Fulfilling Her Fantasy by Tabitha Black Read Free Book Online Page B

bonus." When
Rosa remained frozen, her eyes wide, Bess left the doorway and went to sit
beside her.
    "Honey,
you know you want to try this, and this is the safest place on the planet to do
so. I know you are scared, but you've got to trust your heart." She picked
up Rosa's cell phone from where she had tossed it onto the bed. As she thumbed
the bar to activate it, Rosa looked at her, eyes wider than before.
    "Who
are you calling?"
    "I'm
not calling anyone," Bess said, her finger pressing a button to bring up
recent calls before holding out the phone. "You just need to press the
call button." When Rosa didn't make a move to take the phone, she
continued. "You are at least partly responsible for Silver leaving
Australia and flying to Ohio for this auction. She trusted you, and from what I
heard of the conversation, she needs your support. How do you think she is
going to feel if she shows up and you aren't on the auction block with her
after you promised she has nothing to worry about? So, if you are going to back
out, then you need to admit you're a chicken before she arrives here tomorrow.
Rosa, you've got a choice to make. Call and confess, and let your dream die
without a chance to discover how happy you can be, or remember your resolutions,
sign the papers and have the experience of a lifetime."
    Softening
her tone, she continued. "I'm your friend, Rosa, and you know I want you
to be happy. I'm trying really hard to help you, but this has to be your
decision." Reaching out, she gave Rosa a hug before standing. "Now,
you are going to either pick up those papers, sign them and come with me to
hand them over, or you are going to have to call Silver and then go look
Marshall in the eye and tell him you are a baby—and not in the way you
want to be. What's it going to be?"
    Rosa
took a deep breath and let her heart guide her. "You have a pen?"
    Smiling,
Bess found one in the rumpled covers of the bed and passed it to her. Once Rosa
had signed the bottom of the document, she took the pen and the papers from
her. "You are making the right decision. By this time tomorrow night,
you'll be living your dream, and, Rosie, you are going to make some mommy or
daddy very happy."
    "Oh,
God, I never even really considered a mommy—give me those papers back!"
    "Nope,
you've had weeks to go through them. We've discussed this ad nauseam and,
little girl, you are just getting cold feet. The choices have been made, the
limits written down, and all that's left is for you to give yourself the
freedom to discover if your dream is what can give you the happiness you
deserve. Now, let's go turn these in and I'll treat you to a cup of
coffee." Bess grabbed her friend's hand and was very pleased when Rosa
finally smiled.
    "I'm
ordering a Venti," Rosa warned. "Thank God we have coffee available
24/7—I'm going to need gallons to get through this week."
    Bess
laughed, but inside she was shaking her head. Rosa might have worked in the
nursery for the past year, but she obviously needed to start thinking about the
other side of the equation. As they neared Master Marshall's office, she
wondered what Rosa, oh, make that Rosie, was going to do when she remembered
that Littles weren't allowed to drink coffee. Well, she certainly wasn't going
to bring up that tidbit—at least not until the signed papers were safely
in Marshall's hands. Stopping before his door, Bess released Rosa's hand.
Instead of knocking, she lifted the back of Rosa's skirt, making her let out a
sharp squeal.
    "What
the hell?"
    "Oh,
another thing to remember. Cussing will likely get your bottom blistered just
as quickly as lying." Bess laughed at the look on her friend's face.
"Relax, I was just making sure you were ready before you go inside."
Handing her the papers, she gave her a quick hug. "You're
ready—papers in hand and yes, you've got your big girl panties on. Now,
go on. I'll be waiting right here."
    Shaking
her head but unable to stop a giggle at the ridiculous phrase, Rosa