Harry POV
Harry watched Rose closely. She was flustered and flustered made her absolutely beautiful. The physical pull that he felt toward her was strong. Her refusal irritated him, because women wanted him. But his wife wanted him, he was sure of that. But she wasn’t doing anything about it and that bothered him. After saying goodnight to Rose, he went back to him room.
Harry was pacing in his room, the past few weeks had been different from what he’d expected, but this evening had, with a doubt been the most trying. Rose was starting to get to him. And for someone who was damn good at keeping his emotions contained, this was than disconcerting.
It wasn’t just the way she looked in her dress tonight, he’d had heart tremor when she opened her door and he’d caught a glimpse of her. It was the way she had stood up from him. Defended him. To his aunty Claire, for heaven’s sake. Rose was right- Harry had never had anyone in his corner before, and this was new to him. This was new in a way that had him wondering if he might want to have a relationship with Rose. But he had some many questions to answer, whether he needed to cut his losses, divorce Rose and just take the stock votes from his business.
Harry found himself testing the waters with Rose- pushing her to define their relationship and always hoping that she would respond in a way that would let him make a more of some sort or probably even get her into bed. But pushing her could allowed her to declare the contract void and she’d run. Either way it was a lose-lose situation for him. But damn he wants her, sexually, yes. But it was starting to be more than that.
Rose honestly didn’t see her attraction, because she had been growing up in the shadow of Lilli must have made her think that her own natural beauty was less than the beauty of her sister.But Rose had a glow about her that was more intriguing to him than her sister.He knew that marriage to Lilli would have led to sex, and without a doubt he’d be moving on after three years without a backward glance. Rose was different, though. If he got involved with her, he’d hurt her. She would fall in love, she would want forever and she would expect his too want forever too.
So he needed to keep his distance. She already thought of his as a cold-person. He needed to reinforce that, but it was getting harder to keep his own needs and wants in check. She had already won over his sister, his mates and probably his aunty. He tried to avoid the emotional attachment, he never expected a woman to please his aunty. He never wants to come home without dinner on his table, but Rose was changed that. She was proving to be far more trouble than she had every right to be.
Three weeks later, while Harry was doing his best to keep distance between himself and Rose, Harry realised that he’d forgotten to inform his wife about a dinner party that he was planning for the weekend.
“Cocktail party? This Saturday?”
Harry’s feeling of guilt was unusual for him. “Is something wrong with your hearing, Rose? That’s what I just said.”
She looked up at him incredulously. “But I have plans for Saturday.”
“Cancel them.”
He watched as Rose tossed down her pen and crossed her arms in front of her. “That’s not fair. You didn’t tell me until now. I can’t sit around and wait for you in case you might have some event. I made plans with friends. I don’t want to break them.”
“Our agreement...”
“I know all about the agreement, Harry. The agreement you had with my sister, if I might add.”
“But which you signed...”
She sighed. She looked tired, Harry realised. “Under pressure,” she said softly. “Look, I would cancel this weekend, but I wouldn’t do it again in the future. I would keep the plans that I make, and you’ll be on your own.”
“You’re my wife. If I need you....”
“Then you better make sure that you remember to tell me that you need me. And for the record, stop reminding me that I’m your damn wife.” Her hard gaze met his.
That comment took him aback. “Why?”
“This is some crazy business deal. Wife makes it sound much more personal. And this relationship is anything but that.”
Harry’s eyes narrowed at her comment. “Oh it’s very personal, Rose. And whether or not you like to be reminded of it, you are my wife.”
“It business, Harry. So make sure that any function that you want me to be at goes into my calendar. Just don’t expect me to sit at home, waiting for you to ask me to get dressed up and play wife. We agreed at I’d keep my life and my job, and that means that I get a say in social arrangement.
Harry waited for a moment and then continued. “The caterers are coming at 3:00 to start setting up. The Guys will start arriving at 6:00.”
“Did you hear a word I said?” Rose asked, irritated.
“Every word, Rose. But you have agreed to make yourself available, so it seems to me that this argument is moot.”
“For this weekend, but not for the future. I mean it Harry.”
“This would be so much easier if you’d accepted the money I offered to you. An employer/employee relationship is less complicated.”
“Than a wife? No kidding. I never wanted anyone to be able to say that I accepted money for this. Or that you need to buy a wife.”
“I didn’t need...”
“I know that, Harry. If this gets out, it would hurt you and I don’t want that to happen.”
“So let me get this straight, so how did you go from being infuriated with me and at the same time being so protective.
Harry heard the frustration groaned from Rose. “It called a relationship, harry. I am mad at you but I can still look out for you.”
“Try to get over being mad by Saturday night. And dress formal.”
“You’d better be ordering good food,” she grumbled.
Harry couldn’t help the grin that came to his face. “I would order extra for you.”
Rose narrowed her eyes at him. “Olives and nuts, just like our date after the wedding, with the bartender. What was his name?”
The memory of another guy making Rose happy was the death of him.Was she trying to make me jealous? “Well I’m not sure about the bartender, but I would order extra olives and nut for you. But I would call my lawyer to night and add the two more years to our marriage. I guess that you wouldn’t be seeing Leon for another four and a half years.”
He hates to see the look of terror on Rose face. “I didn’t cheat on you.”
“Well I am just making sure.”
“Harry I was just kidding.”
“Well when it comes to my wife, I don’t kid. Okay.”
Rose once again narrowed her eyes at him. “Okay fine. Have you eaten?”
“Not yet, but have you?”
“Yeah ages ago. There are some leftovers in the fridge.”
“Did you cook?”
“Of course.”
Against his better judgement, Harry said, “Come talk to me why I heat up dinner. I’ll open a good wine,” he offered as a bribe.
Rose sighed and looked at him. “Okay fine. Red wine.”
“Of course,” he grinned
“Then I’m in. Give me five minutes and I’ll meet you in the kitchen. Do you even remember where it is?” she smiled innocently at him.
“Hahaha. See you in five.”