Read Rose for Free Online Page B

only ended up hurting her. “Rose, that’s wasn’t what I meant—”
    “It’s fine—really. I appreciate all that you’ve done, believe me. So if you could show me where to sleep, that would be great. I’m exhausted.” She yawns as if to prove her point, although she’s careful not to make eye contact.
    One thing is becoming clear to me during tonight: She’s more upset about what happened—or didn’t happen—between us than I’d realized. Other than a few glimpses I’d convinced myself I didn’t actually see, she’s been very blasé about our encounters. At times, I’ve thought she might care for me, but I’ve never been able to get a true lock on where she was in her head. She used our sexual attraction as both a distraction and a way to keep an emotional distance between us. And I’d been more than happy to let her because I was no more ready to commit to a real relationship than she was—or so I’d thought. But where had the hurt in her eyes come from? This is exactly why you didn’t want to get involved. I’d been devastated by love before and damned if I ever wanted to repeat it. Rose had complicated written all over her, and it fucking scared me to death. She also drew me in like a moth to a flame and that was even more terrifying. I didn’t want to be with her—but I couldn’t stay away. Where did that leave us? Eventually, you either made a decision or life made it for you as it had tonight. She shakes my hand, and I realize I’ve been standing here in the spare bedroom staring off into space. Real smooth, Decker. “Um … I was going to—?” My last word comes out as a question because I have no idea if I missed something.
    “Get me a shirt?” she says slowly, no doubt thinking I’ve lost it.
    While I zone out, she’s still in a wet towel after being up all night. Perfect. “Sorry,” I mumble before jogging back to my room and pulling a Carolina Panthers T-shirt from one of my drawers. I give it a quick sniff before taking it back to her. I have no idea why guys always check to make sure their laundry doesn’t smell. Probably a leftover habit from my college days when I’d wear clothes several times before taking the time to launder them. The smell test was a necessity back then. “Here you go,” I say as I hold it out to her. She mumbles her thanks, and then shifts awkwardly. “I’ll, um, just be down the hall. You should have everything that you need in the bathroom. If you don’t, just let me know.”
    “All right.” She gives a brief smile. “Thanks.”
    And with that, I’m out of reasons to stay. If things were different, or maybe if we’d had some type of closure to our flirtation, we possibly wouldn’t both appear so uncomfortable right now. After the evening she’s had, I wish I were free to sleep with her and offer her the comfort she must surely need. Instead, we’re acting as if we’re little more than strangers. She’s had her hand on my cock and I’ve had my fingers inside her, with my tongue down her throat. But you’d never know it now. If one of us made the first move, then the other might relax enough to reciprocate. It’s clear, though, from her earlier comment that she won’t be doing that. She feels rejected by me. She called me to help her, but it’s like she still thinks she is a burden. Her eyes, when she told what her father had done, were so defeated. Hurt. Pained. Does she really fear I’d hurt her? That I’d turn her away?
    Before I can do something that I might regret, she takes the decision from my hands and walks toward the bathroom, shutting the door softly behind her. I sigh, before leaving to make sure the house is locked up. I’m grateful tomorrow is Saturday and I have nowhere to be. I generally work from my home office for a few hours, but I am free to sleep late. I hope that Rose is able to relax enough to as well.
    Surprisingly, I’m out soon after my head touches the pillow. Visions of the broken woman next door to