Chapter 14
CHAPTER 14
DALLAS
A t the engagement parties I’m used to, we gather in the mess hall, eat cake, and congratulate the happy couple. This party involves cocktails at a rooftop bar, dinner, and a stay in a luxury hotel.
I feel very out of place.
Thankfully, I was able to snag a room on late notice, so that I didn’t have to book one at a different hotel. Although, from the chatter near the front desk, it sounds like many places downtown are full this weekend.
We dropped off our bags in each of our rooms, then headed up the elevator to the roof.
Rose straightens my tie, then rests a hand on my chest, which means she can probably feel my heart thumping. “I’m not going to tell you not to be nervous because I don’t know what tonight will be like. Mom might be cold. Who knows what Dad will do. And Sage will ask you lots of questions. But he’ll like you. I know he will.”
To keep her hand in place, I press mine on top of hers. “Whatever you need tonight, just say the word. And I mean that. You are why I’m here.”
“Thank you, Dallas. I’m not sure how I lucked into meeting you. And I’m not sure how to even begin to thank you for doing this for me.”
The doors open behind me, and Rose’s eyes widen in recognition. That’s my cue to start convincing people, so I press my lips to hers before taking her hand.
“Mrs. Finch, hi!” Rose squeezes my hand, then looks at me. “This is?—”
“Your new boy. Yes, your mother mentioned you were seeing someone.” She flashes a plastic smile in my direction. “We’re so glad you could celebrate with us this evening.”
“Dallas is my fiancé.” Rose is standing straight, her shoulders back. “And we wouldn’t miss celebrating with Cara and Sage. Dallas, this is Lisa Finch.”
“Evening.” I tip my cowboy hat.
“You’ll see Cara and Sage. Just join them at the tables in the corner.” Mrs. Finch doesn’t seem at all fazed by Rose’s correction.
I’m not sure whether to cut the woman a little slack since her information source is tainted or if I should jump immediately to dislike. She did call me a boy.
Rose waves at a couple on the opposite side of the roof and tugs me in that direction. “I want you to meet Sage and Cara before Mom shows up.”
Sage is sizing me up as we approach, and I can’t blame him. I’m with his younger sister. If I had a sister, I’d probably give every single one of her dates the same look. I’m determined to make a good impression and set his mind at ease.
I flash a smile.
Rose hugs both of them, then grips my hand. “This is Dallas, my fiancé. I’m so happy y’all are finally getting a chance to meet him.”
Cara hugs me. “She kept you a secret until very recently when she popped the news of her engagement. We’re so happy for you both.”
“It was as if she yanked you out of thin air.” Sage studies my expression as he shakes my hand using a little more strength than he normally does, I’m guessing.
But I can handle it. “It probably feels that way if she kept our relationship hush-hush. But after meeting someone so amazing, proposing just happened. It’s like it was meant to be.” I wrap an arm around Rose, who is beaming at me.
Sage nods toward the bar. “Dallas, you want to go with me to get us some drinks?”
“Sure.” I let my fingers skim the back of Rose’s dress as I step away. Hopefully my lingering touch will remind her that I’m not far away.
Waiting in line at the bar, Sage glances over his shoulder at the ladies, then faces me. “Treat her right. She acts all tough and ready to face whatever, but she’s…” He sighs. “Not fragile. She’d kill me if I described her that way, but she’s?—”
“Tenderhearted.”
“Yeah. Be careful with her heart, okay?”
“Absolutely. I’m not a player, Sage.” It’s easy to deliver that line convincingly because it’s true.
“Good.” He motions for me to order first.
“I’ll have the porter and a Lavender Lemonade.” Drinks weren’t part of what Rose and I covered when talking about these functions. But she had a couple of drinks at the wedding this past weekend, and I made mental notes. She likes sweet drinks that aren’t too strong.
I’m planning to nurse this one beer the rest of the night because I need to be ready to run interference if Mrs. Potts decides to go on the attack. I hope she doesn’t. This night is about Cara and Sage, and so far, they seem as nice as Rose, and that’s saying a lot.
I hand Rose her drink. “If you don’t like it, I’ll grab you something else.”
She takes a quick sip and smiles. “Oh, it’s good. Thank you.”
Rose and Cara talk about how wedding planning is going, but our chatter screeches to a halt when Mr. and Mrs. Finch walk over. Rose’s parents are right behind them.
There’s another round of introductions, and Rose’s dad eyes me as he shakes my hand. “Nice to meet you, Dallas. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“All good, I hope.” If he’s heard about me from Mrs. Potts, I know those reports paint me as a bad guy. And I can live with that.
Mrs. Potts gives me a weak hug. “How are you getting along with that little beast? Has he torn up your furniture yet?”
“Floofy’s great.” I need to text Colt and remind him to check on the kitten before the end of the night.
Other guests arrive, and I stand behind Rose, letting her visit, but staying within arm’s reach.
A tall dark-haired man strides over, and the swagger makes me think I’ll finally get to meet Richard. The main reason I’m here. My assumption is affirmed when Rose reaches back and clasps my hand.
I’m by her side in an instant.
“Hey there, Pottsy. I haven’t seen you in a while. You look good.” Richard leans in to kiss her cheek.
But Rose is quick and shifts beside me. Richard nearly ends up kissing me. That would’ve been awkward.
“It has been a long time. This is my fiancé, Dallas.” She wraps her arm around mine.
I extend my hand to Richard. “Hi. It’s great to meet you. You’re Cara’s brother, right?”
He nods, his gaze bouncing between me and Rose. “Hadn’t heard you were engaged. Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” Rose and I respond in unison.
Richard scans the people gathered. “I need to find my mom. There was some sort of mix-up with the rooms.”
As soon as he walks away, Rose turns to face me. “You were perfect.” She inches up and brushes her lips on mine. It seems so natural, like it’s something she’s done thousands of times. Except she hasn’t. Granted, it’s happened several times since we met, but nowhere near thousands.
I resume my role, watching and protecting, while Rose talks to Cara and other friends.
When Mrs. Potts walks over, I don’t wait for Rose to pull me closer. With a hand on her waist, I stand behind her so that my chest is touching her back.
“Rose, there was some confusion with the rooms, and you have one with two beds, so we’re going to have Richard stay in there with you tonight. I told Lisa that wouldn’t be a problem.”
Rose clenches her jaw. “Mom, why would you think I’d be okay sharing a room with Richard?”
“Sweetheart, I’ll move your bags from your room to mine. Richard can have the room.”
She looks over her shoulder at me, smiling. “Great idea. You have my key, but I’ll go with you.”
I meet Mrs. Potts’s gaze. “It won’t take us anytime at all to shift the luggage. Then we’ll give Richard the key.”
Arms crossed, Mrs. Potts stares down at Rose. “It’s not like I was asking you to share a bed with the man. You’ve known him your whole life. I don’t see the problem with sharing a room.”
“I’d prefer having her with me.” I’ll play the possessive boyfriend if it keeps Rose safe.
Rose laces her fingers with mine. “We’ll take care of it, Mom.”
“Don’t be gone too long. Dinner is in five minutes.” Mrs. Potts marches away, probably trying to figure out some other way to get rid of me.
If she hands me a drink later this evening, I won’t drink it. She’s likely not the type to poison people, but I’m not testing that theory.
Rose is quiet as we ride the elevator down to the twelfth floor. After getting her bags, we get back on the elevator and go up to the fourteenth floor. My room has a great view of the city, but it also has something I wasn’t considering when I jumped in and said Rose would stay with me—one bed. But we’ll make it work.
I set her bags in the closet and turn to face her. “There’s no couch, but I can?—”
“It’s a big bed. We’ll be fine. Thank you. I trust you a million times more than Richard. My mom is losing her mind.”
“I think your mom just doesn’t like losing.” I tug Rose close. “You okay?”
“I will be. I’m more mad than anything, but I don’t want to ruin the party.”
This is a good time to shift the topic. “I like your brother. It’s obvious he cares about you.”
“He’s great. But wait!” She pulls back. “What did he say to you?”
“Nothing bad.” I kiss her forehead. “We should get back to the party and give Richard his key.”
“We don’t want to be late to dinner.” Rose rolls her eyes. “But seriously, thank you for speaking up when you did. I was about to make a scene.”
“I guessed as much. You’re such a wild thing.” I make sure I have the keys before pulling the door closed.
When we get back to the roof, the party has moved inside to the private dining room. And there are two empty seats. Thankfully, they are next to each other. Sadly, they are between Richard and Mrs. Potts.
I whisper to Rose as I follow her to the table. “You pick.”
She sits down beside her mother, and I take a seat beside Richard.
Dinner should be interesting.