The Power of Sunday Rose

by Angelina J. Windsor

  “My favorite color varies with my mood and I’m a Leo, born August 21st. I also belong to Mensa.”

  His eyebrows shot up and he gave me a piercing glance. “Interesting. Stereotyping is a bitch. You must have experienced it looking as you do. Having original family money has plagued me. Everyone seems to think that’s all the blessing required to be a success. Hardly. It takes hard work and dedication to continue to grow business and capital.”

  His eyes glinted with derision. I got it. I’m aware of family money being squandered by subsequent generations. I’m an avid reader and I absorb facts like a sponge, because no way am I ever going back to Louisiana.

  “Are your parents still alive?” I thought to ask.

  His expression darkened and he answered in clipped sentences, “They were killed three years ago. It was all over the papers—the home invasion murders in a gated community in Palm Springs? Two pieces of shit high on meth and coke shot the security guards and tried to get my parents to give them the numbers to their safe, but the deal went south and in the scuffle they were shot dead by the scumbags. It woke up America, but too late for my parents.”

  It was the first time he’d used profanity, but I’d probably say far worse if something happened to my only sister, Sara Rose. Even with the usual childhood sibling squabbling, I loved her and didn’t want anything to happen to her. I confess I’d wished she hadn’t been born a few times when she became my shadow in junior high when such things made you a laughingstock, but I’d never wished her any harm. I loved my sister. Hard as it was to leave her, she was one of the reasons I went away to continue my schooling.

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” I murmured, knowing how inadequate it sounded.

  “Well, bad things happen to good people. Money is not the guarantee of a happy life that everyone thinks it is.”

  “There are things more important to a good life than money, like feeling you can make a difference,” I agreed.

  He gave me an unfathomable look that made me uncomfortable. My mind searched for something to say.

  “When do you want me to start?” I asked.

  “Right away. I want to take you shopping directly after the game concludes. Is that a problem?”

  “No, I guess not.” I considered. “Do you want me to come back here after the game?”

  “No. I’ll be in a private limo right in front. I’ll have the driver hold up a sign with your name on it.”

  We stood up simultaneously.

  “I do appreciate this, Sunday. Your presence will add a lot of luster to this coming week. Socializing is not such a chore when you have a lovely, charming companion at your side.”

  He reached out to shake my hand. Touching him was not a good idea. Our fingers grasped and that damn electric buzz sparked to life again, making me all twitchy. What the hell. I swallowed hard. I did not want to be this attracted to him. I looked up into eyes that were smiling in a real way for the first time. He pulled me to his side by my outstretched hand, catching me off guard, bent down and whispered in my ear so close I felt his warm breath trace along the side of my face. It sent shivers racing down my spine.

  “You are a very, very beautiful woman, Sunday. I thank you for this favor.”

  I departed the suite in a fog and barely noticed my escort who was waiting to see me back to my seat. My body was awakening from the frozen state it had been in for the past year. I’m aware that wannabe boyfriends called me the Ice Queen behind my back. Normally, they’d be right, but my reputation would take quite a hit today if they only knew.

  After reassuring the security guard I was fine, I managed to nab a diet drink from one of the quieter vendor stalls. A week with Adam and getting paid for it did sound too good to be true. To be sure he was very confident, but he was also touched by tragedy and that made him more human and gave me hope that underneath that exterior was a man worth knowing. But this week I’d keep it professional.

  Julie frowned as I sat down and I knew she was going to take me to task for my tardiness, so before she could say a single word I made a preemptive strike.

  “I know, I know, I’m sorry. The lines were so long everywhere I went. Here’s your soda.”

  “The visiting team scored twice while you were gone so long. I was about to go looking for you,” she said.

  I had forgotten all about the hockey game and my favorite team, the Anaheim Ducks, too busy thinking about Adam Drake and the money. Twenty thousand dollars meant I could finish my undergraduate degree without incurring more debt. It would help me on my way to becoming a doctor. I would see about adding more courses for this fall right away now that I had the funds upfront. We were just beginning the reading week break and the timing could not have been better. Good karma for a change.

  “Okay. What did he want—this Adam Drake you went to meet?” she asked impatiently.

  “Nothing, well—a lot actually.”

  “Spill it,” she commanded. Her eyes bored into mine.

  “Adam Drake wants to hire me for a job this coming week and he’ll pay me enough to keep me out of debt for quite a while.” Maybe I should have let him pay me double? But then he might have expected other considerations as well and I didn’t want him to think I was that kind of girl.

  “What the hell!” she sputtered. “He wants to pay for your tuition?”

  “No, he wants to pay me to be his hostess for some social functions the week. I think his girlfriend has left him high and dry.”

  “Really? How much has he offered?”

  “A generous amount,” I admitted, thinking of the sum written on the business card. “Actually, more like a reasonable amount, for a week’s hostess work.” Especially since I’d be working 24/7. Yeah, it didn’t seem so generous that he’d be buying…anything more. I toyed with the idea of showing Julie.

  She sat there with a questioning look for so long without speaking that I fished out the card and handed it to her. She gave both sides a thorough perusal and handed it back.

  “And you believe he means the ‘no sex’ part?” Her tone was riddled with skepticism.

  “I do. He’s a good businessman. I’ve heard about his business practices.” His name had finally rung a bell for me. I added, “He’s the guy who started his new business as a model for combining business with ethical business practices. He can’t afford a scandal.”

  “If you believe that, then I have a bridge to sell you.”

  My spine stiffened under her derision. I think I understand people better than Julie. But then I relented. She was just worried about me. I remembered the good friend she’d been the past year. We’d met in an introductory course that all students were required to take and we’d hit it off right away.

  “Adam Drake is a real gentleman. He means what he says. And don’t worry. I’ll call you every day and let you know I’m fine. You’re worrying unnecessarily, Julie. I promise—I’ll stay in constant touch.”

  She pursed her lips and shook her head, before relenting. “O—kay. But I want a phone call every day at noon and your solemn promise that you’ll let me know if you suspect any funny business. And text me your schedule so I’ll know where you are. I want to have your back on this thing, Sunday.”

  “You got it,” I cheerfully promised. I felt as if a huge boulder was lifted directly off my shoulders. I didn’t want to fight with Julie over this and it was too amazing an opportunity to just throw away.

  The final buzzer sounded, indicating the end of the third period and the game and people began to stir around us.

  “Uh, by the way, I’m supposed to meet him out front. Can you get home on your own or do you want a lift? I’m sure we can drop you off.” We’d come by bus to the stadium.

  “I’ll take that lift,” she said with that look in her eye. She wanted to size Adam up.

  But on the way back down to the concession area we ran into a small group from college and Julie got caught up in their idea of going for drinks at a local hot spot for twentysomethings. I could
see she was torn. Evan Maxwell was with them and they had a thing going on. The gleam in her eyes when she spotted him told the story—she wanted to spend time with him tonight. Hormones can be a bitch.

  “Go! I’m fine, Julie. I told you, I’ll stay in constant touch.” I was quick to give her a way out. I watched her walk away with her fellow students and felt older than my years, but then, hadn’t I always been out of step with my own generation?

  Chapter Two

  I slid onto the backseat of the limo and looked into the eyes of my new employer. He sat perfectly still, his dark eyes unreadable in the low light emanating from the illuminated dashboard and the overhead light. Darkness had fallen during the game and there were a lot of noisy revelers swirling around us but the luxury car was a bastion of silence.

  “I hope you won’t need to go home for anything? You have your ID, right?”

  I nodded my throat tight. His closeness was unnerving.

  “I’ll provide everything you need tonight. We’re on a tight timeline. I’ve called ahead and have salespeople awaiting our arrival. Is that amenable to you?”

  “Sure, that’s fine.”

  He gave me a satisfied look while the driver drove the sleek Mercedes into a break in traffic.

  “You’ll need a variety of outfits, but mostly evening attire. And matching accessories, of course. We’ll hit a jewelry store last.”

  I nodded again. It felt surreal, like Cinderella preparing for the ball. It made me grin and he caught the look.

  “What are you thinking, Sunday?”

  “Oh just that it doesn’t feel real, is all. Where I’m from in Louisiana, there’s not much of drivin’ around in expensive limos and shoppin’ past regular hours. Very different from L.A.” I realized my accent had switched back to my Southern roots and I immediately corrected it. “It feels more like being in a Disney movie.”

  “I should warn you business socializing can be tedious. What are your plans for the future?” Adam appeared relaxed as he leaned back in the seat, his cologne more concentrated in the small space. I breathed deeply, enjoying the fragrance.

  “I want to be a doctor.” I felt my heart surge at the idea of helping children, especially disfigured children. They were why I’d chosen Los Angeles to go to school. Some of the world’s best plastic surgeons were based here. I had grown up with a sister who’d needed an operation for her cleft palate early on and it had not gone well. My mother’s devastating comments about how Sara would never be perfect, how she’d have to learn to live with the deformity still overshadowed both our lives. I wanted to attain the skill to keep other children from suffering like my sister. Maybe even improve her appearance.

  “What kind of doctor?”

  “A plastic surgeon.”

  “Lots of those in L.A.,” he said.

  “Not just any plastic surgeon, but one who acquires the essential skills to help improve children’s deformities to the point they’re nearly invisible. I want to learn how to do that. Even if I have to pioneer the techniques.” My pulse quickened. I could see I’d surprised him. I was used to that.

  “That’s a wonderful objective and a great way to spend your life, in the care of helping children. Ah, we’re here,” he said as the car came to a smooth stop.

  I slid out as his employee opened the door for us. I stood staring at the storefront of one of the best boutiques in the city, and that’s saying something with the well-heeled clientele residing in this city of lost angels. Was I one of them? Some days, yes. I hoped today wasn’t one of them.

  “I want to hurry this along, so if you don’t like something, say so right away. We’re on a tight schedule. I’ve allotted one hour.”

  His words took some of the fun out of it, but I braced myself for the price tags. Maybe if I didn’t look, it would help. I took his arm and we walked in tandem through the canopied doorway.

  My manufactured composure lasted for about ten minutes until I was in a vast dressing room filled with scrumptious choices. I peeked at a price tag on an evening gown that was to die for and felt my breath constrict in my throat. I lurched down onto a chair, reeling with shock. It was too much. Just one of the outfits would pay all the bills for our household back home for a month. Money had been so tight after my father walked out on us when my sister was born. Goes to show what you get when you abandon your dreams, like my mama did. And after all that training too, something she often cried about when she was drunk. So what the fuck was I doing here? I wanted to be a doctor, not wear clothes that would take care of a child’s medical bills. This is the way, Sunday Rose, a small voice whispered in my ear and I knew my guardian angel was near.

  Comforted, I made the effort to pull myself together and went about my task as dispassionately as I could. Most females would have relished the job, like the character in that old movie that I’d watched years ago, Pretty Woman. Then I remembered what had happened to her early on when a salesgirl had dissed her and recollecting the movie seemed like a bad idea.

  Okay, here goes. Adam had said he wanted to see my first choice to make sure I understood what looked best on my body type. The gown I was going to model was a cherry-red silk that flowed like pure lava down to the floor from a corset bodice that bared my shoulders, pushed my breasts upward and gave me more cleavage than nature intended. I’d even managed two-inch strappy silver sandals that weren’t a nightmare to walk in.

  I came round the discreet opening into the viewing area and walked up to the catwalk. Just Say Yes to the Dress. I took a deep breath to steady myself.

  His unsmiling face greeted me as I spun round in front of the full-length mirror at the end of the runway to walk back. I thought I looked good, but his tense face worried me. Had I made a poor choice? My steps lagged.

  “Perfect. You can choose the others accordingly, though I would like to see that short midnight-blue number on you for comparison.”

  His words surprised me though I tried to hide it. I thought I’d succeeded until he whispered as I went by him, “You would look beautiful in burlap, Sunday Rose Stark.”

  Flattery will get you everywhere. I smiled all the way back to my private dressing room and enjoyed changing into other outfits, finding it easier to make choices. I knew I needed eight evening outfits and one day outfit per day. He’d given me precise instructions that he wanted backup evening gowns just in case. A monumental task, but I kept at it. What gal worth her salt couldn’t manage to pull this off?

  Finding the short dress he’d mentioned, I hurried into it. The seconds ticked by as I raced back to the runway. This time just as I was making my way round the corner past my attentive audience, my foot caught on the floor and I was jerked sideways. I let out a small screech. Strong arms caught me. The dress was cut too low for this kind of abuse and it slipped down past my breasts, exposing them to view. Horrified, but relieved not to be on my keister, I tried to pull the dress back up but it was impossible, being all caught up in Adam’s embrace. His rock-hard body pressed against mine. My breath hitched.

  “Now that’s what I call a happy accident,” he quipped, not letting go.

  My heart lurched and I swallowed hard. My flesh overheated. He turned me round so that my back was to the store. The smile died on his lips as his eyes darkened. Desire flashed in their depths. Raw sexual power stirred within me as I breathed in our tantalizing fragrance of arousal. My tightened nipples sending a pleasure signal down to my clit and it too began to throb mercilessly. Oh no. No sex in over a year had just caught up with me. Big-time.

  I desperately wanted him to kiss me. He had not let me go and I did not have the strength to pull away though every instinct screamed I should. Time stood still. His head dipped lower and suddenly, just then, his cell phone buzzed in his suit pocket, alerting us the hour had passed. The spell broke. My heart sank. The perfect chance lost. His hand went for his phone and he accidently brushed my right breast, sending exquisite pleasure to my pussy. He let me go. I carefully made my way back to the dressing room,
my knees wobbly. No one ever died of lust, right?

  Five minutes later I emerged, wearing dark-wash jeans, a silky midnight-blue blouse and a soft suede jacket, my old clothes left behind to be delivered.

  “Where to now, boss?” I quipped to lighten the atmosphere as I noticed his unsmiling countenance.

  “The jewelry store. Time to frost yourself,” he said a wicked gleam in his eyes.

  I got the reference from a movie about ways to lose a man in ten days. I grinned. This sounded like fun and a fabulous perk.

  Five minutes later we pulled up in front of another storefront. The jewelry boutique shone its canopy of light onto the sidewalk, a beacon of enticement. Adam took my hand as we disembarked, sending delicious twinges throughout my body. You just met him tonight. Be careful, little one, my guardian angel chimed in. She had a point. I tried to rein in my expectations.

  This time Adam wanted to be the one solely in charge of choosing the items. As they piled up on the velvet display tray, perspiration began to trickle down between my breasts.

  “Ah, these are going back after our week together—right?” I whispered in his ear, my senses reeling. Flushed and hot, I licked my lips.

  He stilled. “Yes,” he whispered back tersely.

  Good. Relief flooded my veins. I stood silently as the jewelry was quickly packaged up and handed over. We were out of the store, according to Adam’s prearranged schedule, right on time.

  As we drove through traffic, I turned my mind to what lay ahead. His home would be spectacular—that went without saying, but I wondered about his tastes. Anticipation. Butterflies danced in my stomach. I tucked my hair behind my ears. This was certain to be anything but an ordinary life experience.

  “What’s your favorite color and star sign?” I asked in the soft intimacy of the backseat and gave him a quick glance from under my eyelashes. The shadows from the street lights illuminated his chiseled cheekbones.

  “What? Ah, yes, it’s blue and I’m a Gemini, born in June.” His mind had been elsewhere but he answered my questions cordially enough.