Page 3 of Rose's One Night to Forever
Girls’ Night Out Gone Wrong.
Okay, maybe labeling it that was pushing it, but when the larger assembly of girlfriends had dropped to just Rose, her sister Tansy, and two others, out had come those damn confessions. Three weeks later, and Rose was kicking herself for not being able to shake the conversation. The one where the other women in the room had all confessed to being wild and spontaneous. Looking for satisfaction, and finding it in one sensual night.
Not something you have to do, but if you want to do it and the chance arises, why not?
The comment from her friend Petra echoed loudly.
Rose had enjoyed a good, stable upbringing. Her adoptive parents were rock-solid, and her three sisters were golden. Add in the store and café she owned with Tansy, and she had nearly everything she’d ever dreamed of.
Why did she still feel as if the smallest wrong move could make it all vanish in an instant? She needed to stop living so carefully. Wanted to actively seek out adventures and see what might happen.
There lay the reason why she now stood in Rough Cut trying to open the door to opportunities. She wouldn’t mind finding a handsome stranger to take for a ride.
So to speak.
One thing was for certain. If she planned to pick up a stranger in their small hometown, it was not going to be under the watchful eye of her sister. Or friends. Or…anyone. Which was why she’d come to Rough Cut tonight when Tansy was busy and all her other friends were occupied.
Yet she needed to do this safely, which meant telling someone.
Petra. Petra was perfect. The youngest sister of one of the local ranchers, she didn’t actually live in Heart Falls, just visited often. Often enough that she’d become a regular at their girls’ nights, including the most recent one that still haunted Rose.
After a wonderful visit where she’d spent time with family and Rose and the others, Petra had returned home to Manitoba two weeks ago. Far enough away that Rose didn’t need to worry about the woman showing up to run interference, but connected enough that if Rose put out an SOS, help would be on the way pretty damn quick.
Decided, she messaged her friend.
Rose: FYI, you’re my emergency contact tonight. I’ll message you around midnight. If needed, again in the a.m. to let you know I’m safe.
Less than a minute later, a response slipped in.
Petra: Okay. Want to tell me what you’re doing?
Rose: I’m having a one-night stand.
Petra: Oh, really? Someone catch your eye to make this an urgent and top priority?
Rose wasn’t about to explain her entire agenda in text. She lifted her attention from her phone to consider the best answer, then the crowd parted and the overhead lights flared like a spotlight to land on a tall, gorgeous man, and everything vanished except him.
Broad shoulders, but lean. Less bulky than most of the cowboys she knew, he still looked sturdy enough to have muscle and strength in all the right places. Taller than her, but not looming. No cowboy hat, but dark, neatly trimmed hair that Rose suddenly wanted to run her fingers through to mess up the tiniest bit. He stood with his shoulders back and chin up, and as he rotated toward her, Rose found herself holding her breath.
His gaze drifted over the crowd then landed on her, and she swore a bolt of lightning sizzled up from the floor.
Green eyes. Intense, but with crinkles at the corners that deepened as his lips curled into a smile. The pale skin on his face was darkened by a five-o’clock shadow. Admiration rose as his gaze dipped quickly over her. No leering, just an honest, masculine appreciation, and Rose checked off another box on her must have these qualities before I take the leap list.
He stepped toward her, weaving through the crowd.
Rose quickly finished her message to Petra, happy to be succinct and truthful.
Rose: Yes.
2
Rose had barely tucked her phone away when polished black loafers came into view.
“Hello.” The faintest hint of an accent coloured the word. “Would you like to dance?”
“Love to.” Rose accepted the hand he held toward her.
The fast pace of the two-step he whirled her into didn’t let her ask any questions. She focused on enjoying the flex of his shoulder muscles under her fingers as he guided her smoothly across the floor, the music booming around them. She held on and enjoyed the sensation of being led by an expert dancer.
