Page 70 of The One You Want

Poppy handed her the purse. “Have a good night.” She closed the door on any more conversation.

“So that’s Poppy,” Gray said with a grin.

“Yep. Isn’t she fun?”

“She comes across a bit dark.”

Rose walked with Gray to his car, thinking about Poppy’s all-black look and the black hair. “Some of us bury our paininside. She wears hers on the outside. I worry she won’t ever get beyond it and what our father did to her.”

Gray held the door open for her. “She will when she’s ready. It’s up to her.”

“About what I told you—”

“You were open and honest about it. I couldn’t ask for more.”

She placed her hand on his chest. “I can’t stand the thought of ever hurting you.”

“I feel the same way about you. And I think we’re off to a good start. We got the first big hurdle out of the way. We had a difficult situation come up and we handled it by talking about it. That’s how it should be.”

“That’s how it will be,” she promised him, and slipped into the front seat.

Gray closed her door and walked around the car and got in on his side. He started the engine and pulled out of the driveway. “What do you feel like?”

“Doesn’t matter. I just want to spend time with you.”

He reached over, took her hand, and linked his fingers with hers. “Sounds good to me.”

While Gray drove them to town, Rose pulled out her cell and texted Maggie with her free hand.

ROSE:Gray’s back. We’re good. Going out to dinner.

“Who are you texting?”

“Maggie. I promised her I’d let her know as soon as you got back whether or not we worked things out.”

He glanced at her, surprise in his eyes. “You really thought we might not?”

“I sensed that any other guy I’d slept with you’d brush off, but because it was... him, I knew it wouldn’t be that easy for you. He doesn’t matter to me at all. But you... I can’t even explain it.” She lifted his hand and pressed it to her cheek.

He pulled his hand free and slid his fingers into the back of her hair, leaned over, and gave her a quick kiss before returning his attention to the road.

She looked down at the incoming text.

MAGGIE:Marc is back, too. Meeting him at his hotel room to talk. Wish me luck.

Rose responded immediately.

ROSE:Good luck!

Rose wished she really meant it. She increasingly believed Maggie could do so much better than Marc. Joel always seemed more present for Maggie than Marc had this week. She’d had better with Joel. Their relationship seemed so easy and carefree. They enjoyed each other’s company, laughed and played together as well as supporting each other in everything they did. There were no jealousies or arguments about inconsequential things. In fact, the only thing that ever dimmed their happiness was their disagreement about having children.

Losing Joel had really hurt Maggie.

Marc was her chance to have everything she wanted.

Rose hoped Marc was capable of loving her the way she deserved to be loved.

“Did Marc come back with you?”