CHAPTER 20

As the shuttle crossed the Shinnecock Canal, Rose looked out the window at the water and hoped the shuttle fee which she thought was pure extortion was worth it.

Shortly after Cole had left for his office that morning she had received a text from Mike. He mentioned that he and a few of the other guards might’ve picked up on something, but they would like to run it by her before handing the information over to the cops.

Rose was nervous about what the information could be, but she pushed the nerves aside. She wanted justice for her friend’s death. That’s why she only slightly twitched when booking the shuttle. If the information Mike had was important it couldn’t wait until Cole finished work.

So she sat with head resting against the window missing him already. Every night with Cole seemed to be better than the one before. He had taken her to heights she’d never known. Teasing her until her whole body quivered only to pull back and soothe the quivers away before building them up again.

This morning as she stood under the waterfall shower on her own she could feel her muscles twinge. But the twinges were delicious reminders of the night before.

Cole didn’t try and explain his feelings for her more than he did at Pier 54, he didn’t need to. Just the fact that he took her to his apartment, to the pier, had made a world’s difference.

Rose didn’t know where her relationship with Cole was headed but she knew she wanted to find out. He excited her like no man had before. When his hands slid over her body she was butter and he was the hot knife.

He sliced through all her reservations; she had never felt bolder sexually. Not only was it freeing, but Rose felt more comfortable with herself for it.

When the shuttle pulled up outside her house Rose was surprised to find two white vans with a popular security company logo on it. There was a man on a ladder on her front lawn attaching what looked like a camera to a long pole that had been planted on her lawn. Another held a clip board and walked towards the shuttle as it came to a stop.

“Excuse me,” Rose called even as she stepped out of the van. “What the hell are you doing?”

A middle aged man with tufts of brown hair peeking out under his baseball cap walked up to her with a congenial smile. “Are you Miss. Adler?”

“Yes, why?” Rose asked surprised that he knew her name.

“Great, we were waiting for you to arrive. We’ve come to install your closed circuit television cameras to monitor your property.” He said holding out a clipboard for her to sign on.

“No! I didn’t order this and I sure as hell am not paying for it.” Rose said as her hackles rose.

“I know M’am. It’s a surprise gift. It’s all been paid for, all you need to do is sign on the dotted line and let my crew into the house.”

“No. You can leave. This hasn’t been discussed with me.” Rose said jutting out her chin.

“M’am, be reasonable. Like I said it’s all been paid for.” The man frowned at Rose’s demand.

“I am being reasonable. No gift is this expensive. A gift is a bunch of flowers or a box of chocolates not a closed circuit security television system, and not fully installed. Now I’d like you to leave please.”

The man nodded silently before calling his crew. Within a few minutes both vans drove away leaving Rose furious as she stood next to the new pole on her front lawn with the scent of freshly unearthed ground.

She didn’t even have to wonder who sat behind the exorbitant gift. A few swipes and clicks on her phone later the call was answered.

“Rose, how was your trip?” His voice came easily over the phone, the familiarity of it heating her blood.

“The trip was fine; it was what I came home to that wasn’t!” She all but shouted into the phone.

“Rose? What do you mean? Was there another murder?” Cole asked carefully. “I can be back…”

“Don’t bother, there wasn’t a murder Cole. Although I feel like murdering you at the moment. Who gave you permission to have a closed circuit security system installed on my property because you sure as hell didn’t run it past me?”

The line was quiet for a moment before Cole spoke. “Rose, I was going to tell you. To be honest I arranged for them to do my house and it just made sense to do yours as well. With everything that’s been going on I just forgot to mention it. Please Rose don’t be mad.”

“Cole, you ask me not to be mad, but you’re pulling the tyrannical control freak act again. You can’t just decide these things for me. You need to ask me, find out how I feel about it. I really don’t know if this relationship can go anywhere if you can’t even consider my feelings or my property?”

“Rose, it’s not like that. Honestly I just didn’t want you to get hurt. You’re too stubborn to move in with me, and I can’t be at your place twenty-four-seven. This was the only way that I could help to protect you. I was wrong, I should’ve asked you. I told you yesterday I’m new to this....”

“Cole just don’t... I’m too mad to be reasoned with right now.”

“Fine, just hang on. I’m leaving the city now. I’ll be there soon.”

Rose huffed goodbye as she unlocked her front door. She wanted her relationship with Cole to work but she couldn’t be controlled. As she walked through the house she couldn’t imagine what was worse, being blissfully ignorant about a cheating partner, or having a partner that constantly tried to control you.

She sat down on her couch and looked up, wished not for the first time that Emmaline was here to give her advice.

Even though she wasn’t, Rose knew what Emmaline would’ve said.

You’re mad because he’s trying to protect you Rose? How does that make sense at all? Would you rather he didn’t want to protect you?

As Emmaline’s imaginary voice talked some sense into Rose she decided to give Cole a fair chance to explain when he arrived, but first she need to phone Mike.