The Desert Flowers--Rose, page 18
“No worries,” said Brian. “Right now, we all need to work together.”
“Agreed,” said Hank. “Right, team?”
Rose chuckled as she nodded along with the others.
“More margaritas,” cried Dan, and a waiter hurried over to the table.
Sitting with the group at the table, Rose recalled get-togethers like this in the past with staff members of the hotel. Alec had always encouraged friendship among his staff. Glancing at the people around her, she guessed a lot more than friendship was being developed.
Her meal came, and Rose dug into the chicken dish with enthusiasm. She was glad her dinner with Hank had turned into a party. It was such a festive place, and the food was delicious.
It was close to ten when the party broke up.
Hank led Rose to his car and turned to face her.
“Come to my house for a while. It’s a pleasant evening. A perfect night for a swim.” He drew her close and kissed her.
She loved the feel of his lips on hers and decided a nighttime swim was an excellent idea.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
LILY
Lily left the party with Brian wondering how the evening was going to end. Once they’d come upon the others from the hotel, he became more distant, as if he had to prove it was only a business arrangement. She’d hoped for so much more.
“Great to see everyone, huh?” he said as he led her to his car. “Good for business.”
“I suppose so. We all have to work together,” Lily said.
Brian smiled at her. “It’s nice to make new friends. It can get lonely working on projects like this.”
“It’s always good to get away from the hotel, whether it’s taking morning walks or doing something like this,” she said.
He gave her hand a squeeze. “I’m glad you see it that way.”
When they reached his car, he stood by and then helped her into the passenger seat. “Guess we’d better make it a short night,” he said, sliding behind the wheel. “I’ve got an early meeting with a plumber in the morning.”
“Do you need me to take notes?” she asked.
He shook his head. “No, but thanks. He’s going to give us a written report of his findings.”
“Oh. Okay.” Lily knew she sounded disappointed, but she was feeling like a complete dope. She’d thought Brian might be interested in her as a woman, not a friend because he was lonely.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
WILLOW
Willow and Sarah left the group and went to her car. She’d planned to join Dan, Tiffany, and Trace by herself, but at the last minute, she called Sarah to see if she wanted to come. Sarah was thrilled with the invitation, and Willow felt better about not arriving alone.
Now that she’d spent time with Trace, Willow wanted to spend more time with him. Tiffany, she noted, had the same idea.
Willow sighed as she put the car in gear and watched Tiffany get into Dan’s car with Trace.
Sarah noticed. “Trace is something, isn’t he? But, then, so is Dan.”
Willow nodded but didn’t say anything. Dan hadn’t seemed interested in her during dinner, and he hadn’t yet called her. On the contrary, Trace had been pleasant to her all evening.
When they got to Sarah’s house, Sarah said, “Come on inside. My parents are watching Henry, and I want them to meet you.”
Flattered, Willow pushed away depressing thoughts. “Thanks. I will. Rose mentioned how much she liked your father.”
“He’s sad that Alec is ill. And you’ll like my mother. My parents are amazing. They’re terrific with Henry.”
Sarah’s house was in a comfortable neighborhood—nothing too fancy but attractive just the same. It was the kind of neighborhood Willow liked, full of families with kids.
Sarah opened the front door and called out softly, “Mom? Dad?”
Her parents came to the front hall, holding fingers to their lips.
“Shhh, He’s finally asleep,” her mother said. “Too much excitement playing with Grandpa.”
Sarah grinned. “Thanks. I’d like you to meet Willow Sanchez, a new friend of mine. She’s working at the hotel for Alec, doing special projects. Willow, my mother, Elena Goodrich, and my father, George.”
Willow smiled at the attractive older couple, shook their hands, and said, “Pleased to meet you.”
“I feel as if we know you,” said Elena. “Alec told us all about you. He talked to us about helping with a scholarship for you to go to Cornell. It turned out that with your hard work, you got a scholarship on your own. Very nice, Willow.”
“Since graduating, what have you been doing?” George asked.
Willow smiled and nodded. “I’ve been teaching some, but now that I’m back at the inn, I realize how much I’ve missed the operations end of the business.”
“We’re heartsick to know Alec is dying,” said Elena, as a sad look crept into her hazel eyes.
“Me, too,” Willow said softly, wondering how she could ever explain how much his involvement in her life meant to her.
Sarah checked her watch and turned to her parents. “Thanks so much for giving me an evening out. You’d better go. Dad, you have your golf game in the morning.”
He grinned. “Yeah. Somebody new is joining our group. Hank Bowers.”
“Oh, he’s terrific,” said Sarah. “You’ll like him. But better watch out. I have a feeling he’s a scratch golfer.”
“He sure talks sports,” Willow said, and they both laughed.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
ROSE
The closer they got to Hank’s house, the more Rose’s pulse raced. They might talk of a swim in Hank’s pool, but she knew the evening might provide a lot more than that. She decided to leave it up to chance. She was already more comfortable with Hank than other men she’d dated in the past.
This time, instead of pulling up in front of the house, he opened the garage door remotely. “We’ll go in the back way. More privacy,” he said, pulling into the garage and turning off the engine of his car. He grinned at her. “I’ve thought of being alone with you like this all through dinner.”
“Yes, but it was good for the group to be together, don’t you think?”
“Sure, but this, being here with you, is the best kind of evening I can think of.” He got out of the car and waited while she joined him.
Coming in through the back door gave her a different perspective of the house. The living room, dining area, and kitchen were all compact but comfortable. Beyond them were the three bedrooms in a peaceful and quiet wing.
“Ready for a swim?” Hank said, his lips curving.
“You go ahead,” she said to Hank. “I’ll join you in a minute.”
“Okay,” he said agreeably. “I’ll leave a towel in the bedroom for you.”
“Thanks,” she said, grateful for his understanding.
Once she saw that he was in the pool, she headed for the bedroom to get out of her clothes. He’d laid a large beach towel on top of the bed. In the dim light, she took off her skirt and blouse and slipped out of her underwear. Drawing a deep breath, she pulled on the bikini she wore for sunbathing and wrapped the towel around herself.
As she slid the glass door open and stepped outside, she felt like a teen going to her first prom, wondering if her date would like the dress she was wearing. Silently laughing at such a thought, she walked to the edge of the pool, dropped her towel, and jumped in.
She came to the surface gasping and began swimming to get warm. As she glided toward him, Hank watched her, staying in place even as she did a smooth turn for another lap of the pool.
When she finally returned to him, he grinned. “You’re a beautiful swimmer.”
“Thanks. It’s something I try to do as often as I can. My condo has a great community pool.”
“I’m glad we have this one to ourselves,” said Hank, reaching for her.
Though the water was clear, the rippling of the water from the gentle breeze made it impossible to get a clear picture of him in his swim trunks. Still, she admired his broad shoulders, the bulk of him that gave her a sense of strength and protection. Hair scattered across the breadth of his chest and then came together to angle downward.
She nestled up against his chest, happy for the warmth of his body.
He stroked her hair and let out a sigh before bending down to kiss her.
She closed her eyes and allowed herself to enjoy the deep satisfaction that settled inside her. As they’d both mentioned, it felt so right for them to be together. It wasn’t like the frantic, hot love she remembered from her early days with Alec, but an attraction that was both sexual and deeper.
They settled on the steps in the shallow end of the pool. Hank pulled her onto his lap and caressed her with his broad hands, moving from her back to her front and then tracing her lower curves.
She wrapped her arms around him, getting used to the feel of him. He was in good shape, not too thin nor too heavy.
He leaned back and studied the sky. “There’s something so refreshing about being in clear air like this.”
She nodded and smiled with pleasure. “I feel as if I could reach up and touch a star. Look! There’s Orion.”
“I see it. My girls and I used to love to lie out at night and gaze at the constellations.”
“It sounds like you and they had such a lovely time together while they were growing up,” Rose said, unable to hide the wistfulness she felt.
He drew her closer. “I want that same kind of feeling with Leah. It’s amazing to spend time with her.”
“That’s why we have to move carefully with Sam,” Rose said. “I don’t want our being together to ruin that for you.”
“Samantha can be very emotional,” said Hank. “But I’m not going to let her change what I feel for you. It’s sudden and unexpected, but I’m sincere when I say I’ve never felt quite this way about anyone before.”
Rose reached up and caressed his cheek. “I feel the same. I was all prepared to dislike you, you know.”
“You were? Why?”
“Oh, you know the type. Former professional athlete, full of confidence and all the lingo.”
He laughed, startling her. “Oh my god! You make it sound so awful. Am I really that way?”
“Aside from the home runs, getting to first base, and hitting all the balls out of the park, you’re not too bad, Hank Bowers.”
He hugged her tighter. “I want it to be just like this, me with you enjoying a laugh to brighten the days.”
“And the nights?” she asked, unable to resist the temptation.
“That, my dear, is something I can’t wait to show you.”
He helped her to her feet. “C’mon. It’s getting chilly out here.”
Standing beside the pool, they stared at one another, smiles on their faces.
A nice view, Rose thought, allowing him to wrap his towel around her and lead her inside.
After dressing, she nestled up against Hank on the couch, and Rose let out a soft sigh of satisfaction. Staring up into his stubbly chin, she wanted to feel his lips on hers to make sure this was real.
As if he sensed her thoughts, he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her long and hard.
###
The next morning the three women sat on the patio, sipping coffee and chatting. Hank was playing golf with Sarah’s father, Brian was meeting a plumber, and Trace and Brent were having a private meeting between the two of them, leaving Willow and the other two women the time they wanted to rest and relax.
“It’s so relaxing to be here doing nothing,” said Willow. “Last night was fun. Rose, I hope we didn’t ruin your date with Hank.”
“No, it was great to have everyone together. I’m glad I got to meet Trace. He seems pleasant. Low key.”
“He’s something else,” said Lily, fanning herself with a hand.
“What’s with you and Brian?” Rose said to Lily. “He made it clear his socializing was all professional, very much about being friends.”
Lily’s cheeks grew pink. Her eyes watered. She set down her coffee mug and heaved a big sigh. “I’m such a dud. I thought ... well, you know what I thought ...”
Rose reached across the table and clasped Lily’s hand. “You’re no dud. You’re a lovely young woman.”
Lily sniffed. “Thanks! That’s sweet of you to say.”
“The fact that Brian asked you out to dinner tells me he likes you,” said Rose.
Lily sighed again. “You’re right. I’m just not good with the dating scene. And for the last several years, I’ve been too busy or too tired to do much about it.”
Rose turned to Willow. “How is it going with Dan?”
Willow blinked in surprise. “Dan? We’re not dating. And I’m not sure I want to. He’s already proved to me he doesn’t care. Maybe it’s time to move on.”
“With Trace?” Lily asked, giving her a sly smile.
Willow shrugged and then laughed. “Having coffee with you two is dangerous.” She got to her feet. “I’m going to get ready for work.” She waved and hurried away.
“She’s adorable,” said Lily. “I’m glad she’s one of us.”
“Me, too,” Rose said. They each were different, but Alec’s idea of having the three women join forces was working.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
ROSE
For the next couple of weeks, Rose and Hank not only worked together, they spent most evenings together. Rose found it pleasant to have someone to talk to about business. More than that, they spoke about their pasts, their dreams, and what they envisioned in life going forward. As she’d felt from the beginning, Rose found Hank was someone she truly liked. Romance with him was surprisingly both sweet and sexy. Against all the warnings she gave herself about moving too fast, she was falling hopelessly, completely in love.
Hank showed her in many ways how much he cared for her, but she was still waiting for him to say the “L” word. Until then, she couldn’t be sure of the future, which was privately driving her crazy.
One evening as they were finishing a late dinner at his house, his cell rang.
He sighed and glanced at her. “Who’s calling now?” They’d worked late, and they both were tired.
“You’d better check to see who it is,” she said. “The Armstrong brothers were going to get back to us on some of the advertising we’ve put together.”
He left her in the kitchen to get his cell from the patio.
As she slipped the last of the dishes into the dishwasher, she heard him talking on the phone. She listened for a moment and frowned. It sounded like trouble.
She wiped her hands on a towel and went to see if it was a problem at work.
The look of devastation on his face sent her pulse sprinting through her. She clasped her hands and waited for him to speak.
“All right,” Hank said into the phone. “I’ll get a flight out of here as soon as possible and let you know when I arrive. Don’t worry about picking me up. I’ll call my driver.”
“What is it?” Rose asked, feeling a tremor go through her. Hank looked ill.
“It’s Samantha. She’s had a miscarriage and is scheduled for surgery tomorrow. Rob is a wreck. He wants me to come right away. Sam’s been asking for me.”
“Oh my God! Of course, you must go. Let me help you search for flights.”
Hank rubbed a hand across his face. “If anything happens to her ...”
Rose wrapped an arm around him. “Don’t even go there.”
He sighed. “You’re right. I’ll get organized while you check flights.”
Rose’s research indicated the earliest Hank could leave Palm Springs and be on his way was 6 AM. She went into his bedroom to tell him.
He was sitting on the bed staring into space.
She gave him the news and sat down beside him. “I’m sure she’ll be all right. She’s in the hands of the best medical people.”
“Yes, but I feel terrible about our disagreement.”
“About me?” She felt a knot form in her stomach.
“Yeah. I was pretty straightforward with her.”
Rose didn’t say anything but simply watched the way his eyes moistened. “Do you want me to take you to the airport in the morning?”
“No, I’ll arrange to have someone from the hotel pick me up.” He managed a weak smile. “I don’t want to interrupt your beauty sleep.”
“Are you sure? I’d be happy to do it.”
He shook his head. “Thanks, but no. It’s late. I’d better try to get some sleep. It’s going to be a long day tomorrow.”
Rose hid her disappointment. She got to her feet. “Okay, I’d better go so you can get some rest.” She hoped he’d ask her to stay, but he simply nodded and said, “I’ll walk you to your car.”
Rose grabbed her purse and other things and headed out with Hank at her side.
When they reached her car, he held the door for her.
She slid into the driver’s seat and looked up at him. “Keep in touch, Hank. I’ll be thinking of you and Sam and the rest of the family.”
“Thanks.” He leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “I’ll call you as soon as I can after I get there and see the situation for myself.”
“Safe travels,” she whispered, kissing him back.
He stood in the driveway as she pulled out and lifted his hand in a wave that almost felt like goodbye.
###
The next morning Rose awoke exhausted. Her mind had played tricks on her all night, telling her that being with Hank would end up hurting her. It was fine while they were working together in the desert, but he was a family man who lived in Atlanta.
She got out of bed, walked to the window, and stared out at the landscape that always gave her a sense of home. Her thoughts whirled. The southwest was the place she loved and where she had connections that would keep her business going. She didn’t need a man to provide for her. Besides, she was proud of the business she’d built on her own.
