Page 38 of Beautiful Rose
A light color stains her face, and she gives me a weak smile. I didn’t realize her panic was contagious. My spiking heartbeat slowly settles as more color appears on her face and her breathing calms.
* * *
The past two months have been surreal.
Marr—her hesitant smile; her breathy voice. Even her cuff tugging hovers on my mind throughout the day. A weird mix of calm and excitement fills my heart every time I speak to her. But I also regret not visiting Cherrywood sooner.
I’ve really taken a shine to this cute town, with all its streets lined with Cherry trees and the blue-roofed houses. So have my brothers. As we arrive in Cherrywood, Zach and Zane are instantly on board with the idea of biking on its captivating hilly trails. But that’s for another day. Today, my only focus is on Marr.
As I pull out the charcoal gray suit and the cherry red tie hanging in the hotel suite closet and place it carefully on the bed, a smile tugs on my lips. They’re the same clothes I wore on my first day to the Cherrywood office two months back. The day I met Marr. This tie has recently become my favorite, and so far, has been a lucky charm. All the meetings I attended wearing it were overly successful.
After getting dressed up, I come downstairs and find the event manager, Nikita. Damn, she’s done an awesome job. The hall is bathed in soft purple lighting. In the sitting area, the round tables are covered with silky soft white linen and hold elegant light centerpieces that give an illusion of flickering candle flame.
The bar on the side is up and running, bartenders checking everything for the last time.
My inspection is cut short by Vanessa’s interruption.
“Hello, handsome. Where are you hiding these days?”
Her voice makes me want to cry for help, but I can’t let her ruin my mood today. Vanessa Hilbert is the daughter of Mathew Hilbert, one of our major shareholders and a respected man in the business community. As Mathew is also a close pal of Ashcroft, our association with the Hilbert family extends beyond business.
There was a time when we three brothers were quite close to Vanessa. But in recent years, after she opened one of the top fashion houses in the state, something changed, and her behavior grew erratic. Every now and then, she would pass by the office, flirt with me, and behave indiscreetly. In the beginning, I worried for her. I even tried to talk to her, but she simply flirted in response, and I finally gave up.
“Zander Teager, I’m talking to you,” she screeches.
“Hi, Vanessa. How are you doing?”
“Now, good. It’s very good to see you.” Her hands grab my forearms before sliding up my chest. Her touch feels like several snakes crawling up my body.
“Great.” I take a step back, attempting to put some distance between us.
“Hi, beautiful.” Zach saunters toward us.
“Hello, handsome.” Vanessa’s hands shift from my arms to Zach’s. She doesn’t even bother using a different opening line.
“Nikita is looking for you.” Zach raises his chin in my direction, giving me an out from Vanessa. On a normal day, I would hate Zach’s playboy attitude, but today, I have more important things on my mind.
“Thanks.” I wink at him and leave. Zach can handle Vanessa for a day.
I’m pacing in the hall, waiting impatiently for my couch girl. So far, I’ve made several unsuccessful visits to the entrance hoping to find her, only to return empty-handed.
The hall is slowly filling with people dressed in fancy party clothes. Some have even mustered the courage to get on the purple-lit dance floor. The party theme is “dance till you drop.” I wonder if I can get Marr on the dance floor with me. Deep in my thoughts, I notice Oscar walking in, followed by Kristy and her.
Our eyes meet, and she gives me her exquisite shy smile. My mouth dries at the sight of her, and my heart does that weird thumping it always does whenever she’s around. I give her a once-over, and damn, she looks breathtaking.
Her usual ponytail-tied hair is loose, and the soft curls rest just above her shoulders. The billowy flannel shirt and jeans ensemble is replaced by an elegant dress.
Does she know my tie matches the cherry color of her dress?
The high waistline flaunts her perfect figure. When she turns to hang her brown leather jacket, I get a good look of her curvy legs covered in black stockings. But it’s her charcoal gray ankle boots that suck all the fucking air out of my lungs.
As she moves a strand of hair behind her ear, I see small pearl drop earrings. Pearls suit my couch girl. She has a tinge of makeup, which only adds to her natural beauty. One look at her pink lips, and I’m dying to get a taste.
She looks at me again and instinctively licks her bottom lip in nervousness, I guess. But fuck, what it does to me. The flick of her tongue seems to have a direct connection with my already raging cock. I adjust my jacket, ensuring I’m not sporting a hard-on to a room full of people.
I give her a smile, and she smiles back. So much has changed between us since my last visit. We’ve outgrown our friendship to something more, without mentioning it explicitly. As I take a step toward her, someone grabs my hand from behind.
What. The. Hell?