24. Rose
ROSE
While it was nice to be in my own space for a night and enjoy some comfort food, I’m oddly excited to get back to Dante.
Not Dante but his house, or the project at least. My thoughts are all over the place.
Do I…miss Dante? Wow, get a grip, Ro. I barely know the guy.
I’m merely intrigued by the secretive nature of the man and how he makes me feel safe, which is something I haven’t felt in a long time.
Or maybe it’s because I’m satisfied with the amount of work and orders I was able to complete while only in the city for a short time, and I am eager to start getting everything in place and see my vision come to life.
It will be the first time in my career I didn’t have to get approval on my designs from the partners, who ultimately tamed all my creativity and turned my unique style into the cookie-cutter, sterile, modern bullshit that rich snobs seem to be obsessed with.
Dante seems legitimately interested in my ideas and has let me have free rein on the details as long as it fits his overall vision, which ironically matches my vision almost seamlessly.
Packing my suitcase, I decide to bring more clothes than I had originally planned.
I want to stay up near the house for the remainder of the project instead of managing it from the city like I had previously wanted to do.
I make the rules now after all, and I want Lusso Designs to be known for its attention to detail and hands-on approach for my clients.
Well, not hands on my clients, but I wouldn’t be opposed to putting my hands on a particular client.
Okay, mind out of the gutter starting now.
Luckily, the drive back up to Dante’s place was uneventful.
After being properly caffeinated and having my favorite playlist to entertain me, I’m pulling up in front of his house in no time.
I hope Dante is ready to go over everything I completed yesterday.
I should’ve texted him when I left, but I was too keyed up and probably would’ve said something inappropriate, as I am prone to do when speaking with him.
He should be happy to see me since I know he’s a stickler for the timelines on this project.
Luckily, we’re already ahead of schedule.
My plan is to quickly touch base with Dante, check the work Luca’s team completed yesterday while I was gone, then find a place to stay for the first night so I have time to secure longer-term accommodations.
Maybe Shirley knows of a good hotel in the area that will be safer than the last place I stayed.
I’ll have to swing into the diner after Dante’s anyway for dinner, so I can chat with her then.
Stepping out of my car in front of Dante’s house with a shirtless man doing work in the front yard is giving me déjà vu.
But this man isn’t the brooding homeowner I encountered on my first day.
No, this is the other man haunting my thoughts, Luca.
I was hoping I could just email him or something after I checked everything, but here he is, in the flesh, literally.
“Good morning,” I say in my most professional tone. While I’d rather ignore him and just walk past, I have to remind myself we are business colleagues at this moment, and I don’t want to show my discomfort.
“Rose,” Luca responds with a head nod. Well, that was very curt. I’m supposed to be the one with an attitude, not him. Whatever. Two can play that game.
“I’ll be checking over the list of projects I left for you and your team to complete. I trust that everything has been corrected to meet the standards of the client?” There, that’ll show him who’s in charge.
“Of course, Rose. I’m just doing some finishing touches outside, and then we can do a walkthrough to ensure everything is to the client’s standards.
” I can practically hear the air quotes he’s putting around “the client’s” as if he knows I was nitpicking little things to get under his skin.
His work has been some of the most impressive I’ve seen in my career, and that is a high compliment coming from me, especially with the multimillion-dollar penthouses I’ve designed.
But I couldn’t let Luca get a big head, so I had to find something for him to fix.
“Excellent. I’m going to touch base with Dante, and then we can do our walkthrough.”
“I didn’t realize Dante was back already.”
“What do you mean? Back from where?” Just as the question leaves my mouth, Dante pulls up in a blacked-out Mercedes G-wagon.
Before Luca can respond, Dante steps out holding two cups of what I’m hoping is coffee, and my question and all other thoughts are forgotten when caffeine is this close.
Did I already drink a coffee this morning on the drive up?
Yes. Does that mean I don’t need any more coffee? Absolutely not. I’m not a monster.
“Rose, good morning.” Dante draws out every syllable in his melodic accent I still can’t place, but it almost seems like he’s trying to disguise it, which is crazy because add in any accent to that face and body and baaa-by, consider my panties dropped. Wait, what did he say? Respond, Ro!
“Is that coffee or are you just happy to see me?” Good god, woman, what does that even mean? And of course, Luca is bearing witness to my utter mindlessness whenever I’m around this man.
“Both actually,” Dante responds with a smile that feels like we’re sharing a private joke. As if he is used to my weird responses and finds them endearing. Or maybe I’m just hoping that’s what his smile means.
“Thank you so much. I didn’t have time to stop for coffee on my drive up.
” A little white lie, but I don’t want him to witness my caffeine addiction this early in our relationship.
Well, business relationship. And technically it’s not even a lie.
I didn’t have time to stop for coffee. I just drank the one I made at home.
“Caramel-iced macchiato, light ice, extra caramel,” Dante informs me as he hands over the clear plastic to-go cup with my literal heaven inside.
“Wow, that’s actually my favorite. Thank you.” I give Dante a puzzled look, but I’m not about to question it when I take the first sip of creamy, sweet goodness. “And what did you get?”
“Quad espresso.”
“Long night?” Please don’t tell me Dante has a girlfriend or something that he spent the night with.
Or maybe he just had a little fling to scratch an itch while he had the night to himself.
Good for him, actually. It doesn’t make any difference to me.
I hope he had a great night doing whatever or whoever.
“Something like that.” With a smirk to punctuate his response, he turns and gestures for me to proceed up the steps and through the door, not even acknowledging Luca’s presence. “After you.”
I catch Luca’s gaze as I take a sip of my coffee and turn to walk inside, but his eyes are shooting daggers at Dante. I actually forgot he was here watching my interaction with Dante.
“Let me know when you are ready for our walkthrough, Rose,” Luca directs at me while still making eye contact with Dante.
“Sounds good,” I add with a wave of my hand and head inside. Men and their pissing contests. They can stare at each other all day if they want, but I’m going to enjoy my coffee in peace.
The rest of the day goes by smoothly. The work that Luca and his team got done yesterday is flawless, and I have to school my face when I tell him it’s “fine” and “I guess it’ll do” even though I’m gushing inside at the craftsmanship and intricacy of the designs.
Dante was pleased with the progress I made on orders and the delivery schedule and then spent most of the day out of sight.
I’m assuming he was in the basement even though I didn’t actually see him go down there.
I’m exhausted from the drive and long day of work, and all I can think of right now is food and a soft bed.
Food first, then hopefully Shirley can help me with the soft bed situation.
The diner is blessedly quiet when I walk in and head to what I am now considering “my booth.” Shirley is behind the counter and smiles in greeting as I make my way to my table.
“I thought you might’ve left town when you didn’t come in last night,” Shirley says in greeting.
“Aw, did you miss me?” I say with a genuine smile, but Shirley clearly knows I’m joking.
“I was just going to be annoyed if you were gone, especially after I stocked up on caramel syrup.”
“Don’t play with my emotions, Shirley. Dangling caramel syrup in front of me would be cruel and unusual punishment if you are just messing with me.”
“I figured it wouldn’t hurt to have some on hand for when people from the city stop in,” Shirley explains as if she doesn’t want me to know she is actually very thoughtful and did it just for me.
“Thank you, Shirley. Truly,” I add in a sincere tone.
“That was very thoughtful of you to think of all those people from out of town who might want caramel syrup. You are a true saint.” I wink to keep things playful, but in reality, I’m melting inside.
This woman, who I didn’t think even liked me based on our few interactions, has done something not many people in my life have done—she saw me.
Clearly uncomfortable with my genuine display of gratitude, Shirley promptly changes the subject. “What can I get you tonight?”
“I’ll start with a caramel coffee and a cup of ice with some creamers on the side. And then I’ll take some time to look over the food menu and let you know.”
“I actually have a pot of coffee in the fridge that I can put over ice with the caramel syrup for you if that is what you had planned to do.”
To say I’m stunned is an understatement. Shirley, the diner ice queen herself, has thawed to me, and I couldn’t be more thankful. Beaming up at her, I say, “Who are you and what have you done with my Shirley?”
Hiding a grin, she responds, “Do you want the iced coffee or not? It doesn’t affect me either way. It will just save me a dirty glass if I don’t have to bring it to you in a mug first.”
“I would love it iced, thank you.” Smiling, I pick up the menu to look over my options and release Shirley from our pleasant interaction, which seems to make her uncomfortable.
All I know is Shirley likes me. Like actually likes me, and honestly, I like her too.
She gives off a mother figure vibe I’ve never experienced, stern and strong, but underneath, she is nurturing and actually cares.
Enjoying my iced coffee, Shirley brings over my go-to cheeseburger order and sets it on the table (honestly, I don’t even know why I looked at the menu) when I remember my mission for tonight.
“Shirley, do you know of any hotels you can recommend for the night? It doesn’t have to be fancy, just safe ideally.” I tack on the last piece, hoping she won’t question it.
“Well, there is only one motel in town, a few blocks over near the main road, but that’s all we have close by. I heard there was a break-in there a few days ago, so it might not be very safe. This time of year, there aren’t many rental vacancies.”
“Yeah, about that.” I pause, wondering how much information I should share.
At this point, Shirley is my only friend, and I feel like I’ll be spending a lot of hours in this diner, so I don’t see the harm.
“Actually, it was my room that was broken into. That’s why I wasn’t around last night.
I went back to the city for a bit. I’m hoping to find somewhere more long-term to stay while I’m here working, but I just need a room for tonight.
I guess I’ll have to see if that motel has availability. One night won’t kill me.”
“No,” a stern-looking Dante says from behind Shirley, who almost jumps out of her skin with the one-word command. How did I not notice him come in? I didn’t even hear the bell over the door jingle.
“No? What do you mean no?” I’m both flustered and confused by Dante’s sudden presence.
“No, you will not be staying at that motel tonight.”
“Well, unfortunately, it sounds like that’s my only option, and it’s too late to drive back to the city.”
“Stay with me.”
Blink. Blink. Blink. Stay with him? I know he offered before, but I didn’t think he was actually serious. Plus, he doesn’t have any furniture in the rooms yet, and he’s a client.
“Um, I don’t think that’s a good idea. The motel will be fine for a night until I secure extended lodging.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Rose.”
“Dante.”
Clearly exasperated with my petulant responses, Dante takes a deep breath before responding, “Rose, please stay in one of my guest rooms. You spend most of the day on the property anyway, and it’s not safe at the motel.”
Wow, that was the calmest and most logical response he could have given, and it leaves me little to argue with, considering he knows something happened to my room the last time I stayed there. Luckily, he doesn’t know the extent of the damage and chaos that was left, just that someone broke in.
“Dante, I couldn’t impose. Really, it’s fine.”
“It’s no imposition. I have the space. Consider it a client request if it makes you feel better.”
“For god’s sake, woman! Stay at the man’s house or else I will, and you can stay at my place.” Shirley interrupts our back-and-forth before I can come up with another excuse for why it would be a bad idea, and she even adds a playful wink in Dante’s direction with her last statement.
“Fine.” I drag the word out, glaring at Shirley. “But only for the night, and then I will find someplace else for the remainder of my time up here.”
“Now that that is settled.” Shirley eyes me pointedly before turning toward a satisfied-looking Dante. “Are you staying for dinner, handsome? Can I grab you a menu?”
“No need. I’ll just have what she is having.
Hold the iced coffee, though.” Dante returns Shirley’s wink with his own and settles into the seat across from me.
First, Shirley goes and gets everything I would need for iced coffee, and now Dante is making jokes?
I feel like I’m in the twilight zone or something equally bizarre.