Page 45 of The Roman's Woman (A Singular Obsession)

“If you’re not, then what are you doing here?”

“I was concerned,” he said, reaching over to adjust the scarf inadequately covering her. He wrapped it around her neck and closed her coat more firmly against the wind.

Her face softened, and she put a hand over his. “There’s no reason to be.”

Was she serious? He threw up his hands, finally losing his patience.

“Sophia, that man called you ten times a day when we were in Italy. He’s stalking you!”

She laughed.

“It’s not funny.”

Sobering, she wiped the smile off her face and tilted her head at him. “It would be if you knew him. Richard never does anything if it’s the slightest bit inconvenient for him. Stalking anyone would be too much of a strain. But he is a pest ’cause he refuses to text on principle. He wrote a paper on how texting and instant messaging is destroying civilization. And if you’re ignoring his voicemails, like I have been since the breakup, he calls and calls until you give up and answer.”

“So he’s a luddite. Doesn’t change the fact that he’s trying to win you back,” he said.

Sophia stopped and for a moment she looked young and confused. “Yeah, maybe, but I'm not sure why.”

Her voice was soft and her eyes were distant like she was mulling it over.

“For the obvious reasons,” he said, a little sharply.

That got her attention. Her eyes met his and she cocked her head at him. “And what are those?”

Time seemed to stand still while as he gazed into her gingerbread brown eyes. “You’re beautiful, smart, funny…you’re everything.”

“Damn.”

“What?”

“I want to stay mad at you, and then you go and say a thing like that.”

His shoulders relaxed. “I’m not wrong about any of it. I didn’t like the look on his face now. He’s not safe to be around.”

He could tell she was trying hard not to laugh again, so he threw an arm around her and pulled her into his side. “But you’re right. I have no reason to be jealous. This is the end. You signed the papers for the house and you don’t have to see him again, right?”

Sophia wrinkled her nose and mumbled something.

“I didn’t catch that.”

Hesitating, she glanced up at him and then away. “I told him he could have the car, too.”

“Sophia, really!”

“Calm down and stop waving like you’re being attacked by a bee. People are starting to stare.”

He looked around, spotting a pair of track-suited geriatrics watching them curiously.

“I’ll buy the car,” he said.

“No. I don’t want it around. It’s a piece of junk with terrible mileage. The backseat is broken, too. I’d rather let Richard have it since he cares so much. If my father had bothered to leave a will, he’d probably have given it to him, anyway.”

That didn’t make him feel any better. “Are you sure that’s what you want? You might regret giving that last piece of your father away someday. Then you’ll have to deal with your ex to get it back.”

“Trust me, I won’t want it back.”

Her phone buzzed, and she glanced down at the screen. It was a text from Richard, with a message he could see clearly over her shoulder.

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