Crave the Rose by Karen Kincy

Author:Karen Kincy [Kincy, Karen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-02-13T16:00:00+00:00

27

Bram

This trip to Eastbourne should be strictly business, but I can’t think of Cassia that way. How are we going to work together?

Damn it, I’m in deep trouble.

The fields around us yield to houses on the outskirts of Eastbourne. We can’t be far from the heritage rose society.

I fish my phone from my pocket and hand it to Cassia. “Can you navigate?”

“Aye, aye, captain.”

“I already entered our destination.”

“It says we’re ten minutes away.” She’s silent for a minute. “God, I’m a genius.”

“Why?”

“I’m giving you my number. For booty calls.”

I laugh. “Booty calls?”

“Random hot sex. The best kind.” She smirks; the phone buzzes. “You have a text from Grace. She’s your sister, right?”

I grimace. “Yes.”

“She sounds pretty pissed.”

“You read the text?”

“Sorry.”

I sigh. “What does it say?”

“I’m here at Wolfenwold,” she reads. “Taking the day off yet again?”

“Sounds like Grace.” I grip the steering wheel. “She can’t resist competition. I’m sure she wants to take over my job.”

“What exactly is your job?”

“Local infrastructure specialist. Technically.”

“That sounds extremely boring.”

I laugh. “It can be.”

“Why not quit?”

“I do what’s best for the family business.”

Cassia glances sideways at me. She doesn’t look like she believes me. “Turn left.” I round the corner and travel down a narrow lane. Townhouses crowd the street. “One more block. There. That has to be it.”

I slow to a stop outside a townhouse. Roses clamber over the bricks and overflow from the tiny yard in the front.

“Cross your fingers,” she says.

A blonde woman in a pink sweater answers the door. “Hello?”

“Good morning,” I say. “Are you Ann Stewart of the Sussex Heritage Rose Society?”

She eyes me warily. “Yes, and you are?”

“Bram Winterbourne.” I offer my hand. “I’m here about Wolfenwold Hall.”

Ann thins her lips. “Oh, so you’re the one tearing that place apart.”

And we’re off to a flying start.

I try to stay polite. “The renovations include the gardens.”

“We want to save the roses,” Cassia says. “Autumn Damask, Seven Sisters, Burgundian Rose, dozens more cultivars.”

Ann’s eyes sharpen. “The Society may be interested in acquiring select cultivars.”

“Do you have a moment to talk?” I say. “We would very much like to discuss the possibility of a working partnership.”

“Working on what?”

I raise my eyebrows. “Preserving the gardens at Wolfenwold Hall.”

Smiling thinly, Ann steps back. “The Society doesn’t have the resources for a project of that magnitude. I suggest you solicit elsewhere.”

I catch the doorknob. “The gardens are scheduled for removal.”

“That’s your business, isn’t it? Good day.” She shuts the door in our faces.

Cassia glares at the doormat. “Well, shit,” she mutters.

I let my breath escape my lungs. “Come on.”

I walk back to the Audi and duck into my seat. She sits by me and clenches her hands in her lap. We say nothing as we drive out of Eastbourne. Fields unfold alongside the road while rain patters on the windshield.

“What a failure,” she says.

I can’t think of a joke to lighten her words. “We aren’t out of options.”

“Aren’t we?”

I grit my teeth and stare out the windshield. She’s right. I’m a failure. I’m supposed to be overseeing Wolfenwold Hall, and I can’t even convince anyone to do what I want.

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