Seven Roses: Reverse Harem Romance

by Kelli Callahan

  “You told him about...us? What we talked about?” I swallowed a lump in my throat.

  “I told him enough. He was concerned, but he wants you to be happy. We’re going to swing by there on our way out of town.” Jesse nodded as he started driving.

  My father didn’t yell at me either, but I could see a lot of disappointment in his eyes. It was hard to tell if it was because of my decision to move to Granite Falls or my arrest. When our talk was over, he hugged me and told me he did want me to be happy, regardless of what that meant to me. Jesse helped me pack my bags and carry them to his car. I hugged my father one last time before getting back into the passenger seat. I hoped time would show him that it wasn’t just a random whirlwind romance where I was running away to marry a man I just met. The truth was so much sweeter than the fiction we created, but there was no way he would understand that. Nobody would understand it except the eight of us that had agreed to the arrangement. He promised to visit when he was feeling better and I promised I would come back to visit him when I could as well. After that, we were on the road and the next stop was Granite Falls—and the rest of my life.

  “I don’t like lying to him.” I let out a sigh and stared out the window.

  “You’re not lying. I do care about you and I’ll be marrying you.” Jesse reached over and took my hand. “He’ll see how happy you are when he comes to visit. That will help him understand that this is right for you, even if he doesn’t know all the details.”

  “I hope so.” I looked to Jesse and smiled.

  My homecoming to Granite Falls wasn’t as joyous as I originally thought it would be when I left. After the other six hugged me and told me how thankful they were I was okay, I got seven lectures about the dangers of what I had done. When that was done, Luther took me upstairs and I knew it wasn’t going to be a pleasant experience. I spent some time over his knee getting to know the paddle in a way that I didn’t want to ever know again. I spent the night alone in my bed, denied their touch as additional punishment for what I had done. I didn’t wake up to breakfast in bed or any of the pleasantries I had become accustomed to. I dressed myself in a pair of pajamas and walked downstairs where they were all sitting and talking. It appeared to be fairly early. Mayor Danvers was the first one to get up when he saw me.

  “It seems like you did something right while you were home.” He walked over and wrapped his arms around me.

  “What happened?” I felt him squeeze me tight and when he leaned back, there was a smile on his face.

  “Our proposal has been accepted! The American Motors plant is coming to Granite Falls!”

  “It is!?” I was quickly overcome with excitement. “I don’t know if that was me...”

  “I do.” Mayor Danvers released me from his embrace. “The guy that called me mentioned you specifically—a Mr. Charles Payne?”

  “That is Jennifer’s father! Oh my God! He did it!” I reached into my pocket for my cell phone. “I have to call Jennifer.”

  JENNIFER CONFIRMED that her father had spoken to some colleagues that were on the fence and convinced them that helping out a small town in need was better than satisfying the state’s greed for more money. He also brought up the fact that having land nearby developed and growing a town could increase the value of the land in the long run. After I hung up with her, I decided to call my father. He was happy I had made it to Granite Falls and said he was feeling a little stronger that morning than he did the day before—every day seemed to be getting better than the last. I apologized for driving drunk and promised him I would never do it again. I had said those words to him the day before as well, but I felt like I needed to keep saying them. He asked about Jesse, which I thought was a good sign. There was still hesitation on the subject, but I was content with my decision. I was in Granite Falls where I belonged with seven men who would always make sure I was well taken care of. Regardless of how strange it was, I couldn’t have been happier.

  Two days later

  “THOSE FUCKING CATS...” Blue walked into the house and sneezed, wiping his nose with his hand. It was followed by a grunt.

  “What did you do with all of them?” I walked into the living room with a tissue and handed it to him.

  “It was like wrangling—well, fucking cats. I got them all loaded up and they’re on the way to a shelter. They’ll all have new homes.” He grunted and shook his head as he wiped his nose. “I spent all day chasing them down.”

  “Hey, I helped.” Steve walked in behind him and sighed. “How the hell did your grandmother get so many?”

  “I have no idea.” I tilted my head when I saw something under Steve’s arm. “What is that?”

  “Oh, I found this in your Grandmother’s house. It appears to be her recipe book.” He smiled and handed it to me.

  “This is nothing but pie recipes.” I raised my eyebrows as I flipped through it.

  “Did someone say pie?” Mayor Danvers popped his head out of the kitchen.

  “We found Mrs. Grant’s recipe book.” Steve folded his arms and beamed like he had just discovered gold.

  “Seriously?” Mayor Danvers walked out into the living room. “Samantha, do you think you could make them like she did?”

  “Well...” I flipped through a few more pages. “The directions are here, I could give it a shot.”

  “Good! I’d love to have a dozen or so when they break ground on the new American Motors plant.” Mayor Danvers’ nodded. “Of course, you’d need to practice and make sure you know how to make them first...”

  “Which means we’re about to eat a lot of pie?” Steve raised his eyebrows and his face turned to a hopeful grin.

  “It looks that way...” I tucked the recipe book under my arm. “Who wants to go on a grocery run?”

  It was like a cascade of hands all volunteering at once—apparently, they really did like my Grandmother’s pies.

  “AMERICAN MOTORS JUST faxed over the details on the new plant. We’ll have five hundred new jobs by this time next year—all because you.” Mayor Danvers leaned against me and kissed my neck.

  “That is wonderful news.” I closed my eye and leaned my head back against his kiss. “Did you find out what the holdup was with the state?”

  “Yeah, apparently they were dragging their feet on the permits. American Motors wanted to take our bid, but the state made it seem like they needed to do a lot more work and it would take years to complete it. They even offered to discount their land at first, but once your friend’s father put words in the right ears, things took off like a rocket.” He kissed my neck again.

  “Good, I’m glad things are working out.” I reached back and caressed his hair.

  “When will the pie be ready?” He pulled his lips away and looked over my shoulder at the mess in the kitchen.

  “Relax...” I shook my head and laughed. “I’ve barely got the ingredients in the bowl.”

  “If it is a good pie.” Mayor Danvers leaned back and licked my ear. “We’ll all spend a little time showing your gratitude once we’re done.”

  “You’ll do that whether they’re good or not.” I turned to him with a sarcastic scowl.

  After a few hours of figuring out my grandmother’s recipe, failing, trying it again, and turning the kitchen into a disaster zone, my first pie was done. The eight of us gathered around it and I started cutting slices, hoping it would be half as good as the ones my grandmother made. The sound of satisfaction echoed through the room once they all got their first bite. I pushed my fork into my mouth and immediately understood why—it was absolutely delicious. One thing was for sure—they were definitely going to be showing me a lot of gratitude once their plates were empty.

  Bonus Content – Seven is my Lucky Number

  Chapter 1: Mia

  “Let’s go Wildcats, let’s go!” My pompoms went into the air and I waved them around while the sound of shoulder pads mixed with helmets. Bodies crashed together and the play was over before it even began.

  We lo
st.

  It was our biggest game—the last game of the season. The only part of my college career that I cared about ended when our team lost the bowl game. It was time to hang up my short skirt and pompoms. It was the best season the team had while I had been a student there, but none of us went back to the locker room feeling very excited. The cheerleaders that were dating players dressed quickly and ran off to console their boyfriends. I put my stuff in a duffel bag and went home alone. There was a time when a certain blue eyed, blond haired back-up quarterback would have been waiting for me, but when the starter went down, he got the top spot on the team. That meant every girl in the school started throwing themselves at him and he no longer had time for a virgin that didn’t put out. It wasn’t the first time a guy had said goodbye when I didn’t spread my legs. I had been through it in middle school and high school. There was no reason for college to be any different.

  I guess I’ll have more time to focus on school now that the season is over and my love life is nonexistent.

  Without the short skirt and revealing top, I was practically invisible. The glasses and ponytail I wore to class every day with barely one layer of makeup certainly didn’t enhance my appearance. With the season over, things returned to normal and I finished college without much fanfare. My family came to see the first Franklin girl from Florence, Alabama get her degree from a major university and then I drifted into the workforce. An accounting firm in Texas needed some cheap labor to mash buttons, so my education earned me a starting salary and a desk beside all the others that didn’t graduate top of their class. It was a peaceful life living from paycheck to paycheck in my dingy apartment in the heart of Texas, but it didn’t stop the memories. Every time my head hit the pillow, I was on the sidelines again, cheering so loud my lungs hurt.

  Let’s go Wildcats, let’s go!

  “MIA, THERE’S A MIXER after work at the Lone Star Pub. You should totally come!” Debbie, one of the other women at the office, tapped my desk as she walked past and then turned to the desk next to mine. “Cindy, are you in?”

  “Yeah!” Cindy nodded enthusiastically, but I didn’t reply.

  I really do need to get out.

  The mixers. It seemed like Debbie managed to scrounge up enough interest for a new party every week. I had been working at Texas Pride Accounting for nearly six months and I still hadn’t made it to one. I kept saying I would, but when my butt hit the couch and the television came on, I couldn’t find the energy to put on fancy clothes. I spent the day trying to convince myself it was going to be different when the day ended, but in my heart, I knew it was unlikely. As much as I wanted to go out and possibly meet someone, the office life just wasn’t exciting enough to keep me partying until dawn like my college days were. I finished my workday, and when it was time to clock out and go home, I was already exhausted and thinking how awesome a nap would be before I finally went to bed.

  “Rick was asking if you were going to be at the mixer.” Debbie held the door open for me as I approached the exit.

  “He was?” I raised my eyebrows in surprise.

  “He’s got a crush on you, but I think he’s too scared to ask you for a date. I bet if you come out with us tonight, he would finally get some courage after a couple of drinks.” She winked at me.

  Rick wasn’t a bad looking guy. He was a bit of a geek, but the suit he wore to work every day enhanced his look. He was also the only guy at the office that showed even a tiny bit of interest in me. I wasn’t motivated to date him, but since my options didn’t seem to be expanding, I was open to giving him a shot. My cheerleader credentials weren’t going to land me a date at the office unless I stripped down to my underwear and started cheering people on at the copier. That seemed like a route to unemployment instead of marriage. I went home and avoided the couch, searching through my closet for something that still fit my curves without showing off the five pounds I had put on since graduation. A couple of hours later, I was walking into the Lone Star Pub feeling more nervous than I did the first time I walked into a frat party my freshman year.

  “Mia!” Debbie walked over and waved when she saw me. “Damn girl, you clean up good. Why don’t you dress like this every day?”

  “It isn’t really appropriate for the office.” I shook my head back and forth.

  “You’re crazy. The bosses love legs.” She put her arm around me. “Mia’s here everyone!”

  I WOULDN’T CALL THE first hour a total disaster, but I was a bit out of my element. It was clear that everyone there had formed a bond and I was kind of an outsider. I finished my first drink quickly and started on my second. There were two distinct groups at the pub and the other one seemed to be a lot livelier than ours. There were plenty of couples and people that were all alone, but my attention kept getting drawn to the group of very attractive girls on the other side the bar. They were putting back shots like I did in college, laughing and hanging all over each other. I tried to stay focused on my group, but I couldn’t help but stare. It was like a memory unfolding, calling on me to embrace it. I was almost startled when I felt a hand on my arm.

  “Mia?” I turned to see Rick smiling at me. “I’m glad you decided to come out with us tonight.”

  “Hey, Rick!” My response was too loud, especially when the music ended before I finished his name.

  “Can I get you another drink?” He motioned towards the bar.

  “Sure—actually, I’ll walk over with you.” I followed him towards the bar and saw Debbie winking at me as I walked.

  He’s got me alone. I’m away from the pack. If he’s going to ask me out, now is the time.

  Rick ordered drinks and I took a seat at the bar while we waited. He made small talk, nervously dancing around whatever question he might have wanted to ask me. I tried to smile and show interest, but he wasn’t making it very easy. His eyes kept drifting over to the group of girls and I seemed to take a backseat to them. From my seat at the bar, I was closer to them and able to hear their conversations. I recognized the terms they were using, the formations they were joking about—they were cheerleaders. They looked a bit older than most college students, but they were throwing around cheerleader terms like I used to do with the squad. When Rick finally lost his courage or his interest and invited me to rejoin the group, I decided to walk over and talk to them instead.

  “Hi, I’m Mia.” I raised my hand awkwardly. “I couldn’t help but overhear. Are you all cheerleaders?”

  “Like you don’t recognize us?” A woman with brown hair threw a few strands of curls over her shoulder and stared me down. “We’re the Texas Cowboys squad, obviously.”

  “You’re cheerleaders in the NFL?” My mouth fell open in shock. “Wow, that’s awesome!”

  “Please don’t ask for autographs, darling. We’re just trying to have some girl time.” Her faced turned to a scowl and the rest of the group started to stare at me like I was a lost puppy begging for a treat.

  “No! Not at all.” I shook my head quickly. “I was a cheerleader in college.”

  “Oh, one of those.” The woman with brown hair smacked her lips. “Couldn’t make a pro-squad? It’s okay darling. Not everyone who gets to swing pompoms in college is good enough for the big time.”

  “I mean...” I felt my face flushing with embarrassment. “I’ve never tried out. How does that work?”

  “Your cheer coach didn’t get an audition lined up for you? You must not have been very good.” A blonde titled her head with a sarcastic scowl as she joined the conversation and the rest of them nodded their heads in confirmation.

  “Well...” I looked down at the floor. “How do I audition?”

  “Look it up online, and please leave us alone. We don’t have time for fans right now.” The group turned away from me and started talking amongst themselves again.

  Was I this horrible to people that tried to talk to us in college?

  I did as they requested, but I had a new focus. I had thought about trying out for a team after co
llege, but the girls were right, my coach didn’t think I was good enough. The cheerleaders at the bar were pretty, but they didn’t look like anything more than normal people when they weren’t wearing their uniforms. I went home and looked up the information online. Tryouts were less than a week away. I tried to reassure myself as I filled out the information. I knew there would be a lot of other girls competing for whatever limited spots they had, but I couldn’t turn down the opportunity. After I filled out the form, I looked online for some local gyms. I had less than a week to try and get myself back in shape. I hoped it was enough time. The last thing I wanted was to embarrass myself by looking like a klutz when I finally got another shot at the one thing I loved more than anything else in the world.

  Chapter 2: Matt

  Crush. Smash. Again.

  The Texas heat was nothing like the cool breeze I grew up with in Michigan. There was so much sweat clinging to my balls I thought I was going to feel them float away before practice was done. I kept telling myself it was worth it, because I was a first round draft pick and my bank account was only going to get bigger if I started putting quarterbacks on their ass when the season started. The coach gave the signal again and my tired legs pushed me forward like a rocket, slamming into the tackling dummy with every bit of power I could put behind it. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the Texas Cowboys cheerleader squad saunter out onto the field with a lot of new recruits following them. The coach gave the signal one more time and I propelled myself forward, momentarily distracted by the long legs and tight bodies taking up formation on the sidelines.

  “Eyes forward, men.” The Strength and Conditioning Coach blew his whistle. “The cheerleaders are on the last day of tryouts. It is the same thing you see every year.”