....AND SHE FELL IN LOVE WITH A HOOKER

*

he first few times she met them. Some called her shy, but Rose preferred to think of it as being a bit guarded, wanting to get a glimpse of their perso

meone? She knew it wouldn't happen without any effort on her part. People didn't just bump into their soulmates in a sleepy autumn marketplace while buying fresh tomatoes or something equally ludicrous as they did in the silly romantic movies sh

nny nodded. ''Let's just say I know people who kno

ords. Perhaps she could give this a try, if nothing else than for the off c

pkin. The sickeningly sweet smile on her animated face and the fluttering of her eyelashes had Rose, narr

you mess this up or treat this as one of your jokes, I swear to every deity above that I will post you ridi

eyes w

oice threateningly. ''Now, get this right, or I'll get you. Are we clear?'' She finished

abbed the balled up wad of paper, looking like someon

r Mr Baster will think we've gotten

ollowing, wordlessly letting it be known that she didn't expect

meone she wouldn't at least be able to carry on a polite conversation with.

ell on the door frame above her head, Rose se

**

floor-to-ceiling mirrored sliding doors of the wardrobe inside her be

rth for a few minutes now, not coming any closer to deciding which heel went better with her outfit. There was a black one and another shimmering gold wit

knew she was nervous about tonight's blind date, and she rued the day when she'd agreed to

showing at her door to pick her up. Or a stripper dres

had starved off the worst of those options. Rose just couldn't decide w

t before she could throw the tantrum she felt was beginning to brew and throw the two

n Rose's mind that her date for the night was standing at her door. She glanced at the clock beside her bed, and sure eno

one last determined look in the mirror

d head of hair, she gulped nervously before stepping back to unlock the door. Her heart was still beating wildly in her chest, and

she would have liked. She sounded almost sca

d Rose froze halfway into his hesitant smile. He -

wn to broad shoulders covered by a black blazer over a maroon shirt, but she didn't get any further before a deep chuckl

an asked, quirk