Page 32 of Three Hearts Hideaway

“They’re as in love today as they were almost four decades ago when they first met. My dad is a royal goofball, and my momis more serious. They balance each other out perfectly. It’s easy to see why they believe in love at first sight. They click.”

She squeezed his leg. “That’s beautiful, Roman.”

“Yeah, it is. I want that with someone. The effortlessness, the trust, the companionship. Most of all, the devotion and passion they still have after all these years.”

She raised an eyebrow at him, making her forehead wrinkle in the most adorable way. “Passion? They must be, what…in their sixties?”

“And going at it like rabbits, I’m afraid.”

She grimaced. “Do I want to know how you know that?”

He scrubbed his face with his hands and let his head rest against the headboard. “Let’s say I’ve learned to always call before stopping by.”

Her eyes lit up, and she smacked his chest playfully. “You walked in on them?” she squealed.

“I did. On two separate occasions. Now I schedule my visits ahead of time, or let them know I’m on my way over well in advance.”

Ava broke out into a fit of hysterics, and he couldn’t help but join her. “I would pay handsomely to go back in time and be a fly on that wall.”

“Oh no, you wouldn’t. Having to see two golden oldies go at it is definitely not worth seeing the expression on my face when I caught them.”

“I imagine it was something like this.” She pulled a face, squinting her eyes and pursing her lips. A solid effort.

He loved how she felt comfortable enough to goof around with him.

“Actually, it was more like this.” He opened his eyes as wide as possible and dropped his jaw in a mock scream of terror, shielding his face with his hands.

Giggles burst out of her again, and he couldn’t help thinking he’d love to hear that sound every day for the foreseeable future. He caught hold of her waist and hauled her into his arms, where she belonged.

She settled against him, and he relished the weight against his body, grounding him with her presence. “So…you’re looking for a love like theirs.”

“I am. What are you looking for, Ava?”

“I’m still figuring that out. I know I want something different than what I had.” She tilted her head to see him better. “I’ve been making a list.”

He brushed a curl out of her face. “Of what you’re looking for?”

She nodded. “A pros and cons list for what I want, and don’t want, in a relationship.”

Roman ran his hand down her shoulder. “Would you mind sharing some of it with me?”

“Well…the cons have been easy. I don’t want someone who tries to control me, talks down to me, or constantly fights with me. I don’t want a relationship that weighs me down with each passing day. And I don’t want to be with a man who makes me compromise who I really am.”

His arms held her tight. “Those are completely valid points, Ava. What about the positives? The pros?”

“Those have been a bit trickier. Now that Sebastian’s presence isn’t looming over me, I’ve been trying to focus on whatItruly want.”

“And that is?”

“Someone thoughtful and generous. A man who cares about people other than himself. Who knows how to have a healthy disagreement and still be respectful. A relationship where my sexual requests are appealing and not offensive. And maybe a relationship that is a little less…conventional than normal.Is that okay?” She squeezed her eyes shut, hoping she didn’t overshare.

He kissed the spot above her ear, and she opened her eyes. “Of course that’s okay. You deserve all those things and more. In fact, I think you should spend some time with Logan tomorrow.”

She tried to sit up, but he held her firm against him. “You want me to go out with Logan? Why?”

“Ava, I’d be a fool not to see there’s something happening between you two.” When she tensed in his arms, he ran his hand down her side, trying to soothe her with his touch. “I’m not mad about it. In fact, I think you should explore it a bit more.”

“That doesn’t bother you?”

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