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AMELIA

The whole way to the Bugle, I can’t stop thinking about Dane. Granted, he and Dex look alike, but they couldn’t be more different.

Though, it is unsettling to see the image of the man who wronged me and his daughter standing on my doorstep with those gigantic brown eyes looking at me with warmth.

Warmth that my ex does not possess in the slightest.

Of course, there’s also the physical attraction I feel, an echo of an attraction to someone else, but I found Dane appealing that night even before Dex ever showed up.

I thought he was hot, but it wasn’t his looks that drew me in. It was his quiet, reserved personality. He was the only man at the bar who was reading a damn book.

How could I not be intrigued by such a social rebel?

I push all thoughts of Dane out of my mind, knowing there are more important things at hand to deal with rather than my walk down memory lane in Barrington. Obsessing over the past won’t fix things. I need to do that myself.

As I open my car door, the heat hits me like a tidal wave. Of course, I’m not all that certain it’s not just my nerves making me flush. I can’t remember the last time I’ve been this nervous.

Walking through the revolving doors of the Bugle, I take in the sight of the office. There’s a section of egg-shaped chairs and some wavy blue rugs on both sides of the room, and a large desk in the center, but there isn’t anyone there. A few people are walking about, and I check my phone. I’m on time, but without anyone to ask, I’m left to my own devices to figure out where to go. No one’s waiting in the lobby, so I take it upon myself to try and find someone, anyone, who looks like they’re either here for the interview or who work here. I climb the steps, trying to catch up to a woman who looks corporate enough to speak to.

“Excuse me,” I say, but she ignores me. I pick up my pace, trying again. “Ma’am…”

Halfway up the stops, she spins around, nearly knocking me down a step of my own.

“What?” she asks.

“I just uh…wanted to…”

Her gaze roves over me. She looks familiar, but I can’t place her.

Then she wrinkles her nose at me. “Oh, you’re that woman from the Rose scandal, aren’t you?”

My blood chills instantly. No…this…this isn’t supposed to happen…

There’s no denying the truth, though, not on the spot like this, so I don’t. I hold my head as high as I can, despite the panic swelling in my stomach, the anxiety.

“I am not just some woman who dated a Rose, I am?—”

I am capable of doing more with my life than being some punch line.

I am a mother, I am a writer, I am ? —

“Sorry, but I think the interviews are full.”

“Bullshit, Tara.” A deep, gravelly voice cuts through the panic, forcing me to look up to the top of the steps. My eyes widen when I see the tall, lumbering silver fox at the top step.

Richard Rose. Number 12 for the Badgers. Dexter’s oldest brother who also happens to be recently divorced.

I only recognize him from games and photos, being as we only met maybe twice before Dex and I left for Saltsville. But somehow, he’s…sharper. Hotter than I remember.

For starters, his thick, swept-back dark hair is speckled with more gray than the last time I saw him. But despite his hair, you wouldn’t know the guy is in his late late forties. He’s built better than some of the younger guys on the team, and I would bet my car and everything in it that he could bench press me.

Though, his demeanor isn’t the easiest. Richard—or Richie, as Dex would call him—always seems to have this air about him like you’re beneath him. Like he could crush you with his boot and you’d be begging for more.

A shiver runs down my spine as his gaze catches mine.

“Oh, you’re still here?” Tara says as she turns to glance at Richard.

“Fortunately, yes.” He takes three large steps toward me. I freeze, mortified as he approaches us. “Not very professional of you to behave like such a…what’s the word? Oh, bitch. I think that’s it.”

Tara sneers at him. “I’m just saying?—”

Richard slides his hands into his pockets, and I don’t miss the way she shrinks underneath his stony gaze.

“What you’re saying better be the exact room where those fucking interviews are happening so Mia can make it to her appointment on time.” He flashes her a harsh smile and the tension between the three of us is so thick I could cut it with a knife.

“Oh, Richard, it’s not…you don’t have to…” I stammer.

Richard flashes me a surreptitious gaze, and my insides warm of their own accord.

Fuck, what is wrong with me? Maybe it’s just stress…yeah, that has to be it.

“Nonsense.” He says the word so profoundly, so sternly, it almost reminds me of the way my father would demand I do something just because he said so.

Though the way Richard demands, I’m not sure I would want to argue against him…

Tara sneers at me with disdain. “Suite C,” she bites out, glaring back at Richard before knocking into my shoulder as she heads down the stairs. I nearly upend myself on the step, but thankfully, Richard catches me.

“You didn’t have to do that,” I say, tucking some hair behind my ears as I push away.

His eyebrows furrow as he looks me over, and the way he does so…it makes my entire body flush with heat. I feel more vulnerable, more on the spot than I did when I opened the door to see Dane.

“Maybe I wanted to,” Richard scoffs. “That so hard to believe?”

What I want to believe, and what is true, I’m not sure. But I do know one thing for certain, and that is that I need to get to my interview before time runs out. The last thing I want to do is stand here on these stairs, chatting with my ex’s divorced brother who for some reason makes me feel like I’m jumping out of my damn skin.

“I have an interview to attend,” I say as I take another step. Richard follows.

“Yeah, thanks to me,” he says with a huff.

I glare at him. Honestly, I guess being an asshole runs in the family.

“I’m not entirely sure your little stunt didn’t just earn me an immediate pass,” I tell him, because it’s true. I know people were watching us, watching our exchange. After everything that’s happened with Dex, the scandal, and now Richard making a scene…I’m starting to wonder if there isn’t a corner of the earth where people won’t know about my mistakes…

“Mia…”

“Don’t,” I tell him, holding up a hand as I hurriedly walk down the hallway, my gaze scanning the office numbers and suites. “Just…please…let me do this on my own.”

Richard huffs in annoyance as we settle outside of the Suite C conference room. One look inside and I can see a group of at least ten people. Candidates, I realize.

Richard leans against the wall, boxing me in. Suddenly that flush of heat blazes, making me feel as if I’m going to sweat my damn makeup right off.

“Fine,” he says, his gaze stern and steady. “But I’ll be here when you’re done.”

I open my mouth to protest, but all he does is settle one finger against my lips and shake his head.

“No buts, sweetheart. Now get the fuck in there and do what you came here to do.”

I blink, my brain suddenly not computing words or language. All I can do is meet his fiery gaze and nod. I take one step back, open the door, and breathe a sigh of relief when I close it behind me, knowing he’s on the other side.

What the hell was that?

I try my hardest to shake off the strange feelings. Whatever it was, it’s over. I need to keep my eye on the prize, and that prize is getting myself a job so I can take care of my daughter and myself. It certainly has nothing to do with my ex’s very attractive brothers, or the fact that I haven’t gotten off since before I had Lyla.

Maybe that’s what I need to get over all this weirdness. A good self-love session with my battery-operated boyfriend. I have a feeling my vibrator and I are about to be on very good terms…

I push all thoughts of vibrators and sexy voices out of my head as I sign the sign-in sheet and take my seat.

One hour goes by before they call me.

The interview itself isn’t too involved, typical questions and going over references. Everything is so vague that it’s hard to tell if they’re really interested in me or not, which doesn’t help my concern.

“It was a pleasure meeting with you, Miss Corbett,” the director, Mitch, says.

Newton, his executive staff writer, gives me a cold expression, but I have a feeling that’s just his regular face. He looks like your stereotypical grumpy old man, but I know he can’t be all that much older than Richard.

“Pleasure is all mine,” I say with the brightest smile I can manage, hoping to hell that my genuine attitude is enough. That my record and my work is enough to outweigh the negativity that’s attached to my name right now.

Once outside the room, I see Richard, sitting in a chair in the lounge overlooking the stairs.

He’s still here…

“Finally,” he says as I come to stand in front of him. His gaze once again roves over me and I cross my arms.

“What are you still doing here?” I ask, unable to hide the annoyance in my voice. Richard leans back, licking his lips as he crosses his ankle over his knee. The motion is so cavalier, so debonair, it almost reminds me of someone else.

Dex.

I fight to look away, but I can’t. Because on Dex, the look was almost apathetic, but on Richard…it causes all sorts of inappropriate images to pop into my head that I know I shouldn’t think about anyone , let alone my ex’s brother.

Yeah, tonight when Lyla’s asleep…we’re having some me time, for sure.

“I told you I would be here when you were done.” He shrugs, as if that itself is an acceptable answer.

News flash, it isn’t. I could barely handle one run-in with a Rose today. I’m not sure I can handle dealing with a pissy Richard.

“I didn’t ask you to,” I huff as I turn away and head for the stairs. “Thank you for the help, but I’m good from here.”

He catches up to me, sliding his hands into the pockets of his slacks. “Aren’t you going to ask why I’m here in the first place?” he presses, amused.

“I don’t care,” I tell him, realizing my voice is much too harsh. The stress is really eating at me today. I need a good orgasm and a nap.

That’ll fix everything.

“I mean, that’s none of my business,” I say, trying to sound nicer.

Richard grunts in response. “I had an interview. The Bugle’s doing an article on my stellar career,” he says, flashing that perfect smile I know too well. All the Rose boys have the same charming smile, but they all wear it differently.

On Dex, it’s manipulative, sexy…but when Dane smiles, it’s warm and sweet.

On Richard…I can’t deny that smile could get me to do some dangerous things, because holy hell is it… hot .

I force myself to look away from him. I don’t need this right now, I don’t need…

“Congratulations,” I say, my voice tinged with irritation.

“Why such a rush?” he asks, his voice carrying an edge of command. I stop at the end of the steps.

“Really, Richard?” I say. “I know you were dealing with your own things, but in case you didn’t know…I have a baby. Waiting for me at home, I?—”

“Yeah, and Dane’s got it covered, right?”

I stop, frozen at his words. He…knows?

He must mistake my silence for the need to continue, because he says, “You think you can waltz back into this town and I wouldn’t know about it?”

His gaze holds mine and for a moment there is only my panic, my steady breath as I stare back at him, feeling more on the spot than I did during my interview.

“You said a couple hours, right?” he says, letting out a sigh. Before I can respond, he adds, “You’ve still got an hour left.”

That’s the moment my traitorous stomach decides to voice its opinion on the matter.

Richard smirks. “Hungry, sweetheart?”

“No,” I lie, but it’s weak. I haven’t eaten much more than the remnants of Lyla’s breakfast, and I’m starting to feel the effects of no caffeine. I really need to go to the store…grab some groceries before I head back to the apartment…

“Bullshit,” he says as he whips his phone out, shooting off a text with that steady gaze that makes my blood heat for some reason.

“What are you—” I reach for his phone, but he shifts it out of my grasp easily. Richard is a big guy. Bigger than Dex or Dane, anyway.

Compared to him, I must look like a fly swatting a cow.

“Told Dane we’re grabbing something to eat,” he says with a grin.

“But—” I protest, not liking the way he just assumes I’ll listen to his command.

I can’t deny that my insides warm from the behavior. Dex was never the type to take charge, at least when we were together. I had to ask him to do everything, and it was always a fight. My traitorous heart jumps at the very notion of a man just…making the plans. Doing it for me. Telling me what to do.

I know it’s foolish, but I’m tired, and hungry, and for the first time since Lyla was born, I have a moment to myself. I’d be stupid not to take that, right?