Chapter 7

Seven

Rose

Looking at the card in my hand, I checked the address. Yes, this was the location Moore had provided.

I shaded my eyes against the afternoon sun and took in the three-story townhouse, with its limestone facade and window boxes full of colorful flowers. This uptown block was quiet, a far cry from rowdiness downtown.

As a love nest went, it was very nice. Was this where Moore brought all of his paramours? It was elegant and sensible, exactly like Moore.

And blasted far. It took me two and a quarter hours by way of two streetcars and one elevated train to get here. Good thing I only needed to make this trip once.

Birds chirped in a tree planted out front, a musical sound, and I found myself smiling. Someday I would own a home like this, a peaceful little slice of heaven with flowers and fences, servants to keep it all nice and neat. A husband waiting for me inside, and he would love me beyond all sense and reason. We would laugh over my outrageous past in the city and he would never judge me or think less of me for it.

Why would I want to marry a whore who opens her legs to anyone?

Almost four years later and those words still hurt. Tommy Callan had been the mayor's son and the most handsome boy in Youngstown. He chased me relentlessly the summer I turned sixteen, his actions so attentive and sweet. Except he'd merely wanted under my skirts to claim my virginity, not to put a wedding ring on my finger. And I'd been too naive and foolish to realize it.

When I cornered him days later, Tommy set me straight, in public view of the whole town, and I nearly died from the embarrassment of it. My parents couldn't hold their heads up afterward, the shame of what I'd done was too great to bear. They finally told me to leave Ohio and never come back.

The incident taught me a valuable lesson. I could only rely on myself in this world, no one else.

I swallowed all those old memories and walked across the street. As I started up the steps, the massive front door swung open. I expected to find Moore, but instead a man stood there in a fine suit, his demeanor stiff but polite. "Mrs. O'Donahue. Would you care to come inside, please?"

He knew my name.

Feeling foolish, I started forward. "Thank you, yes." I stepped inside the entryway and stuck out my hand. "Hello. I'm Rose."

The man gave me a bow instead of taking my hand. "Mrs. O'Donahue. A pleasure. I am Stewart, the butler."

A butler. Of course Moore had a butler for his love nest. But why was he calling me Mrs. O'Donahue?

"It's miss," I corrected. "And it's nice to meet you."

"It is probably best if we refer to you as Mrs." Stewart gently took my parasol and handbag then placed them on the entry table. "For appearances."

Oh. I hadn't considered that.

"Of course," I said as my cheeks heated. "Mrs. O'Donahue. How could I have forgotten?"

"Excellent. Mr. Emerson is waiting to see you in the sitting room. This way, madam." Stewart walked to a closed door on the right. He slid open the pocket door for me. "Sir, Mrs. O'Donahue is here. Would you like for the kitchen to send up refreshments for your visit?"

"No, that isn't necessary," a familiar deep voice from within said. "That will be all, Stewart."

I went into the sitting room in time to see Moore rise up off the sofa. An explosion of butterflies took flight behind my ribcage at the sight of him. It had been three days since that afternoon in my dressing room, so I allowed myself to drink him in. Dressed finely in a blue pinstripe suit, he appeared perfectly attired, not a rumple or stray hair to be found. Elegance dripped off every inch of his lithe frame, and if one didn't know better, he could pass for royalty. A stately duke or posh earl. I especially loved the hint of gray at his temple, a marking that spoke of experience and maturity.

This was a confident man who knew himself and his place in the world. He never pretended to be anything he wasn't. I could respect it, even if being an actress meant I did the exact opposite.

"There you are." He came toward me as the door slid closed to give us privacy. Placing one finger under my chin, he tilted my face up and placed a kiss on my lips. "I was beginning to think you'd changed your mind."

"How long have you been waiting on me?"

"The better part of an hour." He took my hand and led me to the sofa. "Come, let's sit."

He helped me settle onto a cushion, then lowered himself next to me, never letting go of my hand. "You look beautiful."

"And you look very handsome. Shall we go upstairs?"

"So eager to get in my bed." A small grin played about the edges of his mouth as he rested his arm on the back of the sofa. "I like it."

"That is the reason we're both here."

"Actually, we're here to talk first. There's something I'd like to discuss with you."

Blunt fingertips toyed with the fine hairs at the back of my neck and goosebumps broke out on my skin. "I don't have any diseases and I brought my womb veil."

Dark eyebrows raised ever so slightly. "Practical matters first, I see. All right, then. I'm disease-free as well, and we'll get to the womb veil later. This wasn't what I wished to discuss, however."

"Then what is it?"

"I'm afraid I cannot stay today and defile you as I'd hoped. I must return to the office, then I am engaged for a business dinner."

My face slackened as my mouth dropped open. "You brought me all the way uptown only to send me back downtown? Do you have any idea how long it took me to get here?"

He winced, appearing contrite. "I really do apologize, but I could return after dinner. However, it will be quite late."

"So I'm supposed to sit around in your love nest, alone, waiting until you return."

"Haven't you a show this evening?"

I realized Moore didn't know. "The production closed. That was what Mr. Martin wished to tell me the other day. We're all out of work. But I'll find something else soon." And I would. There were always new shows popping up.

"Then relax here. There's a stocked library. The staff will make you supper. You could take a bath." His fingers skimmed the edge of my jaw in a caress. "And this is not my love nest. I've purchased this town house just for you."

"You bought a townhouse for one night with me?" I rolled my eyes dramatically. "You have more money than sense, Moore."

"No, you misunderstand. I bought this place for you . It's yours."

Instantly, I felt dizzy and hot. Had the man not paid a lick of attention to anything I'd said? "We discussed this. I won't be your mistress, living in a house you provide. I won't be dependent on you. After today, we won't see one another again."

Reaching into his pocket, he withdrew a folded paper and held it out. "Read this."

The big black Old English word was as plain as day at the top of the document. "A deed," I mumbled, my brain struggling to take in the document. "It's in my name."

"Yes."

I exhaled, refolded the packet, and held it out to him. "I cannot accept this. It's much too extravagant."

He held up his hands, refusing to take the deed. "I want you to have it, and your living here makes our arrangement tidier. I realize it's an inconvenience for you to uproot yourself and move in, which is why I am willing to pay handsomely for it."

I placed the deed on the tea table and struggled for calm. Struggled and failed. "There is no arrangement , you daft man. We are fucking once— today —and that's all. I'm not accepting the gift of an Upper East Side townhouse!"

He appeared nonplussed by my tirade, his lips twitching as he stretched out his long legs. "Christ, you're gorgeous when you're mad."

"Ugh!"

Aggravated, I threw up my hands and started to push off the sofa. Moore grabbed my arm to stop me, then tugged me even closer. He captured my face in his palms. "Allow me to give you this. It's a good house on a good street. You won't need to worry over your safety."

"I haven't been worried over my safety in a long time."

"Then allow me to rephrase: I don't wish to worry over your safety. I'll sleep better knowing you are here."

"But we hardly know each other. I'm practically a stranger to you."

Sliding closer, he bent to drop small kisses along the side of my throat, then worked his way up my jaw. I relished the scratch of his whiskers, the hot gusts of his breath. Prickles danced on my inner thighs, arousal building between my legs, my anger dwindling. Such was the dangerous power of this man over me.

He rested his forehead on my temple, his mouth near my ear. "You are not a stranger. I watched you night after night for weeks and obsessed over every little detail. You are precious to me, darling girl."

The words sank deep inside me, past the flesh and bone, all the way to my very soul. Had I ever been precious to anyone before? Not even Tommy Callan had said such nice things to me.

Without thinking, I wrapped my fingers around Moore's necktie and lunged toward his mouth, meeting his lips with mine. He gave a small grunt in surprise, then kissed me back eagerly, our lips molding and sliding as our breath mingled. I loved kissing him. Moore kissed like he had all the time in the world, never hurried or rushed. It was far different than my other partners, young men who viewed kissing as a perfunctory step to getting attention on their cocks.

But Moore kissed me like I was his air, his sole focus in life. When his tongue slipped in my mouth, I welcomed it, greeting him with flicks and swirls of my own. He tasted like peppermint, and the cool bite was a sharp contrast to the heat flooding my veins. My pulse pounded in every part of my body, but mostly between my legs. I longed to crawl into his lap and kiss him for the rest of the afternoon.

Suddenly, he broke off. We were both panting heavily, clinging to one another, as the seconds ticked by. "My god, Rose," he rasped. "You have no idea what you do to me. For god's sake, say you'll stay tonight."

The agreement hovered on my tongue. I wanted him desperately—and if I stayed I could talk him out of gifting me with such a ridiculous present. "The staff won't think it strange if I hang about?"

"Darling, I hired the staff to look after you. They will do whatever you like. But don't worry, they are discreet and will disappear when required."

"Whenever you return, you mean."

His smile grew soft and he angled to press a quick kiss on my lips, almost like he couldn't help himself. "Would you rather they hear us fucking?"

The crass word sent another wave of heat between my legs. Just as I was about to agree, I remembered practical matters. "I don't have my things or a change of clothing."

"A few items from Lord & Taylor have been delivered upstairs. If you don't like them, send someone over to Ladies' Mile to get what you want and have them bill me."

I felt my annoyance rise. He'd bought me things from Lord & Taylor? "You knew I'd agree."

"Don't be cross with me, kitten. I am only trying to make this easy for you."

Yes, he was making it too easy. He had all this planned out, like a witch dropping crumbs of treats to lure me into his gingerbread house. I needed to keep my head on straight in the face of so much generosity. "Fine, I'll stay. But only tonight."

"Excellent." Slapping his palms on his thighs once, he pushed to his feet. "Stand up and give me a proper kiss goodbye."

"Are you ordering me about again, Mr. Emerson?"

"Don't pretend as if it annoys you. I already know you like it."

Dashed man. I hated when he was right.

I rose and shook out my skirts. Then I drew closer and slid my palms over the hard planes of his chest. I couldn't wait to get him naked tonight, to see the muscles underneath his fancy clothes. This was to be our one and only time together, so I planned to make the most of it.

My arms wound around his neck and I let him feel the heft of my breasts against his body as I sealed our mouths together. I kissed him like a wife sending a soldier off to war, with every ounce of skill and passion I possessed. Let him think on this during his boring business dinner.

He soon took over, his tongue bold and demanding, his fingers imprinted in my skin. I held on, desperate for air but unwilling to let him go. The kiss wore on until I was a panting, boneless mess. When we broke apart I was unable to feel my legs. "Goodness," I breathed.

"Indeed." He rolled his hips, and the erection he sported made itself known even through the whalebone of my corset. "I can't wait to fuck you."

"I am very much looking forward to it, as well."

A wicked grin emerged as he stepped back. "Then I shall see you around eleven o'clock, Mrs. O'Donahue."