Chapter Fifteen

 

Ryan’s heart skipped a beat when he came out and found her lying on the bench. In addition to the green grass stains and mud, she’d lost color and was paler than he’d ever seen on her. He would have carried her but she woke and pushed his hands away.

“No…don’t make me look puny…I’m okay,” she said firmly, standing up and walking toward the stairs and the outside. She inhaled deeply, willing the damp oxygen to keep her upright at least until she made it to the car.

“Of course not,” he allowed, holding her close at the waist, supporting her weight a little more with each step.

“I can’t drive, Ryan,” she heard a hint of dismay in her own voice and sighed.

“I think I can manage to get us home, Rose,” he lifted the keys he knew dangled off her pack and leaned her against the fender while unlocking the passenger door. It wasn’t until she was strapped in with her head back that he breathed again.

He didn’t speak as he drove. He wanted her quiet and relaxed enough to sleep off the headache from the strike against the tree. White knuckles curled around the steering wheel, slightly bruised but well worth it. It’d been a very, very long time since he’d experienced that kind of anger, that kind of molten fury. The gates parted for him, his hand working his phone at the same time, sending a quick message to Matt, who would then alert Susan. By the time he was lifting her from the car, the front door was wide and both of them waiting patiently.

Ryan shook his head after handing over his bag to Susan who carried it into the house while he carried Rose to their bedroom. He pulled her boots free and covered her lightly before going below for a few minutes.

“What happened?” Susan demanded, watching him dig in the fridge and surface with one of the canned drinks Rose drank in the mornings.

“Every two hours. Wake her. Make her drink some of this and in four hours, give her some pain medicine. I’m sure we’ve something in the bathroom upstairs,” Ryan slammed the chocolate drink to the counter, his fingers tight and eyes closed for a minute. “A friend of hers has been troubled by a stalker who escalated in his attention. He escaped and made another attempt today. Daphne and Rose were together outside when he grabbed Rose with a knife to her throat. Rose managed to disarm him and the women ran in opposite directions. Daphne is a runner. Rose, is not. He followed Rose. She fell, kicked, was released and struck a tree.”

“And this?” She gestured to the traces of blood on his knuckles.

“I caught up with him before security arrived,” he said coldly. “I can’t avoid this morning, but I’ll be back by one, Susan. I’m going to change,” he went back upstairs, checked on Rose and went into the closet, taking his gym bag and suit carrier with him.

Susan had a small ice pack ready for him when he came downstairs, a cup of coffee to go sitting next to it. She had another one prepared to take to Rose along with the canned protein drink.

“She likes pedicures. I’ll find someone to come to the house…” Ryan stopped when Susan clapped her palm lightly on the counter. A dark brow arched patiently.

“She’s not one of your companies, Ryan. It’s sweet but she doesn’t need a CEO or manager,” Susan told him firmly. “With the exception of people butting into her life, Rose enjoys managing her own life. You don’t want to cage her, for all your good intent.”

For an instant she saw something unfamiliar to her flair to life in his eyes. They’d known each other for just under seven years. She knew where the line was between employer, friend and employee. Rose was a new addition to all of those.

“She only wants you, Ryan,” she added softly.

“It’s bloody…” he closed his eyes and tipped his head back for a long, silent minute. “It’s difficult to not care…to not want to…”

“I know. Get her a gift card to a day spa and a sweet little card. She’s capable of managing herself. And I think it’s called love,” Susan said with a crooked grin when he looked at her, brought a hand up to touch her face and kissed her cheek.

“You’re too good for the likes of him,” he told her with a wink and a nod toward the patiently waiting Matt.

“That’s the same thing he says about Rose and you,” Susan laughed. “I’ll watch out for her, Ryan.”

“Damn…that fool from Boston,” he grabbed up his briefcase and checked his watch. “Keep the gates locked and the alarms set. He’s left Boston and is here somewhere. Harry is trying to find him now. I’ll call, Susan.”

 

“Go. I’ll handle things,” she promised, kissing Matt and walking with them to the front door, making certain the alarms were engaged before getting the ice pack and chocolate drink from the kitchen.

Susan found Rose sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at her hands. She dropped the ice pack on the nightstand with the drink and went to her side, slipping her arm beneath hers.

“Let me help…” Susan helped her into the bathroom and out of the mud and grass stained clothing.

“I’m a mess…” Rose said quietly, gratefully sitting on the vanity bench and draping her hands beneath the warming water of the sink. She accepted the nail brush and bottle of soap, scrubbing carefully. “Well…nothing’s broken…” She said, flexing her fingers and letting her hands soak in the basin. She looked into the mirror and winced. “That’s gonna be less than attractive…”

“I brought you a set of pajamas. I think with the rain outside and what you’ve been through, a nice quiet day at home is just what you need,” Susan set a satin set in emerald green on the counter. She almost laughed at the puzzled expression on the younger woman’s face.

“Those are mine?”

“Hmm…found them in your drawer,” she held up the delicate tank top and capri length pants.

“Huh…go figure…maybe they came with the house,” Rose just shook her head. “It’s probably a dig at my nightshirt…”

“There’s another set in there in brilliant red and a gorgeous copper set,” Susan remarked with a chuckle. “I think he shops when he’s in between meetings. He likes exploring the small shops around where his temporary office is.”

Rose lifted her hands from the basin, glad all the mud and grass were gone and her hands looked normal again. She dried her hands and touched the silken fabric, quickly slipping the tank top over her head and letting it caress her.

“It will definitely look better when the bruise is gone…” She sighed, meeting Susan’s eyes in the mirror. “Is Ryan alright? Seriously…he was…livid…”

“I think he still is…but he hides it well,” Susan took the dirty clothes and waited in the bedroom for Rose to come out. “I brought you an ice pack and one of those drinks you like. If you’re hungry, I can make something for you.”

“I tried telling him I’m alright…”

“Rose…you’re not alright,” she held up a hand when Rose opened her mouth to protest. “And when that bruise finishes developing, he’s not going to be less than livid for a week. You’ve got a bump on your head and you have a headache. There’s nothing wrong with accepting that. Let him pamper you a bit…it’ll calm him down.”

Rose sat on the edge of the bed, the cold can of chocolate half empty and held between both hands. “I was scared, Susan…scared for Daphne…he…we didn’t see him come up behind us,” her voice dropped and shook a little. “He’s already caused her so much grief…shot her in the side…how do you stop behavior like that? How do you make them just…just leave you alone?”

“You survive,” she answered quietly.

“So many unknowns…” She accepted the pills Susan brought from the bathroom, taking them with the rest of the drink. She didn’t protest when Susan took the empty can. She scooted to the center of the bed, her face peering out the rain drenched huge windows. “I’ll just lay here awhile…my head hurts…” She lay the ice pack on the side of her head, eyes closed and a long sigh breaking free.

“I’ll be below if you need anything.” But she was positive Rose was already drifting off.

Susan answered the phone two hours later, the readout making her smile.

“Hello, Ryan. Rose is sleeping. I helped her clean her hands and got her to drink a whole can of that protein stuff and gave her some pills. One thing you’d best be prepared for…did that…person…hold her around the throat?”

“Yes. His arm…” Ryan recalled their position, his tone colder. “She’s bruised.”

“Very. But she wanted to make sure I told you she’s alright,” Susan said, a little humor in her voice. She heard the soft curse from his lips. “Oh, and she wanted to know if the new pajamas came with the house.” That, she thought, brought a little laugh from him before he signed off and went back to his meetings.

Ryan and Matt entered the house shortly before one. Alert, blue eyes scanned the huge open space before walking to the archway leading to the main living area. When he found it empty, he went to the kitchen.

“She’s in the office,” Susan told him without waiting for a question. “She was on the computer but it didn’t last long. I’m not sure the headache is all the way gone. I made some soup for lunch…but she wasn’t hungry.”

“I’ll get her to eat, thank you for staying,” Ryan said confidently.

“If you need anything, call us, Ryan.”

 

“Go take your weekend. I’ll see you Monday,” he answered firmly, carrying the briefcase to the office and setting it on his desk. He moved to the large cushioned leather sofa, dropping to his heels at her head. His fingers shook slightly when he saw the brutal black and blue coloring around her delicate throat. He brushed the hair from her forehead and met the slowly opening amber eyes.

“You’re home…did your meetings go well?” Rose asked, blinking and working to come back from sleep.

“Productive and over. I now have all the property I was going after and we begin the clean up on Monday,” Ryan ran a very light finger over her jaw.

“Good. I’ve driven past the property,” she saw surprise in his eyes. “It’s a big job…the clean-up…” She lifted a palm and took his hand. “I’m okay…a little purple…but okay…”

“Headache?” He laughed when she tried to look distracted. “Not quite gone.”

“You might kiss it…”

“I might…you believe a kiss has healing properties?”

“Don’t you?” She teased, sitting up slowly without wincing.

“Hmm…how about you come to the bedroom with me while I change out of this suit…and we can test your theory…” Ryan stood, his palm wrapped around hers as they walked through the house and up the slightly curved, wide staircase.

They missed lunch and while his suit was hanging up, he never got as far as jeans and a shirt. He lay on the large bed on his back, waiting for his heart beat to return to normal. Rose lay with her head on his chest, eyes closed and a light blanket over them both. His palm stroked softly along her arm, her lips brushing his chest with her sigh.

“You know…” She began dreamily. “I could very easily spend a week…just with you…” She leaned up on her elbows, dragging her tongue along his throat, satisfied when his breath caught. “You’re sweet and sexy and smart…” she shivered when she felt his palm gliding down the center of her back to her behind. “And very talented,” she added, her voice husky and low.

“You’re making my ego swell, darling Rose,” Ryan chuckled until he felt her palm sliding over his stomach. One slim finger drew a line along his thigh and onto his growing erection.

“Hmm…so that’s the location of your ego…I’d wondered…” She teased, laughing happily when he tumbled her to her back. Her palm was settled and making a gentle stroke along his cock when the unfamiliar voice echoed through the house.

“Rose Elizabeth!” Bellowed the loud voice through the intercom.

“Oh-my-god!” Rose pulled her hand away like it was on fire, her body bolting upright and hands going to try and cover her breasts.

“I know you’re in there. I am not leaving until I’ve talked to you,” the deep voice informed the occupants.

“Rose?”

“It’s my father! Oh, god…where’s my clothes!” She squealed, bouncing to her knees and looking around frantically. She looked at him like he was insane when he tossed the emerald green tank top toward her. “I can’t wear that to see my father! Are you insane?” She hissed furiously, tossing the emerald green satin at him ineffectually.