by Rita Sawyer
“Italian’s fine. My silence was because you look absolutely amazing.”
“Oh. Thank you.” He noticed the slight pink tinge that spread across her cheeks. “You look nice too.”
“Thanks.” He’d chosen a black suit jacket, slacks, and white dress shirt like about ten other guys would be wearing tonight.
“I’m glad you agreed to Italian, because Gino’s has the best manicotti around, and it’s within walking distance.” She actually sighed when she said it.
Minutes later they were both ready to go. As they exited the building Dade’s manners kicked in and he offered Rosie his arm. She looped hers through it and they walked down the sidewalk. He didn’t miss the fact that he thought she looked as good on his arm as she felt. Dade truly wanted to know why she’d picked this neighborhood to live in. They walked along in comfortable silence all the while he was mentally running through possible ways to start a conversation without it sounding like an inquisition.
When they reached the restaurant he opened the door for her. Instantly a man rushed forward to greet them. Dade knew it was his job, but he guessed the guys quick attention probably had a lot to do with how hot Rosie looked tonight. He showed them to a table and within seconds a waiter was there taking their drink order.
“So do you come to this place often?” Dade asked as he walked away.
“About once a month. It’s a special treat for myself.”
“Your loft is great. Did you decorate it yourself?” He asked not wanting to let them lapse back into silence.
She nodded. “I had some help from my friends.”
“What made you choose this area?”
“I was helping a friend find an artist loft space and this neighborhood came highly recommended. When we looked at mine I bought it before she could.” She laughed and it sounded so natural all he could do was join in with her. “Of course it helped that my father wouldn’t be caught dead here.”
“They can’t be that bad.” Though he wasn’t sure, so he had no idea why he was sticking up for them.
“They’re not. In their own way they love me,” She sighed and shrugged her shoulders. “They just want what they think is best for me.”
“I’m guessing it’s not what you want?”
“Most of the time no.” She shook her head. “Trust me I’m not ungrateful. My parents have given me everything.”
“Never crossed my mind. So do your parents live close by?”
The waiter returned and interrupted her from answering. She took her time ordering asking the waiter questions in Italian. He had no idea she spoke anything other than English. The second the waiter walked away Rosie surprised him by jumping right back into their conversation. She explained that her parents owned a house in Weston Massachusetts about a half hour out of the city, but they traveled all the time.
Dade understood that. Owning a string of hotels they needed to make appearance at them from time to time. Not to would be irresponsible. Teddy and Rosie’s two great aunts had often visited them as well since it was a family company.
Dade mentioned that he’d seen photographs of her at some of the locations too, and asked which one was her favorite. She thought about it for a couple of minutes. He smiled when she said her favorites had changed over the years, but the one they had on the coast of northern Maine was really hard to beat any time of the year. He’d chosen a good topic and they’d spent the rest of dinner talking about the places that they had visited, and wanted to go to someday.
They chose to walk to the art gallery since it was close by. Rosie explained that she was going to be milling about the room most of the evening and that he didn’t have to stay glued to her side if he didn’t want to. She wanted him to enjoy himself, but if he needed anything all he had to do was ask. Her friends were already there when they arrived.
He only got a few minutes to check the place out. Most of the walls were painted a stark white or flat gray. The ceiling was a good ten or maybe even twelve feet high. There were floor to ceiling columns in some areas. In others there were waist high white and black pedestals with sculptures and other works of art on them. He’d been to a few galleries and this one had the best lighting designed to really showcase the work.
With one final glance around he said, “This place looks terrific. You ladies did an amazing job.”
“I won’t take your surprise as an insult.” Rosie’s smile told him she was just teasing.
Rosie called her friends over and made the introductions. These four beautiful women together were intimidating, but knowing just how powerful they really were would have warranted any fear he might feel, which he didn’t. He was impressed though. Still Dade got the distinct feeling that they weren’t going to judge him just yet, which he appreciated. He liked the idea that he had a chance to make a good first impression.
He started off by asking if there was anything he could do and her friend Nicolette had no problem putting him to work. She led him to the back and had him shuffle some boxes around. His gaze was drawn back over and over to a painting sitting in the far corner. He couldn’t wait to get up close and really check it out.
The catering crew was rushing around in a section of the back room and Sophia was there overseeing every little detail. Tiffany and Nicolette headed out to the front to greet the people who had started arriving. Rosie and Sophia joined them as he came out of the storage area. Soon the place was filled with people milling about. Going by the chatter and laughter everyone seemed to be having a good time, which hopefully meant they’d be in a buying mood.
Rosie waved him over and insisted on introducing him to some key people. Once he was comfortable she abandoned him to go see to the other guests. Dade watched her with a growing respect, but every guy that smiled at Rosie instantly became the enemy. He knew it was her job to schmooze the guests into hopefully bidding on the artwork and she was doing it, so he was more than willing to stand back and just watch her work her way through them.
It seemed to be a pretty diverse group of people. Some of them were swathed in diamonds. While others were just as elegant, but in a more understated way. Then there were the photographers and critics. They were making good use of their time to make as many connections as possible. Dade knew networking was important in any situation if it were possible.
The only problem with seeing Rosie in this environment was that Dade was forced to face the accuracy in his assessment. She was a total city girl. Deep down he wondered if he’d insisted on coming in hopes of convincing himself he was wrong? If so he had made a big mistake, because this only proved him right.
Still, when she looped her arm around his something told him it wouldn’t matter in the long run. As they meandered around the room he felt as if he could conquer just about anything. Every so often she would leave his side and meet up with her friends. They’d chat for a few minutes then break apart and head off to charm someone else. Since he was observing them all he couldn’t help but notice that Tiffany was never more than an arm’s length away from Nicolette. Sophia never stopped moving. She was as attuned to the crowd as Rosie was. With almost imperceptible motions Rosie and Sophia communicated with the head of the catering staff. They kept the drinks and trays of finger foods flowing steadily around the room.
A few hours into the event Rosie announced that shortly they were going to unveil the first of the three pieces to be auctioned off. People started to settle into place before the small dais where Sophia and Nicolette would stand. Dade glanced over at Rosie and noticed a guest, someone she knew well if her friendly smile was an indication, touched her arm and Rosie casually moved away. After a moment or two the guy inched closer Dade noticed that Rosie’s smile was less friendly now. Instinctively he knew she could handle this guy on her own, but he was there so why should she have to?
He grabbed two glasses of red wine from one of the waitresses and walked over to the small group. Rosie looked up at him with a smile. Dade pressed one of the glasses into Rosie’s ha
nd. Then he slid his arm around her waist with a fake show of familiarity he was sure neither of them felt.
She didn’t pull away, but she didn’t lean into him like she had earlier either. “Dade Sebastian, let me introduce you to Walt Fletcher, and Mia Lang, and Carly Timmons.”
“Nice to meet you all.” Dade said with a nod.
“I need to go see if Sophia and Nicolette need any help.” She put her hand on Dade’s shoulder. “Will you be alright?”
“I’m fine. Go do your thing.” He let his hand slide from her hip and across her back as she walked away.
The second she was gone Mia and Carly excused themselves leaving him alone with Walt, who wasted no time trying to learn about his competition. “So Dade what is it you do?”
“I’m CEO of TC Corporation,” Not many people knew Rosie’s uncle owned TC, they all assumed he was happily living off his royalties and the chain of hotels like the rest of the family. “And you?”
“Well, I’m a writer,” Walt said.
“Anything I may have read?” Dade doubted it, but he figured it was polite to ask.
Walt laughed. “I doubt it. How long have you known Rosalind?”
“Oh Rosie and I have known each other for years.” Totally honest, and from the look on Walt’s face fairly surprising.
“I’ve never seen you at one of these events.” Only because Dade did his best to blend into the background, but he didn’t tell him that.
“No. I usually prefer to focus my time behind the scenes, but Rosie and I decided to attend together.” Dade knew from Walt’s rapid blinking that he’d hit his mark.
“Together, as in a date?” Walt’s voice had risen a few octaves.
Dade shrugged. “I don’t know if it’s considered a date when people live together, or if it’s just going out.”
“You moved in with Rosalind?”
“No.” Dade missed the way the other guy’s shoulders lost some of the tension. “Actually we moved into her uncle’s place.”
Walt nodded. “He passed away recently. Did that bring you two together?”
A straightforward answer would break the rules so Dade kept it vague and shrugged. “Working so closely on the projects we’ve got going on has shown me another side to Rosie. It’s damn hard to ignore someone with qualities like Rosie’s.”
“True, but living together is a serious move.” Dade nodded, because Walt was right.
The music faded away and Sophia and Nicolette took the stage. Rosie and Tiffany stood just off to the side. Walt excused himself and Dade decided since he’d already made his purchase of the night that it was okay if he stepped outside for a few minutes. When he came back in —not more than five minutes had passed, he was sure of it— the atmosphere had changed. He didn’t know if anyone else sensed it, but he did. Dade scanned the crowd until he located Rosie. Their gazes locked and her eyes narrowed, but her smile never faded. Before he could move she made a beeline for him.
Her fingers grasped his jacket and she tugged on his arm. “Come with me, and for both our sakes smile.”
He followed her into the back room. Once they were out of sight of the guest she shoved him into a room the size of a closet. If it wasn’t for the desk he would have swore it was one. He leaned against the desk and waited for her to say whatever was on her mind.
“Are you going to say something before you explode?” Goading her might have been the wrong way to go.
She stopped in front of him and jammed her fisted hands on her hips as she stomped her foot. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”
“What I did?” He didn’t have a frigging clue.
“Yes, you.” She stabbed her finger in his direction. “You told the nosiest society reporter I’ve ever met that we are living together.”
“I didn’t know we were keeping it a secret.” He couldn’t see how it could be such a big deal, unless there was a man in her life he didn’t know about.
“We’re not, but I like to keep my personal life private. Beside just because we’re not keeping it secret doesn’t mean we needed to broadcast it.”
“I didn’t mean to broadcast anything.” Okay he’d said it to irk the guy, but he didn’t know the creep was a reporter.
“Maybe not intentionally, but you did. Within seconds of you telling him the news made its way around the room like wildfire. And where the hell did you go?” She raised her voice and Dade pushed himself to his feet.
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’re the only one who could have issues if this gets out.” He was just posturing, but there was no way she could know that.
“Really?” The accusation in her tone rubbed him wrong. “Then why the hell did you toss it out for public consumption?”
He closed the distance between them. “I made a mistake it doesn’t happen often.”
“Exactly.” She tensed looking up at him. “So why now? What did he say to get you to just give him the information?”
Dade growled. “God damn it. He didn’t say anything.”
“Fine, whatever.” She turned to walk away.
Dade wasn’t going to let it end like this so he grabbed her arm and pulled her back blocking her exit. “I didn’t like the way he was trying to get touchy-feely with you, so I wanted to make sure he knew to stay the fuck away.”
He waited for her to respond. She had to have something to say. When she didn’t Dade lost it. He grabbed her by the shoulders and leaned into her space.
“I’m sorry.” His tone was soft, but rough with the emotion he was trying to hold back.
Rosie blinked a few times then leaned in and pressed her lips to his. Dade pulled her against him as her lips parted under his. Their tongues darted and stroked each other in an insane game of tag. She put her hands on his chest and he thought for sure that she was going to shove him away. Instead she pushed him against the wall. Dade’s hands went from her arms to her hips. The silky thin material of her dress only encouraged him to slide his hands to her ass. She made a sexy moaning noise against his lips and his dick reacted hardening even more than it already had. Dade let her have control of the kiss, because every time he tried to move in more she’d start to pull back.
The door opened behind them, but neither of them noticed until they heard the loud gasp and the slam that followed. Rosie lurched away from him. She covered her face with her hands and shook her head.
“That was… Dade…” She lowered her hands and looked at him. “I just can’t deal with this right now.”
“I understand.” And he did, because now wasn’t the time to figure out what the hell had just happened. “Should I leave?”
“No. You need to go out there and pretend like nothing’s wrong. We both do.” She sighed. “You go first I’m going to duck into the ladies room. I’ll be out in a minute.”
Dade nodded and started for the door. He wasn’t a very good actor, but he hoped he could pull this off. If not, at least he could have a word with Walt.
“Dade,” He stopped with his hand on the door knob and she said, “Do me a favor and stay away from Walt.”
Shit! Could she read his mind? He nodded. The night had taken a serious nose dive. But she had kissed him, even though it had been in a moment of insanity. They were going to talk about it at some point, and hopefully try it again. It seemed his plan to keep his distance had been blown to smithereens.
Chapter Four
Her phone rang again and Rosie knew she couldn’t ignore it any longer. She slid her hand out of the blanket and snatched it off the night stand.
“Hello.” Her tone was clipped and most people probably would have hung up.
“Morning sunshine.” Nicolette sounded way too cheerful.
“What are you trying to get out of?” Rosie kind of hoped that she needed her so she’d have an excuse to get the hell out of there without seeing Dade.
“Nothing.” Nicolette laughed.
“Really? Then what’s up?” Rosie asked as she pulled her spare pi
llow into her arms.
“I drew the lucky straw to call and see how things went last night after you left.” She knew one of them would be calling, but figured it wouldn’t be until later in the day.
Rosie felt her face heat just thinking about it. “They didn’t.”
“What happened? Did he just take off or something? Should I call my cousin Mario to go have a talk with him? He can be there in twenty minutes.” Her concern was touching, but totally unnecessary.
“Thanks for the offer, but there’s no need.” She sighed not wanting to talk about this with anyone yet.
“Are you sure?” Nicolette didn’t sound convinced.
“Yes. Dade was a gentleman. I was the one—”
“You hit on him again?”
“No— Jeez I lose it once.” That her friends knew of, Rosie shook her head. “Dade wanted to talk about what happened, but I asked him to give me some time. He stopped asking if I was okay, but I still had to listen to him apologize for leading Walt into thinking we were a couple and worse telling him we lived together. He had no idea what Harold would do with that information. I had to pretend to fall asleep to get him to stop talking.”
“Hey, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. We’ve all had those stories written about us that we wished hadn’t been.” Nicolette was right, but she didn’t know the whole story.
“You’re right, but this is my fault. I should have warned Dade. I guess it’s my turn to say I’m sorry, especially after I kissed him like that.” She sighed wishing she was wrong. “Listen I’ll call you later okay?”
“Sure, but try to take it easy. I don’t think Dade minded you kissing him.” Nicolette was still laughing when she hung up.
Rosie groaned as she dropped the phone onto the bed. She knew Nicolette was probably already calling Tiffany and Sophia. She’d be lucky if the three of them didn’t show up sometime today just to make sure she was okay. It was her own damn fault for not being better prepared to take that call. Last night hadn’t gone exactly the way she’d hoped either. Far from it actually. She hugged her pillow a little tighter knowing full well that she couldn’t hide in her room all day.