I

t was funny how quickly life moved past you when you were focusing on one thing and one thing only.

Work had been eclipsing my life for the last two weeks and I was only able to come up for air to sleep and eat. Everything else had been put on hold to deal with the shit storm that had become the projects I’d been running.

We hit a snag on one of the projects in the early stages of construction and that had caused an asinine ripple effect, and everything snowballed from there. I had needed to be in four places at once, trying to manage three different crews, all while trying very hard not to think about Rose.

Even though the days were crazy, whenever I found a quiet moment, my mind wandered to her. I wondered constantly what she was doing, where she was, who she was with. I’d get irrationally angry if I thought even for a moment that she might have been on a date. Or worse, in bed with someone. I wondered what she looked like when she was at home; whether her prim and proper façade extended to all aspects of her life, or if she let her hair down when she came home from work, literally and figuratively.

The idea that ten days had passed and I still hadn’t stopped thinking about her told me something. It told me I wanted to see her again.

Even so, I made the excuse to see Riley, telling myself we needed to talk about the fundraiser and that was why I was stopping by her work unannounced. It had nothing to do with the fact that I thought Rose may be there.

Nope.

Not at all.

I found a parking spot that fit my giant truck a few blocks from her office building and even I could admit it looked out of place on the busy city street. My truck was meant to be surrounded by trees, dirt, and fresh air. Not pavement and traffic noise.

I also looked completely out of place myself, walking through the foyer of the office building. My work boots clunked against the marble floor and I didn’t have a phone or tablet in my hand. My Carhartts definitely didn’t match their fancy tailored suits.

Nevertheless, it wasn’t going to stop me from doing my damnedest to see Rose, even if it was under the guise of seeing Riley.

I wasn’t too proud to show up unannounced.

I found Rose City Events on the directory and then took the elevator up, sharing the space with a bunch of business professionals. It was a mixture of men and women, but none of the women looked half as good in their business attire as Rose had.

Fuck.

I was afraid no one would ever look as good to me again as Rose had. I’d never given a lot of thought about what type of woman I’d end up with. I just had faith in the fact that the one was out there somewhere, and I’d find her when the universe was good and ready. But not in a million years would I have ever imagined someone like Rose to be my match. I wouldn’t even consider myself a romantic, but the idea of her sharp edges and crisps lines being so damn alluring gave new meaning to the old adage of Opposites Attract.

Opposites indeed.

When the elevator stopped on the floor I’d chosen and the doors opened, my eyes immediately began to scan the area.

It wasn’t at all what I’d expected, but I wasn’t really sure what I was looking for either.

The first person I saw I happened to recognize, but I couldn’t quite recall her name. Luckily, she seemed to recognize me as well and walked over to me with a smile.

“Mr. Daniels? Do you have a meeting with Riley?”

“Hi, no. Uh...” My mind was blanking on her name, but she kindly provided it.

“Rachel.”

“Right. Rachel. We met at that dinner party at Riley and Camden’s house a few months ago, right?”

“Right,” she replied with a smile.

“Good to see you. I’m afraid I’m sort of here unannounced. Is Riley even here? I didn’t call to check first. I was just in the neighborhood.”

Surely, she wouldn’t buy my bullshit excuse, but she didn’t seem to question it. And if she did, she was sweet enough to play along.

“Riley is in her office. I can take you there.”

“Thanks.”

Rachel spun around and walked through the office that was missing any kind of cubicles. The giant room was filled mostly with just long rows of tables with work stations set up all along them, making the room one big communal office. I’d never really seen anything like it.

There were offices around the edge of two walls, and one of them looked to be where we were headed.

Rachel knocked lightly on a door and then pushed it open just far enough for her head to peak in and as she did my gaze scanned the room again.

When Rose entered, my entire body knew it. I could feel her energy all the way across the room.

I turned and watched her make her way to what I assumed was her office. She looked just as gorgeous as I remembered.

But this time her hair was down.

Long brown hair with a little wave to it cascaded all the way down her back.

I wanted to wrap my hand around it, tug it tightly, and pull her back against me. There were so many things I could think of that I wanted to do to her, and none of them were appropriate in that moment.

“Riley said you could go in,” Rachel said, perhaps not for the first time.

“Oh, thanks,” I replied, trying to sound as though I had my shit together when I definitely didn’t.

“Aiden, hi. What a nice surprise. I wasn’t expecting you,” Riley said as she rounded her desk and came to meet me, greeting me with a friendly hug. I’d learned these past few months hanging out with her, Hadley, and their husbands Camden and Justin, that Riley was a hugger. It didn’t really matter who you were, or how long it had been since she’d seen you last, she liked to hug.

“Yeah, sorry for just barging in. I was driving through town and thought I’d stop by since I had to cancel our appointment last week.”

“Yeah, it’s been crazy around here too. And I’m sorry again for missing our first meeting. I felt really bad about that.”

The meeting she’d missed was the reason I’d met Rose to begin with.

“Don’t worry about it. Everything worked out. I’m glad you’re feeling better.”

“Me, too. I thought the plague was eradicated back in the fourteenth century.” She laughed. “So, what can I help you with today?”

Before I could even put two thoughts together, words were falling from my mouth.

“I want Rose to plan my event.”

“You what?”

Clearly, I’d surprised her with my guerilla maneuver.

“I mean, you’re great, and I’m sure you’d plan a great party, but I think Rose should do it.”

“Aiden,” Riley said softly, walking behind me and closing the door. “I’m not really sure that’s a great idea.”

“Why not?”

“Well, I sort of got the impression after you met her that you were interested in her, like, romantically.”

“So?”

“Well, she doesn’t date. So, if you’re trying to trick her into a way to spend more time with you hoping you’ll be able to parlay that into some sort of relationship...”

“Whoa, Riley, hold on,” I said, laughing as though what she had said was funny. When in reality, the idea of Rose never agreeing to go on a date with me had my breakfast swirling in my gut. “I’m not doing this to get a date out of Rose.”

Lie.

“I don’t even want to date Rose.”

Lie.

Well, not entirely a lie. I wanted to do a lot more to Rose than just date her.

Riley crossed her arms over her chest and gave me a withering look that clearly expressed how much she wasn’t buying my bullshit.

“Seriously. Rose had a lot of great ideas about the party and we just really jived. Professionally. This has nothing to do with me being attracted to her. Come on, Riley. I’m a grown man. I can handle a tiny crush.”

“Did you, the man on the package of Bounty Paper Towels, just admit you have a tiny crush on Rose?”

“You’re being ridiculous.”

“I just can’t figure out if it’s endearing or sad. I mean, obviously, you’re a catch, but Rose isn’t fishing right now. She’s, like, not even on the boat or close to the dock. Trust me. Anglerwoman she is not.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Riley. I just think Rose should plan the event. No hard feelings.”

“My feelings aren’t hurt, Aiden. I’m a big girl. I’ve got plenty to keep me busy, and I want you—the client—to work with whomever you’re most comfortable. I’m just not sure this is best for everyone involved.”

“Are you saying no?”

“It’s not up to me. I think we need to ask Rose.”

Just the idea of seeing and speaking to Rose made my heart pump a little faster.

Riley walked back around her desk and then picked up her phone, dialing Rose, I assumed.

“Hey, it’s Riley. Do you have a minute? I have a client here who’d like a word with you.” Riley’s eyes blinked up at me and she gave me an uncomfortable smile. “Okay. We’ll be right over.” She hung up and then let out a sigh. “She has a few minutes available right now.”

“Great,” I replied with enthusiasm.

Riley led me out of her office and through the big room. My eyes fell on Rose again as soon as I noticed her sitting in an office made of glass. Literally. The walls were glass, and everyone could see right into it as well as she could see everyone outside of it.

So, when our eyes met from two-hundred feet away, it was easy to hold her gaze.

I watched, amused, as she started to panic once she realized I was the client on my way to see her.

“Mr. Daniels,” she greeted coolly as Riley and I entered her office.

“Ms. Finch,” I replied with a nod.

Rose’s eyes swung to Riley and I swore I saw a bit of panic in them. I wasn’t sure if that was a good sign or bad. I decided to go with good.

“Mr. Daniels stopped by today to talk about his event and he thinks, going forward, he would prefer if you handled the account.”

Riley said the words with a grimace, as though she were afraid of how Rose may react.

Rose was silent for a moment, her gaze locked on mine.

“Riley, why don’t you give Mr. Daniels and I a minute to discuss the situation.”

“Gladly,” Riley said with a sigh before she slipped from the room.

“What’s this really about?” Rose asked as soon as the door was closed.

“What do you mean?” I wasn’t very good at playing dumb.

“I mean, there’s no way you think I’d do a better job than Riley. She’s amazing. She can do anything I can, and you already have an established relationship with her. So, what’s this really about?”

I held back on the urge to tell her exactly what kind of relationship I wanted to have with her and continued down the bullshit road she knew I was paving.

“I liked what you had to say about the event and I think our personalities work well together. Riley is a people pleaser and she’ll do a great job, but you’ll do a fantastic job. If only to prove to me that you can.”

“I’m a busy woman.” She planted her fantastic ass on the corner of her mahogany desk. I’d never wanted to be a piece of furniture more in my life.

“And I’m a busy man. I’m not asking for much, just the best of the best. And I believe that’s you.” I took a few steps toward her and watched her eyes light up. Excitement and what I thought was lust flashed through them before she could get a handle on her emotions. I smirked at her and took a few more steps until there was enough space between us to still look like we were having a professional conversation, but enough tension between us so that we both knew that was bullshit.

“When’s our first meeting, Rose?”

She groaned and crossed her arms over her chest, which only made my eyes wander there. Her professional attire kept everything properly covered, but my imagination was on fire when it came to her, so I had no problem picturing what was underneath her blouse.

Nope. No problem at all.

“If you insist on this, I can meet with you next week. Tuesday.”

“A lunch meeting.”

“Just a regular meeting.”

“A lunch meeting. I’ll pick you up, here, at noon.”

“Aiden,” she warned.

I really liked the way my name sounded coming from her lips. She had the prettiest mouth I’d ever seen. Pink and full. Tempting. Frustratingly sexy.

I’d gotten what I came for and thought I’d better leave before I overstepped my boundaries.

“Noon. Tuesday.” I flashed her a smile before turning toward the door, noticing almost every eye in the office was fixed on us.

Seemed as though maybe Rose didn’t have men in her office very often and that thought made me very happy.