Chp 3
"So, what do you think?" Rachel asked right away as they began work the next day.
"Of what?" Rose asked. She knew of what but decided to play dumb.
"Howie! He was the sweetest guy."
"He was alright."
"Ryan said that he's really great, he's just been through a lot recently." Rose laughed and looked at Rachel closely.
"Do you know who he is?" Rose whispered.
"Who he is?"
"Yes! He used to be a band. He's been through a lot, I'd say. He's totally famous."
"He is not."
"I swear to god." Rose said harshly. She remembered how stunned shed been to see Howie there. The Howie. Then she hadn't been nervous at all. But she had gotten weird vibes from him all night.
"Ryan didn't say anything about that"
"So what? Maybe Ryan didn't want to mention it. Maybe Howie doesn't talk about it to Ryan."
"Are you sure you aren't mistaken? They say everyone has a twin."
"A twin with the same name?"
"I don't know, Rose. Let's just drop this."
"Fine" Rose huffed.
"So do you think he's going to call?" Rachel asked her tone softening.
"I didn't give him my number."
"What?"
"Well, he didn't ask. Plus he kept looking at me weird. I was not getting the right vibes from him."
"During dinner I thought he really liked you."
"I don't think I'm his type."
"Because of your hair and stuff?"
Rose laughed. "Yeah, I think that's it."
"Well, if he doesn't like your hair, he's an old fuddy-duddy and he doesn't deserve you." Rachel replied. Rose leaned over and gave her a quick squeeze.
"Thanks, I was thinking the same thing."
A few months later.
Rose had put Howie away in the back of her mind. Rachel never mentioned him again and Rose could have cared less. She'd almost forgotten about the whole dinner when Rachel invited her to a posh party in the rich section of town. She never expected to see Howie again, nor the events that followed.
She dressed simply in a vintage pale violet dress. She left her now purple hair down. Gaudy rhinestone earrings and necklace were her only accessories. She put shimmer everywhere, silver eyeliner and deep purple lipstick. She felt out of place at the house, it was huge and everything looked fragile. Rachel and Ryan had stayed with her for the first 10 minutes but then they went off to dance. So, Rose found some champagne and found a couch to sit on. An Italian looking man sat beside her and started talking. Mid sentence, something made her look up and their Howie stood, in the doorway, looking right at her.
"You were saying..." the guy put his hand on her arm.
"Oh, I'm sorry." She apologized. She looked up again to see Howie standing right beside her.
"Hey Rose." He said companionably. Their eyes locked and they stayed looking at each other for a minute. She knew he came with a different frame of mind tonight. She didn't remember him being as dark and sensual as he appeared right then.
"Hi." She finally said. The guy that she'd been talking to got up disgustedly and left.
"I didn't expect to see you here." He said, sitting in the vacated spot.
"And why not?" she asked, keeping her voice even. This was shaky ground, and she was prepared to bite his head off, even if he was sexy.
"This doesn't seem like your scene..." he responded, unaware of the fire that flicked on in her eyes.
"And why is that? Because of my hair? My clothes?" she asked sharply.
"No. Wait. I think you're getting the wrong idea. These people are snooty. You don't seem like the kind of girl that likes all this prim and proper lady like bull."
"Oh" she softened. "Well, I did enjoy how the hostess nearly choked on her $400 glass of wine as I came in."
Howie laughed. "Mrs. Whitacker is a true snob."
"Is that who that was?"
"Yes. Mrs. Whitacker is a widow and is on the prowl for hot young men. That's why she holds these gala's."
"And she hasn't gotten a hold of you yet?" she teased. She slipped into her flirtatious self easily around him this time.
"No, not yet, and not ever. She's an old friend of the families. Plus she prefers blondes."
"I guess you lucked out."
"Yeah. So, how have you been? You look very nice tonight."
"Thank you. I'm very well. How about yourself?"
"I'm good. How is Rocko doing? I called him the other day and he sounded sick."
"He's been a little under the weather but he's getting better."
"That's good." They sat in a comfortable silence for a moment.
'So, how's business?" Rose asked.
"All right. We're getting busier. I pretty new at it all, but Ryan says we're doing superb for a new business."
"Ryan's a great guy. Rachel's absolutely crazy about him. I've never seen her so giddy."
"Speak of the devil."
Rachel and Ryan came up to them, arms around each other.
"Hey Howie." Ryan said. They shook hands and Rose could see them talking with their eyes.
"We were just about to leave." Rachel commented, looking at Howie.
"What time is it?" Rose asked.
"About 11:30"
" Can you make sure she gets a ride or something?" Ryan asked Howie. He nodded. Ryan smiled and pushed Rachel towards the door.
"I was going to go too." Rose almost pouted as she watched them go.
"I think they wanted their privacy." Howie responded, smiling. Then he scanned the crowd quickly.
"Will you dance with me before you go?" he asked. Rose sighed inwardly. One dance shouldn't hurt anything.
"Sure" she agreed as she stood. Howie took her arm and guided her to the ballroom. In the area, couples swayed primly along with the orchestra. Howie twirled her around, making her laugh and then they fit into each others arms easily.
"I think Ryan is going to ask Rachel to marry him." He talked softly, close to her ear.
"I should hope so" she laughed. "She's only been hinting for weeks."
"Hinting?' Howie asked, amusement in his voice.
"Sometime you guys do not get the clue." Rose laughed. Howie continued to look at her blankly.
"She casually showed him the ring she likes. She bought a bridal magazine and set it on her coffee table. I personally was getting sick of hearing her talk about how stupid he was"
"I didn't even put it together, and I was there when she pointed out the ring."
"Don't feel bad, you're just a man."
"I don't know whether to be insulted or not."
"Don't be too insulted. It's your Y chromosome"
"Hmm, chromosomes? Scientist on the side?"
"No, I saw it in a movie" Rose smiled as the song ended. "Now, I have to go" she said, pulling away.
"Do you have a ride?" he asked, not letting her go.
"No. I was just going to call a cab."
"I've got my car. I'll drive you."
"I don't want to make you leave"
"Really, I don't mind. Let me just go grab my jacket."
Rose just nodded and watched him go off. She was definitely getting a different vibe from him today. She wasn't sure why, but it was a little scary. She didn't like it. She was positive she didn't need any more complications in her life, and that's all he would be. she stood by the door and waited. He led her out to a black Mercedes and she got in. An old Dru Hill cd blasted out as he turned on the car.
"Good cd" she commented.
"You like Dru Hill?"
"Yes. I like all R&B." She noticed he didn't need any reminders of where she lived. They pulled right in front of her apartment.
"Well, thank you for the ride." She said unbuckling.
"Wait a second.." he said. She stopped and looked at him. "I was wondering if you'd like to have dinner with me sometime."
"I'm not interested in a relationship right now."
"I never said anything about a relationship." He replied seriously.
"That's where dinners lead." Rose commented, looking into his deep brown eyes. "And, I don't think I can trust my good judgment around you" She opened the door to get out.
"I don't usually ask out girls with purple hair." He said, smiling.
"I sensed that. And I'm very flattered" She responded. She bounced up to the door and looked back at Howie who was already pulling away. It was better off she hadn't reacted to her gut feeling on this one.
Chp 4
Chp 2
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