Personally, I'm a big Texas girl who loves her food. I can completely relate to the food shimmies that Rose does when she eats... because I do that too! Updates occur daily.
TYSON “Mama!” Maddie yells out when she barrels in. “Hi, my baby,” Rose says with a kiss. “How are you? It feels like I haven’t seen you in days!” Maddie lets out a giggle and it is so similar to Rose’s. “That’s because it’s been a few days, silly.” “Oh…right. So, what have you and Patty Melt been up to? Let me guess, masterminding a bank heist? Or developing the newest dark chocolate recipe? Or inventing a rocket ship that gets to Jupiter’s moons?” Maddie lets out a big laugh at her mom’s antics. “No! Just the normal stuff. School, eating, showering and bed.” “Really?!! That’s it? I expected, at the very LEAST a cancer cure in 2 days without me.” “Mama, your expectations are too high. I’m only 7, after all.” “Are you sure? You’re so smart though, I thought you were at least 15. That’s plenty old enough to discover the next element.” Rose says as she tickles Maddie and Maddie whoops with laughter. Despite how smart this child is, she is still treated and acts like an actual chi
TYSON After everyone leaves and I settle into the bed with Rose, I broach the subject of the bombing. “Rose, I am needing to ask you about the morning of the bombing. Do you remember seeing anyone in the building that didn’t belong on Tuesday morning or anything out of place?” I ask her as I rub little circles on her hand, over her unique birthmark, trying to keep her calm. She doesn’t say anything for a few minutes other than a little hum. I look at her face; her brow is scrunched, and her nose is crinkled up. I can tell she is thinking back on the day. She makes the most adorable faces! “No. Nothing really comes to mind. I came in through the front doors and waved to Lori at the reception desk on the ground floor. I went down to the basement via stairs, not elevator, and put my outerwear away in my locker. I got my mail cart from Rolando. He was on the computer in his office. We said hi but I didn’t go in and he didn’t come out. I came up to your floor in the service elevator. I
ALPHA KENT MICHAELS “What do you mean, he’s not dead? The bomb went off on time and in his office where he was. You said the package would be there on time. How did it not kill him? No one has seen him, so I assumed it worked.” I angrily ask my informant. I scowl at the weakling, shaking in fear before me. I begin pacing in my office, trying to think where we went wrong. "The bomb went off just outside of his office and he wasn’t injured at all. One of his employees was. He rushed her to the hospital where he’s stayed by her side since. From what I have been told, she is his mate, and she is human. She could be your way in, his weakness.” I turn and look at my informant dubiously. How stupid does he think I am? No Alpha in history has ever had a human for a mate. Sure, humans are sometimes fated mates to shifters, but never to the Alpha. Alphas need a strong wolf to continue their bloodline, not taint it with human weaknesses. As I begin my shift to kill my dumbass informant for his
ROSE When I wake up, the sun is fully shining into my windows, and I want to throw my pillow at the blinds so it will block that annoyingly happy light. Why should it get to be happy when I’m not? Instead, I sit here, just staring at the ceiling, frowning. “I’ve heard a rumor, that if you get hit while making a face like that, it will forever be etched as your permanent expression… but I’m pretty sure that’s not true. Wanna try it and see? I bet I can smack you pretty hard. After all, lots and lots of practice in the bedroom.” Melinda’s happy voice rings out. I don’t even look over at her. “I don’t need or want to know what all you do in the bedroom, Melinda.” “Oh, why not Rose? It could give you some ideas for you and Tyson.” She snickers teasingly at me, and I feel my cheeks turning pink, but then the situation of my current reality hits me again and I sigh. “Nothing will be happening with me and Tyson,” I say forlornly as I finally sit up and face this crazy woman that I have c
ROSE We exit the hospital and there are 3 big, black SUVs parked in the semi-circle drive, waiting on us. Justin wheels me up to the rear passenger side of the middle SUV and opens the door. He takes my hand as I climb up into the vehicle and I see Melinda placing the last of the bags in the rear cargo area, right next to all my flower arrangements. She gets in next to me and covers me with my new fleece blanket, knowing that I’ll be cold during our drive. Justin rounds the hood and gets into the driver’s seat. “Why are there extra vehicles with us?” I ask when I realize they are pulling out with us, keeping my SUV in the middle. “It’s the other part of the security team. Now that you are no longer a patient, we are all vacating hospital property.” Justin answers in a no-nonsense fashion and I just nod. I really don’t pay any attention to my surroundings after that. I just look at my phone, hoping Tyson texts again, meanwhile thinking about the days I got to spend with him, wishing
ROSE We clean up from lunch and I decide to take a look at my new living space. I’m already familiar with the main areas. The apartment is an open concept, three-bedroom, three-bathroom unit. It is quite big, and I remember hearing that Patty had the entire unit renovated about 10 years ago. It has large floor to ceiling windows across the back of the building that bring in a flood of natural light to the open living, dining, and kitchen spaces. A large stonework fireplace is nestled in the corner of the living room, and it is currently roaring and pumping out the much-needed warmth. The walls are painted a pale blue with light oak hardwood floors running lengthwise throughout the space, accented by crisp white baseboards and crown molding. The kitchen is a large L shape, complete with professional grade appliances in navy blue while the cabinets contrast in a light grey color with a white, grey, and navy arabesque glazed tile backsplash. The countertops are faux marble in a durable
TYSON It just about breaks me to leave Rose. I can see it in her eyes that she wants me to stay the night, but she won’t ask, knowing I have to fix the fuck up that the media just reported. Already, I can see my stock prices dropping. I have a well-run company, but if they fall too much, it could cause a lot of trouble. It takes everything I have within me to keep my head facing forward and not turn around. If I do, I won’t be leaving her hospital room tonight. As the door closes, I turn to the two guards on duty tonight. George and Ike. “Keep your Luna safe.” They nod in affirmation as I leave the hospital property, my heart breaking as I go. Zeus is in bits inside my head. He wants me to turn back around but understands that the future of the pack relies on Evans Enterprises money. If we don’t rebound from this fast, it could be catastrophic, losses spanning across all subsidiaries. I’ve worked my ass off to expand the business since I took over from Dad. I don’t want to sell off a
TYSON Just before lunch Melinda lets me know that Rose is getting checked out of the hospital and they’ll be heading to Patty’s. I was initially dreading her living with Patty, but we have set our differences aside for my girls. Insanely enough, I’m starting to like the crazy, gruff female. I can see a little of what my dad saw in her. I know her apartment atop the diner is the perfect place for Rose and Maddie. Dad and our construction company helped Patty renovate before he died so I know it is done well and done right. It is safe for my future family. I try to concentrate on all the work I need to do and all the work I didn’t do while Rose was in the hospital. It’s a hell of a lot, but I focus and get to each task with Mike by my side directing me. Every time I get distracted, he brings me back to focus. I appreciate the efforts he’s putting in and I will be showing it with gratitude and a hefty bonus if our stocks rise back up. Hell, I’ll probably give him one, even if they don’t