With her, it was nice being anonymous. Not like at Triple Horn, where I was just a hot body and a good fuck. Not like the rest of the world, who saw me as someone who could do something for them. She saw all the pieces of me, the whole man, and though she wasn't completely sold on me, she wasn't in awe of me either. "Your job is very cool, and it suits you since it doesn't require a lot of conversation," she laughed. "Your parents must be proud."
Another laugh escaped. "Nope. They're disappointed I didn't stick with the more lucrative corporate route."
Her face twisted into an uncharacteristic frown. "It's not all it's cracked up to be, is it?"
I shook my head, pausing while the server poured two cups of coffee and a glass of juice. "Only to those who haven't spent any significant time in that environment."
Surprise flashed in her eyes, and then a kindred smile. "Exactly."
Her words intrigued me, and I found myself doing something I hadn't done in years. I asked Rosalee about herself. Usually, this led to more questions, usually about me and my life, butshe'd already gotten a few answers, and now I wanted some as well. "What was your corporate job?"
"You didn't look at my background and employment history?"
I shrugged even though I hadn't read them at all. "I prefer the details not in the police report," I joked.
"I was a professional executive assistant," she sighed, as if it were a mistake and not the chance of a lifetime most people would see it as. "I spent time working for a record exec, a studio head, and even an investment banker. Each and every one of them believed that my body was part of the services provided." She shook her head and gazed out the window. "It took me too long to walk away and find another way to use my skills."
"Why did it take you so long?"
"I don't know," she shrugged it off. "I guess I felt like I had to give it a try since I worked hard to get my degree and they were otherwise good jobs. I didn't want to be a quitter, but I had to be." Her sadness was palpable, and I resisted the urge to reach out and touch her. Comfort her. "We're both on our second careers," she grinned, but the darkness still lingered in her eyes.
I couldn't help but return her smile. Rosalee wasn't like most women at all. They all saw me as giving up my wealth and power because it was all they saw, while she saw my second chance as something interesting and worthwhile.
I raised my coffee mug in the air. "To second chances and starting over."
The corners of her mouth curled into an alluring grin. "I'll drink to that."
Chapter 12
Rosalee
"It's okay, sweet girl." I held Violet in my arms for most of the morning because the poor thing was especially fussy and I couldn't figure out why. Maybe her mood was synced with Xavier's, or maybe she picked up on my own anxiety over Jason's constant calls and texts.
His last text came ten minutes ago.Don't ignore me, Rosie.
I shuddered at his use of that hated nickname that only he ever called me. It was his attempt to infantilize me, to make me feel as if I couldn't survive without him, and I smiled to myself because I had survived without him.
The phone rang, and it was Jason. Again. I ignored that call and the two others that came back-to-back. I didn't know what he wanted and I didn't care, but I couldn't deny the unease that went through me with every call and every text.
Violet fussed again, and I held her against my chest, soothing her as best I could, but nothing seemed to make her happy today. "I know, baby girl. Sometimes a gal just needs to sit in her feelings to work 'em out." Her soft cries faded, and I noticed her body was a tad warm. Not enough to be alarming, just something to keep an eye on as the day progressed. "Maybe a nap will help."
I put Violet down and grabbed the monitor before I headed to the kitchen. It was gloomy outside, and the snow hadn't let up all day, which made it perfect weather for soup. Again. I lost myself in a romance book while I chopped veggies and meat and put everything into a giant pot, simmering it until the house was full of delicious smells and comforting heat.
I was vaguely aware of Xavier when he stepped inside the house, stomping the snow from his boots before he took them off along with his outer layer of clothing. He didn't stop to speak or get my attention as he left the kitchen, so I didn't either. He was such a mercurial guy, and I didn't always have the mental energy to deal with it, so today I let him be and decided that nothing went better with beef and veggie stew than biscuits. Fresh-from-the-oven homemade biscuits.
The kitchen filled with even more delicious scents, and my stomach growled loudly, making me laugh. The oven timer on my phone alerted me that the biscuits were done, and I pulled them from the oven to let them cool while I went to wash my face. The kitchen was warmer than the rest of the house, and I felt flushed, certain it had nothing to do with the steamy scene playing out on my audiobook. Almost certain, anyway.
I twisted the knob on the bathroom door just as it flew open, and I was face-to-chest with a broad chest and rippled abs sprinkled with dark hair that covered a layer of impressive muscles. My mouth watered and then it went dry. I knew Xavier was built; he was a big man, and the fabric of his clothes clung to him like a jealous lover, but seeing him in the flesh took me by surprise. My gaze crawled up his abs, over two perfectly round, pale brown nipples, his collarbone, and impressive neck muscles, all the way up to a scowling face and moving lips.
Moving lips. Shit. I tapped the button on one of my earbuds to pause the story and frowned. "What?"
"I said, watch where you're going. What were you doing anyway? I was in the shower."
I shrugged in the face of his anger. "I needed to wash my face, and I didn't know you were in here."
"The shower was running for the past fifteen minutes."
I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear and pointed at the hot pink bud. "I was listening to a book."
