Just Rose

38

Her parents arrived early the next day, bubbling with excitement as she settled them into the cottage and almost being squeezed to death with overzealous hugs and kisses.

Her room was looking a lot barer since she had packed up a lot of personal things and moved them to the manor. Rob had encouraged her to start transitioning her things up there, to slowly get used to the idea the cottage was no longer her main home and that his was. It had felt weird at first, moving her things to his, putting some of her clothes hanging in the space he had cleared for her in his wardrobe. The addition of a few trinkets and pictures on his shelves had made her realise how right he was about the room; it was undeniably male. Dark wood and cool blue tones, masculine, modern furniture and a wall of technology. She couldn't just add to the room her soft girly things and make it look more unisex. Her things just stood out even more harshly against the male décor and the space more of a squeeze now two people cohabited. With only a handful of her clothes from here, his wardrobe already looked maxed out. She hadn't even shown him the space her shoes needed as most were hidden under her bed at the cottage and would most likely have given him heart failure.

Her mother held her captive for more than an hour, she wanted details and stories, to bask in the nearness of the beautiful ring and hear all the wonders of the party planned for tonight. She had missed her. Rose's brothers would unfortunately not be attending, not that she had thought they would. One lived in New Zealand for a start and could travel for a wedding but not for a party. The other was in the forces; an RAF officer and had not been able to get any leave on such short notice, but she had spoken to both on skype; promises made to make sure they both got here for the wedding and Rose knew they would come, she wanted them to meet Rob properly and not via internet calls.

She drove back to the house with her dress and shoes firmly zipped inside a clothes protector, her bags of more items and makeup safely stowed on her passenger seat as she made the short journey which was now almost second nature.

Rob met her inside as he was heading out to meet a client and told her to take everything upstairs.

'Put your stuff in my mother's old room baby, our room of choice for tonight, for old times sakes.' Rob winked and pecked her on the cheek as he relieved her of her cases.

'Hmmmm... Sounds good to me.' She smiled coquettishly at him and led the way to the stairs.

'Nice big tub in there for some clean fun later, if you're game?'

Rose immediately smiled at his obvious intentions, heat creeping up her cheeks and a quick glance back at that wicked look.

'I don't think clean is the right word for what you have planned.' She giggled and climbed the stairs, dodging staff with feather dusters and canvas sheets.

'Me? I'm an innocent boy with no filthy intentions at all.' Rob mock gasped and winked at her. 'Besides, up here, away from the rest of the house... Good for sneaking off mid party and requires no sound proofing.' Rose could only grin and curb the urge to roll her eyes at him.

He kissed her goodbye when he dropped her bags in the bedroom and promised to be back soon, leaving with a light smack on her butt which made her yelp. He had already been up at some point, his clothes and shoes were draped casually over the plush comforter, some aftershave and male products on the vanity, cufflinks and his bow tie neatly beside them.