Kiss From a Rose

by Bella Fontaine

  “Headache.” She tapped her forehead. “I usually try to use natural remedies, but I can’t find anything around here.”

  That was my area of expertise. “I have some lavender stuff I can grab for you that should help. I’m a beauty therapist.”

  “Wow, really?” Her face brightened. “I don’t know why I’m surprised. You’re as beautiful as your aunt.” Her thick, blond hair bounced as she nodded.

  “Thank you. I’ll have that stuff with you by this evening when the receptionist takes over. Let me know if you need anything else.” I was happy to help. She’d kind of given me a boost with her compliment.

  “You’re very kind. See you later.”

  The dog yipped as she moved away from the desk.

  Patricia came in from the swimming pool area with some towels on her arm. I didn’t know how she did her job so effortlessly and all without breaking a sweat.

  Today, she was playing maid, concierge, lifeguard, receptionist, and confidante to me.

  And she looked good too. Me, on the other hand… well, I knew my hair was a ruffled mess.

  Patricia was in her late fifties and carried herself with that Latina sass I liked. Her long, black hair sparkled as she moved and was in tip-top shape. She enhanced the look with a cherry-colored lipstick that matched her nails and heels.

  I wished I could look like that when I got to her age. Shit, I wished I could look like her now.

  We were busy today. There were a lot of ladies checking in, and I thought it could have something to do with Caine.

  If he was going to walk around shirtless like he was, it didn’t surprise me.

  He’d already been here when I got back from the hospital. He’d had his shirt on then but still looked hot with his messy I-just-got-out-of-bed hair and his bedroom eyes.

  “You, break time now,” Patricia ordered coming around the counter.

  She rested the towels on the chair and marched over to me.

  “It’s busy.” I wanted to do as much as I could, especially since I didn’t know what I was doing and everyone else had to spend time showing me what to do.

  “It doesn’t matter, chica. Go and take a break.” She raised her hand and pointed down the corridor. The same direction Caine had gone.

  “Okay, I won’t be long though.”

  “Girl, please, just go. No one can work hours on end like that. You will burn out.”

  She was right because I already felt burnt out. I’d gotten here just before midday, and now it was four thirty. I’d worked solid all that time, and I was looking at just beyond midnight before I could leave because there was a lot of admin work to do.

  “Thank you.”

  I left her and went to the break room, where I found Caine on his ladder, fixing the overhead light.

  I was going to turn around and go back through the door before he saw me, but my body wouldn’t move. My eyes glued to him as he reached up his arm and used the screwdriver to undo a few screws that held the light fixture in place.

  Up close those tattoos looked so much more enticing, like I could reach out and touch them and explore the deep, dark hues with my fingertips.

  “Going to just stand there checking me out?” His voice sounded everywhere and around me, all at the same time, snapping me out of my reverie.

  “What?” I feigned innocence, and when he turned to smile at me, I stared at him head-on like I wasn’t affected in the least.

  His smile turned up a notch, turning sexier, and heat flushed my cheeks.

  “Checking me out, Anya?”

  “I just came in here for a break.”

  “Great, let’s go.” He climbed down the ladder.

  “Go?” I raised my brows at him. “Go where?”

  “Grab food.”

  I would have said no, but then I remembered what I’d promised Halle. At least that’s what I told myself.

  Chapter 6

  Caine

  Look at her trying not to look at me.

  Anya was doing her best at minimal eyes contact. We’d sat outside the restaurant for the last hour. I thought it was a good idea to sit out on the deck in the sunlight.

  The reason wasn’t for enjoying the sun or the pleasant day we were having.

  I simply wanted to watch the sun sparkle off her beautiful skin and her gorgeous hair, which she wore down today in loose waves.

  There was some shimmer on her cheeks that enhanced the vision of her, and while she looked out to the open sea, I looked at her.

  I leaned onto the table, catching her attention.

  The bright light from the sun made her brown eyes look like warm honey, liquid and smooth.

  “Are you seeing anybody? You never said.” That was me in my blunt, straightforward get-to-the-point way of thinking.

  However, she looked appalled at the question. “Why? And why would I tell you that?”

  I grinned at her and allowed my gaze to travel over her dainty, perfect assets.

  “Well, are you?”

  “No.”

  “How come?”

  Now she looked more annoyed. “I’m busy.”

  “Okay, so I know you’re busy now, but what happened before?”

  “Still busy.”

  She sure was stubborn. “Well, since we’re busy together, that’s perfect. We can go out when it suits us.”

  “You’re asking me out?” She cocked her head to the side and looked me over with wide eyes.

  “Yeah, why not?”

  “No.”

  My shoulders slumped. Maybe I shouldn’t have put back on my shirt, but then I didn’t think a woman had ever told me no before.

  “Really?”

  She started to laugh. “You should see your face.”

  “What’s it look like?”

  “Shocked I would say no.” She gave me a sassy one-shouldered shrug and smiled.

  “Just out of interest, why no? It will help me for next time. Maybe it was my execution. Is it the setting? I thought a river walk restaurant was romantic enough.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Yes, don’t I look serious? So, Anya, why no?”

  “I don’t trust you.”

  “You don’t need to trust me. I’m not a relationship guy, so you don’t have to expect anything from me. Just great sex.” I kind of said that to shock her, and it worked.

  The look on her face was classic. Really classic, to the point where I almost got out my phone to take a picture of her face. Would have been nice to get a picture of her anyway.

  “I can’t believe you just said that.”

  “What? What’d I do? I was just being honest and up front. Those are important elements in trust. Don’t you agree?”

  She tried not to smile but failed. “I agree. You’re just a little too honest.”

  “What, so you don’t think knowing you’ll have great sex is an important thing to consider?”

  Her jaw clenched, and the gentle breeze whipped up her hair.

  “It’s not the only thing.”

  “But it’s the most fun thing. Imagine being with a guy and the sex was terrible, or he couldn’t get it up. What would you do then?”

  She started to laugh.

  “It’s not funny, Anya. These things are important.”

  “Surely, if there’s no prospect of a relationship, then it’s not important.”

  “It’s important, trust me.” I nodded.

  “Well, you can save it for one of those girly girls who used to follow you around like love sick puppies.”

  “Like you?” Unfortunately, that had never been her, but that was my fault.

  “Get over yourself, Caine. You’re not that…” She looked at me and stopped. There’s no way she could say she didn’t think I was hot. We both knew that would be a bald-faced lie.

  “Not that what, sweetheart?”

  “Not that nice. I know firsthand how you can be. That frog in my cup is a lifetime reminder to never trust the horrible Donoghue boy.”
>
  “I’m a man now, in case you didn’t notice, and I don’t do that shit anymore.” Our eyes locked for a moment, and I thought I’d reached her, but she grinned and looked down at the ridged pattern the wood formed on our table.

  “Go out with me?” A cut to the chase.

  “No.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t like you,” she replied, but we both knew it for the lie it was.

  “Liar. Can’t say no forever.”

  “I can if I don’t feel it. “

  I looked at her and gave her a purely sexual look. One that was undeniably irresistible and spoke all. Triumph surged through me when I saw how uncomfortable she looked.

  She didn’t know it yet, but she’d just dealt me a challenge, and like all challenges, I was going to take the bull by the horns and seize it.

  Seize her.

  I spent the rest of the day watching her. Every chance I got, I watched her. Her friend came by later in the afternoon, and the two of them hung out at reception talking. She seemed to loosen up around her friend.

  Shawna, I remembered her friend’s name. They’d always been together in the summer too when we were kids.

  I noticed them talking about me at one point, and I wondered if Anya told her I asked her out.

  Thinking of ways to get Anya to go out with me was perhaps the last thing I should have on my mind because later that evening, I went through Halle’s paperwork in the back office and found that the loan sharks were indeed loan sharks. And not just the regular type either. They were bookies and shit.

  I didn’t know how the fuck Halle had gotten herself mixed up with them, but I needed to sort it out. The payment plan she had was for a loan of fifteen grand, but the interest on it was a bomb, so she was paying back nearly double. That was bad, but what was worse were the stipulations for missed payments. A grand in charges could be added for every month she missed. It had to be illegal.

  I was thinking about it the next day when I went to the motel. I needed to get in touch with them. I didn’t want them going to see Anya, or even Halle in hospital for the matter. Those people did things like that, and I couldn’t let the situation escalate in such a way.

  I jumped off my bike and was climbing the steps to the motel when I heard my name being called.

  Ava.

  Shit. How did she find me?

  She was wearing one of those one-shouldered tops and a wrap-over skirt that made her long legs look longer.

  “Hey, you.” She beamed bouncing toward me.

  We hadn’t rescheduled our date the other night, and I hadn’t planned to. It would be wrong to be with one woman and thinking about another. Even if that said other was lying to herself and trying to resist me.

  “Hey. Fancy seeing you here.”

  “I work at the restaurant down by the docks. I saw you here yesterday.”

  “Yeah, I’m here helping a family member out.” It didn’t feel right to call Halle a friend. “My aunt.” That felt better. I would be so lucky to have an aunt like Halle.

  All my relatives were snobby, two-faced bastards who were exactly like Dad.

  “That’s so sweet.” Her bright blue eyes sparkled, and her white-blond hair whipped up in the gentle breeze.

  She really was beautiful. Just not the woman who’d somehow stolen my mind. Last night, I was trying to pinpoint the exact time when my thoughts shifted on Anya, and I couldn’t.

  It was just over the course of a few days. It was Sunday, and I was actually looking forward to seeing what today would bring.

  “Thanks.”

  “I was listening out for your call.” She gave me that hopeful, expectant look women threw me when they wanted me.

  I’d given her every reason to think she could get more from me than just a drink, so I shouldn’t have been surprised by the comment.

  I would have answered straightaway if I didn’t see Anya walking up the pathway toward us.

  Unlike her usual smart clothes, she was casual today.

  A dark green camisole top hugged her tiny frame, making her gorgeous breasts the highlight of her look, but what might rival her breasts were her legs in those shorts.

  And that hair. That long, jet-black hair that whipped up behind her, billowing in the wind like a velvet cape.

  As she walked on by, she pressed her full red lips together and gave me a sassy look. The look turned quizzical when she looked at Ava, but she didn’t say anything. She just continued up the stairs and went through the doors, giving me a good view of her fine ass and those hips that swayed from side to side.

  “Caine.” Ava tugged on my arm.

  “Huh?”

  I couldn’t remember what she was saying or what we were talking about.

  “That drink. We should reschedule. Let me know when,” she cooed, running her fingers over my chest. Another sassy look came my way. Different woman. Same sass.

  She moved away and swished her hips too as she walked down the path that led to the beach.

  What the hell had I landed myself in? I hadn’t even been back a week yet, and here I was with women trouble. Although realistically, it was woman trouble. One. The one I’d pissed off the most.

  I went inside and saw Anya at the reception. She glanced at me as I came through the door and must have decided she didn’t want to talk to me because she moved and started walking toward the break room.

  Perfect, now I could be alone with her. Patricia was behind the reception desk talking to Luis.

  Making my way to the break room, I thought I’d jazz things up.

  She was making herself a cup of hot chocolate and stopped stirring the spoon when I came in.

  “Hi,” she said, looking like she was trying to remain cool, but I saw the slight hint of color tickle her cheeks.

  “Hello.”

  “Do you want coffee?”

  “No, I’m good. So… still telling yourself you don’t like me?”

  She laughed. “This again, and first thing in the morning?”

  “Do you always answer a question with a question?”

  “No.” She took a sip of her drink and set it back down on the table.

  “So, answer the question. I’m interested to know what today brings. I’m feeling lucky.”

  “No.”

  “No, you’re not telling yourself you don’t like me? Or no, you’re not answering the question.”

  “No.” She smirked, and I frowned.

  She’d started her own game with me.

  That only encouraged me more.

  “You know, sexual frustration is a terrible thing. I heard it contributes to prostate cancer in men, and I read somewhere that female ferrets die if they don’t have sex.”

  She started to laugh. It was a sound I could get used to and found myself wanting to hear it again, as often as I could.

  “You comparing me to a ferret? I never said I was sexually frustrated, but I feel for you if you are. Like you said, it’s a terrible thing.”

  Maybe I was wrong, thrown off in my game because of this thing with Halle.

  Maybe she was telling the truth and didn’t like me. Only one way to find out.

  “Okay, Miss Thing…”

  “Miss Thing?” She tilted her head to the side, and her hair drifted over her shoulder.

  “Look at you. I’m pretty certain you wore that getup to make me crazy, but that’s a subject for another time.”

  She placed her hands on her hips and quirked a brow at me.

  “Lieutenant Caine Donoghue,” she began.

  God, why did I find it sexy as hell that she’d not only full named me but called me lieutenant as well?

  All she needed now were those fuck-me heels she’d worn on that first day I saw her.

  “Yes, ma’am?”

  She wagged her pointer at me and set her face stern, like she was trying to be serious, but the quiver at the corner of her sexy mouth told me otherwise.

  “I do not dress for you. This is for me, and I we
ar whatever the hell I like. So, please don’t be confused. I can assure you the only feelings I have for you are gratitude for what you did for my aunt. Nothing more.”

  “Okay. Well… I think you should kiss me just to be sure. If you kiss me and you’re right, I’ll back off.”

  She was already moving toward the door before I could finish the sentence. I caught her arm and pulled her back to me.

  “I’m not kissing you. Unhand me.” She giggled.

  “Come on, it’s just a kiss. We haven’t done that yet.”

  “There’s a reason for that.”

  I couldn’t remember what that was. “Come here.” I crooked my finger to her, beckoning her to come closer. When she continued with her hesitation, I smoothed my hand under her chin and held her in place.

  “It’s just kissing.”

  “Kissing,” she breathed.

  I nodded and lowered to brush my lips over hers.

  I didn’t expect the blast of energy that rushed from her to me, just from a mere touch. We hadn’t even gotten going yet. I pressed my lips harder to hers and could have rejoiced when she relinquished that guard she’d put up and loosened up, kissing me back. I kissed her slowly at first, then the kiss turned hungry, and I took complete advantage when she gasped and her lips parted. I swept my tongue inside her hot, wet mouth, tasting her, and damn, I felt my cock stir in that moment. She tasted as sweet as she was, as sweet as I’d expected, but more.

  She was more, and I wanted more. A soft moan escaped her mouth and rippled through me. Wanting more, I slipped my hand to the back of her head and kissed her harder. She smoothed her dainty hands up my chest, leaving a trail of heat in the wake of her touch. Her delicate fingers brushed over my bare skin when she got up to my neck and lingered there.

  Like fuck, who would have thought that the sweet girl I’d teased for years tasted this good? Like something I wanted and shouldn’t have.

  I really didn’t want to stop kissing her, but if I didn’t, I knew we’d both end up naked right here in about five minutes. So, I sucked on her tongue, causing her to melt against me, and tugged on her bottom lip before I pulled away.

  Shock registered on her beautiful face, and her eyes widened as she looked at me.