Coming Up Roses

by Anie Michaels

  “I would have climbed in my truck, but the bear cubs were blocking the path.” He was still whispering. “I don’t know if you’ve ever been around a mama bear and her cubs, but you don’t want to mess with them. I figured if I hid in here, they’d eventually go away. But then I heard you out there, yelling and shit, and I thought for sure they were going to eat you for a snack.”

  “I didn’t see any bears.”

  “You didn’t?”

  “Trust me, if I’d seen bears you would have heard more screaming from me. And I probably would have come in here on my own.” I looked around at the portable bathroom and noticed it was new, which was the only good thing about the situation I found myself in that moment. It smelled like plastic and grossness, and I wanted to bathe in hand sanitizer, but at least it hadn’t been sitting around for weeks being used.

  “I’m Aiden,” he whispered, his voice softer somehow. “As in, Aiden Daniels. Owner of Daniels Homes.”

  “Rose. I’m Rose.”

  “I was expecting someone else.”

  “Riley’s sick. She couldn’t make it.”

  “Sorry she’s sick. Not real sorry you’re here. Even if there’re bears.”

  His lips ticked up at the sides slightly, and I thought maybe he was smiling, but it was so slight it was hard to tell under the beard.

  We both heard the distinct sound of tires on gravel coming down the road and then Aiden’s voice rumbled through me again. “That’ll be Hadley.”

  “What about the bears?”

  “You stay here. I’ll go take a look around and tell Hadley to stay in her car. If it’s safe, I’ll let you know.”

  “And what if it’s not safe? You can’t take on three bears.”

  “Well, I’m hoping they’ve moved on.” Then he smiled bigger and it was clear, even under his beard. “Don’t worry about me, Rose. I can take care of myself. Lock the door behind me.”

  Before I could respond, he opened the door and left me standing in a port-o-potty all alone, which was strange because I felt very lonely even though I’d never been in a port-o-potty with someone else before. I never thought I’d want someone to come back into one with me, but I did.

  My heart was pounding, both because Aiden Daniels was the first man in a long time to make me think about him in anything other than a passing way, but also because he might get eaten by bears.

  I wrapped my arms around my waist, not wanting to touch anything even though it was “clean.” I listened, trying to get any bit of information I could.

  I heard Aiden’s footsteps and the car come to a stop. The door opened, and I heard Aiden’s deep voice. It sounded calm and rational. It was met, however, with a loud, not-so-calm voice, and the two began to bicker. I couldn’t hear exactly what they were saying, but after a few moments the door closed again and it was quiet.

  It was quiet for much longer than I was comfortable with.

  It seemed like forever. Standing alone in a port-o-potty made time stand still, apparently.

  When I finally heard footsteps again, I sighed in relief when they were slow and measured. I figured if Aiden was being chased by bears he’d be running, not walking at a leisurely pace.

  He knocked gently and said, “It’s safe to come out now, Rose.”

  “Are you sure?” I yelled, hoping he could hear me through the plastic walls.

  “Pretty sure. Looked all around and saw no bears. I can get my shotgun out of my truck if it’d make you feel better.”

  I unlocked the door and stuck my head out. “No need for shotguns,” I said, looking around.

  Movement out of the corner of my eye had my heart jumping into my throat and my hand coming to my chest, but I exhaled relief when I saw it was just Hadley getting out of her car.

  “When I asked to see a site before you broke ground, I didn’t think it would involve hiding from ravenous bears.” Hadley shut her car door. She was driving a cute Prius, which looked totally out of place. In fact, I wondered how it had made it down the gravel road at all.

  Hadley had been in the office a few times to see Riley and after working so closely with her for a few years, I’d heard a lot about her best friend.

  “You’re not Riley,” Hadley accused, more confused than anything.

  “She’s sick.”

  “Sick? She didn’t mention anything about it.”

  “I made her take some time off. A few days. She sounded terrible. But it was important to her that someone be here for the meeting, so here I am.”

  “I’m just going to call her real quick,” Hadley said as she turned away from Aiden and me.

  “I’m sorry the meeting has gotten off to such a weird start. I usually don’t have meetings like this to begin with. If there’s no structure, I normally have them in my office. But Hadley wanted to see the site and it worked with Riley’s schedule.”

  “It’s no problem,” I said, trying to smile even though my heart was still racing and my eyes were still searching for giant mama bears with enormous claws. In an effort to calm myself, I smoothed my hands down my blouse, continuing down my skirt, then made sure my hair was still pulled back into a tidy ponytail. “It’s an interesting location for a home,” I observed, trying to move the conversation forward. I wanted to leave the bear infested area ASAP.

  “That’s sort of our brand. Luxury and isolation. People want all the conveniences of modern homes without the city life. They want views and no neighbors. Wi-Fi and babbling brooks. Craftsmanship and convenience. Simplistic opulence.”

  “So, you build big beautiful homes in the middle of nowhere for people who have too much money lying around?”

  “Precisely.”

  I couldn’t claim to have seen any of his work, but something told me he was very good at his job.

  “Aiden builds the most gorgeous houses you’ve ever seen,” Hadley said as she approached us from behind. “And you’re right. Riley sounds terrible.”

  I held my hands up. “Hence my presence.”

  “Riley’s the best,” Hadley said to Aiden. “But if there’s anyone who can do a better job, it’s Rose.”

  I was slightly overcome and surprised by her praise. Sure, I knew who Hadley was, but I’d never had any deep or meaningful conversations with her. I definitely couldn’t comment on her work ethic, although I could admit I was pretty sure she was the very epitome of a boss lady seeing as how she ran her very own company, like me, and seemed to be very successful. As a fellow female business owner, I respected her, so it meant a lot that she’d vouched for me when I really didn’t think she had a reason to.

  “Well, I appreciate that. Really. That’s very nice of you to say. But I’m only filling in temporarily. This account is very important to Riley, so she’ll be taking over as soon as she’s well again.” I turned to Aiden. “And Riley really is the best. You’ll be in good hands with her.”

  “I couldn’t care less who pulls off the fundraiser, as long as it’s done right and does the job.”

  Oh, good, we can stop beating around the bush and get back to business.

  “And what is your objective with the fundraiser?”

  “To make money.”

  I had to hold in a laugh.

  “Anything more specific? Did you have a goal in mind? A cause?”

  “Aiden wants to start a foundation that would build houses for needy families. Free and clear.”

  My eyes widened and fell back on the beast of a man who was currently backdropped by the beautiful scenery one could only find in the Pacific Northwest.

  “You want to build houses for people? Like, donate houses?”

  He nodded, his gaze never leaving mine.

  Hadley took the opportunity to add more.

  “Not just houses, either. He wants to build community gardens and neighborhood recreation centers. Daycare facilities. He basically wants to serve the underprivileged community and give them opportunities to live, work, and thrive when they otherwise might not be able to even afford
rent. Portland has the fastest growing real estate in the western side of the US and it’s becoming increasingly difficult for people to afford housing. People who’ve lived here their whole lives are being evicted from their homes and then the landlords rent them out for three times the amount.”

  “All right, Hadley, I think she gets the idea.”

  He was still looking at me and I wasn’t sure I ever wanted him to stop.

  “He wants to use his success to bring awareness to the housing crisis and help good, decent, hard-working families in need.”

  “Okay, Hadley...”

  “He’s basically the Robin Hood of contractors—taking money from the rich to give to the poor.”

  “Goodbye, Hadley,” he said sternly, finally taking his gaze off mine and shooting her a glaring look.

  “You don’t have to tell me twice,” she mumbled under her breath. “It was good to see you again, Rose. You should come to Taco Tuesday with Riley and me sometime. But since she’s home sick I think I’ll go pay her a visit. Bring her some soup.”

  I looked her way just as she was giving me a finger wave. Then she looked at Aiden again.

  “I’ll see you at the Belmont property on Friday, right?”

  “I’ll be there. Like always.”

  “Great. Thanks for not letting the bears eat me. Justin will be grateful.” She winked, waved again, then walked back to her car.

  We both watched as she made a slow U-turn and then disappeared amongst the trees.

  “Sorry about Hadley. She can be a little dramatic sometimes.”

  “Oh, it’s fine,” I answered quickly. “I’m sure if she’s Riley’s best friend she’s a great person. You are the company you keep, after all.” Suddenly I was spouting old adages like a grandmother. “Anyway, you want to have a fundraiser,” I stated, trying to refocus the conversation.

  “Uh, yeah,” he said, lifting his hand to the back of his neck, forcing my eyes to watch his biceps bulge under the flannel fabric of his shirt.

  Why was flannel suddenly sexy? I hadn’t ever considered the whole lumberjack movement to be attractive, but I couldn’t deny my immediate and surprising attraction to Aiden. Granted, he wasn’t some twenty-something kid, wearing flannel and sporting a trendy mustache while he drank espresso. No. Aiden was the manliest man I’d ever encountered, and I’d come to that conclusion after very little time actually being in his presence.

  He was the epitome of manliness.

  Rough. Rugged.

  The real deal.

  There was no pretense in his flannel-wearing. He didn’t put it on because it was cool or in. He wore flannel and Carhartt because it was durable and probably withstood all the abuse he put his clothes through.

  “Do you actually build the houses?” I asked before I could stop myself. It wasn’t typical that I let my brain run away with my mouth, but I clearly wasn’t operating on all cylinders. I blamed my brain malfunction on the fact that a few minutes prior I’d been hiding from bears in a portable bathroom.

  “I do what I can,” he replied humbly. “I used to do more of the actual construction, but since the business has grown so much I’m usually bouncing between the office and sites, managing more of the day to day operations.”

  “I get that. I used to do a lot more planning as well. Now I’m at my desk a lot.”

  “Do you miss it?”

  His question surprised me.

  “Yes and no. I like being the boss and being in charge, but I do miss the interaction with people on a daily basis that wasn’t always me telling people what to do or work-related. Sometimes it was fun to talk about place settings or venue options. And I definitely miss the cake tasting.” I realized I was smiling. And not the fake client smile I usually wore while at work, but a real, genuine smile.

  “You like having your cake and eating it too,” he replied, a slow smile stretching his mouth wide.

  “I guess you could say that.”

  “Well, sounds like we’re both in for a good time then. I’d love to have cake at my event.”

  “I’ll put that on the list, then.”

  Chapter Three

  Aiden

  H

  ere’s the deal—I like women.

  I like looking at them, talking to them, and doing other sorts of things with them as well. I’m not a serial dater, but I don’t see anything wrong with two people seeing each other casually to scratch a mutual need. I see someone I like? Well, I’ll usually pursue her.

  That was why Rose threw me off my game.

  First of all, I was expecting Riley or Hadley.

  I knew both of them—and their husbands. Liked them all too. The girls were great, and their men were great as well. We’d all become friends over the last few months as Hadley and I worked together more often, but I was clearly the fifth wheel in the group.

  But when I’d reached out and grabbed Rose blindly, not knowing who I had, just that I had to get them away from the bears, I’d instantly known it wasn’t Hadley or Riley.

  No. She felt different.

  I just remember thinking it was odd how the stranger pressed up against me didn’t feel strange at all. It should be awkward to hold someone in your arms whom you’ve never met—but it wasn’t. It wasn’t odd at all.

  It was comfortable.

  Enjoyable.

  Perfect.

  She felt fucking perfect in my arms.

  And even though we were standing in a goddamned port-o-potty, I never wanted the moment to end. I literally wanted to stay there forever, as long as she let me hold her and she kept her hands on me as well. Actually, the longer we stayed there, the more I wanted her hands to move. I wanted her hands to roam and I wanted to explore.

  Clearly, however, it wasn’t the time or the place, so I was a little relieved when I’d heard a car approach—it gave me a reason to take my hands off her.

  Now, as we stood next to my truck, talking about our jobs, I wanted nothing more than to pull her back into my arms. Obviously, that would be a mistake—and creepy—so I’d have to figure out a way to get us back to a place where I could touch her, and she could touch me too.

  “Where were you thinking about having the event? Did you have a theme in mind?” She was back in work mode, which was fine with me. At least work was a safe topic.

  I watched as she took her phone out of her purse. At least, I thought it was her phone. It was much bigger than a regular phone. Then a little pen popped out of the bottom of it and she started scribbling on the screen. “What about a date? When did you want to have this fundraiser?”

  “Whenever,” I answered with a shrug.

  “Whenever?” She didn’t appreciate my answer.

  “Yeah. I don’t have a date in mind. I was just going to do whatever Riley suggested. Kind of give her the reins.”

  Her pen thingamajig hovered over the screen and she looked at me like I was a little crazy.

  “You don’t have any preferences?”

  She looked perplexed and a little wrinkle formed between her eyebrows.

  “All I want is to raise money. I figured I’d let the planners plan.”

  “Well,” she said as she looked back down at her device. “That certainly opens up the possibilities.”

  “I’m all about the possibilities,” I said with more smarm than I realized I possessed. I sounded ridiculously creepy.

  “Do you want black tie? Golf event? Evening? Afternoon?”

  The image of Rose in a black cocktail dress flashed in my mind and the answer was simple.

  “Evening. Cocktail attire.”

  She scribbled on her tablet.

  “That’s a start. Auction? Silent?”

  “Sounds decent.”

  “Dancing or dinner?”

  “Both?”

  “Doable.”

  “I’d like to be able to showcase one of the projects. Maybe have a gallery area where we can put up photos of one of the completed houses.”

  “Of course. That’s
a great idea...” Her words trailed off as she started slowly looking around the open property. “If your completed projects are really as beautiful as Hadley describes them, perhaps we should consider hosting the event at one of the finished houses.” She walked toward the river, the orangey hue of the setting sun making her hair look more golden than it had a moment ago in the shade. “Do you have any of these luxury homes that will be completed, say, in six weeks, give or take?”

  “The Belmont estate is on track to finish in ten.”

  “Mid-June?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You’ll have to excuse my lack of knowledge on your work, but do the houses have buyers already? Or could we host an event there?”

  “The Belmont is actually a renovation project. Not something I usually do. But the owner sought me out specifically.”

  “Do you think the owner would be interested in letting you use the property for your fundraiser? I’m assuming the property is being renovated in anticipation of being open back up as a historical tourist attraction, right?”

  “Correct.”

  “If we can advertise it as an elite event, A-list only, then it may actually attract business. Create a buzz.”

  “That may work.”

  In all honesty, I didn’t know if it would work, but I’d sacrifice almost anything—including the commission on the Belmont Estate—to watch her eyes light up like they were in that moment as she described a party.

  Her hand started moving furiously over her tablet again, taking notes and making little noises to herself like she was thinking out loud. She was distracted for a moment and my eyes did what any man’s eyes did—they wandered.

  She wore a gray skirt that was tapered to her body, hugging her form all the way past her knees. And what a form it was. She had the most beautiful hourglass figure, round in all the right places, curves meant to be driven. She wore a maroon shirt that felt like silk or satin when I held her against me just minutes before.

  I was a fan of all kinds of women, but I’d never been so fundamentally and instantly attracted to anyone more in my life. It wasn’t even about her beauty—and she was beautiful—there was just something about her that made me positively possessive. Primal. Instinctual. Base.