Born of Two

Rosie's POV "I wonder how many more times I can hit the snooze button this morning without being totally late to open the shop. I mean, it is my store, and today can't be that bad, all the weddings are over, life is quiet….. oh crap, I only have 15 minutes." I throw the covers off, exposing my ratty batman pajamas and an old painting shirt. I obviously haven't been trying; my so-called sexy pajamas haven't seen the daylight in over a year since my last relationship ended in fire. My mouthguard lay freshly drooled on next to me and the two weeks of laundry that I neglected during that weird wedding tuxedo rush in the last two weeks lay untouched. However, life was great. The shop was booming, just rated number 1 in Omaha, my love life was less than stellar, but hey, a little bit of extended self-love time isn't bad, right? I walk through my tiny apartment, removed from the downtown part of Omaha, just above some little boutiques, and down the street from my favorite homey Italian restaurant. My plants gleamed in the window; their green brought a smile to my face. I wash my face, throw on my favorite black pants and a loose shirt, and walk out the door. As I walk down the hall, Ms. Krasuer stops me and asks me if I grabbed breakfast this morning. I shook my head no and rattled my keys as I held my water bottle by my teeth. She handed me a muffin and an apple, "Sweetie, be safe today, be sure to eat lots and drink water." "Thanks, Ms. Krauser. I appreciate the way you always look after me. Thank you." I said, adjusting the items in my arm around. She grabbed what she could of my hand and looked at me with the sweetest eyes, "I have always got you, sweet one." As I walked away from my neighbor, I threw my headphones on and continued out of the building. Ms. Krauser has literally always lived in the building. I have been here for about three years, and she was there the day I moved in, and honestly, she will be what will hold me back from moving out. I walk out of the building and breathe in the fresh fall air. My eyes flutter open to see the beautiful fall colors. I love the feeling fall brings. As I daydream about the chili I will probably make for dinner tonight, my eyes are totally enthralled by the fall-inspired outfits on Pinterest. When all of a sudden, I am knocked on my butt. There was this wall of a man in front of me. "Oh my gosh, I am so sorry, are you ok? I was totally looking at my phone and walking. Probably shouldn't do that." He laughed as he helped me up to my feet. "Oh, you're ok. I was looking at my phone and daydreaming of things that wouldn't be. I apologize. I should have seen you." I said back, dusting off the back of my pants. When I noticed that my elbow was bleeding from where it made contact with cement. "Oh, look at that." "Oh my gosh, your bleeding! Let me look at that." "You're ok; I am on my way to work where I can clean it up," I said, looking up at him for the first time. This is when I first saw his golden eyes, and they entangled my focus. A look so deep and sincere it was actually distracting. It was like he could see right through me and into my soul. He stood about six foot three, and his body was nothing but muscle after muscle, not in a bodybuilder way like what I have seen at bars but like the quiet guy who builds for actual strength, not show. His hands around my arms felt like they could just lift me into the stars above. Then there was his scent… it was intoxicating. It smelled clean but deep with a note of persimmon; it was unreal. But I knew that scent. I had smelled it before. I hadn't realized how long I was staring into his eyes when his voice broke my concentration. "Miss, you ok? You haven't said anything in about two minutes. Are you ok?" Ugh, totally embarrassing. "Yes, I am fine. I am sorry just lost my train of thought. Umm… thank you for well knocking me over and then helping me back up. It created a break in my walking routine." "Walking routine? I thought you said you were going to work?" "Oh yeah, I own the little tux shop a few blocks from here. The one on Vinton." "Wait, do you own Ms. Tuxedo? The cute little shop with all the pictures of brides and grooms all over the walls?" "Yeah, actually, that's my shop. How do you know about it?" "I don't know if you remember me, but I got a tuxedo from you guys about 6 months ago." It hit me…. That smell, those eyes, that body I remember measuring it think to myself……. Focus on the job, focus on the job. When all I wanted him to do was grab my face and kiss me hard, pull me into the dressing, and feel his hands all over me. Pinning me against the dressing room door….hmmm. "Deep in thought again?" Oh my gosh, I did it again. "Yeah, sorry. I do remember you! You had this mysterious ball you never told me about!! However, I can't recall your name." I thought maybe this would help him make a move. I don't know why but I feel drawn to him. It's like a lust, a fire, the primal human inside longing for him. "My name is Lochlyn Winters. It's nice to re-meet you." "Yes. Lochlyn, now I remember. It's nice to re-meet you too." I said as I extended my hand. Lochlyn POV The air felt good to me. The meeting with my father didn't go well. I had no idea how I was going to do what he asked. This deal was made twenty years ago. I don't understand what my part is in this arrangement. I just don't understa… Oh crap. I didn't realize that I walked straight into a young woman and totally knocked her off her feet. She was little; I could probably pick her up and throw her, I thought as I pulled my headphones off. "Oh my gosh, I am so sorry, are you ok? I was totally looking at my phone and walking. Probably shouldn't do that." I was so embarrassed that I knocked this girl over. I tried to laugh it off, but I just sounded so stupid. "Oh, you're ok. I was looking at my phone and daydreaming of things that wouldn't be. I apologize; I should have seen you." She said, dusting off the back of her pants. "Oh, look at that." "Oh my gosh, your bleeding! Let me look at that." "You're ok. I am on my way to work where I can clean it up." She was brave. I will give her that much, but that was bleeding bad. "Mate." "Now? Why now?" "Miss, you ok? You haven't said anything in about 2 minutes. Are you ok?" She had been staring at my eyes wide. She was beautiful. The most beautiful thing I have ever laid my eyes on. She was five foot five, maybe. Shorter brown wavy hair that just slightly covered her eyes as it fell to end gracefully at her shoulders in this beautiful wave of deep browns. Then I saw them… her eyes. The brightest and deepest shade of blues. I could fall into them and never return. They had the most beautiful flecks of gray inside of them. "Mate." The voice was louder now. "I know, but she doesn't." "Yes, I am fine. I am sorry just lost my train of thought. Umm… thank you for well knocking me over and then helping me back up. It created a break in my walking routine." "Walking routine? I thought you said you were going to work?" "Oh yeah, I own the little tux shop a few blocks from here. The one on Vinton." "Wait, do you own Ms. Tuxedo? The cute little shop with all the pictures of brides and grooms on the wall?" "Yeah, actually, that's my shop. How do you know about it?" "I don't know if you remember me or not, but I got a tuxedo from you guys like six months ago," I remember her touch back then driving me crazy. I met her six months ago. Why are we mating now? How doesn't she feel it? How come she isn't lunging at me? It is taking me everything not to bring her home to my pack and tear off her clothing. Why isn't she feeling the same? "Yeah, sorry. I do remember you! You had this mysterious ball you never told me about!! However, I can't recall your name." "My name is Lochlyn Winters. It's nice to re-meet you." "Yes. Lochlyn, now I remember. It's nice to re-meet you too." "I am sorry, but I have to tell you I don't think I ever asked yours." "It's Rosalynn." "She really doesn't know." Rosalynn's POV "It's Rosalynn." Is this guy ok? He looks pained, but like it's me that is paining him. "Well, I better get walking, you know… store owner and all. I better open it." "That's right. Rosalynn, can I break your walking routine one more time?" "Depends. What would that look like?" "Please ask me on a date, pleeeeeeeeeeeease ask me on a date." With a hottie like this, whole self-love time could become Lochlyn's love time. "Can I walk you to your work?" Well, that was different than I thought it would be. "Just so I can make sure your elbow gets cleaned up." "I would love that, but just so you know, all I have at work are those fun Disney band-aids that a customer left in their bag." Lochlyn started laughing really hard. I didn't think I was that funny. We continued our walk in awkward silence. He would try to say something on and off, but something stopped him like an invisible hand over his mouth. We turned on Vinton street and saw the teal blue awning hanging over the door. The store windows glittered from the sun hitting a wedding dress inside the window display, and my doormat had a dusting of leaves rolling over the top of it. "Your store stands out in the morning." "Yep, it does, doesn't it." I took a sharp breath in. What is with this guy? Like is this guy from a different country? We stood outside the door in silence as I fiddled with my key. "So this is me. I better get in and open the store, you know." "I believe the deal was that I make sure your elbow gets cleaned up." "That's right," I said as I unlocked the door. "Come on in." I set my stuff down on my counter and walked to my little locker in the back. I grabbed the first aid kit and brought it out. He was standing there, leaning, crossed armed against the counter. I could see his biceps and triceps about to bust out of his long-sleeved shirt. His tousled brown hair started to fall and loosen after the walk. His perfect smile beamed as I walked out of my backroom. "What?" "Nothing, I am sorry. Let us see that cut and, most important which Disney character those band-aids are!" "Sorry to disappoint, no more characters, just the castle." "Are you kidding me? The castle is the best part!" "Oh really?" We laughed and helped me clean and cover the cut on my elbow. We stared at each other in silence. When my employee Jojo came in. "Well, hello, sir." They shared a different kind of look than I expected. "Hey Jojo, this is Lochlyn. He was just making sure I got here safely." "And apparently living out every girl's fantasy." She said, pointing at my healed-up elbow. "Oh my gosh, Jojo… go clock in." "I will…. But thank you, sir, for fixing my boss. She is a tough cookie. The place doesn't run without her. She is a workaholic, has no time for anyone but taken guys…." "Jojo….. clock in, please." Lochlyn was laughing and smiling. "Ok, I get it." Jojo headed to the backroom, giving a sneaky side wink. "Lochlyn, thank you for the new break with my routine and for helping heal me with that good old Disney magic." "You're welcome. Maybe tomorrow morning I can walk you again, Rosalynn…." "Rosie…. Call me Rosie, please." "Ok… Rosie. I will see you around." He picks up my hand and kisses it lightly. Electricity runs through me. What was that? The day was wrapping up, and not a soul had been seen. Jojo spins around in her chair. "So are we even going to discuss Mr. Buff Mcdreamy? I mean, holy Moses…. If I weren't totally obsessed with Chase..." "No, we aren't discussing it." "I have never seen you blush sooooo much in your life through!!" "Jojo Clariety. Stop girl. I don't have time to date. I have this to run." I stood, and apparently too fast as I was immediately brought to my knees. "Woah." "Oh my gosh, Ros, are you ok…. Oh my gosh, you are burning up. We need to get you home." I tried to stand up and get to the water, but a searing pain shot through my body. I let out an ear-piercing scream. "Oh my gosh, ok… I am calling 911. Ros, you aren't ok." "No, I am fine. Just get me home." Jojo shut down all the computers and put a sign on the door apologizing for any inconvenience this caused. I lay on the floor, gripping my entire body. I could feel what felt like my body melting, running down through me. My vision was starting to go in and out. As Jojo was putting a sign on the door, I could have sworn that a second body had entered the building. He was big and heading straight for me. "Please…. I am fine… we are clo…." And everything went weightless and dark.