Page 97 of Sinful Escape

A ringing bell announced both midnight and that table service was over. Everyone seemed to stand at once, and the ensuing flourish of goodbyes and air-kisses made it impossible to keep track of who left and how many stayed.

Within minutes, the American boys along with four single ladies were all that remained. The boisterous bunch grouped at the opposite end of the table, as if trying to get as far away from Roman and me as possible.

I raised my glass, ready to toast. “Well, here’s to you, Roman.” My lips felt pudgy.

“What for?”

“For telling me to make the most of my last six months in Europe, silly.”

“What do you mean, your last six months?”

“Oh.” I scrunched up my face. “Didn’t I tell you? My visa expires in January, and Vacation Dreamz isn’t extending my work contract.” I huffed out an exaggerated sigh. “So,” I tapped my finger to the end of his perfect nose, “I can’t stay here anymore.”

He blinked at me. His eyes darkened. “Are you serious?”

“Yep. Sure am.” I held up my glass again, and he hesitated before chinking his flute to mine.

“Why are they not helping?”

I pulled a sad face. “I’m too old.”

He scrunched up his eyes like he didn’t believe me.

I scrunched up my face too, although I was pretty sure it wasn’t anywhere near as charming as when he did it. “It’s true. I’d show you the letter, but I left it at Pierre’s.”

He frowned.

“You know . . . that guy I kissed in Paris.”

“Oh, when you tore your clothes off in front of those people.”

I played with the lace at the front of my bodice. “We did more than that, you know?”

“Si, you told me.”

“We kissed.”

A tiny smile curled on his lips, and it was the cutest thing in the whole wide world. “So you said.”

“Pierre is so nice.”

“You said that too.”

“It’s true.” I smacked my lips together and went to drink more champagne, but Roman halted the glass before it met my lips. “Hey.”

“I think it’s time I took you to bed.”

“Oh, goodie.”

He chuckled. “To sleep.”

“Oh, pooey.”

Laughing, he glided his fingers beneath my arm and helped me to stand. I leaned into him, and the scent of his sexy cologne had me inhaling all that gloriousness until I was a tad giddy.

Roman glanced down at me and chuckled.

“What?” I giggled up at him. He was so tall.

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