AllFreeNovel
Share Us
ChapterNine
The drive to Blake’s estate was quiet. The earlier tension had faded away, and the atmosphere between them was almost peaceful for maybe the first time ever. Rose was too drained to argue any more, just wanted to close her eyes and forget this night had ever happened. Weariness dogged her bones. Her hands hadn't stopped shaking since they’d left the hotel, and it was only there in the car with Blake that she finally felt the sensation of being watched – real or imagined, she didn’t know – leave her.
What she wanted was a long, hot bath and to curl up in her soft bed. The bath was out of the question, thanks to the temporary wrappings on her feet. She’d sliced them up pretty badly on the driveway gravel earlier in the night without even feeling it. They throbbed steadily in time with her pulse now, and she knew that they’d likely feel worse in the morning. Her giant bed was also out of the question, having been impounded with the rest of the suite, but even if she could stay atThe Harttonight, she wouldn’t. Everything was too fresh. The image of the man in her apartment, running towards the elevator trying to catch the doors, was all she could see in her mind’s eye when she closed her eyes or drifted away. Still, she was alive. Maia was alive. It could have been worse.
It was what she’d been telling herself since she’d come around and found herself in Blake’s arms and lap on the floor of his entrance hall. He’d been so warm that, for a moment, she’d moved closer instead of further away and his arms had tightened around her like he couldn’t ever dream of letting her go. But the quiet moments never last, and she had eventually moved away while the paramedics checked her over.It could have been worse.
Maybe she should feel more guilt about the situation. Blake was only involved because of her. Had been targeted because ofher. Rose couldn’t help thinking that it wasn’t worth it. She wasn’t worth the trouble, not for an afternoon quickie and sex in a bathroom. That was probably Blake’s average Tuesday, but he didn’t usually have to give up his privacy or worry about his safety with people like Meredith, she was sure.
Then again, nobody could force David Blake to do anything he didn’t want to do. He could have easily let the police place her into a safe house and rinsed his hands of the affair. His own security team were likely enough to keep himself safe. Yet, he didn’t. Which begged the question, what did he want? What was he getting out of this? Was it about the press? Or was this a favor for his mother?Maybe he’s really just being nice.She wanted to laugh at the thought because David Blake wasn’t nice, and he never did anything without a reason.
They rounded the corner and drew closer to the estate’s approach, the automatic security gates coming into view, and Rose groaned. The press had finally caught wind of the situation and was ready and waiting for them. To be honest, she was shocked it had taken them this long considering they’d been so fast at tailing her recently.
They were camped out in droves, cameras flashing as they photographed Blake’s car, microphones poised as they tried to make the morning news. She would need to address them eventually, but she had some time yet to figure out what to say. She was running on five hours sleep but if she went to bed now, her entire sleep schedule would be thrown off. She just needed to power through, work out what to say to the press, maybe arrange an interview exclusively so she could get her truth out there without their interference or speculation. Then she could maybe do some work for theHorizonsgala, check in with Maia to see how she was doing at Cal’s–
“Fuck,” Blake said, and Rose looked up at him sharply.What now?“How did she get in here?”
“I thought your place was supposed to be secure. That’s why I’m here, right?” Rose snorted as she looked ahead and saw what had him mad.
Blake slowed the car at the gate and the security guard peeked through the window at them before opening the gates and waving them through. “I’ll take care of this. Stay here.”
“Worried your girlfriend will be pissed that you’re shacking up with me?”
He grimaced, his tan looking a little paler than usual in the early morning light and highlighting the shadows beneath his eyes. His thick, dark blonde hair was wild and fluffy without its normal gel and the slight tracing of stubble on his jaw was surprisingly attractive. Blake blew out a long breath as the car came to a stop facing Meredith’s. “Can you do me a favor?”
It was odd enough that he was asking that Rose was immediately intrigued, plus the thought of Blake owing her… “Within reason.”
“Pretend we’re together.”
“We literally are together right now.”
He threw her a look before refocusing back on the figure waiting for them. “Together,together.”
“What? Why?” Her nose wrinkled as Blake bit down his full lower lip.
“Because I know Meredith’s type. She probably had romantic notions about how she was going to be ‘the one’ to change my playboy ways and get me to settle down. She’s not going to leave here without a fight unless she thinks I’ve already moved on. That I’m serious about someone else.”
“And why does that someone have to be me? She knows we hate each other.”
Blake shrugged. “Make her believe it and I’ll owe you a favor.”
“What about the press?”
He gripped the door handle tightly and blew out another irritated breath. “I don’t care about the press. Are you going to help me or not?”
Rose considered it for a moment, knowing the cameras were likely pressed as closely to the gates as they could get while they watched this unfold. “Not.”
Blake muttered something under his breath but didn’t say anything more to her, just pushed open the door and approached the tall and unpleasant red-headed woman who’d been at dinner with them a few nights ago.
She’d had every intention of letting Blake suffer at the hands of Meredith, purely for Rose’s own amusement, until Blake got within spitting distance and Meredith launched herself at him. Her lips found his instantly, her red hair seeming to cover his body like a shroud that gleamed in the morning sunlight as she crushed her body to Blake’s and her hands found his broad shoulders. Then, suddenly, it didn’t seem nearly as amusing.
She wasn’t sure what she was doing, hadn’t really made any conscious decision to move, was only aware of the sound of her car door opening and the crunch of her steps across the gravel until she was right next to them. Could see up close how Meredith had plastered herself to Blake, her mouth attempting to coax his into a response. Blake’s eyes were open, and his hands rose to Meredith’s shoulders, ready to push her away, but then he saw Rose watching and his deep blue eyes widened when she cleared her throat.
“I’d thank you to remove your tongue from my fiancé’s throat, Meredith.”
Meredith pulled back with a slurp that had Rose’s stomach tumbling and a strange itch swept through her at the sight of Meredith’s pink lipstick smeared across Blake’s mouth.
“Yourwhat?”
