Page 108 of Sinful Temptations

Roman was just like that—easy to get on with and good at making everyone happy.

Mr. Perfect.

Lydia climbed aboard first, ignoring me as she slipped into the aisle to head to her seat.

Roman and I shared a smile as he climbed into the driver’s seat. “Where did you go? One minute you were with us, and then you were gone. I tried to find you.”

“Oh, you did?”

“Yeah. So, where were you?”

“Oh um . . .” I dug into my backpack and handed him the gift. “I bought you something.”

With a smile curling through his beard, he cocked his head. “Thank you.”

“You should open it before you thank me.”

He tore the paper away and raised the lid on the box. “A snow globe.” He flipped it up and back again and with the sun streaming through the blue liquid inside, following the tiny flakes as they fluttered down was mesmerizing.

Roman turned to me, our gazes met, and something so magical crossed between us that my heart nearly stopped. A frown drilled across his forehead, darkening his eyes like I hadn’t seen before. His expression morphed into something I couldn’t determine, and my breath caught at the intensity in his honey eyes.

Roman swallowed, loud.

I blinked at him, and the look on his face had me believing I’d done something terribly wrong. “Is it . . . ahhh . . . is it okay?”

He stood so suddenly, I lurched back. As he climbed out of his seat, I scrambled to work out what was wrong.

Roman cupped his warm hands on my cheeks and when he lowered his lips to my forehead and kissed me, I just about melted with relief.

“It’s really beautiful.” His words were thick like he was choked with emotion.

“Oh, phew. I thought for a minute there you were going to peg it at me.”

He gave me a crooked smile. “It was a surprise, that’s all. Mamma will love it.”

My racing pulse began to simmer as I nodded. “I’m glad you like it.”

Roman placed the snow globe on the center console, and with the sun beaming into the miniature scene, he shut the door, started the engine, and began driving us out of the parking lot.

It was a couple of beats before I stood and grabbed the microphone. “I trust you had your fill of crazy clocks and rich cakes.”

Most of them nodded.

“Good. We’re heading to our hotel next. But this afternoon, there are a couple of optional activities for you to choose from if you wish. You can either soak up some of this lovely sunshine in the famous salt thermal pools.” This was the option I normally chose. “Or you can get your adrenalin pumping by doing some zip-lining with me.”

Roman’s gaze flew to me; his bulging eyes confirmed his shock. His reaction was justified. Last month, he’d practically begged me to do the zip-lining.

But I’d weaseled my way out of it with a couple of lameexcuses. The truth was, the idea of dangling by a single wire as I shot between two giant trees at a million miles an hour was not my idea of fun.

But there were two reasons why I’d changed my mind today.

One was that ticking clock. It was getting louder every day.

The other was keeping my mind active. It was my only antidote to my uncontrollable thoughts. And scaring the pants off myself while whizzing through the forest was the perfect solution.

I hoped.

Roman pulled the bus into our parking space at the hotel and after everyone was out, had grabbed their luggage, and headed off to their rooms, he sidled up next to me, rubbing his hands together with that boyish exuberance I’d come to love. “I’m so glad you’re coming zip-lining. You’re going to love it.”

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