Chapter 49 Oh shut up and kiss me
Karen had always thought of Roger as distant, not caring about what she liked when he kept buying her cheap roses in the past.
Now, she realized that wasn’t the case. Roger had known her preferences all along and just hadn’t fulfilled them. The orchid garden in front of her felt like a dream.
“This isn’t real.” Her cold heart warmed up, similar to the rays of the sun.
“It is. Do you like it?” Roger asked eagerly, hoping he hadn’t gone overboard. Karen was too stunned to speak. Squatting, she began to admire the ones closest to her. They were still blooming. “How did you know?”
The way she admired the blooming orchids like little babies was heartwarming, and Roger felt that all his efforts had paid off.
Karen wasn’t too hard to please. She loved the simple things in life, and he made it his mission to make them memorable for her.
Crouching down beside her, Roger’s voice was soft. “I make it my responsibility to know what my wife likes, and Karen, all I want is a chance to prove to you I can be better. I can’t erase the past, but I can paint a new future for us.”
Karen’s heart was in turmoil, and she felt herself weakening. This was a beauty she didn’t want to leave behind. If she had a way, she would make her bed among these orchids.
She opened her mouth to speak but suddenly remembered something. “The gifts. I left them in Wade’s car.”
Karen had bought gifts for the celebrant she didn’t know was Roger, Van, and his wife, and four children she imagined to be teenagers, but due to everything that happened, they were left in Wade’s car.
The latter hadn’t contacted her, and she presumed it was because he was afraid of Roger.
“You mean the gifts you got for me?” He didn’t sound upset at the mention of Wade but rather amused. “We can retrieve them later.”
If it were anyone else, he wouldn’t have been interested, just as the million-dollar gifts sent during his birthday party.
Roger hadn’t even asked about them, but for Karen, he would cherish anything she bought for him. “Okay, I’ll chat him up tomorrow,” she nodded before her attention shifted to the orchids again.
This time, she stood up and began to walk through them. There were walkways all around the garden for easy access to the diverse colors of orchids.
There was white, pink, purple, yellow, orange, red, green, and even the rare blue and black orchids she desired so much.
Roger followed closely behind. This was the last thing he wanted to show her, but given just a week to reignite her heart with love again, he had to move ahead of himself in showing her the things he arranged for her.
“If there’s anything else you want, please say it,” Roger said behind her. She froze and turned to face him.
The man before her had changed so much from the one she had run away from, but now she was wondering why Van had told her not to go back to Roger.
This was his first son and from all indications, Van was proud of him. Was there something he wasn’t telling her?
“Roger, when I left, I never wanted to come back, but I don’t regret doing so. I see the effort you put into this marriage, though it meant nothing in the beginning.”
She wiped a lone tear from the corner of her eye before it slid. “I need time because I don’t want to make another mistake, but this is mesmerizing, and I promise that you have regained half of my trust.”
That was consoling. It made Roger smile through tears. “It’s enough for me that you love these. I only realized the value of what I lost after you left, and kitten, my life was never the same again.”
He took her hand in his, pulling her closer and towering over her. “I don’t care if you believe it, but I love you, and you are the only woman I’ll ever want.”
Karen blinked, her heart thumping like the first time she laid eyes on him. Roger had not only changed in character but was also rich, unlike the poor bodyguard she knew before.
“Roger, wealth and power aren’t my thing,” she revealed, causing his countenance to fall before she added, “but…”
“But what?” he asked eagerly, his hope thinning. Karen smiled and put her request across.
“Can you put a summer hut somewhere there?” She pointed to the middle of the garden that seemed to be reserved, only covered in beautiful grass.
Roger smiled profoundly. “I knew there was something missing, but I couldn’t put a finger on it, which is why I grassed that area. But tell me, what will you do under that summer hut?”
If he knows, then he could arrange for all the things she would need and more.
Karen’s lips stretched, her palms sweaty, but Roger wouldn’t let go. His grip was not tight but firm enough to keep their hands intertwined. “If I stay here, this will be my best place. I will study, work, relax over a cup of coffee, or even take a nap.”
Now he understood how much this meant to her, but her next words saddened him. “Roger, I’ve loved orchids since I was a kid, but mom said they weren’t ladylike and a girl should love Roses or Daisies. I could only admire from afar, but now,” her voice cracked with complicated emotions, and Roger’s heart ached for her.
He wanted to take all the pain and crush them between his fingers. “Kitten, as my wife, I promise to make you happy if you give me a second chance.”
Karen stared at him, her eyes blinded with unshed tears. Her next request stunned him. “Can you bend over a little?”
Roger was confused but did her bidding, and the next thing he knew, her lips pressed against his. It was warm, soft, with a rosy flavor.
Stunned, his eyes opened wide as he feared she might disappear if he closed his eyes and wake up to realize it was all a dream.
Well, it was real and he wondered what had fueled the boldness of his shy obsession. Pulling away, she blushed. “Sorry, I got carried away, but thank you for everything.”
Well, Roger hadn’t taken advantage of that kiss because he feared ruining things if he hinted how desirous of her he was. However, this opportunity made it impossible for him to maintain a slow pace when it came to intimacy.
“No, thank you for showing me what true love means, but can I…” he paused, the word refusing to come out as planned, and yet, Karen saw through him.
Chuckling, she muttered, “Oh, shut up and kiss me.”