Page 12 of Three Hearts Hideaway

“Are you always this much of an asshole?” Her chest rapidly rose and fell. A sweet crimson blush climbed her neck.

Damn, he wanted to lick it off her peachy little face.

“Always,” he growled in her ear. Dropping his arms, he stepped away, and she scooted to the open space of the bedroom.

“I’d like you to leave now.”

“I feel the same way, sweetheart.” He sauntered out the door and down the steps, hoping that when he next saw her, she’d have her suitcase in hand, requesting Roman give her a ride in town.

Chapter Five

AVA

“He did what?” Roman bellowed, pacing in the kitchen. “I’m gonna need to have a serious talk with him.”

“Please, don’t.” Ava grasped his big, tattooed arm, stopping him in his tracks. “Logan’s obviously upset I’m in his space. I can understand that. He doesn’t need to be such a dick about it, but…” She sighed, rubbing her temples. What did she know? Maybe he was bad with strangers. Maybe it took him a long time to warm up to new faces. Maybe there was something about her that set him off. Cutting him some slack was the least she could do.

“Ava. It’s not okay that he said those things. I only want toget in you?You tiled the entire shower last night, for Christ’s sake! He should say thank you, not try to upset you.” He ran his fingers hastily through his long brown locks, shoving it out of his eyes, before quickly throwing it into a bun.

The gesture made her heart race.

“I’ll talk to him as soon as he returns from picking up paint for the guest rooms.” Roman glared at the foyer of the B&B.

She’d heard the front door slam after their conflict in the bathroom. What was that all about, anyway?

“Let’s take a bit of time to cool off first, okay?” The last thing she wanted was another heated confrontation between these two—or her and Logan. Though she knew Roman would defend her, even if Logan was his best friend.

How these two were friends didn’t make sense to her. They seemed to be complete opposites. Roman was sweet and thoughtful, willing to help a total stranger. Logan was sour and rude, wanting to kick her out the second he laid eyes on her. If Roman liked Logan, there must be something hidden behind the scowl on his pretty face.

And, God, what a pretty face it was. Yesterday, a five o’clock shadow accentuated his sharp jawline perfectly. She noticed it missing this morning. His dirty blonde hair edged on brunette and was short and swept back from his fair face in a stylish cut. Even the permanent scowl on his sun-kissed face did nothing to detract from his movie star features.

Though they couldn’t be more opposite, she hoped to get to know them both better during the coming days.

Roman took a deep breath in through his mouth and exhaled slowly out his nose. “Okay. It’s no use talking to him when I’m all wound up. What do you say we head into town and I’ll show you around? We’ll make ourselves scarce for when Logan returns.”

There was definitely more to Logan’s behaviour than her being here. That much she knew. She was a sexually repressed thirty-three-year-old with an asshat narcissist for an ex-boyfriend, so she knew emotional baggage when she saw it.

“I’d love that. Let’s go.” She wrapped her arm around his. “Wait—I need my purse.”

He set his hand on her arm. “This trip’s on me, love.”

Her instinct was to protest, but she had a feeling Roman wouldn’t let her argue. She nodded, and they walked outside, arm-in-arm.

After a quick ten-minute ride in his pickup, they pulled onto Main Street and parked at the beginning of the strip.

“Where should we begin?” She was curious to explore and see what the little town had to offer.

“How about right here at Wakin’ & Bacon?” He pointed to the little café they currently stood by. “I figured we’d get coffee and a bite to eat, then mosey down the road. We can duck into whatever stores pique your interest.”

She smiled. Names like Wakin’ & Bacon definitely added to the small town’s charm. “I love that idea.”

Roman held open the door, and she stepped inside. Freshly brewed coffee was the first scent to hit her, followed closely by cinnamon, syrup, and, of course, bacon.

“Do you trust me?” His voice rumbled from directly behind her.

When his arm rested lightly around her waist, his palm on her hip, butterflies danced around her stomach in a frenzy. She managed to nod.

“Good.”

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