Just Rose

Chapter 10

Before long it was the day of the dance and despite being in town a lot beforehand, she never ran into Rob Munro again. Seeing him again, dressed in Black tie and in his own opulent setting made Rose shiver in anticipation; a dread overtaking her already stretched nerves. He would be on his home turf surrounded by his own friends and belongings and she would be like a fish out of water. Facing him again was not really something she was looking forward to. He had a knack for making her feel awkward and out of her depth and she wasn’t entirely sure if she even liked him.

Abby had promised to wait on her out at the front entrance, so she would walk her in and they had agreed on eight pm to meet. At least that way she did not have to look around nervously, trying to find a friendly face. She could walk confidently with her friend’s arm and smile and look radiant instead.

Rose had woken that morning with a very strange churning feeling that followed her through the hours. Excitement and dread at the same time. She was looking forward to a proper night of wine and dancing, good music. But her heart was thumping every time she thought about that handsome face and his cold steel grey glare that did crazy things to her insides.

Now she had made more friends in the town and had Abby, she felt more confident about going, but that feeling of nervous anticipation in the back of her mind followed her. She was so restless, she could barely concentrate on anything.

She tried to sketch some ideas in her art room, tried walking Muffin to town and back to get rid of some of the pent-up energy and only felt more restless. She took a bath at lunch and slathered herself in every expensive product she owned. Shaving and moisturising, pruning and preening and throwing on a light sundress to go sit in the garden. She felt like her nerves were on edge and kept checking her watch every five minutes. Listlessly aware that she was counting the minutes until the ball began.

She had cooked a full breakfast and lunch, trying to kill time through the morning, but only picked at both, her appetite had deserted her. She had the cottage looking spotless and neat and nothing on TV held any interest for her.

Abby was helping with the big house today, so no morning visits from her either.

Maybe that’s why she felt so agitated?

Maybe she needed some company that was not furry with four legs. Maybe she just needed human interaction to distract her and jumped in her car for the second trip to town that day. Poor Muffin was exhausted from their walk, so she left him asleep on the rug in the living room, snoring and dreaming of chasing some poor cat. His little legs twitching as he lay stretched on his side and small whimpers and growls as he snorted through a closed mouth.

The short car journey was pleasant as the sun still shone brightly in the sky, the weather had been glorious these past few weeks and had given her such a deep tan and healthy colour in her face.

She spent half an hour in Bella’s bakery and finally reunited with the woman after all these years when she popped in to check on things. Lots of laughs and cuddles and reminiscing. The large round woman was exactly as she remembered, only with a few greyer hairs and laughter lines. The conversation pulled towards Olivia and Bella gave her many condolences and a bag of cream confectionaries.

From there she found the church was having an outdoor stall in the town center and selling jumble and books. That killed a lot of time and lots of small talk with the knitting club who loved nothing more than to shower Rose in affection. They called her their ‘adopted grandchild.’ They gave her a free crochet mug mat for her desk and a bag of dog cookies for the now famous Muffin.

Everyone in town loved Muffin, her small furry friend. Always happy to see him and shower him with smooches and hugs, treats under the table. They liked to think Rose couldn’t see, but she chose to turn a blind eye. Although of late his little pot belly was starting to become obvious and she would soon have to curb all these extra day time treats.

Rose wandered around for a bit, window shopping and killing time. Lost in her own thoughts. Not really paying attention but trying to stretch out her day a little longer rather than going back to clock watching at home and pacing her rugs until they were threadbare.

She was carrying a large beach bag with a rainbow stripe print, which held all her purchases and gifts; her long lemon sundress touched the ground as she walked, flowing loosely around her legs. It had a fitted strappy bodice showing off her tanned shoulders and arms and her slim figure well. It was doing a great job of making her feel cool in the baking heat too. Her long brown hair hung around her shoulders in soft gentle waves, thanks to her new curling iron and her face, as usual, with minimal makeup and her favourite cherry lip balm which stained her full pout to a slight rosy tint.

She looked at her reflection in a boutique mirror and admired the change in her since coming here. It wasn’t just the tan. It was her whole being. She looked happier, healthier, more relaxed; she fitted with this country living more than she ever fitted with the busy city streets and clogged air. Her mood had generally been lighter and more carefree. The smog free air, making her feel like she could really breathe living here.

She was unaware of how carefree and elegant she looked as she wandered about, unaware that eyes had been watching her from afar and as she drew ever closer to them, they did not dare to interrupt her. She looked so lost in thought and stunningly beautiful.

She became aware of the museum looming above her as she wandered aimlessly about. Raising her eyes up, she took in the large ancient building with its grey stone walls and gothic arched entranceway. The way it stretched above her like a massive foreboding castle, so dark against the bright surroundings.

Huge banners gently flapped in the breeze, announcing the current exhibition and she felt inclined to go in. Something pulling her towards the dark, shadowy entrance. The museum mainly held a lot of Scottish artefacts and history, but the side hall changed every few months to bring in new visitors. Today the banner displayed a modern art-themed exhibition from some aspiring artist who had been a local once. The artwork hinted at abstract, but she still felt the intrigue enough to venture on. She hesitated about going in, then took the plunge and walked forward.

‘Penelope.’ the warm tones in his voice had an instant impact and she stopped. That familiar lurch in her breastbone. Swinging round to see where it came from. He was perched on a stone planter by the door in the shade. She had not seen him sitting there.

God knows how long he had been watching her?

He had on another white shirt, unbuttoned at the collar and sleeves pushed up, exposing those rather hunky arms, a pair of faded jeans and white trainers. Practically every time she saw him, he was in varying degrees of formal meets casual, which somehow only added to his charm and he had on sunglasses shielding those stormy grey eyes from sight. She felt a nudge of disappointment that his best feature was shielded from view. His short black hair was ruffled on top carelessly, casually styled. Unlike those London men with their shiny puffed hair do’s and manicured hands. He looked relaxed and smiled. Thousand-watt voltage sprang from that smile and all Rose could do was dive into her bag to fake look for something so very important she instantly needed it. She was aware that it had become instantly difficult to breathe normally.

‘Rob.’ She kept her tone even and eyes down, intent on her hands and there rummaging. Trying to keep herself calm and sane with such a mundane task as sorting through, looking for a plausible item to drag out. ‘And my name is Rose!’ She was keeping the irritation out of her voice. Trying to sound, light and nonchalant. Of course, she did not want him to know how much he annoyed her using that stupid pet name, hadn’t she already made it clear that it was not her name. Her heart was pounding through her chest, which annoyed her immensely. Stupid reactions to this man!

‘I know!’ a voice deep and smooth, sexy. She heard him slide off the planter and her heart beat upped a gear; her fingers began trembling as she sensed him moving closer. Aware that she was fumbling.

‘I just think Penelope suits you.’

She ignored him. Well tried to. Cursing inwardly as she still fumbled in her bag. Finally locating her sunglasses, she pulled them out and pushed them on, shielding her eyes and sweeping her hair back from her face in a bid to look relaxed and unaffected. Throwing on a sarcastic smile, she marched away from him into the museum, annoyed with how juvenile he made her feel.

‘Well have a wonderful day, Mr Munro. Would love to stay and chat but I want to see this exhibit before I need to head home.’ She smiled and made for the Museum doors quickly. Unaware that he was grinning at her sudden need for eyewear when entering a building away from the sun. Or the way he was looking her up and down. She heard him call out a goodbye as she practically hoofed away from him and in return threw up a hand in a wave that implied indifference; she would be damned if she let him see how much he got to her. Her heart rate was competing in the Olympics and she felt slightly faint.

Oh my god, why did this guy invoke such trauma to her just by being near?

She immediately dashed behind a pillar at the open wooden door and turned to peek out. He was walking away. That manly walk that real guys have when it’s not really a swagger but not really a weak girly trot. Just a typical guy walk, all wide shoulders and strong legs and going about his day, unaware of the crazy woman peeking out at him from the darkness of the building.

What was he doing here anyway? Did he not have a dance to organise? to oversee? To lord over?

She pulled herself away as he turned out of sight, leaning back against the wall behind her to gather herself and take some deep breaths. Sighing as she tried to push the picture of his tight, jean clad butt, out of her mind’s eye. Cursing herself at the lack of ability to do so. The coldness of the stone in this dark corner, tucked behind the pillar, made her feel instantly calmer. Hidden from his view. Somehow sobering and grounding her. She really hated the way he caused her to self-implode like this at every meeting. If he knew how much he affected her he would probably enjoy it. He seemed like the kind of guy who would get a kick out of it. She pulled her glasses back off her face and threw them in her bag.

Excellent choice Rose! Sunglasses in a dark building! Could you be any more obvious?

She smoothed down her dress and bravely walked back into the light of the room. Acting as though nothing had happened. Hiding in the shadows was completely normal. She looked around the vast hall, deserted on such a sweltering day and tried to find some poster or sign with information or at least directions to the art exhibit.

While in Rome!