He made a face, and she laughed.
“I’ll head out. Just give me a sec to, you know, get my clothes back on.”
But he didn’t let her move. He kept his arms around her and rested his cheek on top of her head, looping a finger around the loose waves of her hair. Hair that was probably all messed up now—but somehow, she couldn’t quite care. “Don’t go,” he said.
“I don’t want to,” she admitted and then paused. “But I didn’t bring anything to stay.” She spoke cautiously, not sure how long he was talking about. For a few more minutes? Hours? For the night? And what about his dad?
“That’s okay,” he said. “I’ll let you go eventually. Just—stay with me a little more tonight.”
A little more. She could live with that. It wasn’t like they were talking about forever. But it was nice to know they were past a time of running out as soon as they’d come. A time of pretending this wasn’t anything more than an unexpected spark bound to burn itself out.
She slid onto her feet and stood between his body and the desk. Slowly, she zipped up his jeans. It was almost as satisfying as when she undressed him, sliding up his zipper, pulling his button into place. Knowing that when they went upstairs, when they went into the world, this was the armor they wore for everyone else.
But underneath, where their real selves lay hidden, were the people that only they saw. The things that only they did together.
She rose onto her tiptoes and kissed him. “I’m not going anywhere until you kick me out.”
It sounded innocent enough. Teasing. Joking. But underneath, she found that she was serious. And hoping that moment wasn’t going to come for a good long time.
Chapter Eighteen
Owen sat on the roof of his building, leaning against the side of the low wall that ran around the edge. In between his outstretched legs, Rose lay back and rested her head on his chest. It was his favorite place to be at night when the air was cool, and the lights of the city seemed to stretch on forever. He’d been sneaking up here since he was kid. He’d never realized until now how much better it was when there was someone else.
“I can’t believe you can come up here whenever you want,” Rose said, gazing out at the view. “It’s perfect.”
He wrapped his arms tighter around her, letting his fingers play with her hair. Rose was right, the view was nice. But what made it perfect wasn’t the buildings or the lights or the darkness all around him. It was the woman he was sharing it with.
“I’m glad you came over today,” he said.
“Me, too.”
“I missed you after our texts.”
“It was the worst timing for a meeting,” she said. “Or maybe it’s just that you’re the worst for getting me all riled up like that. I thought I was going to die in Jason’s office.”
He liked hearing about her getting riled up for him. But even so, his arms involuntarily flinched. “Jason?” he asked, a surge of protectiveness rising up within him.
She put her hand on his forearm, stroking the hairs on his bare skin. The gesture alone made his heart rate stop climbing. “It was just a meeting,” she said.
“I know you have to work with him. I just don’t want him pulling any shit.”
“Actually, it wasn’t even shitty.”
“Oh?”
She shifted against him again.
“You can tell me,” he said.
“It’s a little weird.”
“You’re going to have to use these things called ‘words’ to explain.”
She laughed. “Well…he told me that after my work on the recent ads, I’m first in line from the assistants to be up for promotion.”
“Rose!” He went from lounging back to sitting straight up, hugging his arms tight around her. “Have you been sitting on this news all night?”
“I wanted your dad to like me—not meet me as CUBE’s PR girl.”
“Trust me, he likes you.”
“And I didn’t know if you’d be excited. For the same reason.”
He drew her head back so she was leaning against his shoulder again and kissed the side of her face. He hated realizing she thought that about him—that there were things she couldn’t tell him, things they couldn’t share.
“It’s a promotion,” he said. “That’s usually good news. Of course I’m excited for you. But Rose—are you excited?”
“Honestly?” she asked.
“Always honestly.”
“Yeah,” she said. “I think so? It’d come with a substantial raise, which I could use. And I’d get to do more interesting work. Have more of a say.”
“Even though it’s CUBE?”
“That’s the drawback. But maybe I could develop enough of a resume to look elsewhere. It’d be something to help me eventually get out.”
“Then it’s settled. You have to take it, even if you want to leave.”
“If they give it to me,” Rose said. “It’s not a done deal. One of the senior execs gave me this mini lecture about making sure I was ‘hungry’ for it—that was her word, I’m not even kidding. Like I have to make it clear I don’t have one foot out the door, because they’d rather groom someone else for the role.”
“What are you supposed to do—eat a footlong sub in their office to show how hungry you are?”
She laughed. “That’s what I’ll do on the day I want to get fired. It’s more like—I don’t know. We were wrapping up when she said she must have missed my name on the RSVP list for the company gala. I had to make something up on the spot.”
“Company gala?” That sounded like his idea of hell.
“It’s their big anniversary bash later this month. But can they really not promote me if I don’t show up at an optional event? That’s crazy.”
He let her hair cascade between his fingers. “Why wouldn’t you go?”
“It’s awkward.”
“You see Jason all the time. You just told me it was fine.”
“That’s at work. It’s different. This is a night out, and I’m sure he’ll have some hot, fabulous date with him. Probably the woman he was cheating on me with.”
“You’ll be hot and fabulous. Not even a question.”
“And I hate how they’re running the business,” she said, sidestepping his compliment. “I hate celebrating that.” She turned around in his lap. “Maybe I should quit.”
“What would you do instead?”
“I love how you didn’t tell me not to quit.”
He kissed her temple. “You should do what you want.”
“Tell that to my health insurance premiums, my student loans, my landlord…you know the drill.”
He sighed. “I’m probably not the right guy to ask about this sort of stuff. I just think you should do what makes you happy.”
“I don’t have something that makes me happy—not the way that you do. You have this business, you have commissions, you have work that you love. CUBE isn’t like that for me. But I don’t know what would be better. There’s no calling, some clear-cut thing I’ve always known I wanted to do.”
“You should count yourself lucky,” he said.
“Why?”
“Because then your heart isn’t broken if it doesn’t work out.”
“That’s depressing,” she said.
“The truth sucks sometimes.”
“That’s like saying that it’s better never to fall in love, because then you’ll never get hurt.”
The silence hung heavy for a beat between them.
He swallowed. “There’s a certain truth to that, you know,” he said quietly.
“I should just forget it,” she said, and for a second, he thought she meant forget about falling in love. Maybe even with him.
Until she said, “I should stay home that night. It was bad enough seeing Jason’s g
irlfriend naked. It’s not like I care about them anymore. But that doesn’t mean I want to stand around awkwardly while they show off for everyone.”
“I’ll go with you,” he said immediately.
Maybe it was the word “love.” Maybe it was the thought of Rose showing up alone and insecure. Or, worse, of Rose not showing up at all. He couldn’t stand the thought of her backing away from anything.
She laughed in his face.
“Ouch,” he said.
This time, she turned all the way around in his arms, so she was facing him instead of the skyline. Her eyes scanned his. He wished he could tell what she was searching for. And if she found it when she looked at him.
“Sorry, I thought you were kidding,” she said.
He shrugged.
She raised an eyebrow.
He raised an eyebrow back.
“So—not kidding?” she asked.
“Why would I be kidding?”
“It’s at the Frick,” she said.
“The art museum? Rose, I love art.”
“I know that. Looking at your workshop, of course I know that. I just mean—”
“You don’t want people to think I’m your boyfriend.”
She punched his shoulder playfully. “Don’t say stupid things. I should probably be begging you to come so Jason doesn’t get too gleeful thinking you dumped me.”
He laughed. As if there was any chance of him doing that. “Then it’s because you can’t picture me cavorting with the enemy,” he said.
Now it was her turn to laugh. “Actually, I was going to say I know you’d hate wearing tux.”
“Wait. It’s that kind of event?”
Maybe he should rescind his offer. If there was one thing Owen’s closet did not, never had, and probably never would contain, it was a penguin suit.
On the other hand…this was Rose he was talking about. Rose who needed him. Just being near her changed everything. It certainly changed what he was and wasn’t willing to do.
“It’s a gala,” she reiterated. “Fancy-pantsy.”
“So, you in a ballgown?” He couldn’t stop from grinning.
“It’s just a work event.”
“I repeat: you in a ballgown. I’ll have you know that I can eat canapés with the best of them.”
It wasn’t fair that Jason could do whatever he wanted while Rose quietly stepped back and took herself out of the running. Especially when there were actual consequences to her career.
He pulled her back, so she was lying spooned in his arms like she’d been before. “I’m serious. Let’s go together. Let’s go and have a good time.”
He kissed her cheek. “What do you say?” he asked. “Is it a date? I promise to be on my best behavior and not punch Jason in the nose. No matter how much I want to.”
“You have my permission to give him a small punch,” she said. “If he deserves it.”
He laughed. “I’m going to remember that. But I’m serious, Rose. This is how business works. You have to show up just to be in the running.”
She turned her head and gave him an appraising look. “Since when do you know all about how business works?”
“You spend enough time on the outside looking in, you figure out pretty quickly how the games are played.”
“Wow,” she said.
“And to think you only dig me for my beard and muscles.”
She burst out laughing. A real laugh, light and full, making her whole face glow under the stars. “Then I’ll put you down as my plus one,” she said.
“And the other thing?” he asked. “The promotion?”
“I guess I’d better go into work tomorrow and make sure they know it’s mine.”
It shouldn’t have felt so good to hear it. But somehow, lying on the roof with her, looking out at the lights, he couldn’t help thinking how everything felt right. His job, and Rose’s. His family, and his heart. The warmth inside him that came not just from sex, but from holding her.
Maybe everything really was possible. Under the stars, with Rose in his arms, it felt like all of it—everything—was his.
Chapter Nineteen
Rose counted down the days until the gala with a mix of nerves and anticipation. She couldn’t believe she’d brought it up with Owen. And she really couldn’t believe he’d offered to go with her. Insisted, even. Like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Like they were together and this was what couples did. They went to work events for each other. Supported each other. Didn’t let the other person sit on the sidelines and miss out.
Owen was right. This promotion was an opportunity. And why shouldn’t she go to the gala? Why not celebrate the work she’d done? It may have been Jason’s family’s company, but she worked there, too. She had every right to show she belonged.
And every right to bring her boyfriend with her. The more nights they spent together leading up to the event, the more certain she felt. This was her life. And he was a part of it.
An increasingly big part, too. He started keeping a toothbrush at her apartment. Sharing coffee with her in the mornings. Coming back to her place for dinner almost every night. As long as he called his dad to check in and make sure he’d taken his medication, he felt better about leaving him alone.
But the night of the gala, she kicked him out early, so she’d have time to get ready.
She spent forever trying on everything in her closet and texting pictures to her friends. Finally, with everyone’s approval, she settled on a black number that swooped low and dramatically in the back.
It looked simple at first. But up close, it was dusted with faint sparkles that made her shimmer as she moved. Jason had seen it before, and he’d probably look down on her for not buying something new. But somehow, his voice didn’t pound as loudly in her ears as it used to.
Not when her thoughts were filled with strong hands, the tickle of a soft beard, the smell of fresh wood shavings.
Walking in with Owen was going to be a thrill. But nothing prepared her for when she opened her door to see him in a tuxedo. She was so stunned, all she could do was stand with her mouth hanging open, hoping it wasn’t too obvious that a puddle of drool was collecting on the floor.
“Holy shit,” she finally stammered.
“Did I clean up okay?” he asked, a sly grin stealing across his face.
“I’ll say.” She couldn’t stop looking at him. She just wanted to stand there and drink him in.
She adored Owen in his low-slung jeans, his T-shirt, his comfortable boots. But this—good lord. Her man in a tux was out of this world.
She’d thought he’d be uncomfortable dressing up, but she should have known better. There was no doubt it was still Owen through and through, from his tell-tale grin to the way he wore even the tux jacket like it was something comfortable, perfectly suited to his frame.
“How did you—?”
“You can find anything in New York. Even a rental tux that fits well.”
“I can’t believe you went to all this trouble.”
He reached out and re-pinned an escaped lock of her hair. “Nothing feels like trouble when it comes to you.”
He motioned for her to twirl around for him and whistled when he saw the back of her dress. “On second thought, I don’t know that I can go through with this.”
She turned on him. “What?”
“You’re too beautiful. I don’t know how I can show up with you in public and not have my hands all over you.”
She pressed up to him so he could get his hands on her right then. “Somehow, you’re going to have to manage,” she said with a grin, leaning up to kiss him. Of course, as she pulled away so as not to smear her lipstick, she had to concede that he did have a point.
It was going to be torture not to be all over him, too.
&n
bsp; Good thing it was a torture she knew she was going to enjoy.
“Shall we?” he asked, extending his arm for her to take.
She grabbed her purse, checked her hair in the mirror one last time, and took his arm. “My pleasure,” she said.
“Oh no,” he told her as he walked her downstairs and to the cab that was waiting. “The pleasure tonight is all mine.”
Rose’s heart fluttered as they walked up to the steps of the museum. It was a gorgeous space and CUBE had gone all out. There were flutes of champagne to greet them by the door and fancy appetizers everywhere. Everyone was dressed to the nines. As soon as she saw how nice it was, her body tensed with nerves.
He pressed his hand to her back, the smallest reassurance: I’m here. And just like that, everything was fine.
She swore she could hear the questions zinging around the galleries as soon as they walked in, the focus of everyone’s stares. Who was that guy? Was he Rose’s boyfriend? Did Jason know?
Normally, she would have hated being the subject of so many stares. But she was too happy to care. Owen was eating it up, she could tell. He bent close and whispered in her ear, “Everyone’s noticing how gorgeous you are.”
“Actually,” she whispered back, “I think they’re noticing how gorgeous you are. And wondering what the hell I’m doing here with you.”
“Let them wonder,” he told her. “We both know the answer.”
“Do we?” she asked as she speared a delectable-looking fig and ricotta canapé and popped it in her mouth.
“It’s the sex,” Owen whispered in her ear, his lips so close to her skin that he was just barely holding back from kissing her. “That’s why you let me hang around.”
She giggled, a hand to her mouth as she swallowed, trying not to crack up too loudly amid the stuffy hum of proper conversation.
“Wait until I tell them how hard you make me come,” she whispered back.
Owen’s eyes popped. “Why, Rose Campbell, I’m shocked at you. And to think, you used to be such a nice girl.”
“And then you came along and ruined me.”
“I haven’t heard you complaining.” His hand skimmed down her back, just the barest touch to make her shiver. “You’re always too busy begging for more.”
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