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She crossed the room and made to open the door when he caught her around her waist and spun her around. He tugged her ever so slightly closer until the warmth from his chest sank into hers and she could smell his fruity cologne. He leaned in ever so slowly and pressed his mouth to hers, searchingly tasting her.
“That’s okay, princess. Run away. But next time you’re lonely and fucking yourself, say my name, won’t you?”
Rose glared, spinning away from him and yanking at the door, praying that she could fix her hair enough that the paparazzi wouldn’t notice anything amiss. She found Maia waiting at the front door and gave Chris a nod as they swept outside, the wetness between her thighs feeling beyond uncomfortable as she climbed back into their car quickly and hoped the press didn’t get a good look at her.
Maia stared long and hard at Rose the whole drive home. She pretended not to notice, focusing on the view out of the window until finally she turned and said, “What?” with a sigh of exasperation.
Maia’s eyes ran from the top of Rose’s rumpled hair to the wrinkle at the bottom of her top before she cleared her throat lightly. “Nothing.”
“Okay,” she said, relieved that Maia was apparently content to let her rumpled appearance slide for now. “I promised my mom I’d meet her and Grace for dinner atThe Hummingbirdon Wednesday, do you want to come?”
Maia grinned. “You want me to be your buffer?”
“I want you to prevent World War Three.”
Maia grasped Rose’s clenched fists in her hands. “Sure, I’d love to come.”
Not for the first time, Rose found herself wondering what she would do without Maia. She loosened her fists and squeezed Maia’s hands in silent thanks, and Maia smiled with the smallest dip of her head. In every way but blood, Maia was her sister and oh, the things we do for family.
“I’m supposed to be meeting up with Thierre for brunch tomorrow and Wednesday before he flies out again at the weekend, but I’m sure I’ll be done in time for dinner.” Maia smiled, and Rose nodded. “I got some great photos of the ballroom, so I’m thinking…” Maia launched into her plans for the room and Rose relaxed, the last of the weird energy she’d felt in Blake’s study finally leaving her. Maia’s ideas were amazing, as always, and Rose chipped in with her own thoughts here and there, making her friend’s eyes light up until they pulled up in front ofThe Hartto another wave of press and Rose tensed up again. It had to be Blake telling them where she would be. She hadn’t been followed around like this since the time she’d agreed to averybrief modeling stint for a high-profile brand she owed a favor to, and even then she’d managed to stay ahead of them most of the time. But showing up here, to what was essentially her home?
Rose smoothed her hair down again and tugged her clothes straight before stepping out of the car to a barrage of lights that nearly made her eyes water. For a second she almost lost it. Wasn’t sure whether to scream or cry, just anything to make themleave her alone. But then Maia was there, her hand slipping into Rose’s and tugging her towards the lobby, and the wave of rage faded until she could breathe and march past the cameras without so much as a glance spared in their direction.
