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“Aha. We women can’t know what goes on behind closed doors.”
“It’s the life,” Franny shrugged. “What are the odds of some of those cookies?”
Rose laughed.
“We don’t have to share with Roach.”
“Let me go see what you have back there.”
“I cleaned the counter,” Franny called as Rose pushed through the swinging door.
Rose stopped as the words sunk in. She was about to shout that it was none of her business, but it really was information she needed to know. Especially if the kitchen wasn’t off-limits to that kind of activity. This was her new life. Bleached countertops, beer, titty sparkles, and cookies.
Chapter 6
It was quiet. Too quiet. Rose lay on the bed staring at the ceiling. It was three thirty, and she was wide awake. Her mind refused to shut down. After the club came back from the cabin, minus an idiot, they devoured the sugar cookies she baked. Franny had a secret stash, but Rose had no doubt one of them would find it before she savored the last one. They had better hope that Franny didn’t find out who stole her stash because that woman would demand cabin retribution.
Rose rolled to her side. The clock read three thirty-two. She closed her eyes and tried to breathe evenly. After what felt like a lifetime, she opened her eyes. Three thirty-five. Flopping onto her back, she stared at the ceiling again.
Her hand rubbed across her chest. The dull ache intensified when she let her thoughts drift to Warren. She would rather cut her tongue out than admit to another person that she missed him. But here, alone in her room, she could let herself think of him for a few minutes. Wallowing in why and what-if didn’t do anyone any good. It didn’t work out. As much as it hurt her heart, that was just how life worked. You don’t always get what you want.
Rose rolled again. Three-forty.
“You are not a wallower. You look forward, not in the rearview,” she reminded herself as her feet hit the floor.
Padding to the bathroom, she ignored the dark circles and bags under her eyes. She pulled her hair up into a messy bun and called it good. It wasn’t like she was here to impress anyone anyway. Rose flipped open the top of her suitcase. She would get around to putting her things in the closet later. After working until two, all she wanted was a hot shower and a comfy bed. A fat lot of good either did for her.
A recipe book fell out at her feet when she began rummaging through the clothes stacked in her bag. The little book had her mood lifting. Baking quieted her mind. Something about flour soothed her soul. At home, with only her to eat what she made, Rose didn’t bake as much as she wanted. Here, that wouldn’t be a problem. The club practically licked the cookie crumbs off the counter. If she had to be here working off Lucas’ latest screw-up, at least she could get something for herself out of it.
“No need to dirty nice clothes with flour,” she mumbled as she yanked on a pair of yoga pants and a tank with a built-in bra. Rose made sure to pick up the vest she discarded on top of her luggage and the recipe book.
Silently unlocking her door, she peered out into the hall. Nothing moved. Everything was quiet. It wasn’t a long trek to the kitchen, but the dark and stillness of the night made her feel like an intruder looking to snag whatever they could get their hands on before running for the door. Rose held her breath as she hurried to the kitchen. It wasn’t until she stopped on the other side of the kitchen door that she breathed easy.
“Where the hell is the light?”
Rose patted her sides for her phone before she remembered she left it in her room. Slowly feeling her way to the refrigerator, she opened the door. Light filtered through the darkness. It wasn’t enough to see clearly, but she hoped it was enough to find the light switch. Rose worked her way to the counter without falling over anything. Feeling the walls, she searched for the switches. Her hand brushed along the magnetic knife rack on the wall.
“What are you planning to do with those?”
Rose stifled a scream. Instinct kicked in, and a knife was launched across the room before she could stop herself. A dull thud came from the direction of the voice. The bulky handle made the balance off. Grabbing another one from the strip on the wall, Rose crouched. She made herself as small as possible and opened the cabinet doors to protect herself. It wasn’t much, but it was the best she could do by the light of the fridge.
“Planning on knocking me off before making a run for it?”
She flinched as the harsh light flooded the room. When her eyes adjusted, she saw Vulture leaning casually against the counter with the knife she threw lodged in the cabinet a foot from his head.
“Are you absolutely insane? I could have killed you.”
“What are you doing up?”
“I could ask you the same question.”
Rose stood and closed the cabinet doors she hid behind. Replacing the knife on the magnetic strip, she faced off with Vulture.
“Birdy, what has your boxers in a bunch?”
Vulture aimed a glare at her but stood silently watching, waiting for something.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
