Run Rosie Run (9 page)

Hand in hand, fingers lacing together, they strolled up the path to her front door.

The wine they’d shared at dinner had given her a nice little buzz.

This was comfortable and easy Rosie decided as they entered the house.

And she didn’t complain when Josh grabbed her and leaned back against the door, his hips taking their weight.

His mouth found hers as expert hands skimmed down her back, whispered over her bottom, sliding up to her shoulders.

His kiss was nice.

Warm and wet and... Why did Alexander pop into her head?

With a frown, Rosie pressed her mouth harder to his, pulled him closer, wiggled her hips.

After a long moment, Josh broke contact to stare at her in utter shock.

‘What the hell just happened?’

Flummoxed, she stared back. ‘I’ve no idea.’

‘I’ve fancied you for months.’

‘I’ve wondered about what it would be like with you too.’

‘But there’s not even a tingle. Did you feel a tingle?’

Rosie knew it was bad of her, but she couldn’t help it, she started to laugh.

‘Nope.’

Josh stepped away as she slapped on the light.

Tossing her purse on the couch, she moved into the kitchen and switched on the kettle.

He followed more slowly, his hand rubbing his jaw.

‘I don’t know what to say. I’ve had a hard on all night,’ he said at last.

Flattered he sounded so devastated, Rosie found she couldn’t be sorry. If there was no chemistry then she couldn’t sleep with him, not even for the physical release.

‘I know. I was looking forward to getting all hot and heavy with you. But that wasn’t the most pleasant experience of my life either. It was like kissing a friend.’

Josh looked at her with steady eyes.

‘I can always do with another friend.’

Rosie gave him a big grin. ‘Then you’ve got one.’

When they settled on the couch with a couple of coffees, Josh caught her eye.

‘Friends need to be honest with each other, Rosie. Why did Alexander gave me the death stare tonight?’

Baffled, she blinked. ‘I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.’

Josh read the honest truth in her eyes.

And realised he’d wandered into the middle of an emotional swamp and was knee deep in it because he hadn’t trusted his instincts. Alexander was furious with him. And he’d have a little chat with him about that. Rosie’s comments about Alexander had shocked him. It was obvious they had issues. He was friends with both which meant he should butt out and let them sort out their own problems.

However, it was clear Rosie had absolutely no idea of Alexander’s feelings for her.

Perhaps he should lend his friend a hand?

‘He has deep feelings for you,’ he said in a gentle voice.

Rosie stiffened.

‘Yes, usually along the lines of wanting to strangle me.’

Josh shook his head.

‘Nope, I don’t think so. Since I’ve been there myself I recognise the signs.’

He sipped his coffee, eyed her over the rim and tried a shot in the dark.

‘Has he kissed you?’

Christ, he sounded like an agony aunt.

The atmosphere in the room changed, became tense.

The quiet plea in her eyes for him to change the subject had guilt jog him in the ribs. What business was it of his?

‘No.’

‘Do you have strong feelings for him?’

Her bottom lip trembled as she caught a curl of hair and wound it round and round her finger, all the while staring at the floor.

Endless seconds ticked by until Josh caught her hand.

‘You asked me to be your friend, Rosie. I’m trying.’

She closed her eyes tight for an eternal moment before she heaved out a breath and her eyes met his.

‘I’m uncertain about a number of things at the moment, Josh. I’ve spent too many years hoping and wishing for something that never happened. It hit me recently that I’ve wasted too much time day dreaming and living in my head. I need to move on.’

‘Anything you tell me will stay with me.’

Rosie stood, paced to the window and stared out into the up-lit garden.

Her folded arms pressed into the ache in her belly.

The patient tone of his voice, the overwhelming sense that here was someone who was empathic, who understood her, made her open her heart.

‘I’ve loved him my entire life. He’s never given me a look, a touch or a signal that he feels anything for me other than brotherly affection.’ She slanted Josh a sad smile. ‘Or as a pain in the neck.’

Blue eyes met hers as he nodded.

‘Sometimes we build things up in our head, make it bigger than it actually is. Have you talked to anyone about this?’

Shaking her head, Rosie walked back and sank beside him onto the couch.

‘Never. I’m too scared it might change my relationship with Bronte and the family. And Alexander would be utterly mortified. He’d be too nice to me, too kind to me.’ She looked him dead in the eye. ‘I couldn’t cope with that.’

He lifted his hand, stroked her hair.

‘Rosie, it’s not healthy to live in a perpetual state of ‘if only’.’

He was absolutely right.

‘Most of the time I deal with it. But sometimes, like recently, it’s been hard to get a grip on my feelings. I’ve already talked to Bronte about leaving, starting over somewhere else. Perhaps in Cyprus with my parents. I need to make changes because if I don’t I’m scared I’m going to make a fool of myself.’

‘What’s the worst thing that can happen?’

‘Rejection, being hurt, I suppose.’

Josh pulled her into a hug, held her close.

She was so grateful for the human connection, that unconditional affection, it brought a sting to her eyes and a lump to her throat.

‘If you want my advice,’ he said as he laid his cheek on the top of her head. ‘You need to be brave, take a chance and see what happens.’

‘If I follow my instincts I’ll give him a black eye. I hate him at times,’ she muttered into his chest.

‘There’s a fine line between love and hate.’

The harsh tone in his voice had her look up into his handsome face.

‘You’ve been hurt?’

‘She was never mine.’

‘What happened?’

‘She married my brother.’

Rosie wound her arms around him and hugged him, hard. ‘I’m sorry. Are they happy?’

‘Blissfully, with two children and one on the way.’

‘That’s a shame. If Alexander married anyone but me I’d pray he’ll be miserable for the rest of his rotten life.’

Josh’s deep laugh vibrated through her and made her smile.

‘You’re a good friend, Rosemary Gordon.’

‘So are you, Joshua Erichsen.’

Alexander hadn’t slept.

Every night of his life, without fail, he went out like a light. Every night.

But last night, he’d tossed, he’d turned, he’d changed the pillow, he’d had a double brandy and nada.

Now he was up at the crack of dawn on his day off and had nothing to do.

How the hell had that happened?

He could cruise through the barn conversion, do a snagging list. But a team had blown through it yesterday, no point in duplicating work.

He liked being close to the The Hall and his heritage and still have his privacy. The new space was just right for him, the way it opened onto the huge entrance hall, dining room and sitting room was a great entertaining space when he had his pals over.

Wearing brushed cotton pants slung low on is hips, he switched on his coffee.

Usually the first cup made him human, woke him up, made him feel ready to face the day. Not today it didn’t.

Rosie was a good friend. A close friend. And he had strong feelings for her. Very strong. But she was being freaky he told himself - as he had scores of times during the night. She might be a friend but she was avoiding looking him in the eye. And a friend wouldn’t talk about another friend the way she talked about him last night, would they?

She was just trying to make him feel bad he decided now, over something she thought he’d done when he hadn’t done anything.

The whole thing was fucking pathetic.

He might order an early breakfast, but decided he wasn’t particularly hungry. If it had been the weekend, he’d have a full English - bacon, eggs, sausage and then have a golf or tennis game.

But he hadn’t organised a game for today. He didn’t feel like a game because he couldn’t be bothered. Now he frowned. There was something wrong with that picture.

Maybe he’d look at the detailed plans for the re-fitting of the Ferranti Spa at Lake Como. Maybe even sign off on a couple of plans and put a smile on Nico’s face. Get a couple of gold stars from Bronte for putting a smile on Nico’s face.

No point in standing around here like a fart in a trance.

He’d pop over to see his sister and mooch breakfast from her and see the kids. Maybe delicately grill her for information on Rosie.

No way was he going to tell Bronte how he felt about Rosie because his sister told Rosie every fucking thing. If there was anyone who had the skinny on Rosie it was Bronte Ferranti.

He turned with his coffee and wandered into the bathroom.

Once he’d dressed in jeans, loafers and a polo shirt, he stood still. Maybe he was lonely? He’d get a cat, two cats. No, a dog. A real dog. A manly dog like a German Shepherd or a retriever. Might even go to the dog home and find a loyal pal.

Yep, he’d drop-in, run the idea past Bronte and Nico at breakfast and after that he’d put in a few hours of gratifying work on the Lake Como Spa. Sorted.

He climbed into his Range Rover, perfect vehicle for a dog.

Pulling out of the car park, he wound down the main drive of Ludlow Hall and cruised along the road until he reached The Dower House.

He drove past the house and round to the back.

Strolling towards the door, the sound of heavy rock made him smile. Typical. Bronte loved to boogie as she prepared breakfast.

He found her messing about at a huge range, a stainless steel monstrosity, her hips wiggling in time to the music.

The fact his sister was still in what she supposed passed as pyjamas - tiny pantie shorts and a vest - didn’t bother him.

The twins were tucked up in high chairs, still in their pyjamas, looking cute as they ate their breakfast.

He crept behind Bronte and tickled her making her yelp in a way that had the kids howling with laughter.

She whirled around with a spatula in her hand and smacked him over the head with it, twice.

Sophia giggled so much she choked while Luca shouted and stretched out his arms.

Bronte grabbed her daughter, patted her back, while Alexander picked up Luca.

‘What’s got into you?’ she yelled.

Turning down her iPod deck, Alexander gave her a big grin while Luca’s fist pulled on his hair.

‘I thought I’d have breakfast here,’ he responded and carefully unfurled his nephew’s sticky grip.

Her smooth brow creased as she studied him.

‘What’s up?’

‘Why should something be up?’

He placed Luca in his highchair, handed him his plastic spoon.

When the baby dug the spoon into what looked like mashed banana and offered it to him, Alexander pretended to eat it.

‘Yum, yum.’

Bronte wasn’t buying it.

She didn’t mind her brother dropping in unannounced, in fact she welcomed it. But as she poured him a coffee and topped up her own she took a good long look at him. It appeared he hadn’t slept and that wasn’t like him. Alexander could sleep on a bed of nails.

Nico strolled in looking all hot and sexy and immaculate in his bespoke suit.

It put a hitch in his stride to find Alexander in his kitchen at seven-thirty in the morning, but he simply flashed her a look before expertly avoiding sticky fingers as he bent to nuzzle his children.

‘It is always a joy to see you, Alexander,’ he began and broke off to kiss his wife on the mouth, run a hand over her bottom. He stood behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. ‘Everything alright?’

Her brother sat at the table, stretched out long legs and hid a yawn.

‘I’m fine. What do you think of a dog?’

Nico sat opposite.

Bronte placed a coffee in front of him and he thanked her by taking her hand, nibbling her fingers and all the while his eyes never left Alexander.

‘Grazie, cara.’

She set down a basket of warmed rolls, croissants and brioche and they dug in.

‘A dog?’ she asked watching her brother like a hawk.

He’d always hankered for a dog, Bronte remembered now. However, living at The Hall and the travelling he did wasn’t conducive to keeping a pet. And she wondered now what was behind the sudden urge to have a companion.

Sophia cried, ‘Woof.’

‘Who is a clever girl?’ Nico stroked a gentle finger down his daughter’s cheek, grinning when he spotted Luca snoring into his breakfast.

‘Yeah, a manly dog, like a German Shepherd. What do you think?’

Alexander split a croissant, buttered it, missing the raised brow Nico gave his wife and her shrugged response.

Bronte cleared her throat.

‘A manly dog?’

Her brother caught her eye and frowned.

‘Yeah, no way would I get something called a Cockapoo or a ball of fluff. A man should have a dog with testosterone that looks like a dog.’

Now she placed her elbows on the table, resting her chin on clasped hands.

‘A dog with testosterone?’

‘Yeah. Rosie was in the restaurant last night with Josh Erichsen. And the way they were behaving they’ll have the tongues wagging for a week.’

Bronte didn’t blink at the segue into Rosie but this was the second time in as many days her brother had arrived and mentioned her best friend. Had they fought? She wouldn’t be surprised since the pair of them bickered constantly.

‘They were on a date. How did it go?’ she wanted to know.

The look of utter disgust on his face had her eye him carefully.

‘He was all over her like a rash. And she was stroking his hand and purring. You need to have a word with her, you know how gossip spreads in a small town.’