14 Roses Novels & Stories

I’m just glad Eliza doesn’t have those powers or she’d turn my brain inside out in her little studio apartment. Hard pass. I’ve seen more than enough brain matter in my life already. “These roses are pretty,” I say, redirecting Arina’s attention to the flowers I came for. “A dozen is a nice, neat amount.” “Oh, aren’t they just gorgeous?” she says, hurrying over to them as fast as her bad left knee will allow. “You want to know how I get them so red?” “Dye?” I ask.

"What else?" "The flowers," I breathed, my heart hammering a frantic, erratic rhythm against my ribs as the dark, addictive chemistry between us flared to life. "No white lilies. They smell like a funeral. Use the dark roses from the estate gardens." "Marcus," Rowan called out without breaking eye contact with me. "Write it down." "Already on it, Boss," Marcus’s voice drifted from the shadows of the transept, laced with a quiet amusement that made my cheeks burn.

The scent of the boquet—it smells fresh—as if it was only picked early this morning. “Red roses symbolize deep love, respect, and devotion.” he said as he kiss the back of my hand “The number of roses also conveys specific messages. Twelve roses means 'Be mine'.” My brows furrowed as I heard what he said. Is he attempting to coax me? He should try harder. I won't easily fall for his traps. I planned much more reliable traps than the traps he set. “How about we go out on a date?” he said in a bright smile

--- After dinner, we moved to the garden. The sun was setting. The roses were red against the orange sky. The air was warm. Matthew knelt down. Touched the petals. "They are beautiful," he said. "Laura planted them," Damon said. "All of them?" "No. I planted the first twelve. She planted the rest." "There are more than twelve." "There are a hundred and twelve." I looked at Damon. "A hundred and twelve?" "You said you wanted a thousand. I started with a hundred." "When did you do this."

His breaths rattle through the gurgle in his throat. On the table beside me sits a vase made out of crystal. I take a bundle of fresh white roses, their petals soft, and dip them slowly into the pool of blood collecting at his feet. The red seeps in, darkening the petals, turning them into such a beautiful shade. I arrange them carefully, making sure each stem sits just right, each petal stained evenly. I'll be having this delivered to the mansion later today for my doll face.

I keep one arm securely clamped around her waist and turn toward the living room to guide her back, but my boots stop dead on the hardwood when I hit something. Jesus Christ. The roses. They are still here. I dart my eyes across the room, wide-eyed. And they are everywhere. I hadn’t factored in the square footage of the apartment when I demanded a florist deliver 2,555 roses. Fuck! It looks like a crime scene in here.

The irony hit hard. As we drove further in, we stopped in front of the second villa. I stepped out and gaped—it was the most beautiful one of all. Painted soft white and pastel pink, with tall glass windows gleaming under the afternoon sun. Inside, the living room took my breath away. Gold and blush accents framed the walls, and the air smelled faintly of vanilla—my favorite scent. What a coincidence, I thought. A woman, probably In her early fifties, appeared from what looked like the kitchen. She smiled gently and spoke quietly with the assistant. I barely listened, too overwhelmed to focus on their conversation.

Countless roses were blooming radiantly under the sunlight. Esther stood in a heart-shaped area where a live band was playing at the edge. "Esther, this black rose represents that you're the one and only in my heart." Jasper earnestly counted the roses in Esther's hands—nine roses of different colors and species. "Esther, the meaning of nine roses is 'I'll always be there'." Jasper went to his social media account on his phone. He deleted the name 'ThereWithYou' and entered his own name, Jasper Searle. Then he clicked on the save button.

"I would like a big bouquet of red Roses." "Roses coming up." She willingly carried out the boy's order. She couldn't stand to be in the same room with him any longer.

I give them to her. "I love roses but the fact you brought the red ones scores you another point in my book." she smells them. "Good to know that." I grin. "But you know you needn't have brought them anyway." she stares. "I wanted to." I reply. I was passing this flower shop when I saw these good looking roses. My mind immediately went to Della and I knew I had to get her a bouquet. "Okay. A minute, I need to put these in a vase." I wait for her from outside before she returns all set. We get inside the car and I fire the engine to the busy street.