North
Chapter 7
A/N: Sorry for the gaps between chapters. What can I say, real life happens, as does writer's block. I'm finally writing again, and some stuff that I think it worthwhile posting. Hope you like it too. I'm working on and posting a fic that isn't Twilight. (gasp, there are such things?) Check out my profile and see if you like the new story!
Rosalie POV:
"Rosalie, are you listening?" Royce's voice interrupted her as she was pondering the idea of shopping for winter boots with Alice. She hadn't meant to ignore him but they were pushing farther and farther into autumn and she was going to need some fresh winter wardrobe additions.
"I'm so sorry Royce, my mind is just wandering today." Rosalie apologized while simultaneously reaching across the table to squeeze his hand. It had been weeks since they had met and things were going really well. They had been seeing each other on a fairly regular basis, a few times each week.
"Is it my dazzling smile that's distracting you? Because I will certainly excuse you for that." Royce smiled and winked at her before continuing. "I was saying that I need to leave town for a few days. It's a business trip to Vancouver but I was actually thinking that perhaps you could join me if you didn't have other plans."
Rosalie's stomach dropped. Things were going really well. She was enjoying herself. A weekend away however, would mean a shared hotel room. Was she even ready for that next level? They had kissed often and there surely was a spark there. She was a grown woman; she knew the pace for average adult relationships to progress. She took a sip of her tea and thought about the idea of moving to the next step of intimacy.
"Royce, I'm going to be honest with you. I'm not ready for sex yet. I know that might not be fair to you, but I can't take that leap yet. I've worked very hard at starting this next chapter of my life and I am afraid that while it may not seem like rushing to you, it feels it to me."
Royce squeezed her hand tighter and had a sudden look of understanding.
"Rose I never intended to rush you. It truly was not my goal to suggest that this would be an intimate trip. Don't get me wrong, I would love to have that opportunity, but I just.. well I was only trying to suggest that we spend some extra time together and that I'd treat you to a short vacation. Please don't feel pressured at all. In fact, consider it an offer from a friend and I'll even make sure that we have separate sleeping quarters at all times." Royce had a tone and look of sincerity.
She looked at him from over her tea cup and smiled thoughtfully. "You know what, I think I actually could use a couple days away."
He gave her a grin and told her to go home and pack.
When Rose told Alice about her not-so-romantic travel plans, she should have been prepared for what came next but she wasn't. Her room had turned into some sort of clothing fed cyclone. Tops were flying one way and shoes were flying the other.
"Rose how on earth does he expect you to pack if you don't know exactly what he'll be expecting of you? I'm packing lingerie anyway, even if you say it's not sexual." Alice's voice growled from underneath a pile of undergarments.
"Honestly Alice, I'm not sure why you're packing for me at all. I think I'm adult enough to handle it." Rosalie was sitting on the bed with her phone in hand, trying to figure out if she should tell Emmett, and how. She was also trying not to think about the fact that she hadn't heard from him yet, which meant that his date must have been going well.
Just then Jasper poked his head in the door. "I made popcorn if anyone wants any." He chuckled at the frustrated look on Alice's face.
"Jazz I can't get popcorn butter all over the clothes I'm packing! Honestly, how do you two ever manage to dress yourselves without me?" her exasperation was evident in her tone.
"Well, I wasn't suggesting you ate and packed. I was suggesting you come and watch this movie with me." He gave her a little wink and with that she was slipping her hand into his.
"You're on your own Rosalie, but seriously, at least pack underwear that are presentable. Just in case." Alice laughed her way out the door.
Rose started folding all the clothes that Alice had so kindly thrown all over. When her phone buzzed she was almost afraid to look at it.
My date was fun. She wasn't nearly as immature as you expected her to be. She even cut up her own food. ;-)
She laughed out loud as she read it.
I'm a little sorry to hear that. Mine went well too. It came with an invite for a trip to Vancouver.
She held her breath as she hit send. He might as well know. She couldn't very well be talking on the phone to him while she was traveling with Royce. Immediately her phone started ringing.
"Hello Emmett."
"You're going where?" His tone was agitated. "Rosalie, do you know this dude well enough to be taking that kind of step with him?"
"Emmett we're going as friends." She stated calmly. "He even promised to get me a separate hotel room."
There was silence for a minute.
He sighed. "I know that this really isn't a big deal. But it feels like a big deal. Are you sure? He's not some psychopath that is going to drag you off on a vacation and then you never return?"
"Are you really afraid that it's going to end tragically with me being murdered by a psychopath? Or are you afraid that it's going to end really well and we're going to live happily ever after?" She waited for his reply quietly.
"Both. But mostly the first thing, I promise. Look, I trust your judgment. You'll take care of yourself and I know that. You're one of the strongest people I know. Just don't jump into anything too fast Rosie." He paused. "I know I can't ask you to wait for me. But can I ask you not to settle?"
She lay back on her pillow. "I'm just living life Em, I'm not looking to do anything that will leave permanent damage. Don't worry. Just try not to like your own girlfriend too much while I'm gone."
"She's pretty hot you know. I mean, she's not you, but she's got some assets." He was teasing her but it made her blood boil.
"If you value her life you'd stop telling me things about her. I may hunt her down and eliminate the threat." Her tone was warning.
She just wished she could fix this distance between them.
Her flight with Royce had been pleasant. She hadn't expected the private jet, although she supposed she should have. It was a business trip after all. The plane was amazing, very comfortable and well stocked. She felt like a rock star.
When they arrived and she stepped out of the plane she could only compare it to what the first lady must feel like. There was a car there waiting for them and he took her hand as they walked to it while an assistant rattled off his itinerary. If Alice even knew, she would find the whole scenario positively dreamy.
The ride to the hotel was spent by her gazing out the window at the city as Royce and his assistant continued to plan and review some things in French. Rosalie didn't mind a bit, she honestly liked the time to her thoughts. She pulled her smartphone out of her purse and started snapping pictures here and there of architecture and other things of interest. As they were pulling up to the hotel she realized that she might have some time to explore the city and that excited her.
"Rosalie, my assistant tells me that we could not be on the penthouse floor and still have separate hotel rooms so instead she booked a suite with multiple bedrooms. I hope that it will be to your liking and comfort but if not then we can surely switch floors to give you more privacy?" Royce offered his arm as they walked into the hotel.
"I'm sure the suite will be fine. Thank you for thinking of my comfort." She smiled confidently at him. "Do you have to go to work right away?"
"I'm afraid I do but I'll be free in time for dinner. I have a restaurant picked that you will love." He stopped to greet the elevator operator and then turned back to her. "I can't wait to just relax with you."
When Royce had changed out of his travel clothes and gathered what he needed for his meetings he met her in the living room. She had been gazing at their view from the top of the towering hotel. It was positively radiant. "No, you are positively radiant." He corrected her. "And yes, you were thinking out loud."
He slipped his hands around her waist. "Thank you for coming with me. Your being here makes this dull trip incredibly exciting for me." He leaned in to kiss her lips gently, and then slightly deeper. When he kissed her it erased any doubt that she had about traveling with him.
Finally he pulled away and left her to relax and look around the suite. The fridge was fully stocked with beverages and fruit. The bedrooms were elegant and fresh.
She was admiring a gorgeous chandelier when there was a knock at the door and she opened it to find the concierge carrying a gift basket full of sketch pads, good quality pencils, charcoals, watercolors and all sorts of other mediums, as well as a beautiful suede portfolio with a rose embossed on it. There was a card that read To my beautiful Rose, I am so sorry to be leaving you alone so much of this trip, but I know that to leave an artist alone is often to leave an artist peace so I thought you might appreciate this. Love, Royce
Her heart fluttered a little at how much care he had taken with her. He truly was a sweet man who clearly understood her. She immediately sat on the floor in front of the huge windows with his gift and created a watercolor painting of the skyline, the smooth lines of the city with the mountains towering behind. When she had finished she barely could believe how quickly she had done it, and it looked beautiful! "Thank you Royce!" she whispered aloud. She left it to dry and went to her room, changing into a pair of jeans and a sweater. She called Alice and tried to keep it brief while describing the trip and the rooms. When she reached the part about his gift and her painting Alice squealed with delight and made her promise to text her a picture.
She was packing some things into her new portfolio when she thought of Emmett. She picked up her phone and took a picture of her watercolor and sent it to him, with a text that read: I arrived safely. I thought you might want to know. I have actually painted here, and it came easily. Take care of you.
She walked out the door with the portfolio and camera in her bag. At the front desk she appealed to the concierge to direct her to an area that would satisfy her creative leanings and he called for Royce's car to take her to the Gastown district. It didn't disappoint her. She took the driver's number and asked to be left alone while she wandered the streets.
She paused with her camera at iron gated gardens, red brick streets, fascinating monuments and old buildings. At a square she found some benches and settled down to sketch some children who were dancing by an empty fountain. As she was finishing an older woman startled her thoughts by asking "How much for the drawing honey?"
Rose's head spun to look at her. "I'm sorry?"
"How much will you sell that drawing for? Those are my grandchildren and it's a beautiful picture of them. You're selling drawings, no?" The woman looked puzzled at Rose's hesitance. "Aren't you an artist?"
Rose nodded but couldn't get past the idea that someone wanted to buy something that she had made.
"I would just give it to you ma'am; honestly I'm not a professional artist. I've never sold anything." She smiled. "But I'm very flattered by your offer.
"Well honey, I think it's high time that you did." She was digging in her wallet and pulled out a couple bills to hand to Rose. "Here, take this. It's well worth it."
Excitement welled in Rosalie as she rolled the drawing up to hand to the woman. "Ma'am, can we take a picture together? I just want to remember the first person to ever buy my art." Shyness overtook her normally outspoken personality.
"Of course! What do the kids call it now days? A selfie? Let's take a selfie dear!" And with that Rose documented the face of the woman who gave her a huge dose of confidence.
When Rose returned to the room she took a hot shower to wash the soils of her city exploration off. She was so content, she almost forgot that she still had to dress for dinner with Royce. Her phone had text messages waiting on it when she finished.
Royce had written in response to her thank you note. You're welcome of course. I'll see you at 6:00.
Alice had written in response to the selfie with her art customer. My heart is welling for you. I'm so proud of you love!
And the newest text was from Emmett. That is so incredible. Your talent is amazing. Promise me that you'll come and paint the mountains here some day? Thanks for letting me know you arrived. I would have been checking police blotters for murders if I hadn't heard from you. I know you're busy so I'm not going to write much. I'm thinking of you though. Always. –E
She was just wondering if her day could possibly get any better when she heard Royce calling for her to leave for dinner. She finished smoothing back her hair and checking the strapless dress that she had put on for the evening. When she went to greet him with a kiss she found him looking at her painting of the skyline.
"Rosalie, this is perfection!" He looked at her and his eyes widened. "I'm very impressed, and also with this dress.. could you look any more stunning?"
She laughed. "Well I spent the day in jeans wandering around making dirty, messy art so it seemed like I better dress for dinner tonight. But thank you."
She leaned in to kiss his lips with a hand wrapped around the back of his neck. "I really can't thank you enough for that basket. It was exactly what I needed." She whispered the words and was grateful for a moment in his arms before pulling away. She had felt like herself all day instead of a girl trying to figure out who she should be.
A/N Thanks for reading! Reviews are awesome!
