The verbal banter between them was entertaining, but reality had landed with a bump, Rose mused with a twist of her lips. Cinderella would quite literally be returning to her garret at the top of a palace tower, while he would spend the night in supreme luxury in one of the Prince’s best suites. ‘After you,’ he invited.
As Raffa politely gestured she should go ahead of him, Rose tried to squeeze past, but the mother cat had made her nest in a narrow passage where space was extremely limited. This made it inevitable that they brushed against each other. Instead of apologising and moving on, which was what she should have done, she paused and stared up at him. In that moment, she could have sworn Raffa wanted to kiss her.
He didn’t kiss her.
It was amazing what the body could drive the mind to believe. ‘Excuse me,’ she said politely.
‘Of course.’ He took a step back.
Not that it wasn’t a joy to move past him and feel those hard muscles resisting the press of her softly yielding body, but that would be the only thing yielding tonight. She’d do nothing to risk the advancement of her career, because there was so much at stake—not just Rose’s career, but her father’s future hung in the balance too.
CHAPTER THREE
LONGINGWASN’TSOmuch a state of mind as a real physical ache, Rose concluded as Raffa, true to his word, escorted her back to the grooms’ quarters. Of course she wanted him. Her body demanded she sleep with him, but too much hung on keeping her job.
She’d settle for a lifetime of wonderingWhat if?because that was far safer. Hadn’t she seen an excess of emotion taking her parents on a roller-coaster ride, with far too many downs and not nearly enough ups? When emotion was in the mix it wasn’t just sparks that flew, but whisky bottles and teacups, and anything else that came to hand.
When they reached the old oak door that marked the entrance to the grooms’ quarters, she held out her hand to shake his. ‘Thank you for a wonderful evening.’
‘Thankyou, Rose. I’ve enjoyed myself immensely.’
The touch of Raffa’s hand was shockingly arousing, and she had to quite literally remind herself to let him go. ‘Have a great night’s sleep—’
‘You’re not turning me down again, are you?’ Raffa teased.
‘That I am,’ she confirmed.
Who was this woman to keep him up all night? With a disbelieving shake of his head, he stood beneath an ice-cold shower the following morning, wondering why the freezing water was having no effect. It wasn’t subduing his interest in Rose—his body was straining at the leash.
Once he’d prised her from the shadows, Rose Kelly had proved more intriguing than he could possibly have expected. Even Rose’s cold shoulder was the hottest thing to have happened to him in quite a while. Her lilting Irish accent and those sparkling emerald eyes, combined with her quick wit, and a body to die for, might have seemed a cliché if anyone but Rose had been involved, but he knew she was the genuine article.
She’d bewitched him, he concluded as he towelled down roughly. No woman should be allowed to do that. Hadn’t he made a pledge not to draw anyone close? Yanking on his jeans, he pulled on the first top that came to hand. It wasn’t just the fact they were flying home this morning that made him eager to start the day, but the thought of working alongside Rose that drove him on. Raking impatient fingers through his still damp hair, he left the room, slamming the door behind him.
And then he got a call.
Preparing the ponies for their flight was one of Rose’s favourite jobs, but she couldn’t help listening out for Raffa. Where was he?
As soon as she finished work, she went to the tack room to grab a glass of water before the flight, to find a new notice pinned up on the board.
Señor Acosta regrets leaving before thanking the grooms for their hard work during this trip.
Raffa had left without saying goodbye? So much for enjoying himself last night! Thank goodness she’d had the good sense to go to her own bed alone, instead of inviting him to join her. Imagine how she’d feel if she had slept with him.
Worse than now? Was that even possible?
Now she noticed something glinting on the floor. Swooping down, she recognised the sparkling black stone encased in white metal as one of the cufflinks Raffa had been wearing last night while they were dancing. Later in the stable, he’d been in shirtsleeves, she recalled.
The find was not a glass slipper, and Rose was no Cinderella, but she’d have to get it back to him somehow. Tucking it safely inside the breast pocket of her shirt, she returned to work.
‘Rose, have you seen this? It’s addressed to you.’ Rose’s friend and fellow groom Adena excitedly handed over a note. ‘How was the wedding?’ Adena asked with a grin.
‘Spectacular,’ Rose admitted.
‘I thought as much,’ Adena said. ‘Looks like a letter from the boss,’ she added, leaning over Rose’s shoulder.
So, he hadn’t forgotten her. Ripping the envelope open, Rose found an invitation to spend the following week on Raffa’s yacht!Incredible.Exciting.Terrifying.Then reality hit. This was no romantic billet-doux, but a call to action by her boss. She read it again.
I have to know you’re confident enough to handle all the responsibilities of Head Groom, including entertaining royalty.
