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Blake smirked, and Rose felt her shoulders relax. “I hope there’s no hard feelings, Mer. It was just love at first sight.”
Rose bit back a laugh. “Well, not quite first sight because we have known each other for years, you see. But all that history…”
Meredith glanced back and forth between them, her green eyes wide with disbelief as she crossed her arms across her chest. “No. I don’t believe it. I’ve seen more chemistry between potted plants than you two.”
Blake raised an eyebrow and Rose wanted to curse, hating the swooping sensation in her stomach because sheknewBlake wasn’t going to let that pass. No, he wanted to convince Meredith. Unlike Rose, he didn’t care who was watching as he prowled towards her, blowing past Meredith like she was nothing more than furniture and tugging Rose against his body.
“Don’t slap me again,” he whispered and then his mouth was on hers, slowly devouring as his hand twisted into her hair, tugging roughly, until she let out a quiet moan and bit his lip in punishment. His chuckle vibrated through his chest and her nipples hardened in response, and Rose wasn’t sure what was happening anymore. Before she could work it out, Blake pulled away, panting lightly, lips slightly swollen as he glanced casually at Meredith, frozen beside them. “Is that enough to prove it to you? Or do I need to take her clothes off right here?”
Meredith made a choking sound and made for her car before pausing next to the door. “Where’s the ring?”
Blake looked stumped, and Rose decided it was time she did a little more to really earn that favor. “In the car. I don’t like to wear it out around the… public,” she said, looking Meredith up and down in blatant dismissal. Maybe it was petty, but what kind of woman throws herself at a man who clearly isn’t enjoying it? “I’m sure you understand, darling.”
Meredith went pale and Blake coughed to hide a laugh, but Rose couldn’t bring herself to feel badly about it. Meredith was an absolute letch, the worst kind of user and social climber trying to capitalize on Blake’s money and his name, so to instead be insulted by the DuLoe heir? Well, that no doubt hit a sore spot.
She didn’t say another word, just climbed into her car while Rose and Blake looked on, his arm around her shoulders and Rose’s around his waist in the picture of domestic bliss. As soon as Meredith’s car was half-way up the drive the sound of camera shutters snapping finally reached her, and she held in a wince. “You owe me big, Blake.”
“Luckily, I can think of lots of ways to repay you.”
Crap, that hadn’t been what she had in mind at all but her body seemed more than game for whatever Blake was thinking up in that sneaky little mind of his. His husky tone and the clench of his hand on her shoulder sent more than a bolt of heat to her clit, and Rose frowned at him. “Why didn’t you push her away?”
Blake seemed surprised by the question as he maneuvered them so she was standing in the cage of his arms, looking up at him. “I tried. That woman is worse than a limpet.” Then a grin snaked across his face that had her taking a wary step back, flustered when he followed. “Why? Jealous, princess?”
Her body relaxed at the nickname and something flickered in Blake’s eyes that told her he’d noticed. “What would your fiancé have to be jealous of? I expect a big ring, by the way.”
“I’d have expected nothing less, princess.”
Rose snickered and then quickly smoothed her expression. What was she doing standing here cracking jokes with David Blake? Doing him favors that would only come back to bite her once those pictures the press had no doubt snapped went to print?
Blake seemed to sense her change in mood as he turned away, leading them to his front door and unlocking it with both a key and a code on a digital pad hidden in a recessed part of the wall covered by a hanging plant.
“It’s Lacey’s day off,” he explained. “Though I suppose she and the rest of the staff will be on an extended break until we get this sorted out.”
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I don’t mind covering their wages until this is resolved. Youarestill going to pay them, right?”
“Of course,” Blake said, clearly affronted as they moved inside. “And don’t be ridiculous. It’s not your fault, and I’m happy to host.”
“Why?”
Blake paused, picking up the cashmere blanket Rose had been using earlier from the floor and folding it. “Your sparkling personality.”
“Blake–” Her protest was cut short as Cara and Katie swept down the main staircase and enfolded each of them in a hug.
“We’re so glad you’re alright. Cara just wanted to grab a few more things before she comes to stay with me. Have you made the list yet, darling?” Katie drew back and regarded Rose at arm’s length before patting her cheek. Katie always had been a mother hen and Rose found herself smiling, glad some things never changed.
“I’ll text it to you,” she promised and Katie nodded, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek as Cara squeezed Blake one more time before they swept out of the room as quickly as they’d arrived.
“Those two are a force to be reckoned with,” Blake said softly in the fresh quiet. “Come on.” He gestured for her to follow him and led them to a kitchen-diner that was bigger than what the chefs atThe Hummingbirdhad to work with. Everything was dark exposed wood and light creamy counters. It was surprisingly homey. “Coffee?”
“Thanks,” she murmured. It had been a long day, and it was only seven in the morning. If she was going to make it to the evening, then she was going to need alotof caffeine – one of the biggest no-nos for anyone with anxiety – but desperate times called for desperate measures. “Does Cara like to cook?”
“Cara? No, she burns water.”
Rose could relate. Cocktails and frozen food were about all she could usually manage. “So this big kitchen is going to waste then?”
“Are you writing me off because I’m a man?” Blake faced her, his back propped against the countertop as he raised a cool brow at her, and she had to admit that he did look both at home and in control in the space. It was distracting for reasons she didn’t particularly want to analyze.
“Not because you’re a man, no. I just figured, what with work, you wouldn’t have time to cook.” He handed her a mug of coffee and nodded to the large, stainless-steel fridge for milk but she shook her head. Even if she had wanted it, she wasn’t about to go rifling through his stuff.
