Rose of Thorne Read online

  The rest of my day at work is absolutely horrible because all I can think about is her. She has captivated my heart and invaded my thoughts. I keep wondering what her voice sounds like, what her hair smells like, hell…I even wonder how soft her skin feels. But mostly, I just find myself wondering what her life has been like all this time. Who is the girl? I want to know all I can about her. I don’t know what is wrong with me, but I cannot seem to get her out of my mind. Right now, I can’t figure out if it is curiosity, guilt, or perhaps even borderline obsession that I’m feeling for her. Either way, I am sitting in this boardroom meeting with nothing but dark curls and her angelic face on my mind. It’s a good thing that I had not seen her eyes today because I know that if I had it would have been my undoing. I pull out of my phone and text Max Harrison, my employee who serves a wide variety of roles for my company. Most of those roles are not legal and not necessary to go into. Let’s just say he is paid well for his confidentiality.

  ME: Harrison, I need everything you can find on a Skylar Rose, and I need it immediately.

  HARRISON: Yes, sir, I am on it.

  Skylar

  'Morning, Soph!" I say as I greet my sister in the kitchen. She is putting bread into our toaster oven. When she turns to greet me, her face drops.

  "SHIT, SKY! You look like complete hell! What are you doing in that uniform still? Did you sleep in it?” She jokes.

  "Gee thanks! I love you too,” I say as I roll my eyes at her.

  “No, I mean it. When did you get off work? Tell me you didn’t close again for Jesse! Sky, you can’t keep pulling these double shifts!”

  “Yes, Sophie, I did close last night; and yes, I am working another double shift today. Don’t start! We need the money, Soph, I don’t have a choice.”

  She shoots me a concerned look but continues buttering the toast in her hand.

  “Don’t you have a meeting today at school?” She asks.

  “Yes, I have a meeting at 8 o’clock this morning, and then I’m heading straight to work from there. I won’t be home until after midnight, so do you think you can stay over at Samantha’s again?”

  “Yes, I am sure her parents won’t mind. Her mom says I’m always welcome any time,” she explains, and I breathe in a sigh of relief. I am so thankful for her friend’s parents who help us out when I have to work late.

  Sophie makes her way around the breakfast table and pulls me into a tight hug.

  “Hey, kid, what’s the long look for?” I say to her as I wrap my arms around her.

  “I love you so much, Sky. I just hate seeing you work so hard; that’s all. I mean, I never even get to see you anymore.”

  “I promise that one day, Soph, things will be better for us. And when that day comes, you and I are going to build a giant fire and burn this awful uniform outside!” She laughs, and I kiss her on her forehead. A car horn honks and I peek out the kitchen window and see Sophie’s boyfriend Rylan pulling up to our house. He is primping in the rearview mirror, and I can’t help but giggle. It’s obvious that he has it pretty bad for my sister.

  “Um, you better get going, sis. Rylan looks as though he is dying for a kiss before school this morning,” I say, bumping my hip into hers.

  “Ha. Ha. Sky!” She kisses me on the cheek, before grabbing her bag by the door.

  “Be careful and I love you, lil sis,” I say as she heads out.

  “I will and I love you too!” She shouts back as she closes the door behind her.

  I glance back out the old kitchen window again while I rinse the breakfast dishes in the sink. I see Rylan’s face beaming as my sister makes her way out to him. She wraps her arms around his neck and plants an epic kiss on his mouth. Young love is sweet, and I’m glad to see her so happy. I hope that one day I will have someone looking at me with that much love. I just don’t have time for anything right now. Right now, other than finishing school and work, Sophie is my priority. She needs new soccer cleats, and the fall dance is coming up next month, so I know I will have to work extra hours in order for her to have all of that.

  Glancing up at my Granna’s old wall clock I see I need to be leaving if I plan to make my meeting on time. I grab my car keys and portfolio and make my way out the door. My 8:00 appointment with Dr. Martin is a crucial one. We will be discussing the details of my internship opportunities. I am fortunate enough to be the first female to land an internship interview with Thorne Enterprises. Thorne Enterprises is one of the leading design firms in the South, as well as being the firm I want an interview with the most.

  My meeting with Dr. Martin goes remarkably well, and he informs me that my first initial interview will be next week with Thorne’s advisory board. I worry about how I will prepare for the interview after pulling all of these double shifts, but it is an opportunity I cannot afford to waste. I quickly make all of the notations on my portfolio that he suggests and grab my things to leave. Rushing back across town, I make it there in just enough time for my shift at work. Jesse’s is super busy with the late breakfast crew that is constantly trickling in. Grabbing a stale bagel from the café’s kitchen, I tie on my apron and head back to the front to start working. Soon, the breakfast crew fades into the lunch and dinner crew. We have been so busy that I haven’t even taken a break and am already dead on my feet. I just keep smiling and greeting my usual customers and silently calculating my tips in my pocket.

  I notice Kylie, my best friend and part time hostess, bat her eyes at the man who has just walked in the café. I shake my head and laugh.

  She is such a damn flirt.

  I can’t see his face, but I notice her nodding and motioning for him to take a seat at the counter in my section.

  Well, this should be good; Kylie looks as though she’s about to combust.

  I serve the couple at the end of the counter, and then make my way to where the gentleman now sits. My hair is falling down, and grease stains cover the front of my dress. I wipe the damp hair away from my face and pull out my pad to take down his order.

  “Hi, I’m Skylar. Welcome to Jesse’s. What can I get you to drink?”

  As he drops down the tall plastic menu, I come face to face with the hottest man that I have ever seen. His ebony hair is styled in that messy, sexy way that I’ve always loved on guys. Long, dark eyelashes frame glowing amber eyes. He looks like some sort of perfect Greek god, and I feel my face flushing as he greets me with an incredible smile.

  Holy hell he is hot!!!

  My knees begin to buckle, and I catch myself against the counter.

  What in the hell is going on with my body?

  The beautiful stranger still hasn’t spoken to me. What do I do?

  I do the only thing I can do. Like an idiot I repeat myself.

  “Hi, I’m Skylar. Welcome to Jesse’s. What can I get you to drink?”

  Way to go Skylar, now he thinks you are a complete moron.

  “Hello, Skylar. I’ll take a sweet tea, please,” he says in a smooth voice. The way he has just said my name just sends chills down my spine, and I know I have to get away fast before he sees me blush again.

  Stumbling over my own feet, I dart over to the drink station and begin filling his glass from the pitcher of tea. His eyes never leave mine as I cross the room. I am relieved to turn my back to him in order to compose myself.

  Get control of yourself, Skylar! He is just a man. An extremely hot looking one, but still just a man!!

  It is not as if I’m not used to having good looking guys flirt with me, but this guy shakes me to my core. After getting his drink, I gather myself and make my way back to him, but as I turn I find him smiling at me.

  Sweet Jesus, why does this man have to have that smile? It is simply lethal to be that damn hot. Please don’t let me spill this sweet tea on him, please.

  Sebastian

  I have been sitting in the parking lot of Jesse’s Café for over an hour now, and I still haven’t mustered up enough courage to go inside. I firmly hold open the black vinyl folder
in my lap that Harrison had given me yesterday. This little folder holds practically every known detail about the life of Miss Skylar Marie Rose. As if I were reading a fascinating novel, I soak up every last word cover to cover. She is a dancer, or at least she had been before the accident. She must have been a damned good one to have been accepted into Baylor Academy at such a young age. She had also excelled in academics and had graduated high school at the top of her class. I even know how much money she currently has in her checking account. And let me just say that I had almost become physically ill when I saw that her current available balance read $328.98. I mean fuck… I have at least ten times that in my wallet right now.

  I draw in a deep breath and close the folder. I can’t help but stare at the picture attached to the front. Even though it is just her current college ID picture she looks sensational. Something about the picture intrigues me though. These eyes, even in their startling beauty have an absence of any life in them. I want nothing more than to give this girl her life back, but no amount of wishing or money will fix this. I don’t know how, but somehow, someway, I will make this right. I place the file in the backseat and make my way towards the café. It is now or never. I have to do this.

  Man, for a Thursday night, this place sure is packed.

  When I notice an opening at the counter, I persuade the hostess Kylie to let me sit there. I spot her bouncing across the café while carrying a large tray of food. Grabbing the tall plastic menu, I use it to hide behind. My eyes follow her, and I scan her beautiful body. The short blue uniform hugs her goddess of a figure in all of the right places and showcases her long toned legs. She is completely oblivious to the fact that she is tempting almost every man in this place. Her long, wavy hair is pulled up in a ponytail, and each dark chestnut wave bounces as she makes her way back to the counter where I am sitting. When I hear her angelic voice ask me for my drink order, my heart begins to pound in my chest. Gathering my courage, I glance above the tall menu. Our eyes lock, and I become completely paralyzed. I am now staring into these damn turquoise eyes that chase me in my dreams. Then, the goddess before me does something I cannot prepare for… she smiles.

  I swear she could light up the entire city of Austin with that smile.

  My face breaks out into a massive grin, but my ability to speak hasn’t seemed to return just yet. I am a billionaire corporate executive…I NEVER lose control, yet my mouth refuses to move and is now stuck in the most embarrassing cheesy smile.

  GET A GRIP SEBASTIAN!

  I manage to get my drink order out, but I can’t keep from staring at her. I have been around more than my share of beautiful women, but nothing remotely comes close to this girl. Those plump luscious raspberry lips of hers are just begging to be kissed. When I catch a whiff of her cotton candy fragrance I instantly want to lick her from head to toe and bury myself deep inside her right here.

  Fuck! What is going on with me?

  Trying to gain control of my now raging hard on I watch her return with my drink. She flashes another epic smile at me and I find myself gripping the plastic tea glass tight in my hands.

  Fuck me, that smile is going to be the death of me.

  “Do you know what you would like to order?” She asks me sweetly.

  I pretend to be reading over the food choices on the piece of plastic in front of me, but the last thing on my mind is eating.

  I bet she’d be damn delicious.

  “What’s good here?” I ask as I continue to looking down.

  “Really, everything is good,” she smiles before continuing, “EXCEPT the pie.”

  She leans over the counter towards me and whispers, “Few words of advice… stay AWAY from the pie. If you want pie, I can lead you to the home of the best pie on Earth,” she says confidently. I can’t help but laugh at her words.

  Sweet Jesus! Not only is she fucking hot as hell, but she has an adorable sense of humor too.

  I still haven’t even looked at the menu, but I know I have to order something. Glancing at the first thing I see, I place my order.

  “I’ll have the jaw dropper, please.”

  Her eyebrows shoot up in surprise, and the delicious corners of her mouth begin forming a smirk.

  “Are you sure you want that?”

  “Yes, I am certain,” I say.

  Smiling her fucking gorgeous smile, she jots my order down and walks away. While I wait, I observe as she keeps customers in refills and still manages the front register beautifully. I know she is exhausted, but she just keeps on smiling and greeting the customers.

  After she tops off of my tea for the second time, I see her heading to the kitchen window to pick up the order that is just announced. She picks up a monstrous sized tray of what looks to be a 3lb hamburger. Stacked high with every known trimming to mankind, it is surrounded by at least a pound of fries. The order catches the attention of the entire café as she moves closer to the counter.

  GOOD GRIEF! What idiot would order that?

  Apparently, that idiot is me. She beams her killer smile as she set the colossal size tray before me.

  “One jaw dropper, sir. Enjoy,” she winks at me and giggles.

  Right now I can’t seem to close my gaping wide mouth. Quickly she reaches underneath the counter and retrieves an old camera and snaps a picture of my current horrified expression. Still laughing she fans the picture that has just printed out the old Polaroid camera she is still holding. After the picture dries, she tacks it on the wall behind her. My face now joins countless others who have apparently ordered this same meal challenge. A few minutes later, she returns with a knife and begins slicing the hamburger into smaller pieces for me.

  “I was waiting to see if you were actually going to try to pick that up. I thought this might help you out a bit,” she says as she continues cutting the food.

  I take a bite of the sliced burger, and it is like pure heaven in my mouth. I don’t think I’ve eaten one of these since I was in college and can’t believe I have forgotten just how delicious they are. Almost all of my fries and most of my burger are still left when she comes back to check on me. I am beyond stuffed and pray I don’t throw up right here on the counter.

  “So, how are we doing over here? Can I get you anything else? Perhaps you’d like some dessert? We also have a milk shake challenge you know.” She teases me with that sweet smile of hers.

  “No thanks, I think I am good,” I chuckle and she tears off my check. My hand briefly brushes against hers when she slides me the ticket across the counter. In that one brief contact, the overwhelming surge of energy makes me gasp. Judging by the expression on her face, she equally is stunned by our exchange. There is some sort of unexplainable attraction here between us. Hell, it was even evident that awful night seven years ago. The bill for the meal is $14.58, and I laugh at the ridiculously small amount. Pulling out my wallet, I hand her a hundred dollar bill, and she makes her way over to the register to get my change. I seize the opportunity and grab a pen from the cup on the counter. Flipping the ticket over I quickly write her a note telling her thank you and to keep my change. She smiles when she brings me back my change, and she offers to pack the extra food to go. I politely decline, and she wishes me a good day.

  Well, this night has certainly not been what I had expected.

  I have spent less than an hour near her, and already I crave more. I take the change and place the entire $85.42 in front of where I was sitting. I know exactly what I need to do, and that is to get in my car and drive away. Now. I should forget this night ever happened, but instead I return to my car and watch her through the café window. I see her grin when she clears off the spot where I had been sitting. Then I watch her mouth drop open as she finds my tip. She looks around frantically in confusion and then reads the note that I had left on the back of the ticket. She beams her beautiful smile, and I feel my heart pound harder in my chest.

  Why did I react to her this way? She is simply breathtaking… so pure and genuine. I don’t think I ha
ve ever been more attracted to anything in my entire life. This is not acceptable.

  I know I should drive away, but I don’t… I can’t. Instead, I wait until her shift ends around 10:00 pm, and when the last customer finally leaves, I can see she is thoroughly exhausted. She sits at the counter, pulls off her shoes, and begins rubbing her sore feet.

  God, what I wouldn’t give to be doing that right now for her.

  It isn’t long before she and her coworker Kylie leave work together. I see the two of them talking as they make their way to their cars. Kylie hugs her goodbye, and then gets in her car to leave. Taking a deep breath, I gather my courage and head towards her.

  Here I go.

  “Excuse me, miss, but can you help me with something?” I ask. Caught off guard by my voice, she jumps and drops her keys onto the ground.

  “Holy shit! You sure know how to scare a girl half to death,” she says, holding her hand against her chest as she tries to catch her breath. I reach down and pick her keys up off the pavement, and she instinctively reaches her hand out to me. I savor the feel of her silky skin against mine when I place the keys into her delicate hand. The undeniable force of energy surges through my body again and I can see the blush filling her flawless cheeks. She can’t deny that she feels this too, and I can’t help but smile at her reaction.

  “I’m really sorry to have scared you, but I am hoping that you can point me in the direction of the best pie on Earth. Perhaps, you’d let me buy you a slice too. If you aren’t too busy right now, that is?”

  Her lips turn up in a huge grin, and she glances down at her watch.

  “Hmmm… tell you what, since I happen to be craving the best pie on Earth, I think I will join you. But, I’m buying. You wouldn’t believe the tip this guy left me tonight!” She jokes and motions for me to join her on the sidewalk. While we walk the short three blocks together, I am stunned at how effortlessly we fall into our conversation. Instead of awkward unfamiliarity it’s as if we have known each other all of our lives. I stare over at her, and I don’t know what the fuck I am doing, but all that matters right now is that I am walking beside the most intriguing creature I have ever met, and I don’t ever want to let her go.