All the appliances gleamed in stainless steel and black. Two large refrigerators, a double oven and a gorgeous gas range. She felt her insides shiver. “This is just so wrong…”

“Oh, and Matt thanks you for the milk,” Ryan commented casually, watching her move around, opening cabinets and peering in the pantry. “He likes it with his coffee and I don’t drink milk.”

“Would you prefer half and half or cream?” She asked absently.

“A wise and discerning woman,” Matt complimented warmly. “She’s too good for the likes of you.”

“I’ll make sure we have it in the fridge, Matt,” Rose said with a sigh.

“Hmmm…that sounds to me like you’re taking up my invitation,” Ryan watched her spin, her mouth opening and closing with a snap. “I can’t wait to explore a grocery with you, Rose.”

“You? In a grocery store?” Matt quickly turned his laugh into a cough.

“I need air…” Rose said and moved past them to the open patio doors, holding onto the edges and inhaling deeply.

“How about a look at our home office?” Ryan glanced at Matt, who nodded and went to see the moving people.

“Our office?”

“I noticed you have a computer desk and setup, Rose. It’s easily big enough to share,” he told her, taking her palm and guiding her along a wide hall to the east side of the house.

“Phoebe?” Rose frowned and stepped forward. “What are you doing here?”

“Wiring and setting up a home office,” the petite dark haired woman sat back on her heels and smiled at her friend. “How’s the new computer working for you?”

“Breezing through the game, thanks,” Rose moved and sunk onto the floor, her head in her palms as her elbows rested on her knees. “What kind of setup here?”

“Three hung monitors…you know Tommy…my muscle and assistant,” she nodded to the nineteen year old attaching the mounts to the walls. “You’ll have top notch wireless and cable throughout. Top of the line system, too, with a killer mainframe for routing.”

Rose was about to answer when Hayworth came around the corner and Ryan’s cell sounded loudly.

“They need to know where you want stuff, Ryan.”

Ryan looked down at his cell and swore softly, his palm out to pull Rose to her feet. “Please…would you deal with the furniture? Master bedroom is above the kitchen. Nice loft and sitting room. Just put the stuff where you want it. Please. I have to…”

“It’s okay, Ryan, I’ll handle it,” Rose waved at Phoebe and took off at a light trot to the front of the house.

She watched Hayworth split off from her, directing the moving people with things that went into the apartment above the garage, evidently, she mused, his quarters. She listened to the little voice asking if she knew what she was getting herself into.

 

Rose drew in a long, steadying breath and went to work organizing and directing. Boxes were easy. And the master bedroom and bath….unbelievable, she thought, standing before the huge walk in closet and watching them stack boxes as another couple men were assembling the king sized sleigh bed where she wanted it placed. She went below and leaned into one of the breakfast stools. He was making certain she put her mark on the house, she realized, smiling at the men and directing them. The house would still look empty, she realized, moving to the patio doors and listening as the large truck drove away an hour and a half later. She listened to men talking, the hammering and sawing stopping as the work day came to a close a little before five.

She walked through the whole house. Several times, as she kept getting turned around. The living area had a gorgeous stone floor, vaulted ceilings and a very nice fireplace. It was done in colors of deep red and crème with one wall nothing but windows facing the Sound. There were three living areas, she realized, the stone flooring changing only in color to suit each new room.

There were four bedrooms, two with little sitting areas and private baths. There was the office and another room where she saw his weights and resistance machine being set up by the movers before they left. The diningroom had a nice wooden table that could easily seat ten people, she thought, counting the chairs. She remembered him talking about entertaining over holidays.

Rose walked outside, gathering her sweater closed as the winds of evening picked up. She stood on the large stone patio and just stared at the changing colors in the sky off in the west. Ryan found her standing there shortly before six and led her back into the warmth of the house, neither of them speaking. He’d turned the fireplace on and sat back on the sofa, pulling her easily onto his lap. She didn’t say anything, just sighed and laid her head on his shoulder.

“Ready for some dinner? I think we missed lunch,” Ryan commented, his hand stroking gently over her head.

“Back to the hotel?” Rose pushed herself to the sofa, digging into her pocket for her keys.

“For tonight. I want to pack up and move things out here tomorrow and check out of the hotel,” he said quietly, her silence worrying him.

“I met Susan…” She said without looking at him. “She’s nice. I like her…”

“Matt and Susan have worked for me a little over six years now.”

“A housekeeper…” She said, a trace of disbelief in her voice. “I…umm…told her I’d go shopping tomorrow. Food and stuff…since she has lots to do to get their apartment together.”

“Rose…”

“I like shopping…not crazy about hauling things inside…”

“I think we’ll manage,” he promised with a little smile, standing up and tugging her after him. “Let’s go to the hotel. How about dinner at the pool?”

“Dinner…at the pool?” She looked at him as they left the house, watching him set the alarm. Lights filled the large apartment above the garage so she knew the property wouldn’t be empty tonight.

“I’ll arrange it, Rose,” he said with a chuckle. “You find your suit and mine, while I change and make the arrangements. Then we’re going to have dinner and relax this evening. Just you and me.”

“It’s been a mostly relaxing week, Ryan,” she said as she drove. “Except for your business things, I suppose. You looked a little steamy when that last call came through.”

“Oh, believe me, my sweet Rose…steamy doesn’t begin to cover it,” he said simply, lifting her pack from behind him after he stepped out of the vehicle, waiting for her to come around the car.

A smile tilted his lips when she took his hand this time, leading him to the underground. He answered her questions as they walked, amazed at how easy it was to talk to her about the frustrations and perplexities of relocating the business and its employees. It was another of those funny little buzzing sensations deep inside him, he thought as he changed into trunks and pulled his sweats over top. He waited at the patio doors, watching the sun sink below the mountains when he heard Rose behind him, the hotel robe over her suit. He watched her flip up the room key card and nodded, walking with her into the hall.

Rose sighed and leaned back in the comfortable chair. How he managed to have the hotel pull together a private dinner for two at the pool was incredible on its own, but he seemed to zero right in on the kind of food she was hungry for. She lifted another of the grilled shrimp and bit down thoughtfully.

“You’re spoiling me,” she said after a long slice of silence. There was no one using the amenities tonight. The table had candles and even a folding privacy shield surrounding them in the lush pool area.

“I enjoy it,” Ryan told her honestly, matching her relaxed lean, his feet crossing at the ankles. She’d shrugged the robe off in the humid warmth of the area and blinked at him oddly when he asked if it would bother her if he shed the sweatshirt.

“It hardly seems fair…”

“Really? The little lapel pin on my suit this morning?” He laughed when she blushed. “You don’t think handling the movers is spoiling me? Making me coffee and a bagel in the morning before you dash out to work? I think we’re managing to establish our own forms of spoiling, Rose. I talk to you about work and your perspective, your…unusual…viewpoints and ideas…and all in five very packed days.”

Rose left the robe on the chair and moved to stand behind him, her fingers massaging along his shoulders. She pulled the leather strand holding his hand in place free and dropped it to his lap.

“You’re not unfamiliar with housekeepers, Rose,” he commented after a few seconds, letting his head rest against her, his eyes closed.

“No…no, I’m not. Grandmother always had a housekeeper and cook where ever we moved. But I also learned to do all that by myself, and enjoy it.”

“It’s not much different now then,” he said quietly.

“I like grocery shopping. I love mixing about in the kitchen on weekends.”

“Why do you believe that has to change?” He tugged on her hand, pulling her to the side before standing up and removing his sweats. He led her to the hot tub a few feet away, both of them sinking into the hot water with long sighs.

“I don’t know…I think my brain’s a little fuzzy…”

“Hmm…” He moved across the hot tub, his body framing hers against the side. “Are you afraid to try, Rose?”

“Daphne told me you talked to her…running and talking…” She offered a little smile, not protesting at all when he shifted and pulled her to sit astride him. “She told you about Tony…in Boston…”

“She did.”

“He called me this morning,” she said quietly. “Left a message, actually. I…I didn’t pick up. I’m not sure who told him where I was…or why anyone would…seven years ago…I felt really stupid when I found out he was dating me because of who my family was,” Rose didn’t resist when she felt his hands on her cheeks, tipping her face up until their eyes met.

“He doesn’t have anything to do with us and give me his full name, I’ll make bloody certain he doesn’t contact you again, Rose,” Ryan promised fiercely, already making plans to find the mans name on his own and deal with him.

“Daphne told me the same thing,” she took his hands and just held them. “He lost everything because of what he did…he was very angry. I don’t want him bothering you, Ryan.”

“Me? Rose…your brain seriously is fuzzy, my sweet…” He laughed and pulled her closer. “Move in with me, Rose…tomorrow. Matt and I can move your things to the house. You can go grocery shopping while it’s happening.”

“You aren’t slowing…”

“I don’t want to miss a minute,” Ryan answered after a lengthy silence. “I like our time together. I like the convenience living together. I’ve never wanted that with another woman before. Believe me when I saw I’m stepping far outside my customary behaviors.”

“But you’re doing it anyway.”

“I’m not afraid to try,” he admitted, allowing her the freedom when she moved away and climbed from the bubbling water to reach for a towel.

Rose offered him the other towel as he stepped from the tub, not protesting when he took her palm.

“You’re confident…but I think that’s another word for arrogant,” she mumbled testily as they walked back to the suite, fingers twined and swinging between them like teenagers.

“Confident has a much nicer ring to it,” he returned with a cheeky grin.

“We argue,” she returned, hanging her swimsuit over the shower door and shrugging into her nightshirt, sprawling over the bed and staring out the window into the darkness.

“We discuss and disagree, that’s not the same as arguing,” he countered, pulling pajama pants up his legs and slipping beneath the blankets behind her. His palm went around the narrow waist, pulling her back against him. His face went to the space between her neck and shoulder, a tender bite making her squirm.

“You know what worries me, Ryan? I like the idea of living with you,” she said honestly, unaware of the man holding his breath behind her or the thoughtfully pursed bow of her lips as she puzzled it through. “I’m not sure that came out right.”

“Want to try again?” But he was smiling when she rolled to her back and slanted a glance at him.

“Probably not,” she sighed, continued the roll and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him in close for her kiss. “Let’s do the make up sex first and think about arguing later…tomorrow…” she breathed against his mouth, shivering as his hand found its way beneath her night shirt. “I told you sleep things were a waste of energy…”