by Ember Leigh
Looking into Garrett’s eyes, she saw the same understanding there.
Maybe it would last a week more—or maybe a year. Maybe longer. Maybe they would find out they were toxic to the other; or maybe they’d find a gentleness and kindness that had never before existed in a romantic partner.
Rose didn’t know what lay ahead nor could she even attempt to predict.
But when Garrett leaned down to kiss her again, every molecule in her body screamed that she should take the leap.
Epilogue
Three Months Later
Hotel Monteblanco stood proud and gleaming beneath the early morning May sunlight. An ostentatious red ribbon hung between two poles in front of the doorway, fluttering gently in the breeze. Garrett and Wesley stood off to the side, dressed in khakis and button-ups as they conferred quietly with the mayor and a few other local celebrities from the nearby town.
Rose shifted from foot to foot in the group of people waiting for the ribbon-cutting ceremony to begin. Most of the town had shown up, along with some journalists and plenty of other interested people from the surrounding areas. She smoothed down the front of her floral dress again, the breeze toying with the hem. Was she being exposed? She hated dresses, couldn’t remember if it had been Garrett’s idea or her own to get this thing from the local shop. It had probably been hers as she wanted everything to go perfectly at her partner’s hour of recognition. Besides, putting on a dress once every five years wasn’t the worst. Even Garrett, after grumbling for a full day, had conceded to the button-up.
But damn, her underwear had to be hanging out.
The mayor moved to a makeshift podium off to the side, and the nearby conversations quieted.
“Thank you all for coming today to this grand celebration, the re-opening of Hotel Monteblanco.”
Applause erupted. Rose locked eyes with Garrett, and they smiled at each other. Shivers ran through her spine, something she’d thought would have diminished even a little bit after the first couple months.
But the more time she spent with Garrett, the more a deep truth emerged: this might be the only man she’d ever be with.
“The brothers Wesley and Garrett Galo have rejuvenated this hotel to not only its former glory, but far beyond. The new owners will commence operation of the famous Hotel Monteblanco beginning this Friday, when they will be open for the entire season. Brothers, we couldn’t be more happy and thankful to you both, for bringing a business like this back into our neck of the woods.”
The clapping resumed again and some people whistled. Rose pumped her fists in the air and screamed, “Yeah, boys.”
“I now declare the Hotel Monteblanco open for business.” The mayor swept his hand toward the brothers at the ribbon, where they held a gigantic pair of scissors. Beaming, they carefully sliced the ribbon. As the flimsy halves fluttered apart, the audience erupted with cheers.
Wes and Garrett posed for pictures with the mayor and some other unnamed officials from the city. The crowd swelled toward the hotel, which would be open until noon for the general public to visit and poke around inside.
“Hey, aren’t you that girl?”
Rose turned to face a tall, slightly overweight man who watched her with one brow severely creased. She stared at him a moment, struggling to piece together what he might be talking about.
“Uh…”
“The one from the police station.” He crossed his arms over his chest and squinted at her. “Yeah, you are. I’m Dale, the police officer who works there.” A smile crept across his face.
“Ahh, hello. Nice to see you again.”
“So you and Garrett are still together,” he said, nodding. “You look like a nice girl, now that you’re not a kidnapper. Have a good day.”
Dale wandered off toward the hotel, leaving Rose both pleased and baffled by the interaction. Maybe that was small-town cordiality. Smoothing down her dress once more, she lingered at the sidelines until Garrett finished talking to a few different people. A spring breeze wafted past her, bringing along the fragrance of the surrounding forest. Her belly prickled with delight. A week ago there had been snow here, and now, full-blown spring. Three months ago she’d stood near this exact spot, thigh-deep in numbing snow, hoping against all hope a cell signal might find her.
Now, she basked in the early morning sunlight, smoothing down a sundress just a little too short.
Next week? She and Garrett would be on their way to the west coast. To go meet the family and take a few weeks off to travel.
A local journalist swooped in and snapped a picture of the brothers and then disappeared into the hotel.
When most of the crowd had made its way inside, Rose sidled up to Garrett. “Good job, you big celebrity.”
He puffed out his chest and wrapped his arm around her waist. “How did we look? Impressive and important?”
“Absolutely. More so because of the khakis and button-up.”
“I am taking this shirt off the first chance I get.”
“Same with this dress.” She tugged at the hem again. “I swear my butt cheeks are hanging out.”
He made a grand display of peering behind her and examining the dress. “I can’t find a single butt cheek. But I can keep looking, believe me.”
She swatted his arm. “Not in front of the mayor.”
“Oh, trust me. They all understand. If they were with someone as sexy as you, they’d be checking for butt cheeks too.”
Rose laughed, clutching his hands in hers. “You don’t have to flatter me. I’m your average, everyday Rose.”
“An average, everyday Rose who had a hand in turning around this hotel, not to mention volunteering plenty of time and effort at the shelter in the next city over for kids in transition.”
Her grin threatened to split her face. “Hey, it seemed like the natural next step. While I take a breather from the job and all.”
“Speaking of,” he said, his hands finding the curve of her ass. “Once we go out west and meet the folks and all that, have you decided if you’ll take another gig?”
She sighed. The question had been weighing on her for at least a month, and she still didn’t know. Part of her wanted to go back simply for the routine of it. But another part of her wanted to seek a new job altogether. Luckily, money presented no issue. Rose was a money-hoarding machine, and she had enough money socked away to carry her through her fifties. As a woman of little expenditure and plenty of well-paying jobs, she liked the security it offered and the chance at extended vacations.
“I don’t know yet,” she said. “A small one maybe…one out there. Where it’s familiar. But I don’t know.”
“Either way, it’s fine.” He kissed her forehead. “I understand if you do, and I understand if you don’t. I’ll be waiting for you whichever way you go.”
Happiness buzzed through her body, and she cupped his face in her hands. “You’re really the best, you know?”
“I’m the best? I beg to differ.”
“Well, you’re the best for me.”
His grin widened, and his eyes sparkled as he watched her. “Now that, I can’t argue with.”
They kissed, and Garrett lifted her off the ground in his embrace. Her mind spun with happiness, something that occurred daily and never lessened in intensity, no matter how many times Rose waited for it to shake out as a fleeting, passing fancy. That this relationship had all the room to fail.
And though it had room to fail, it had all the room to succeed, as well.
These first few months had been nothing but a blazing success.
Garrett twirled her in the air, and this time, she was positive a breeze caressed her backside.
About the Author
Ember Leigh has been writing erotic romance novels since she was far too young. A native of northern Ohio, she currently resides near Lake Erie with her Argentinean husband, where they run an Argentinian-American food truck. In addition to romance novels, Ember also writes travel memoirs and occasionally update
s a couple of blogs. In her free time, she practices Ashtanga yoga, hops around the world, and eats lots of vegetables.
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Visit Ember at
http://www.emberleighromance.com
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To chat with Ember Leigh and other Wild Rose Press authors of erotic romance, join us at www.groups.yahoo.com/group/thewilderroses.
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