Radio Rose (Change of Heart Cowboys Book 1)

by Stephanie Berget

  “I need to check on the plumbing at the motel,” Adam said around bites. “Rose, I really hate to ask, but will you stay here in case Lillian shows up with the rest of Simon’s things?”

  “Sure,” she said as she gathered handfuls of robe and did her best to walk gracefully down the hall. She closed the bedroom door and fell on the bed.

  Why was love so difficult? She wasn’t asking for all that much, just someone to care about her. Closing her eyes against the sun streaming through the window, she drifted into a dreamless sleep.

  -#-

  Adam wasn’t there when Rose got home from work, and he hadn’t called. It had been almost twenty-four hours since she’d had the best sex of her life, and the man she’d had it with was avoiding her.

  To be truthful, she wasn’t sure what to say to him either. Sleep hadn’t come easily and she slept in fits and spurts, finally giving up mid-morning.

  She heard Adam tiptoeing through the house, so she slipped into jeans and a shirt and started down the hall, her stocking feet padding silently along the hardwood floors. Time to face the music.

  Adam had gathered the blueprints and the list of questions they’d decided to ask the contractor and spread them out on the kitchen table. She leaned around him to get a peek.

  “Shit!” he said, whirling as she cleared her throat. “Don’t sneak up on me. What are you doing up at this hour?”

  “I didn’t sneak. You just didn’t hear me, and I didn’t get to talk to you last night,” she said. She took a step back. “Do we need to talk? Are we okay?”

  “I’m okay, but are you all right? I mean, about yesterday?”

  “I’m fine,” she said. Could this be any more embarrassing? “Aunt Flo came to town this morning.”

  “What? I thought you didn’t have any family.”

  Fiery blasts of embarrassment colored her cheeks with heat. It seemed she’d hit the embarrassment jackpot. “My period started.” She turned her back to him needing a minute to regain control.

  She’d told him she was fine, and she was. She was. She could handle whatever was thrown at her. Hadn’t she proven that for the last three years? She stood straighter, and tried for calm and collected.

  “Are you sure?” Adam stood awkwardly, his arms folded across his chest, closed off from her. The easy kinship they usually shared had flown the coop and now circled the house with no intention of landing.

  Her lips stiff with tension, Rose forced her smile. “Let’s forget yesterday and get to the restaurant.” Between her show and taxiing Sonja around, she hadn’t had time to see the final improvements.

  She’d offered him an out, and he grabbed it with greedy pleasure.

  “You’ll be amazed with the changes. Ready?”

  “As soon as I get my shoes,” Rose said as she started toward the door. She stopped and turned to face Adam. “By the way, Lillian didn’t deliver anything yesterday. Is she planning on bringing it tonight?” The slow tick, tick, tick of the grandfather clock on the mantle filled the seconds it took for him to answer.

  “I don’t know. I wish she’d stop trying to help.” At the look on Rose’s face, he held up a hand. “Don’t say it.”

  “Because I could go get them from her.” The very thought put a wicked smile on her lips. “I wouldn’t mind, really.”

  “I’m sure you wouldn’t, and as much as I appreciate the offer, we have a grand opening to put on, and I don’t have the time or money to bail you out of jail.”

  “Just trying to help,” Rose said. As she turned away, she whispered, “And maybe get another shot at her.”

  “That’s what I’m afraid of, Rose.” He’d heard her. Adam sounded serious, and she’d only been kidding. Kind of. A little bit.

  Giant Oak trees shaded the stone walkway leading to the massive wooden door of the restaurant. The flowerbeds had been cleaned and replanted, and the door oiled to a rich luster. As they entered, they realized many of the employees had already arrived and were hard at work preparing for the evening ahead. Mara and Gramma were in the kitchen, and the wait staff was putting the finishing touches on the room with fresh bouquets of daisies and gleaming silverware.

  Rose walked to the center of the room, stood beneath the new crystal chandelier and spread her arms wide. Turning in a complete circle, she took in the changes. "Do you remember the first time we were in here? How awful it was? I can’t believe it’s this beautiful."

  With new carpet and fresh paint and vases of Sonja’s flowers, the dining room was as romantic as a public place could be. The walls were a clean ivory and the carpet plush burgundy. Candle sconces lit the walls, and the booths had been reupholstered with a rich tapestry fabric. The atmosphere was nothing short of luxurious.

  "Now all we need are customers.” Adam was standing in the doorway, his arms folded across his chest. A frown marred his face.

  "Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves, Moriarity? Have a little faith, baby.” Rose slowed her speech to imitate the drawl of Oddball in Kelly's Heroes.

  -#-

  The afternoon flew by, with six o’clock arriving before they were completely ready. Adam went into the office to dress in the rented tux the girls had forced him to get for the occasion. He was a jeans and western shirt kind of guy, and as he struggled with the tie, he felt like a stooge. What idiot would invent minuscule cufflinks to close the shirt instead of regular buttons or, even better, snaps? He gave up on the tie and cufflinks and went for help.

  “Rose, Mara, anybody.” As he entered the pantry, Rose was on her tiptoes, reaching for a can of imported green olives from the top shelf. “Do I have to wear this tie?”

  “Can’t dress yourself, big boy?” Rose turned and caught sight of him. Whatever she’d been about to say froze in her throat.

  "Boy, you clean up good," Mara said from behind him.

  "You do look nice, Adam." Gramma was standing beside Mara.

  Rose was still staring.

  "Is something wrong?" Adam asked as he stopped in front of Rose. “Did I button my shirt crooked?” Her dark eyes were blazing as they roamed his body, but she still didn’t say a word.

  “Rose?”

  She blinked then shook her head. "Nothing’s wrong. Not a thing is wrong except we’re in a public place.” She stepped closer until she almost touched him. “I want to give you a big kiss, but I'm all grubby, and there are other people watching. I'll tell you what I really think when we get home tonight." She blew him a kiss and stepped away.

  Rose could turn him on without a physical touch. The idea he couldn't do without her rolled around in his head, but he chucked it into the cave in the back of his mind where he kept those things he didn’t want to face.

  No thinking of Rose. He had to concentrate on tonight. He had to succeed before he could give Rose the things she deserved.

  The women shooed him out of the kitchen before he got something on the tux, and as he left, he thought he heard Rose whisper, "You look hot." But when he turned, she was already at the counter working on a breadbasket.

  Adam was checking the table settings for the tenth time when the front door opened. Lillian stood, framed by the doorway, in an impossibly tiny black dress. The strapless top hugged her breasts within a heart shaped neckline. The hemline stopped halfway up her thighs. The sparkles covering the fabric glinted in the dim light.

  Her shiny blonde hair was pulled up into some kind of fancy do women wore, with several loose curls around her face and down her back. The thin silver necklace with a small heart shaped diamond pendant and heart shaped diamond earrings completed her up-town look. She was stunning, but it didn’t matter.

  He'd take Rose in her boxers and T-shirt any day.

  Lillian crossed the room on her impossibly high-heeled sandals with the grace of a runway model.

  "I'm here to help," she said as she leaned forward and kissed him before he could pull away. “What do you need me to do for you?” With her sultry eyes and pouty lips, her double entendre s
lammed into him with all the subtlety of Billy Mays.

  As he backed away, Adam looked around for help. “There aren’t many jobs you could do dressed like that.”

  "I thought you and I could greet the guests as they arrived. As the owner, it would be good for you to meet your customers. I sent invitations to the mayor and city council and a few other people, and I can introduce you to them." She slipped her arm into his. “Afterward, we’ll figure out what other jobs I can do dressed like this.”

  Adam hadn't thought of sending out invitations. He’d just hoped someone, anyone, would see the ads and show up. As for later with Lillian, he could either make himself scarce, act like a man and tell her to back off, or take the easy way out and call in his bodyguard. As he was going over his options, the door opened again and an older couple entered.

  Lillian stepped forward, holding out her hand. "Mayor and Mrs. Thompson, we are so happy you could make it tonight. I’d like to introduce you to Adam Cameron, the new owner of Gramma’s House.” Still holding the mayor’s hand, she led him forward to Adam. “Adam, meet Mayor Del Thompson and his wife Linda.”

  As they shook hands, Lillian turned and called for a waiter. “Marcus, will you please show the Mayor and his wife to the table by the window? Thank you.”

  The mayor’s arrival seemed to signal the start of the evening and customers flowed through the doors non-stop. At times the line waiting for a table was ten-couples deep, with the seating at the bar full.

  No one had time to think as they hurried through their duties.

  Mara received rave reviews from the guests as they left and promises to be back soon. When they closed the kitchen at midnight and then the bar at two, everyone was exhausted and a little surprised. None of them had predicted the rush they received tonight.

  "If this keeps up, we’re going to have to hire more people,” Adam said to himself as he stood looking at the empty room.

  "Adam, you've done it.” He started as Lillian touched his shoulder and leaned close. “This is wonderful." She slid her hand up to the nape of his neck then pulled him into a kiss. Before he could respond, he felt her hand sliding down past his stomach toward his zipper.

  He pushed her away, his face set in stone. She’d not only kissed him again, this time her actions were so far beyond appropriate he was having a hard time not losing his temper. At least no one else was in the room except Mara, and her back was to them.

  "You don’t seem to get it, so let me make myself clear.” He took several steps back, gaining distance from her. “Your actions are inappropriate for a business arrangement, and that’s all we have. I don’t want anything to do with you.”

  For a moment, Lillian stared at him, tears welling in her eyes then without a word she whirled and stormed out, as fast as she could toddle on her four-inch heels.

  What was it about I’m not attracted to you, that the woman couldn’t seem to grasp?

  Adam sucked in a deep breath. Rose was right about Lillian. She wanted more than to be helpful. He was going to have to make some changes. Getting rid of Lillian was at the top of the list.

  He looked around the dining room and heaved a sigh of relief, tension flowing out of his body with the breath. People really had liked the food and atmosphere. They might make this work after all. Lillian was a minor problem in the whole scheme of things. He couldn't wait to finish up here and celebrate with Rose.

  Adam met Mara in the office to total the receipts for the night. Mara's fingers whirred over the keys of the calculator like the pro she was. He wouldn't have been surprised to see smoke rolling off the machine. When she showed him the total, they smiled at each other.

  "Since your grandfather bought this place, we haven’t made this much in a week, let alone one night," Mara said.

  “Thanks for your help, kiddo. A lot of our success is because of you and your grandma. Congratulations on a great opening night for your restaurant,” Adam said.

  Mara smiled and gave him a hug, bouncing in her excitement.

  Adam helped her lock the cash and checks in the safe and then went to the kitchen in search of Rose. He couldn't wait to share the news. Most of the crew were celebrating in the dining room with the cheap champagne he’d bought. Only one employee was in the kitchen, finishing up the last of the dishes. He looked in the office, and even took a peek into the cooler, but Rose was nowhere to be seen.

  “Henry, have you seen Rose?” Adam asked.

  The huge, bald man glanced up from the stack of plates he was putting away. “Sure, man. She caught a ride with one of the guys.”

  Adam stared at him. "Are you sure? That can't be right."

  "Yeah, Jonas, the guy with the ponytail.” Henry continued to wipe down the counters as he talked.

  "Jonas? The guy that says dude all the time?”

  “Yeah.” Henry chuckled. “He's the one.”

  “Was she sick? Did she say anything before she left?” Adam asked.

  "Nah, she just waved,” Henry shrugged.

  What the hell was going on here? Rose leaving without a word was just wrong. They’d made plans to celebrate or commiserate together when the night was done. Adam could hear the corks popping as his employees enjoyed the success of the evening.

  He’d been on top of the world a few minutes ago. Now their accomplishment didn’t mean a thing without Rose.

  This wasn’t like Rose. Why she’d have chosen to leave their friends and co-workers at the peak of their triumph wasn’t clear, but it wasn’t her. Her logic might be a little off kilter. She’d been known to see things through her own looking glass, but she was fair. She wouldn’t abandon him without a reason.

  Heading for the back door, he grabbed his coat off the row of hooks in the hall. He’d just have to find out what was wrong. Together they could fix any problem.

  He climbed into the car, hesitated then laid his head against the steering wheel. Why did his life have to be such a train wreck? Maybe it was time for him to come clean about his past, explain why he acted the way he did, and see if Rose still wanted him.

  On the short drive home, scenarios whirled through his head, each one worse than the last. Not a single light shown through the windows as Adam parked in front of Rose’s house. He hurried up the walk and opened the door.

  “Rose.” He called out as soon as he entered the house, but there was no answer. Flipping on the light switch beside the front door, he glanced around the empty living room then hurried to her bedroom. As he grabbed the knob, turned and pushed, his shoulder slammed into what felt like a solid brick wall. The door was locked.

  She hadn’t locked the door to her bedroom the whole time he’d been living in her house, even during the first days when she didn’t know him.

  He pounded the flat of his hand against the door and called to her again.

  Silence.

  "Rose, answer me.” He hit the door one more time. “I'm going to break down this door if you don't.”

  "Go away.” The sound of her voice was muffled.

  Panic rose in his throat, threatening to drown what was left of his self-control. "Rose, are you all right? Open this door now. I'm warning you.” He struck the door one more time with his fist. “I’ll break it down.”

  Something had happened to Rose, and for the life of him he couldn’t figure out what. Just as he was putting his shoulder to the door to shove it open, he heard the lock click. Rushing into the dark room, he trailed his fingers along the wall, and after a long moment, found the light switch.

  As the light flooded the bedroom, Rose climbed across the bed, still in the same clothes she’d worn to the grand opening. She didn’t turn or even look over her shoulder.

  “Rose. Talk to me.”

  “Goddammit!” She tugged frantically at the blanket, trying to get it out from under her knees. “Holy hell!”

  It hadn’t been what he’d had in mind when he’d mentioned talking, but it was a start. Adam hurried to the bed, crawled across and tried to pull her into hi
s arms. “Rose, honey, let me help.”

  She slapped his hands away and burrowed under the covers. "Go away,” she said, her quiet voice more frightening than angry shouting. “For once, do what I ask, and leave me alone.”

  He sank back on his haunches. “You’re killing me here.” He heard a watery snort come from beneath the blankets but nothing more.

  Rose peeled the blanket back from her face and looked at him. Her expression was cold as ice. “I don’t want you dead. I just want you gone.” She stared a moment longer then lay back down facing away from him.

  "You’re scaring me. Did someone hurt you?” He was halfway across the bed, still on his knees.

  “You could say that.” Her voice held resignation and condemnation.

  “Who? Who hurt you?” This wasn’t making any sense. People had surrounded her all night. The only possible time she could have been alone was if she took out the trash, and he couldn’t imagine Henry allowing her to do that.

  “Did someone attack you in the alley?” He tried to pull down the blanket, but she held on with a steely grip. He desperately wanted to see her face, see if she was hurt, but her head was beneath the colorful quilt.

  “Leave me alone. I’ll work it out. You’ve done more than your share.” The blankets shifted as she turned farther away from him.

  At the best of times, following Rose’s logic could be difficult. Now he was baffled. Deciding patience was his best course of action he laid next to her and waited.

  From beneath the blanket, he could hear her voice, barely above a whisper. “What an idiot. I knew better than to let this happen.”

  “Let what happen?” Adam asked.

  Rose went still and silent under the quilt.

  Adam’s fear got the best of him, and he grabbed the edge and jerked the blanket off the bed, dropping it on the floor.

  She looked at him from resigned eyes. "I went to find you—to celebrate. You were celebrating with someone else."

  Chapter Fourteen

  The moment she’d finished her work, Rose had gone to find Adam. A celebration was in order. She knew the grand opening was a success by the amount of food they’d served. As she stepped into the deserted dining room a movement caught her eye. Lillian stepped closer to Adam, her hand on his neck.