Rose’s heart pounded with a mix of excitement, at feeling Raffa’s body so intimately pressed against hers. Tonight had turned out to be unexpectedly exciting, and reckless. That said, she didn’t try to break free again. They were two people enjoying a party. What was wrong with that? Yes, they were causing gossip, but Raffa didn’t seem concerned, and by tomorrow the gossipmongers would have something else to talk about. She was almost tempted to grab the mic to reassure the glitterati that Rose Kelly, without a penny to her name, let alone a title, would not hold Raffa’s interest beyond tonight, because Rose was, as ever, determined to be herself, which left her with no place in Raffa Acosta’s glamorous world. Whatever they said about Rose would be water off a duck’s back, because she had no harsher judge than herself.
CHAPTER TWO
DANCINGWITHTHEmost beautiful woman at a party was nothing new. Dancing with Rose Kelly was a revelation. He hadn’t expected Rose to be dynamite off duty, or to feel so voluptuous in his arms. During his sister’s wedding she’d unfurled like a flower, but it was the way Rose challenged him and made him smile that was the real surprise.
Alert as ever, she stared up at him. ‘You seem distant. Is there a problem?’
‘Beyond waiting for the band to start playing again?’ He shook his head. ‘No.’
That was a lie. Smiles had been in short supply since he’d witnessed the tragedy. Guilt had been his constant companion ever since. What was it about Rose that allowed him to hold the memory of his parents perishing in a plane crash and accept it as a scar surrounded by healthy tissue, rather than a wound that would never heal?
‘Are you sure?’ she pressed.
‘I’m sure.’ The concern in Rose’s eyes threw him. He was the fixer, the one people looked to for answers. And he didn’t disappoint—except himself, one time, on one memorable occasion, when even his strong will had been incapable of preventing a tragedy.
‘Okay, then.’ She smiled faintly, obviously unconvinced.
Rose’s luminous quality soothed his troubled mind,andattracted jealous glances, he noticed now. The urge to protect her was strong, but Rose was used to paddling her own canoe. She was the person people went to with their problems on his ranch. This was no milksop princess or society flitter-bug, but a strong, resourceful woman with a mind of her own. More than ever tonight, Rose had proved that appointing her Head Groom was one of the best decisions he’d ever made. ‘I should apologise,’ he found himself conceding.
‘For what?’ Her green eyes flared with interest.
‘My shabby start with you this evening.’
Disentangling herself from his arms, she stood back, amusement dancing in her eyes. ‘I’ve heard a lot worse. Six brothers,’ she reminded him. ‘And your charm won’t work on me now. Nothing you say will persuade me to let you have your evil way with me. I’ve got too much to lose.’
‘Your job?’ he guessed.
‘My self-respect,’ she corrected him.
Tension crackled between them. Identikit women, boasting the same breasts, lips and overbleached hair, paled by comparison to an understated woman who could amuse him with nothing more than the thoughts that came out of her highly kissable mouth.
‘Is it bedtime?’ she teased, when a couple next to them exchanged a meaningful look before leaving the dance floor.
‘If I thoughtyouwere serious.’
She laughed. ‘You wish.’
Rose’s cheek was unparalleled, but she inflamed his desire. Feeling her body against his when they danced had proved that by some mysterious alchemy they fitted together perfectly. Lust tormented him.
But lust would have to wait. For the first time in his life, it seemed more important to get to know a woman. The cold hard facts provided by his team about each member of staff didn’t come close to describing Rose Kelly, who was right in thinking they were causing a stir. He could practically read people’s thoughts.
Who was this woman?
Where had she come from?Was she a close family member?
She must be, or why was she a bridesmaid?
He drew Rose to him on the thought that she was more than a hard-working employee. She was brave and tough, and tender too. The substitute bridesmaid standing in the shadows, keeping her thoughts to herself as she watched everyone else have a good time, was almost certainly a lot closer to the real Rose Kelly than Rose would have him suppose.
She was playing with fire, just by dancing with Raffa. The way her body was responding to his was ridiculous. She wanted him in a way that wasn’t safe—not for her job, not for Rose. Had she forgotten the reputation of the unmarried Acosta brothers? Notorious for landing, conquering and moving on, they were hardly the safe option for a dance. Their sister, Sofia, was different. The seeds of friendship had been sown between the two of them that morning, when Sofia had confided in Rose that she was creating retreats for those who needed healing beyond the scope of conventional medicine, and Rose had immediately thought of her father.
‘You’re very quiet,’ Raffa commented, so close to her ear that it tingled.
‘Just thinking...’
‘A dangerous recreation at the best of times. Good thoughts, or bad?’
‘Mostly good,’ she admitted, lifting her chin to meet the stare of a man who could easily muddle her thinking.
