Surprisingly. Her parents had been more than understanding. Briefly telling them of events on the phone, they had appeared at the manor as it grew darker outside, without even questioning why Rose would be waiting there.
She had heard from Rob a handful of times in the last hours, all calls brief due to having to keep going back to check for updates on her condition, the phone a bit of a walk back to the ward. Morag was out of surgery and in recovery, and he was waiting to see her, waiting for the sedatives to wear off. He wanted to see her before he left and came home, so he was hanging about endlessly waiting.
They all ate dinner with Alice and Tommy. Courtesy of her parents appearing with a huge Domino’s pizza and a can of food for Muffin. Alice had shown them all into the cosy TV lounge by the kitchen after and left them to it, alone at last and sitting face to face. Rose had finally told them everything, unable to continue without being honest.
She had skimmed over the dirty details of how often she had ended up naked with Rob Munro, but they got the just of the situation. It had been so much easier than she could have imagined. From their first few weeks sneaking around to the break up over Morag’s mental state and finally leading up to the events this morning.
Her dad had been silent and thoughtful. Her mother was more verbal and broke in with small remarks and all the right noises of a protective mother hen. She was more sympathetic to Rob’s part than Rose had expected.
The end result was that both suspected something was going on with Rob and their daughter. The chemistry between them was apparently undeniable, and Rob’s attention to her was a little giveaway that they were more than they pretended to be. Her behaviour at the bakery barely masked it, and neither had wanted to question her.
Imparting their words of wisdom, they had sat and mulled through all of it with her, their blessing, despite all the heartache she had suffered in recent weeks and finally, their love in the form of supportive hugs and kisses before they eventually left. She had told them she was tired. She wouldn’t wait up for him but go to bed and wanted to sleep off her hangover.
She had just wanted to be alone to wait by the phone and hope he came back sooner rather than later, he had her mobile number now, and she had been keeping one eye glued firmly to it.
She gave them the cottage keys so they did not have to return to the hotel and take Muffin home to his familiar surroundings to settle. She wanted them close by tonight, in case she needed to see them, but far enough to give her breathing space. They finally left. Promising to come back before they had to start home the next day.
Rose watched them leave the open door, feeling a little vulnerable. The moon was now high in the sky, and the air dark and twinkling; It was late, and it had been almost two hours since he had last called. Abby was asleep under some plastic chairs in the waiting room by then and suffering an awful hangover and the after-effects of shock. He had been waiting to see Morag, talking to staff and trying to catch some sleep in the hard-backed chairs, and it sounded even worse than before. His hangover and fatigue set in amongst stress and worry.
Unable to keep pacing the halls erratically, she slid into Rob’s room, turned on his tv, and channel-hopped for a while. The feel of his bed around her offered comfort, knowing he would return at some point.
Alice had left some time ago to go home to her little cottage nearby with Tommy, showing Rose how to set the alarm and lock up. Her daughter, who normally cooked for the big house, was away, leaving this big old empty place with only Rose in it, like being locked in a big empty museum for a night. Eerie and echoey and a tad uncomfortable, considering she had only just gotten back with Rob less than twenty-four hours ago, and here she was alone in his huge house and nestled in his bed.
Stripping off and pulling on one of Rob’s t-shirts for comfort in lack of his actual self, she climbed into bed. She wanted to stay awake for his return, but the combination of tiredness remains of a hangover and all the emotional turmoil had her drifting off before long, despite her efforts not to.
* * *
She awoke to warm arms pulling her against a hard, hot body under the covers. The room was pitch black. Startled momentarily but immediately soothed by his familiar scent and touch, she would recognise anywhere. She reached up to wrap her arms around his neck, feeling him sigh and relax, burying his face in her neck and catching her naked legs in his.
‘This feels too good. It’s what I have needed all day.’ He murmured from the hollow of her throat. His voice was soft and full of exhaustion. She could already sense how his body had sagged against her, and his eyes were closed. ‘You don’t know what it feels like to come home and find you in my bed. I don’t ever want it any other way.’
‘I think I do.’ She softly kissed his head through his ruffled hair, equally overjoyed at finding herself back in his embrace, so much better than the dreams she had about him.
She had so many questions, but she could see he needed sleep more than she required answers right now. Curling around one another, she closed her eyes and found falling back into slumber effortless now that he was home right beside her finally. Wrapped in his secure, safe arms. Warm and peaceful, the steady breath and heartbeat lulling her into sleep.
* * *
They slept late. Alice had opened the door a crack early in the day and, seeing them both curled up sound asleep, had retracted and gone about her business in another room. A small smile spread across her face.
He was the first to wake. Planting soft kisses on her face and bringing her around gently. Smiling when she opened her eyes sleepily and looked at him. Momentarily forgetting everything, she smiled back and accepted his soft kiss on her lips as his hand moved across her body suggestively. She knew resistance was pointless; before long, that shirt was lying crumpled on the floor beside his discarded clothes from his return home.
Afterwards, she lay in his arms, looking at the ceiling. He was twirling her hair absent-mindedly, staring at the same spot above them.
‘She’s going to be kept in for a few weeks.’ He sighed. ‘They managed to patch up most of the damage. She will need more surgery today, and she’s got to see the plastic surgeon for the damage to her tendons and to handle the excessive scarring. Mostly, they’re keeping her admitted until a bed in the psychiatric ward opens.’
Rose glanced at him seriously, baulking at the words.
‘Voluntary...She told them she had caused her wounds on purpose.’ He sighed again, obviously in turmoil. ‘She’s classed as a suicide threat, so that they will keep her in for an evaluation and some sessions with a therapist.’ He sighed.
‘How did she seem?’ Rose pushed gently, unsure how to feel about this whole thing but still a smidgen of empathy for the other woman breaking through.
‘Drugged! I only saw her briefly when they settled her in the ward. She was still not fully out of sedation. Coherent enough to only have a few words before they made me leave.’ Rob stilled his hand, entangled with her hair and brought her temple to his mouth, kissing her softly, almost absentmindedly.
‘Did she say much?’
‘Only she was sorry, and did I still love her?’ He cursed under his breath. ‘I had no idea where to go with that, so I told her I would come back and see her in a couple of days. After surgery and when she was more lucid,’ He turned, kissing Rose on the temple again, somehow finding some solace in this little act. ‘Then I left!’ He sighed heavily, both silent. Rob was mulling over events, and Rose was processing them.
‘Abby?’ Rose looked up at his perfect profile in afterthought, realising he hadn’t mentioned bringing her home or even how she was. His rested, relaxed features and dark morning stubble showing along his jaw gave him a rougher sexy look. He looked better now. Earlier, he had seemed so uptight. Strained. But making love to her had been the release he had been aching for.
‘I put her in bed. She was practically a zombie. Doubt she will surface much today. She was in a bit of a mess for a few hours. Tears. Exhaustion. I think she may sleep the day away.’ He pulled his arm out from behind her head and made to get up. He seemed restless again, and she couldn’t help the feeling of anxiety at him getting up.
‘I need to see my dad for a bit, Rose. Tell him what’s happened. He won’t be happy if he finds out from someone else.’ He leant down, kissing her on the forehead before scooping up his clothes and heading into the bathroom to get ready.
She lay watching the door close softly, feeling numb and quiet. Unable to process anything right now because everything was in limbo. She felt restless too. Standing on a precipice, looking into a deep cavern. Glancing at the time, she got up, pulling on clothes and brushing her hair the best she could with her fingers.
He appeared. Looking her up and down questioningly, a tinge of disappointment on his face.
‘My parents! They leave today, and I need to see them. They’re at the cottage!’ She reminded him with a smile.
He looked thoughtful, crossing the room and pulling her into him, touching noses and looking at each other silently for a moment before he broke the spell with a kiss. A long lingering, ‘I need you’ sort of kiss. Then broke the romance of it by slapping her on the butt rather loudly and throwing a cheeky raise of the eyebrows and melting smile before heading out the door. He motioned a phone with his hand to his ear, and she nodded.
Only when she walked out the hall door that she realised she had walked there. She had no car parked outside.
Dammit.
She was still tired and did not want to walk home. Her body suffered from days of broken sleep and too much exertion at Rob’s hands.
Standing in the open front door, she pulled out her phone, ready to ask her dad to come to get her, when she felt him behind her again. His presence always alerted her body in heightened ways.
‘Changed your mind? The lure of my bed a little too much for you?’ His arms moved easily to her waist and around her body.
‘No.’ She laughed, enjoying his breath on her neck. ‘Laziness and calling for Daddy Cab.’ She waved her phone, showing her dad’s name on the screen. He leaned down, ending the call before it started to ring.
‘I’ll take you home.’ He cut in instead.
‘No. Rob, see your dad. Honestly, I can get him to come and...’
Bringing his face to her cheek from behind as he leant forward, she heard the jingle of keys as he slid his hand from his back pocket. Holding them in front of her face suggestively.
‘So, take my car and get me when I’m done.’ She paused, staring at the small bunch of keys, the expensive shining logo on the keyring and hesitated. Sparkling in the morning sun like a costly trinket.
‘I can’t! It’s too much. It costs a bomb. It’s your pride and joy.’ She rattled off apprehensively, suddenly extremely nervous.
‘Planning on writing it off, are you?’ He kept the keys in front of her face, waiting for her to take them. Both stood motionless as they sparkled in the sunlight.
‘No. It’s just it’s really fast. I’m used to my mini, and it’s...Well, it’s a sports car! She knew she was panicking.
‘You CAN drive them like any other car, you know?’ He was persistent, her arguments pointless, as she reluctantly took the keys from him.
’Don’t you have a Range Rover lying around? You know, like normal Lairds and highland people have?’
He shook the keys suggestively in her hands, motioning that this was what she was getting, and he wasn’t listening to arguments.
‘Fine! But if I damage it, scratch it or break it, you remember you pushed me into driving it.’ She mused, her hands trembling a little at being trusted with his prized possession.
He turned her slowly and placed a long kiss on her mouth, fingers trailing down her throat and back up again to her jawline seductively.
‘It’s only a car, and yeah, I left my Range Rover packed up with my tartan pants and bagpipes... I’m expecting some scratching or breaking, Penelope, as I’ve seen you drive, remember!’ He laughed at her as she moved back in mock anger, a comical frown on her face and batted him in the stomach. Pulling her back into a headlock and planting a kiss on her head, he turned her, moving her forward out the door with a gentle shove.
‘Besides, there are ways in which you can make up for any damage that I would be highly open to.’ He grinned after her as she waved him away and shook her head. Exasperated with his one-track mind yet secretly pleased that by lending her his car, he was showing that the relationship between them was not going to be a secret anymore. Everyone out on the road knew his car, and he never loaned it to anyone.
The car made her nervous as soon as she slid into the driver’s seat. The smooth, soft leather and moulded shape held her strangely; she adjusted the seat and mirrors, glancing to make sure he had gone back inside, not wanting to be watched. She was already nervous enough in the sleek black cockpit of the car. The sea of buttons and gadgets illuminated in the gloom under the deeply tinted windows. It felt like being inside a very modern spaceship. A highly expensive modern spaceship. The hum and power of the engine caused her nerves to start. She could tell from even the feel beneath her hands and feet that this was more car than she had ever driven and lost her nerve. Her stomach was lurching.
A small shake and internal pep talk had her reversing slowly and carefully, afraid to put her foot down and move gently into position to head down the drive. She kept telling herself the cottage was not far and out loud to her reflection in the mirror that she would never drive this beast again. On the straight road, she relaxed a little; this wasn’t so bad once you got used to it. The smooth purring drive, the roar, anytime you accelerated. Rose realised how sensitive the pedals were and trod gently, trying to ignore the huge price tag on the car. Keeping below the speed limit, she felt relief at the sight of her turn-in and indicated. He could keep his car to himself in future. Her hands were clammy with the effort of not killing herself.
Parking the sleek car easily behind her parent's one and locking it up carefully, she slid the keys into her jeans. Her feet back on the real ground felt surreal after the purring vibration of power. Welcoming. She felt a nervous wreck. She didn’t know what men’s obsession with cars like that was all about. Somewhat awed at his lack of fear and his ability to drive it around casually.
Muffin greeted her ecstatically as soon as she entered the front door. It felt like she had been gone for days. The warmth and cosy sight of her cottage instantly relaxed her. Her parents were in the kitchen making breakfast and called out their greetings at the sound of her. It did not take long to bring them up to speed on Morag.
‘Has he gone back to the hospital then?’ Her mother enquired. A look of interest and accusation on her face. Unsure how to take it.
‘No. He’s gone to tell his father what’s gone on. He doesn’t live in the manor anymore but in one of the fishing crofts nearby.’ Her mother, intrigued by that titbit of information, then had to drag out the details of why the father had left his own home. Nodding understandingly when she told them that the tragic death of their mother had a devastating effect on the man.
‘Still likes a good shindig, though!’ Her father chimed in, rubbing his still recovering belly. He still looked a bit peaky from the day before.