Free Roses & Thorns by Tish Thawer

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    CHAPTER ONE
     
    Best Concert Ever
    (Rose)
     
    "Oh my g od, that was the best concert EVER!" Penny yelled .
    "I know, right? I 've never screamed and danced so much in my life," said Jillian.
    My friends and I had just left the Nine Inch Nails concert in Masen and were being driven home in one of my dad's company limos . It was Friday night and since we'd be off from school Monday as well, this was the perfect start to a long weekend. We didn't have a curfew, but since some of us still weren't twenty-one, and since there reall y wasn't anything fun to do at two in the morning, we were headed back to Jillian's where we'd all be spending the night.
    Suddenly , Jillian announced, "I've got to pee ."
    As the girls continue d to giggle and drink more of the compl e mentary soda – Dad had made sure th at all alcohol had been removed – I pushed the button for the intercom . "Excuse me. Is there somewhere we could stop to use the restroom? Apparently it's an emergency."
    After a moment ' s pause , our driver ' s voice came through the speaker . "Yes ma'am . T here's a nightclub just up the road. I t's the only place close by, so I 'll stop there if that's okay? "
    "Yes . Thank you . T hat will be fine . " Jillian was the only one in our group that was already twenty-one, so stopping at a nightclub wouldn't be a problem.
    We drove for a few more miles and then coasted to a stop. As I looked out the tinted window , I saw the club's sign li t up in bright red lights . The Rising Pit.
    One of the "car crew" got out and opened the side door. Jill hurriedly climbed out of the car and gave a little wave to the driver . "Thank you ." She then followed her escort towards the front door.
    "I can't believe your dad set all this up, Rose. It's really cool. I haven't had this much fun in a long time. Thanks for inviting me , " Penny sai d .
    "You're welcome. I was really surprised when he told me that we 'd be going in one of the company limos. I hadn't realized at the time that it would come with a babysitting crew though, " I joked .
    I knew that my dad had made sure that our escorts w ould be keeping us in their sights all night, and I thought that it would be a pain in the ass , but really it hadn't bothered me at all. They were all very nice , and there was one that was pretty damn cute , too. The one that had just accompanied Jillian inside , actually.
    I looked back to the club just as Jill and the cutie disappear ed behind the door . I watched as a man step ped o utsid e carrying a girl in his arms. H e placed her on her feet, stea dying her before letting go. It looked like she was crying. As he talked to her , s he wiped the tears from her cheeks and then gave a quick nod of her head and smiled. Obviously, whatever the man had said was making her feel better . I t was obvious the guy worked there s ince he had a black t-shirt on with the club's name and logo on the front. I continued to watch , wondering what could have happened that would leave a club employee comforting a crying patron on the front steps, but the moment the man smiled , my curiosity was forgotten.
    It was as if the heavens were highlighting my destiny for me. T he clouds broke, and suddenly it wasn't just a "man " I was staring at...it was an angel. H e was so gorgeous. He had to be about 6’ 2”, and solid muscle from the looks of him. Not bulky like those beefed-up body builders, but very athletic. Wide shoulders, broad chest, thin waist, and what I was sure would be strong, muscled legs. With the moonlight shining on him, I could see he had dark blonde hair with golden highlights, cut short and sharp. I realized I was half - hanging out the open window of the limo . I sucked in a quick breath, and that's when he suddenly turned and looked right at me. I thought I would die.
    His eyes were so beautiful and so mesmerizing. They were an amber color, a rich brown with golden highlights, mixing together like swirled caramel and honey. The intensity of