Page 45 of A Taste For Trouble

Mom nodded, and I sighed heavily at the loss written all over her face.

“I heard he’s moved back to town with his daughter,” I informed her, and saw her face change at the knowledge that Robbie had built another life for himself after she walked away from me.

“I hope they will be happy here,” was all she said before she walked out of the room.

Was this to be my future as well, I wondered. If I walked away from Rose, would I also have to stand by and watch as she met someone else who would cherish her as I never had? And could I take that? I didn’t think I had it in me to be so generous.

But I had to choose one way or another. And quickly.

I was on my third conference call of the day when Trevor came running into my office. The look on his face made my heart sink like a stone.

“Something’s wrong, boss. Gunther just called me to say that Rose packed a lot of bags and got into a cab ten minutes ago. She was headed for her cottage.”

Fuck! I picked up my phone to call her and saw that she had sent me a text.

Dear Dom,

Reality called and asked to be unpaused.

I’m done waiting for others to set my life right. I’m going back to the cottage, knowing that your security team will keep me safe. If you need me, you know where to find me.

XOXO,

Rosie

P.S. I’ve emailed you the recipe for my mother’s lasagna, so you never have to live without it.

CHAPTER 23

ROSE

Icalled Mara as soon as I reached home, and she read me the riot act for going back to the cottage. As did Trevor, when she pulled him on the call.

“I didn’t know what else to do, guys,” I wailed. “It’s clear that Dom is having second thoughts about us, and I don’t want him to give in under pressure from his mother.”

Mara made a dismissive sound that echoed down the line.

“Bless you,” I said sarcastically.

“Don’t you sass me, missy,” she scolded. “You know just as well as Trevor and I do that nobody, but nobody, can force Dominic Carlisle to do anything he doesn’t want.”

“I can testify to that,” said Trevor, who, for some reason, was always on her side.

“If he was in a relationship with you, it was because he wanted to be in a relationship with you,” Mara went on.

“Fake relationship,” I clarified.

“With very real sex,” chimed in Trevor. “I’ve seen the hickeys.”

“Eww, shut up!” I yelled, as they cackled like old women. “You don’t understand, guys. Between Anthea and Grammy Cora, Dom and I would have no choice but to make it official. And I have no intention of being tied to a man who does not love me, heart and soul.”

“Do you love him?” she asked, and I didn’t even have to think about it.

“Yes. I love him so much it physically hurts to be apart from him. And it is because I love him that I’m giving him the choice of walking away from me.”

“Fine! Because no matter what you say, I know he will walk to the ends of the earth to find you, but why did you have to go back to the cottage?” demanded Trevor.

“Because it’s time to end this drama,” I said, before I hung up on my best friends.