\[Denali’s POV\]
I stare up at Rosco in disbelief while trying to figure out how to get him to back away from me. However, I keep coming up empty, at least until the smoke alarm starts going off, giving me the perfect opportunity to change the direction this encounter is going.
“Shit,” I gasp, attempting to reach around and turn it off. “The food’s burning.”
Remaining silent, Rosco reaches around me and moves the pan off the burner before fixing his gaze on me again.
“Would you prefer me to be serious?” He repeats, his voice filled with sincerity. “Let me take you on a date.”
“A date?” I repeat, my confusion flaring. “Why on earth would you do that?”
“Why shouldn’t I?” He counters with a smirk. “You’re my wife, and we are still in our honeymoon period.”
Honeymoon period… That ship sailed a while ago. We were already married for six months, all of which I spent alone, and now he wanted to act like a doting husband.
“No need,” I sigh. “And since I burned the food, let me find something else to make for you.”
“You don’t need to.”
Didn’t need to? Wasn’t he the one who said he was hungry? Anyway, he still wreaked of alcohol, and even his movements were still uncertain. The man needed to eat something.
“You need to eat,” I point out.
“Then can I eat you?” He asks, causing my heart to nearly jump out of my chest. “I’m sure you’ll taste better than any food here.”
“That’s enough.” I snap, pushing him away from me and immediately regretting it as he goes crashing into the table. “I’m sorry!” I yelp, rushing forward. “I didn’t…”
I don’t get to finish my words as a bark of laughter escapes Rosco and echoes around us. Was he actually amused by the fact that he almost got hurt because of me?
“You must be bipolar,” I grumble, grabbing his hand and pulling him to his feet. “Or you’ve got a few screws loose.”
“The second,” he chuckles. “Or maybe I’m just like this with you.”
“That’s a bold statement for someone who is practically a stranger.”
“Stranger?” He repeats, giving me an odd look. “I know you.”
“You don’t,” I counter.
“But I do,” he continues, taking a seat. “You’re a broken soul that is looking for something that will make you feel whole.”
Shivering, I try to ignore the sudden flare of emotions I feel from his words. No. That wasn’t me. I didn’t look for anything to try to feel the constant void I feel. All I wanted was freedom from all the pain and abuse; that would be enough.
“Am I wrong?” He continues, not dropping the subject. “Your silence says otherwise.”
“Wrong,” I confirm, pulling out the things needed to make a sandwich. “Are you fine with something simple?”
“I’m fine with whatever my wife makes for me.”
“Stop using that word,” I snap, shooting him a glare. “We are only husband and wife on paper. You don’t have to continuously call me that.”
“Then what should I call you?”
“Denali.”
My name was safe, and it wasn’t intimate. There was no way that it would cause me to feel like drawing closer.
“Denali.”
Tensing, I try to ignore the sudden twinge of emotion I feel over my name coming off his lips. Dammit, this man was dangerous, and I needed to be careful.
“Denali,” he repeats as I bring his sandwich over. “Is that better?”
“Yes,” I respond, sitting his dish in front of him. “Now, be sure to eat all of this, drink two glasses of water, and shower. You stink.”
“I’m too tired for all that,” he sighs. “Will you help me?”
“No.”
Sheesh, this guy acted like a damn kid when he was drunk, and I was at my limit for the evening.
“I’m going to bed,” I announce. “Try not to wake me when you come to join.”
With that, I don’t wait for him to respond before I’m scurrying away like the chicken shit that I am.
The next day, I wake to find that I’m alone in bed, and the spot beside me is cold and looking unbothered.
Frowning, I sit up and look around the room as if expecting to find Rosco sleeping somewhere else, but even that space is empty.
“Did he pass out downstairs?” I murmur, beginning to get out of bed and head out. “He couldn’t have, right?”
With each passing minute, my anxiety begins to flare, and before I even know it, I’m taking the stairs two at a time before bursting into the kitchen to find that it is also empty.
“Can I help you with something, miss?”
Gasping, I whirl around to find a pretty maid with chestnut brown hair and kind golden eyes watching me with a look of unease.
“Are you hungry? Would you like for me to make you something?”
“Oh, no,” I respond, continuing to take in the space. “Was Ros… I mean the master here?”
What in the world was I even doing? Oh right. I had a guilty conscience due to leaving a drunkard alone and to his own devices while I slept soundly.
“The master?” She repeats, giving me a look of confusion. “Why on earth would he be here?”
“That’s…” How to explain? I couldn’t possibly tell her that I left him here two sheets to the wind after feeding him a measly sandwich.
“He left on business this morning,” she continues. “Of course he wouldn’t be here.”
“Business?” I repeat. “So he isn’t here.”
"No, maam,” the maid responds. “He won’t be back for at least a week.”
\[Rosco’s POV\]
“Perk up.”
Charlie’s voice invades my thoughts as I stare out my window, taking in the fluffy clouds beneath my personal jet.
Perk up. PERK UP. Was he out of his fucking mind? How was I supposed to perk up when I had to leave Denali after promising her a date because my father wanted me to clean up his mess?
Dammit… It was like the universe was working against me. First, making me leave her alone for the first six months of our marriage, and now that I was actually wanting to get closer, I had to leave for at least a week, if not longer.
“Fuck,” I hiss, tearing my gaze away and taking in my amused beta. “Could you not be so fucking chipper?”
“What?” He chuckles, throwing one leg over the other. “Upset you had to leave the wifey?”
“No shit,” I snap. “You wouldn’t understand since you’re destined to be alone for the rest of your life.”
At my words, Charlie lets a look of fake hurt cross his face before letting out a laugh.
“If I get to avoid being a pathetic fool like you are right now, I’m perfectly fine with it. Anyway, you’re only going to be gone for a short while this time. You’ll be okay.”
Would I? Only a few hours had passed, and I was already missing Denali. I was sure she was awake by this point, and she was probably pissed that I disappeared after trying so fucking hard to get her to let that damned guard down.
“Man,” Charlie continues when I don’t speak. “You really are a fool. Who knew this day would ever come?”
Not me. When I fell in love with that broken girl all those years ago, I never thought that I would see her again, let alone be married to her. Not after my father’s threat. It was because of him that I gave up on any hopes, but fate had a different idea, and now that we were together, it was still like we were meant to be apart.
“Shut up,” I grumble. “Before I throw you off this fucking plane.”
Growing quiet, I turn my gaze toward the window once more and watch until our plane starts to descend and we are landing on the ground in Italy, where my father’s business partner and his daughter will be waiting for us.
When we unload, I spot them standing there with welcoming smiles on their faces, but as I realize who they are, I feel a twinge of betrayal rush through me.
“Rosco!” Nadia shrieks, rushing forward and throwing her arms around me. “It has been so long since we’ve seen each other!”
“For good reason,” I growl, prying her off of me. “Please refrain from touching me as you please.”
At my words, Nadia’s lips twitch down into a frown, but just as quickly as it appears, it is gone, and a look of amusement flashes on her features.
“Have you still not forgiven me?” She sighs. “After so many years?”
“I didn’t come here to discuss the past. I came here to discuss business, so again, please kindly refrain from touching me.”