Jesus, she stopped me in my tracks.
Rosie was dark and exotic and never shied away from enhancing her beauty with makeup and lashes, though it had to be said, she always looked classy. Her style was modern and trendy in an Instagram model kind of way, though with her body, she would have made a killing on OnlyFans. Her beauty, along with her considerable curves, elevated her to a twenty out of ten.
Although Rosie was pure sex on legs, it was her devotion to her family and her kids that impressed me the most. She looked like she should be in love with her own reflection, but she was probably the most down-to-earth woman I’d ever met. She was confident but self-deprecating, lippy without being a bitch, and strong-willed but soft-hearted.
Rosie Woods was a walking contradiction, and I liked it. I knew what to expect whenever I was with her, and she made me feel comfortable and safe in her company, like I could just be myself without judgment. Still, there was something enigmatic about her that kept me guessing, and that appealed to the restless side of me that constantly looked for stimulation.
Plus, that ass of hers was carved by the Gods themselves, and it had to be said; they did a stand-up job of it.
“Why do you keep staring at my tits?” she asked with a cock of her head.
I let out a quiet snort. “I have no idea, seeing as I’m actually obsessed with your ass.”
She smiled proudly. “I work hard at it.”
“It shows.” I lowered my stare to her soft, full, pouty lips, wondering how I’d never noticed how perfectly shaped they were before.
“Stop looking at me like that,” she breathed.
“Like what?” I asked absentmindedly, my eyes still fixated on her mouth and how plump it looked. Without thinking, my hand swung out and I caught her pinkie finger with mine.
Her body jerked like I’d just electrocuted her.
“Jesus, you’re fucking stunning,” I muttered.
Rosie’s lips parted slightly, her dark-lashed eyes gazing up at me, almost confused.
I got it. This must have seemed sudden, but it wasn’t the right time for us before. I’d been days away from going back to the military, and I’d sworn to myself that while I was off playing soldier, it wouldn’t be fair to leave a woman behind.
But Rosie had always been different; she was the only one who ever stuck in my mind. I never forgot our time together, and in the dark, lonely nights when my mind would wander to the future and all the ways I’d eventually build a life outside the army, it was always a dark-haired, dark-eyed, exotic beauty I pictured standing by my side.
“Go out with me,” I demanded gently.
The curious expression intensified, and she asked, “Why?”
“Because we’re good together, because we vibe right when we touch, but most of all, because you feel as if you belong in my arms.”
One side of her mouth hitched slightly. “You talk like you’re my dream man, Donovan O’Shea, and not long ago, that would’ve been enough, but lately, I’ve realized I need a guy who’s serious, too.” She rolled up on her toes, kissed me softly on the cheek, and whispered, “Been there, done that, and I’ve got the bruised ego to prove it. Sorry, honey, but I’m older and wisernow. I know what I need, and as much as I’d like it to be you, I’m not convinced.”
“So, how do I convince you?” I asked. “How do I show you I’m serious?”
Rosie pulled back and peered up at me again. “If you need to ask, then you’re not the man for the job.” She twisted toward the bar, took her drink in hand, and nodded toward the dance floor. “I'd better get back to my friends. The happy couple’s about to do their first dance, and I want a ringside seat for it.”
“Dance with me later,” I said, almost pleadingly. My stomach began to hurt the second she blew me off. It had never happened before; I usually got what I wanted pretty easily, so I wasn’t sure how I was meant to react. I didn’t want to be a creeper who wouldn’t take no for an answer, but I was determined to fight for her.
Rosie sighed, her shoulders slumping resignedly. “Okay, we can have a dance later, but let’s just keep it friendly, okay?”
A slow grin took over my face as I watched her turn and strut over to the table where the ol’ ladies and Tristan waited, My stare automatically dipped to watch her ass sway as she walked away from me.
Friendly was acceptable.
Friendly, I could work with.
—————
“Good of you toplay the hero earlier with Rosie and the kids,” Cash said, taking a swig of beer. “It’ll go a long way to get Atlas’s seal of approval.
“More bothered about winning the kids around,” I admitted, my eyes going to DJ, who was screwing around with Kai at one of the tables. “DJ’s protective of her, but I kinda like it. He’s measured and he’s gotta good head on his shoulders. The kids’ dad’s an asshole, and DJ sees it, so I think he deserves some good. With some direction, he’ll do well.”
