Page 72 of Sinful Temptations

“She sent me the doctor’s letter. And the scan showing the mass in her breast.”

His brows drilled together. “So, it’s real.”

“Yes. She’s been told she won’t make it to Christmas.”

He gasped. “Christmas. But . . . but . . .”

I knew what he was thinking. “Yeah. I’m working right up to Christmas.”

“Daisy, you have to go to her.”

“What?”

“Christmas may be too late.”

“Roman, you don’t understand. I hate my mother.”

He emitted a tiny whistle. “I’m sure you don’t mean that.”

My chin quivered. “Yes, I do.”

“Oh, come here.” He tugged me to his chest. My chin wobbled, but I refused to cry. I’d cried enough over my fucked-up parents. Instead, I wanted to make the most of thismoment with Roman. Sharing this hug made sharing my shitty secret with him all worth it.

But there was something burning on my mind that I had to know. I was torn between asking it and remaining silent in his embrace all night.

I heaved out a sigh, pulled back, and looked into his honey eyes. “Why are you so nice to me?”

He flashed that sisterly-love grin, pulled my head to his chest, and squeezed. With his heart beating in my ear, he said, “You’ll figure it out.”

I eased back and looked up at him. “What does that mean?”

“It means you will figure it out.”

Blinking, I returned to his embrace, wrapping my arms around him.

I’ll figure it out. I’ll figure what out?

He rubbed his hand up and down my back and the tenderness had me even more confused.

We are just friends.

Maybe that was what he wanted me to figure out. Friends were nice to each other. They helped each other. They would take a bullet for each other. Zali had been my first real friend. And maybe because Roman was a man, I was reading way too much into his friendship.

That was it! I never knew it was possible to be friends with a man. Real friends. Friends that shared secrets and childhood horror stories. Friends who made soup and rubbed your back when you were sick.

The pitchfork in my uterus twisted again and wincing, I doubled over.

Roman eased back and placed his hand below my elbow. “Damn, I thought my soup had cured your pain.”

Groaning, I let him help me onto the bed and pull the sheet up over me.

“You need a good night’s sleep.” Roman left my side and strolled to the table. “We have an early day tomorrow.” He gathered the dirty bowls and returned them to the tray he’d brought them in on.

“Man, you can be bossy.”

“Just looking after my girl.” He winked at me.

My girl!Okay, he’s forgiven.

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