“I don’t know if I want to return to old Rosie or find the new one.”
“Can you have both?”
“Maybe. I’m notsure.”
She squeezes my thigh, suggesting she needs the comfort only human touch gives.
“Do you want both?”
She sighs and sets her jaw. “I used to want to be a rugby coach, then a sports psychologist, but I’m a single mum, and as much as I want it all, what I want doesn’t matter. Everything comes back to Tabi, who I’m raising alone.” She grips her seatbelt and huffs before muttering, “Twenty-three and this is all I’ll have.”
I lift the cowboy hat off my head and place it on hers. “You can be whatever you want to be, and I’ll help you get there.”
“Even a cowgirl?” she whispers.
“Even a cowgirl.”
She settles back, and we continue silently through the darkness. I’ve made a promise I can’t keep, but I don’t care, because I hate it when she’s sad. I vow to do everything to help her find the version of her that can have it all.
It doesn’t take long to get Rosie in the house once we reach mine.
“I have one more request, boss,” she says once she’s cuddled Graham.
“I’m listening.” I pray to every god it doesn’t involve sex. It will be difficult enough to sleep now.
“Would you carry me to your bed? Spare bed.” The water has eased her intoxication already. “I used to be a lot lighter and?—”
I slide a hand under her thighs and pull her up and close to me. “You fit perfectly. I was made for this moment.”
She beams and puts the hat back on my head, missing the first couple of times.
I grab another bottle of water before carrying her to my bed. I’ll be sleeping in one of my spare rooms down the corridor. I like that she’s sleeping in my bed even though I’m not with her. And it will leave her soap scent on my pillow.
“Your water is here, and the bathroom is right there. If you want something else to sleep in...” I swallow noisily as I plug her phone into a charger. “…rummage through my clothes. You can have anything. I’ll have breakfast ready when you wake.”
“Thank you. No one’s cared for me like this before.” Her words in that soft voice make my heart hurt. “Goodnight, cowboy.”
“Goodnight, angel.” I tuck her in. I kiss her on the forehead, and she releases the sweetest sigh.
I only let myself look back once before clicking the door shut.
CHAPTER 45
Rosie
Oh God. Why does my head feel like a mafia gang is swinging chains around it? I gag on the thick, dry tongue sticking to the roof of my mouth.
I squeeze my eyes, which makes the gang swing their chains harder. At least Tabi isn’t singing, which makes no sense because Tabi’s always singing.
I gingerly open one eye, and the first thing I spy is a pink cowboy hat. Memories of talking a woman into letting me have it make my stomach knot. I pull the duvet to my face, but that’s when I get Niki’s oak and vanilla scent.
It smells so damn good. I pull it tight and wrap my bare legs around it. How did I get to Niki’s? I peek under the cover and glance at my floaty dress from last night. At least I didn’t fuck my boss.
I’m not sure I’m relieved I didn’t because it would have messed up my job or because I wouldn’t want to fuck him while drunk. I want to remember my first orgasm-filled fuck. Niki’s fingers made me come.
His dick would be epic.
A bottle of water shouts at me from the cabinet, and Igulp it down as I grab my phone. The chain gang in my head is more like a heavy metal band playing a riff now.
