Before she could start on the books, she would need to clean this up. Walking behind the large oak desk, she saw that there was a door to an outside deck. Surprised, she slid open the doorway and stepped out into the light as the sun set over the city. The greenery must be maintained by the building because she was pretty sure that the owner hadn’t bothered to leave the condo to enjoy the view in years.
“What a shame,” she breathed, wrapping her arms around herself as the breeze chilled her. There was a large grassy patch nearby that was surrounded by hedges to give the sense of privacy. A wooden bench sat untouched nearby and she realized what a waste it was to be able to afford something so beautiful and to throw it all away. He worked late and she was willing to bet that he never sat out here looking at the stars. He would probably say that was foolish or stupid, where she thought it would be simply so romantic to cuddle with the one you love and look up at the heavens. Another cool breeze had her heading back inside to get down to work.
A few hours later, her cellphone alarm went off causing her to jump. She was halfway through sorting the books and all of the wood in the office was immaculate. Double checking the back door to make sure that she’d locked it, she quickly tried to straighten up the mess that still remained. After a few minutes, the snooze on her phone went off again, making her yelp. She needed to go. Her heartbeat was thumping loudly, reminding her that the seconds were ticking away.
Grabbing a sheet of paper off the desk, she quickly wrote a note apologizing that she wasn’t able to finish the room but would be happy to do so if he would like to schedule another cleaning. She re-read the note several times to make sure it was completely businesslike and proper before signing it.
Seeing the pink bag again on the dining room table, Rose ran back into the office and scribbled a few more words before leaving the note near the gift bag instead of on the desk. As she headed out to the front door, she prayed that they didn’t cross paths in the elevator. It was 7:40pm and cutting it too close for comfort. Flying out of the building and racing to her car, she got inside and took several breaths to calm down her nervousness. She hadn’t seen him and everything went okay tonight.
Thank God.
6
Jarrett felt uncannily light knowing that Rose had come back to pick up her things and finish cleaning his home. It made him feel like he had a place to relax, a place that actually felt like a home. The idea of her being there simply made him feel a sensation he didn’t want to acknowledge – other than he felt compelled to make her smile and grow to like him.
The gift Mindy picked out seemed so perfect to him. Instead of getting her books, his receptionist had grabbed a Kindle instead. Personally, he liked the feeling of paper in his hands when he read. He wasn’t crazy about the idea of a Kindle but Mindy swore up & down that she adored her own, and that it was filled with hundreds and hundreds of books. She also got a Godiva chocolate bar and a gift card for Rose to be able to start her eBook collection. Shrugging, it seemed like a good idea for a woman who liked to read, and he assumed she did because of the care she’d taken with his own books.
Unlocking his front door, he walked inside and called out just to make sure that she wasn’t still there. He didn’t want a repeat of what had happened the previous evening. Kicking off his shoes, he left them by the front door and leaned over to see the pink gift bag was still there.
“You gotta be kidding me…” he muttered, walking over and peeking inside. Nothing had been moved or disturbed. The security guard had brought it up, just like Mindy had told him but Rose didn’t take the gift. Seeing a piece of paper folded in half and slid underneath the corner of the bag, he quickly grabbed it and unfolded it.
Mr. Ariet, I am so very sorry I was not able to finish organizing everything in your office. I tried, but you have quite the collection! If you would like to contact the office, I would be available to finish the job during another visit.
Sincerely,
Rose
P.S. I wasn’t sure if this was for me and honestly not sure if I should accept it.
Balling up the handwritten note in frustration, he ran his fingers through his hair in irritation. Of course, she should accept it, he’d bought it for her! She hadn’t even bothered to open it- the Kindle was still gift wrapped inside of the bag.
Pacing the floor, his mind was racing with a way to reach her. He knew that it was odd to be so utterly attracted simply by looks and that they didn’t last, but there was something in the way she held herself that called to him, making him want more. The siren’s call was off-kilter because of their first meeting, and everything inside of him was desperate to correct it… to see what could truly be!
Perhaps it was time to make a call to her boss in order to discuss their advertising and set up another appointment. In the meantime, he would need to be a bit more clever to get her attention. He would never have a chance to talk to her if she insisted on being away while he was home. Looking in the office, he saw where she’d been working and could practically picture her in his mind. Oh yes, he was completely infatuated with the young woman. Grabbing his cell phone, he called Melanie.
Rose was sitting on the couch with her mother watching the television together, sharing a bowl of popcorn, when the text message arrived. Pulling her phone out of her pocket, she saw that Melanie had texted her to inform her she had been requested again to finish the job at Jarrett Ariet’s home. Tomorrow was Friday and she was supposed to see Mrs. Baker.
You want me to go to the Baker’s and Ariet’s home?
No, I can reassign Baker.
No- she’s my favorite client. I will do both. I can use the money.
Okay. Ariet said you are welcome at any time. If he is home, he will stay in another room so you can finish the office.
Her heart pounded reading that line. He might be there? She didn’t want to see him. There was something about the man that made her feel things she wasn’t comfortable with. He made her nervous and gave her butterflies – but most of all, she didn’t like his temper or what she’d seen of him. She texted Melanie back quickly.
Reassign Ariet.
No.
I don’t want to see him.
He’ll be in another room. If there is a problem again- I’ll reassign him.
Thank you.
“Is everything alright, honey?” her mother asked, laying her hand on Rose’s arm. Glancing up, Rose tried to smile and knew that she was failing miserably. Her mother seemed to always know when something was wrong.
“What’s wrong?”
“Mom, have you ever met someone that you wanted to avoid at all costs because it just felt weird?”
“What do you mean?”
“One of my clients completely lost his wits when he showed up and I was still there. He had a rational explanation, but I still didn’t like the side of him that I saw first-hand. Now he keeps requesting me specifically and I think he even tried to leave me a gift today.”
“He did? That seems overly nice and a bit odd. Isn’t it?”
“Yeah, I think so. I didn’t open it or take it with me.”
“I see.” Her mother sat there scrutinizing her with an upraised eyebrow. She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at Rose. Under her mother’s watchful gaze, she felt almost like someone was peeling back the layers trying to figure out her deepest, darkest secrets. It made her uncomfortable.
“What?”
“Do you think he is trying to apologize or do you think he’s an odd-duck? Are you in danger from him? If so, you can just quit that job right now, young lady.”
“I don’t think I’m in danger, Mama. He’s been gone each time I went there but he is going to be there tomorrow.”
“Why don’t you want to go?”
“I don’t want to see him.”
“Because…?” her mother drawled out knowingly. Rose glanced up and saw that satisfied smirk on her mother’s face, making her see red.
“Mom! Stop looking at me like that
! It’s because he’s simply gorgeous and it scares me, okay! I don’t know what you want me to say,” Rose snapped angrily.
“He’s so macho, a know-it-all… and he’s arrogant. His eyes were so dark and stormy – I can’t get them out of my mind. Is that what you want to hear? That I think he’s attractive?”
“Rose,” her mother said gently, taking her hand in her own. “Women sometimes are attracted to men that are their converse opposites. They turn your world upside down. What is up, is actually down – left is right. You are everything sweet, good, and loving in this world… he would be a fool to let someone so wonderful slip through his fingers. Maybe he knows it too- and is trying to apologize or speak with you?”
“What if I am not sure I want to speak with him?”
“Don’t you owe it to yourself to find out for sure?”
“I guess so,” Rose muttered under her breath, annoyed that her mother could so easily analyze what she’d not be able to herself. Yeah, she was afraid to be attracted to the man or disappointed in who he was: a pretty package with a sour, rotten core.
“And if he is some weirdo,” her mother shrugged. “Mace him and run.”
“Mom!”
“What? I want my girl safe… safe and happy- but you will never know unless you settle your mind from any questions you might have.”
They sat there for several moments as Rose ran her mother’s words through her mind. She was a grown woman that was going to do a job. Not some naïve child or ignorant person. She could run, she could actually mace him… or she could say hello and start a conversation.
“When did you get so smart?”
“The moment I had you.”
“Love you, mama.”
“Love you too, sweetheart.”
7
He was home.
Rose had pulled into the garage and parked her car, but when she walked into the building- the man at the security desk shook his head. Mr. Ariet hadn’t left a key this time because he was at home. Her heart thumped nervously as she rode up to the floor and walked right up to his door, simply to stand there. She stood there for several minutes, unsure if she should knock or turn around and go back home. Eventually she knocked and almost turned to run when she heard his voice announcing that he would be just a moment. Instead, she stood there with her knees locked, unable to move.
The door opened and she saw him truly for the first time. The other night it had been dim in the shadows of the room and she’d run, completely frightened of how he was behaving. She’d never seen her father yell at anyone unless he was truly angry or beyond petrified- lashing out in fear.
“Hello Miss Bellavance,” he said quietly. “Please come in.”
“I can’t.”
“You can’t?” he parroted in confusion, his dark eyebrow raising up in question just like her mother’s did.
“No. I don’t think I can. I’m sorry.”
“Is it me?”
“No, this time it’s me,” she admitted.
“What’s wrong?”
“My knees are knocking and I feel like a bloomin’ idiot,” she blurted out and slapped a hand over her mouth to shut down her blabbering. Her eyes felt like they were going to pop right out of her head due to the incessant pressure of her voice dying to escape. He was absolutely and utterly gorgeous… and that smile! He was grinning at her as he opened the door a bit wider.
“Let’s make room for you to come in, knocking knees and all,” he chuckled as he held out his arm. “I’m glad you are here.”
“You are?”
“Yes.”
“I shouldn’t be here,” she muttered. “This is a mistake and I… I… mercy! Is it warm in here? How’d I get inside?”
“You walked inside.”
“I need to walk outside.”
“Then let me show you the city,” he offered politely, holding out his hand. It felt like some alien had taken over Rose’s body because she saw herself put her hand in his and felt a surge of warmth when their skin touched. It must have been the same for him because his dark brown eyes suddenly met hers and she couldn’t breathe.
“Need. Air.”
“Breathe, Rose. Everything is okay. I promise- no yelling. I am so sorry that I scared you. I was frightened because I wasn’t expecting you and didn’t want to hurt a small slip of a woman.”
Rose found herself being guided numbly through the office she loved and out the back door onto the upper deck of the building. A gust could have blown her right off the roof, she felt so light headed.
“Are you feeling better?”
Nodding, she tried to ignore the fact that he was circling her knuckles with his thumb, her hand still in his. It was driving her nuts and making her pulse thump wildly. She had to think and couldn’t do it when he was trying to be charming. Why couldn’t he be the irrational jerk from the other day… on second thought, was that any better?
“I’d better get started,” she started and pulled her hand from his. Jarrett immediately shoved his hands in his pockets and looked off into the horizon. “Do you come out here often? It’s beautiful.”
“I haven’t been out here in quite some time. I think I’ve missed a lot of things over the last few years. I’ve been working myself to the bone trying to stay on top of things in the industry.”
“I know Melanie was really excited at the idea of working with your company.”
“Most people are,” he agreed and smiled. “I don’t mean to sound like I’m arrogant, it’s just we have a really good track record of success and I have a great team working with me.”
“You should smile more often,” Rose blurted out and closed her eyes, groaning aloud at her runaway mouth. “I’m really botching this badly. I’ll go start on the office.”
“I’d like to see you smile too,” he admitted in a deep voice that made her shiver. She felt him take her hand and opened her eyes just to see him standing directly in front of her.
“What are you doing?”
“Saying hello properly, Rose.”
“Oh,” she whispered, just moments before his dark head leaned down towards hers. Just before his lips touched hers, she came to her senses and stepped backwards several times, bumping into a hedge. She was on the roof and needed to get inside, away from him.
“You hired me to clean and I’m going to work on the office. So, yeah. Hello, Mr. Ariet.”
“Please call me Jarrett.”
Rose ran into the building and considered locking the door behind her but that wouldn’t do anything but irritate the man… the good-looking man who seemed to be interested in her.
But why her?
She was a nobody.
He had this big fancy condo and owned his own business… she was living from check to check. He looked like he could be a men’s underwear model and she was, well… she was normal.
Nothing too outrageous or exceptional, other than the fact that she had naturally blonde hair and blue eyes. Big ol’ whoop-ti-do. Lots of people had blonde hair and blue eyes. She was a hard worker, but he wouldn’t know or realize that. She tried to take care of people like her mother or friends, but he wouldn’t know that either. There was nothing that made her stand out other than she was a wonderful librarian and awesome maid.
Neither one made her exceptional.
Hearing the door open from the patio area, Rose froze as she was putting a book on the shelf. Her hand was perched mid-air, unmoving. The fight-or-flight feelings were strong in her and she was waiting for his next move. Instead, he walked into the other room and stood there just out of sight.
“Would you like some hot tea or coffee?” he offered politely. Rose knew he was trying to be nice to her and it would be rude to turn down the informal gesture. A little politeness never killed anyone.
“Yes please. Either is fine with me.”
“Great. I will make us two cups.”
“I’ll keep working then. Thank you.”
She heard him in the kitchen moving ar
ound and cursing softly only moments before she heard footsteps headed back her direction. Once again, he stood outside of the office door.
“Would you like a beer or protein drink instead?”
“Really?” she gaped and heard him sigh heavily.
“I can’t find my coffeemaker, nor do I have any grounds or teabags. Honestly, I have beer and meal replacement drinks.”
“You’re kidding? Why are you standing out there to talk to me?”
“Because I make you nervous and I want to get to know you,” he answered honestly, his dark eyes peeking around the bookshelf door. Rose giggled as she looked over and saw him spying on her.
“You don’t have anything at all?”
“I make a mean glass of water.”
“Come on,” she said with a nervous smile. “There has to be something.”
Ten minutes later, Rose shook her head in disbelief. He was right. There was quite literally nothing there. She’d never opened the fridge before when she was cleaning and had no idea that someone could exist on the cardboard cartons he had lined up in the refrigerator door. The cabinets were completely bare and the pantry had a box of Lucky Charms that expired three years ago. She didn’t even want to look in the cereal box, because she was pretty sure that stuff lasted forever.
“I can have dinner delivered if you’ll join me,” he offered with a shy smile as he looked down at her. A perfectly gorgeous man living in an imperfect home. He was a slob and obviously didn’t take care of himself – but wanted to order dinner for her.
“I promise I will have coffee next time you are here,” he offered and crossed his fingers, holding them up. “Dinner?”
“Fine, but you’ve got to let me finish putting up the books or I will never finish the job.”
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