Chapter Thirty-Four – Rose #2
I pulled back and grabbed the sides of his head. “This doesn’t mean I forgive you.”
His eyes sparkled. “Oh, I assume I have at least one month of sporadic pain to go through before you’ll even consider it.”
I nodded. “I’m being generous because I, too, messed up last night. I jumped to conclusions when I should have just asked you, then I ran away when it got tough. I’m sorry I didn’t talk to you.”
“Hey.” He slid his hand up my back, resting it between my shoulder-blades. “If that’s what you needed last night, then it’s fine. It’s not selfish to take care of yourself and your emotions.”
“That’s the hottest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
“Yeah, I can’t take credit for it. My mother said it this morning.”
“Ah, that explains it. I knew I loved her.”
“Oh?” His eyebrows went up. “So, you love my mother?”
His tone was teasing, but the uncertainty that he felt was in his eyes. A tiny, shadowy hint of apprehension that flared to life at my words.
“I do.” I brushed my thumbs over his cheeks, bringing my face close to his. “But I love you more.”
I lowered my lips, meeting his in a soft, sweet kiss. The vague sound of cheering and whooping that sounded suspiciously like Isa and George barely registered in my ears as Oliver tightened his grip on me. I squeezed his waist in return, flexing my feet to keep my grip on him, and kissed him again.
And again.
And again.
“Rose, you’re scaring the children!”
I pulled back at Isa’s call and looked around to see both Ryan and Abby looking up at us. Their chubby hands were pressed to their faces, and they were both peeking through their fingers, and both had expressions of absolute disgust.
I understood them entirely.
It was gross.
“Sorry, kids,” I said quietly, and Oliver put me down.
Abby slowly pulled her hands away from her face and looked at her ring. “Mister Duke, do you need this like Mister George did?”
“No,” I said quickly while he laughed. “No, no, we’re good, thanks.”
Oliver let me go and walked over to her, then crouched in front of her. “One day.”
“Oh. Is Miss Rose gonna be the duckess?”
Duckess .
Christ.
That hadn’t even crossed my mind.
“One day,” Oliver repeated, making me twitch. “When she’s ready. She’d make a great one, don’t you think?”
“Hmm.” Ryan tilted his head to the side. “Are you, like, the kin’ of Hanbwee?”
“Not quite,” he answered. “Maybe my ancestors were kind of like that in the olden days, but I’m not in charge. I just really care about it here.”
“Oh.” He paused. “I don’t fink you’re a wotten bastard now.”
I clapped my hands over my mouth to hide my laugh as his mother covered his mouth with her hand and pulled him back, hissing his name.
Oliver dropped his head, but the shake of his shoulders gave away his laugh. “I’m glad to have gone up in your estimation, Ryan.”
I let my laugh go, howling as I leant against someone’s fence. That moment in the nursery had lived rent-free in my head, and there was no way I was ever going to forget this.
“You.” Oliver rushed to me and grabbed me before I could run away again. He wrapped me in his arms, laughing, and said, “Stop encouraging him.”
“It’s never not funny.” I managed to eke out, trying to get hold of myself.
I couldn’t.
It was impossible.
And yes, I knew realistically I should not be laughing at a four-year-old swearing, but he was so earnest when he said it there was no way I could stop.
“Soooo,” Isa said, sidling up to us once more.
I jumped. “Where are you coming from? Where are you going? Wait, did you set me up?”
She cleared her throat. “Just over there. Just over there, and yes, I did.”
I stared at her.
Just stared.
She flinched and took a step back. “Forgive me, mistress. I have sinned.”
“At least you know.” I nodded. “You know I’m going to get you back for this, don’t you?”
She sighed, pushing her fringe out of her eyes. “It was worth it.” She smiled and looked between us. “Really so.”
I glanced at Shaun, and a flash of panic crossed his gaze. He stepped forwards, holding his hand out, and said my name desperately. “Rose—”
“His hot water wasn’t broken,” I said, pushing away from Oliver. “He was using it as an excuse to seduce you with his half-naked body because he’s been in love with you for years.”
Isadora gasped. “Don’t you da—”
I turned to Shaun. “She knew you were lying about your hot water being broken and let you come over to use her shower because she likes it when you’re naked and wanted to see if you’d finally make a move on her.”
I grabbed Isa and shoved her in his direction, and he caught her mid-squeak, right before she stumbled onto her sneaky arse.
“Two can play at this game,” I said. “Now, Isadora, why don’t you and Shaun talk ?”
“You little—” She jerked towards me, but Shaun held her back, his lips pulling to one side.
“Is that our punishment?” he asked, fighting as his smile threatened to widen.
“Yes. Now everybody knows you want to do the dance with no pants and will ask you if you’re in a relationship every time they see you for the next six months.” I nodded, folding my arms across my chest. “You can thank me later.”
“Thank you? I’m going to throttle you!” Isa leapt for me again, but Shaun was quicker, and he threw her over his shoulder despite her scream for him to let her go.
“Byeeee!” I shouted, waving my hand. I linked my fingers and stretched my arms out in front of me. “Ah, that’s been about five years coming.”
“Yes, you’re a real matchmaker.” Oliver spun me around and looked down at me, interlacing his fingers at the small of my back. “Now that cat is out of the bag with, well, everyone, does this mean we don’t have to sneak around anymore?”
“Oh, shit.” I looked around at everyone still watching our show in amusement. “Um… It’s probably a bit late for that, yeah.”
“It was about a month ago, dear,” Susan piped up, approaching us with Hades hanging from her arms. “You’re not very discreet.”
The day in the shed flashed through my mind. “Um, we weren’t?”
“No. You didn’t act like two people who hated each other, so most of us were waiting to see how it played out. And now I need to collect my winnings.”
“Speaking of,” George said, hobbling up behind Oliver. “You owe me twenty quid.”
Oliver sighed, digging into his pocket and pulling out his wallet. He produced two ten-pound notes from it and handed them over to a gleeful George. “There you go, as promised.”
“What winnings? Why do you owe him twenty quid?” I asked.
“It’s a very long story,” Susan said, taking ten pounds from each plot holder on her way around. “But you’ve made me a very rich woman, Rose. Very rich, indeed.”
I turned my attention to Oliver. “Should I… ask?”
He shook his head. “I’ll explain it to you later.”