Page 64 of By the Letter

“Then what?”

“Two men walking by heard me scream and dove for Benjamin—the worst thing they could’ve done. He hates men, and he really doesn’t like them diving at him.”

“Who does?” I quipped.

“Some people, I’m sure, but not me or Benjamin. Anyway, he dodged them, but one had such momentumheended up on the road at the same time a delivery guy on a moped was driving by. Luckily, the delivery guy stopped in time, but pizza went flying everywhere.”

“Benjamin loves pizza.”

She nodded. “He loves it more than squirrels. He took a sharp turn and pounced on an entire pie that landed right next to…can you guess?”

“The limo.”

“Mmmhmm. I almost made it to him when he remembered he was soaked in puddle water. Naturally, he had to shake it off before he could eat.”

I pressed my fingers to my mouth. “Were the windows open?”

She finally turned to me, one brow arched. “Of course they were.

“Of course they were,” I repeated.

“By the time I contained my bad, bad dog, the windows were up, but I felt him looking at me. One day, I’m going to find out who that creep is and let Benjamin commit chaos all over him.”

“He’d probably enjoy that.”

“I know he would.”

The kitchen door swung open, and Kit marched in, Elliot hot on her heels.

“Everything’s ready out there. Guests will be arriving imminently.” Kit surveyed Bea’s creations. “These look delicious. Are you almost ready?”

Bea placed a final meat flower and made jazz hands. “I’m finished.” She snapped her fingers over her head, and four waiters appeared out of nowhere, ready to be ordered around.

Kit grinned at me as Bea led the guys carrying her trays out of the kitchen. “I like her. Men are scared of her, huh?”

“Scared, enthralled, confused.” I shrugged. “I’m sorry I was hiding.”

“No worries.” She hooked her arm through mine. “But no more hiding until later. I need you out there with me.”

I sucked in a deep breath and nodded decisively. “I’m here. Let’s go.”

The room filled with the one percent of Denver mingling, placing bids for yacht weekends, rugby boxes, jewelry, luxury vacations. Clara and Jake were checking out the auction items, along with her brother and sister-in-law, Luca and Saoirse Rossi. Rossi Motors had donated a gorgeous motorcycle to the cause. In another life, where I was wild and brave, I would have bid on it.

I stopped by the sheet for the rugby box, checking out the bids. It was getting some action but not enough for my liking, so I scribbled my identification number and a bid on the sheet.

“Are you allowed to do that?”

I spun around and looked up, already smiling before I laid eyes on Roman’s face. He grinned back at me, his eyes bouncing and lively. He’d been that way since the night I fell asleep on his couch, in a perpetual good mood. If I didn’t know any better, I would have mistaken him for Ben.

We’d shared a couple dinners over the last week, but what we hadn’t done was talk about the kiss. I’d figured them out on my own, though. We’d had a powerful, emotional moment, and Roman kissing me was a result of that.

Nothing more.

And wereallyweren’t talking about the second kiss.

“Well, hello.” I smoothed my dress down my sides. “I didn’t know you’d be here today.”

“I hear this is the place to be.” He pointed to the bid sheet. “You didn’t answer. Are you breaking the rules?”

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