He brought his mouth down to meet hers, demanding what he wanted. She responded immediately. She moaned and threw her arms around his neck. Excitement rushed through her, taking her breath away. She was hungry and the taste of him made her want more.
His fingers tangled in her hair. Her heart pounded wildly. She slid her hand over his warm skin and pressed her lips hard against his, finally giving in to her needs, her desires. She melted against him.
She heard a sound, pulled away and saw Sarah slip behind the doorway. The little stinker had been listening to their whole conversation.
"She'll be all right, Stephen, just continue to love and support her." Rose could barely whisper.
She glanced at the doorway and Sarah peeked around the corner again. Heat burned her face. God, what had she done?
"I'd like to talk to you about this again. You don't know how helpful you've been," Stephen said.
Rose nodded, opened the door, and left. Her heart warmed by a man she barely knew and the prospect of seeing him again. She put her finger to her lips, still warm from his. Her heart danced. Was she falling for him? That kiss did things to her insides that she hadn't experienced in a long time. Too long. Maybe everyone was right. It was time to move on.
* * *
Stephen's heart had leaped at the sight of Rose standing at the door. He had seen the compassion in her eyes when he told her about Sarah and his son. He liked the way her brow furrowed and the way she squenched her eyes, even the way her lips pursed. This woman had a big heart. But he had already figured that out. She understood grief and pain.
He had liked the rise it caused in her when he told her that people called Sarah spoiled. The woman had a temper. She showed a lot of compassion after all. And a bit of fire. At least she finally showed some emotion. Maybe he was breaking through after all. He had noticed her shiver when he touched her arm. He couldn't resist kissing her and her discomfort when she saw Sarah hadn't escaped him. They hadn't done anything wrong. It was just a kiss. Albeit a passionate one. But Sarah had seen kisses like that on television. Nothing wrong with it. Besides, he liked it.
He had made progress. Rose had returned his kiss, wanted it as much as he had. Wanted more. He sensed the desire in her. He didn't know what caused the sudden change in her, but whatever caused it, he was glad. Sarah had been listening, he'd seen her shadow cross the doorway, but he didn't care. There was nothing to hide, and maybe she'd take a new view of Rose.
Finally, Rose showed some spirit. With a little lipstick and maybe if she fixed her hair, she'd be quite a good looking woman. Now, if he could just convince her to go out with him, or maybe come over for dinner. He had a feeling she'd be a big help with Sarah too. He closed the door and went back into the kitchen.
* * *
The snow crunched under Rose's feet. She walked back to her house, humming the tune Stephen had been whistling. Deck the Halls, that was it. Her heart felt light and her mood better than she remembered in a long time. She liked the new feeling. A new her to match the new things in the house. She heaved a sigh. Life was good and getting better. She almost felt like skipping. A giggle escaped her throat. Lord, it felt good to be alive.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Sarah sat in her room and thought about Grandpa. While he held her and talked to her, his gentle voice caused her a moment's regret. She loved Grandpa and didn't want to be bad, but she missed her parents and couldn't understand why they went away. It wasn't Grandpa's fault, but she couldn't help getting into trouble. Besides this time, she did it to help him. She just knew the old lady would come to see him. She knew he liked her, he looked happy when he talked to her, but when they got off the phone he looked sad. She was glad when Mrs. Asbury came over.
Grandpa looked happy while they sat at the table and drank coffee. At least her plan worked. She giggled. Grandpa even kissed Mrs. Asbury. She knew Grandpa liked her. And Grandpa was happy and whistling again. Mrs. Asbury said it was okay if they played in her yard. Maybe now Mrs. Asbury would have dinner with Grandpa like he asked.
If not she'd would have to think of something else. Sarah didn't like when Grandpa was unhappy. He looked so sad sometimes. Worse than her even. She knew he missed Mama and Daddy too. But she missed them more.
If only they'd come home. She talked to them on the phone, and they couldn't even come home for Christmas. Sarah stamped her foot. How could Christmas be happy if Mama and Daddy weren't here? Darn this war! Her friend, Samantha, said her Daddy was in Afghanistan too, but he was coming home for Christmas.
It just wasn't fair. At least Samantha's mother was home. Sarah pushed her books off the desk. Stupid books, stupid homework. Who cared if she did her homework? When Mama and Daddy were home they got all excited when she brought home papers with A's on them. She missed them so much.
She liked Grandpa, but living with him wasn't the same as staying with him for a few days on summer vacation. She wanted her mother and father.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The following day, Rose woke happier than she'd been in years. Today, she was going to turn her life around. She made an appointment at the beauty shop. It had been ages since she got her hair done. She wanted the works, color, cut, styled, and she'd treat herself to a pedicure and manicure too. What that heck, she deserved it. As luck would have it they had a cancellation, and if she could be there in an hour, it was all hers. Rose grabbed it.
The sooner the better.
Her steps were livelier than she remembered in a long time as she walked across the parking lot from the beauty shop. She felt like a new woman. Her new hair style made her look years younger and the pampering hadn't hurt either.
Now for a shopping spree. All of her clothes were pretty outdated. Francis had tried to get her to try some of the new styles when they replaced them, but she had refused. Old lady clothes, that's what she bought. Well, not today. Now she wanted the younger look. After all she wasn't an old lady. Francis was right. Fifty-eight was hardly what you'd call old. Eighty, ninety, now that was getting up there.
What had come over her? Was she trying to impress Stephen? So, what if she was. Nothing wrong with that. The kids were right. It was time to move on. And if he was attracted to her before, she couldn't wait to see his reaction now. Look out world here I come. She laughed aloud as she got into the car. It had been so long since she felt so young and free.
Sarah and her friends still played in Rose's yard, built snowmen, and sang carols at her door, but whenever they saw her, they ran away. Rose found it amusing, since Sarah had heard the conversation between her and Stephen. She supposed Sarah found a thrill in letting her friends think they were doing something wrong. She shrugged. She liked seeing the kids play in the yard. She stood at the window and watched from behind the curtain as Sarah and her friends built another big snowman.
It brought back memories of a simpler time. A time when she and Frank went out in the snow and helped build snowmen or took the kids sledding.
There had always been a group of them. Someone built a fire and some of the parents crowded around it to stay warm, while Frank and most of the fathers took turns going down the hill with the kids. Rose tried once and ended up tipping over and falling off the sled. She rolled the rest of the way down the hill. Her coat and ski pants had gathered so much snow she looked like a snowman by time she reached the bottom.
Even now, she heard the kids singing carols as they drove home. Afterwards everyone came back to their house for hot chocolate. What a happy time.
"It could be happy again, Rose," Emma said. "All you have to do is start spending more time with Stephen."
Rose shrugged her off. She still wasn't sure if she wanted that kind of relationship. She already overstepped her bounds going over there. She wasn't even sure what made her do it. But that kiss. She definitely wanted more.
Stephen called and they talked about Sarah. He invited her to the senior center, but she refused to go.
"It would do you good. You need to go ou
t and be around people." Emma said.
But, as usual, she ignored Emma. Talking with Stephen in her kitchen was one thing. After all she was helping him with Sarah. But was she ready for the next step? She wasn't sure.
"Then why'd you go to all the trouble getting your hair colored and styled?" Emma asked.
"For myself. It makes me feel good." Rose answered.
Emma laughed at her. "You don't believe that any more than I do. Go for it, Rose. Take the next step."
Rose shrugged her off. Not yet.
Later that day, Rose received a call from the police department.
"Mrs. Asbury," Sergeant Pilsner said. "We caught the boys that broke into your house. We aren't sure why they did so much damage to your place, they aren't saying much, but their fingerprints match the ones we took from your house and other places they broke into."
Rose heaved a sigh of relief. "Thank you for calling, Sergeant."
She hung up the phone and stared at it. The phone call brought back memory of the mess and fear. It had taken days before she felt comfortable going to bed at night. Even now she double checked the locks and left a small light on in the kitchen and bathroom. She even left on the television for the noise. Something she had never done before. She trembled and a sob caught in her throat. She picked up the phone and dialed Stephen's number.
* * *
Stephen hurried across the yards to Rose's house. He could tell from the tremor in her voice, she was terrified. She opened the door and he couldn't resist taking her in his arms. She looked so frail and broken. He couldn't believe the change in her. Obviously she had her hair done. If she hadn't been so upset he would have commented.
The hair style alone took years off her, but the makeup. She looked as meticulous as Louise. And the new clothes. She must have gone all out. He had never seen Rose in a pair of jeans. What they did for her body caused a stirring of excitement in him. The sweater didn't hurt either, the way it clung to her breasts. Damn he wanted to hold her forever. Wanted to do more than hold her but for now it would suffice.
He liked holding her. She felt good. He brushed his lips over her hair, and she didn't pull away. Didn't resist.
* * *
Rose calmed down, went to get a drink of water and held back sobs while she told Stephen what Sergeant Pilsner said. She had liked the feel of him. Somehow they fit. When he brushed his lips over her hair she had to restrain herself from throwing her arms around him. Something quivered deep in the pit of her stomach. She liked this man. Liked the feel of him. It had been a long time since a man held her. She sipped the water and tried to control herself.
"See," Emma whispered. "It's not so bad."
Once again, Rose shrugged and wished Emma away.
Stephen joined her at the sink and put his arm around her. Rose liked the way Stephen's hand slid easily over her back. Soft, gentle hands. They moved slowly down to her waist and caressed her hips as he pulled her toward him. She knew she should stop him, but couldn't. His lips claimed hers in just a hint of a kiss. She wanted more. Wanted them to devour her. She loved the sweet salty taste of his mouth as he eased hers open with his tongue.
Her breath came in quick spurts. Her body trembled as she kissed him back. Flames ignited deep inside. Beads of sweat formed on her brow. The fire inside her raged. She wanted him now.
The phone rang, and she came to her senses. What was she thinking?
This was going too far.
"Hello." Her voice sounded breathless even to her.
"Rose, it's Louise. Are you okay? You sound funny."
"I'm fine. How are you?"
"I'm not going to keep you. I just wondered if you were going to stop over later. George forgot to pick up eggs, and I wanted to make a meatloaf for dinner. Would you mind picking me up a dozen?"
"Not a problem." Rose still found it difficult to speak. Stephen stood in the corner of the kitchen and devoured her with his eyes. It unsettled her.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yes, honest. I'll see you later." She hated to cut Louise short, but she wasn't about to get into the topic of Stephen with him standing there staring at her like that. She knew Louise well enough to know that was the next topic on her agenda. She never ended a phone call without bringing him up. Rose hung up before Louise had a chance.
"Would you like some coffee?" She had to put some distance between them. Get back to a normal conversation.
Once she calmed down they drank coffee and talked about the robbery again.
Over the next few days, Stephen came over in the mornings after Sarah left for school. Every day he brought her a different colored rose. Rose found herself looking forward to his visits and started baking again so they had fresh pastry with their coffee. After the first incident he didn't do more than kiss her cheek. Part of her wanted him to take her in his arms again, but she didn't want to rush into something she wasn't quite ready for. The emotions of the past several weeks still had her confused.
Stephen invited her to have dinner with him and Sarah. As usual, she refused the invitation, tempting as it was. She wasn't quite ready for that step yet, but she was getting close. His morning visits were one thing, but a dinner date. She just wasn't sure of that. But she liked when Stephen came in every day and planted a kiss on her cheek like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Besides, she liked being alone with him. She wasn't ready to share him yet. And Sarah needed his undivided attention. She didn't want to intrude on that.
She visited Louise in the evenings so her excuses were believable. Her friend listened to her ramblings about Stephen and laughed.
"Sounds like your smitten, Rose, good for you. I've said for a long time you needed someone in your life. And I love your new hairstyle. New clothes, too?"
Rose couldn't help but laugh. It had taken Louise long enough to comment on it. "He's just a friend who needs advice on his troubled granddaughter." Rose shrugged off Louise's comments about Stephen. She wasn't ready to admit her true feelings even to Louise. At least not yet. She wanted to keep it to herself a while longer.
"There's nothing between us, honest." She denied, but something about saying Stephen's name brought warmth to her insides. "And, yes, they are new clothes."
"Very stylish. Are you trying to impress someone?"
Rose waved her hand at her friend. "Enough of this already. No I'm not trying to impress anyone."
"Well, whatever. I like the new you. And you seem so much happier these days. I think Stephen is good for you."
"Okay, so I enjoy his company. So what?" She was more than a little attracted to him, no sense in denying it. She enjoyed his company. Liked the feel of his arms around her when he hugged her. But she had to move on to the next step before she'd let Louise in on it. Maybe she felt the need to be secretive because of the way Louise kept the fact that Philip and Julia were having problems.
Louise still hadn't said anything about it. Although, she did mention that Julia got a part-time job. Obviously, she and Philip had reached some kind of compromise. And Philip was home more now, traveling less. He even watched the kids a couple nights a week so Julia could take a class at Tri-C.
Rose looked around Louise's warm, elegantly decorated house and felt a strong desire to see her own decorations She drove home, remembering the fun she used to have decorating and how cheerful the house looked. But it seemed silly to decorate just for her.
"Why?" Emma nagged. "Why not do it for yourself? Better yet, why not make some new friends, invite Stephen and Sarah, or call your old friends and invite them to share the holidays with you. You used to entertain all the time. It's time."
Rose went into the garage and looked up in the rafters. The Santa and sleigh Frank had made were stored up there. Maybe tomorrow she'd drag them down. Right now exhaustion claimed her and her body ached. She watched television the rest of the evening to help pass the time, but her mind wandered to Stephen and Sarah. Something about the man intrigued her. She was almost
ready for the next level.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Sunday morning, rising early as usual, Rose drank her coffee, then went to the garage, set up a ladder, and managed to bring the Santa and sleigh down. Out of breath and feeling a bit wobbly, she stood the wooden ornaments in the corner. Maybe Stephen would help put them up. Goodness knows she didn't have the strength to do it. She'd never be able to decorate alone.
She sat on the step disheartened, still unable to bring herself to ask him for help.
"So, now what, you're going quit, give in? Sit here and cry, feeling sorry for yourself." Emma appeared next to her.
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