Page 17 of Clueless Romeo

Preoccupied with everything I still needed to do to get the doors of our shop open, I barely registered the cold as I took the path toward the coffee shop. The pressure from my dad wasn't helping the situation, but I really couldn't do much more until the shipments arrived.

I blew out a frustrated breath and shoved the thoughts away as I turned the corner, heading for the quaint establishment.

When the door chimed as I stepped through the door, I welcomed the warmth of both the heat and the general vibe of the place. Murmurs of quiet conversations and scents of fresh coffee beans mingled in the air. I took a deep breath into my lungs before exhaling the stress.

There was a short line at the register, and I immediately recognized a familiar figure standing at the front. Even from behind, without seeing his striking face, he stood out among everyone else. A head taller than the other customers, I could see his golden hair smoothed into place.

Roman.

He laughed, and the raspy sound did stupid shit to my brain, drawing me in. And he wasn't even speaking to me. The woman behind the counter smiled at him as she passed him two to-go cups, and he stepped to the side.

When he turned from the counter, his gaze collided with mine, and a wide grin stretched his cheeks. Meanwhile, my heart was hammering in my chest from the unexpected meeting. I knew I'd eventually run into him again, but I hadn't prepared myself for that moment to arrive without warning. I forced a smile in return, and he seemed to take the gesture as an invitation.

With several long strides, he stood in front of me and arched a brow. "Taking a break?"

Small talk. I could manage that much, at least. "A much-needed one." I tilted my head toward the coffees in his hands, aware of the bets between him and his sister. "Lose again?"

His lips twitched in amusement before offering a shrug. "It's rare, but it happens."

"Twice in a few days? I wouldn't call that rare." I chuckled.

"Can we call it a brief unlucky streak?"

"Sure, If that's what your ego needs to hear." Was I flirting? Was this a typical conversation? I didn't trust myself anymore. Not when it came to Roman.

He snorted. "My ego could use a little stroking after the two losses."

With the rasp in his voice, I locked in on one word.Stroking. And it wasn't his ego I pictured. I was apparently regressing to the teenage version of myself who only thought about getting naked and—

Roman studied me for a beat and must have determined I was taking too long to reply. "You in a hurry to get back?"

That officially squashed the swirling thoughts of him and anything sex related. Snorting, I shook my head. "No, I'm still deciding whether to go back at all."

His blue eyes sparked with a twinkle of mischief. "Wanna ditch work with me?"

"You? Ditch work?" I cocked a brow, surprised by the suggestion. "I don't know. Is it scheduled on the calendar?"

Roman groaned. "Jazmine tattled on me, didn't she?"

My lips kicked up on one side. "She might have mentioned it."

"I'll have you know I was quite rebellious in high school." He shot me a mock glare that easily tugged a laugh from my chest.

If I hadn't spent time talking to him, his appearance alone would have convinced me he'd been trouble back then. Hell, he looked like sin and a good time now. But according to Jazmine, Roman had somehow become a stickler for sticking to a schedule. I shrugged. "If you say so."

He stepped closer, leaned forward, and whispered, "You calling me a liar, CJ?"

I inhaled and immediately wished I hadn't. He smelled better than good. His intoxicating scent made my dick twitch and sent my imagination reeling to places it shouldn't. Again.

My voice came out rough when I responded. "Guess you'll have to prove me wrong."

Roman stepped back, a challenge sparking in his stormy-blue eyes. "Have you been to the court around the corner yet?"

What was he talking about? My brow furrowed. "The court?"

"There's a run-down basketball court that's rarely used not too far from here."

A part of me that lived for the sport lit up. "I didn't know that."

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