Page 154 of Romeo

Her lips curled slightly at the corners as she explained, “The satisfaction of seeing karma in action.”

“It give you a karmagasm?”

A smile flitted across her lips before she pinned them together to smother it.

Fuck, did that make him want to see her orgasm again. Unfortunately, that wouldn’t be any time soon.

Unless he got creative.

Of course, she wouldn’t be open to that right now. He had more work to do…

His brain had to be scrambled. He still couldn’t understand why he fucking cared that she had ignored all his texts and calls.

Why did that bother him so fucking much?

And why did his heart do some crazy shit when he saw her parked out front?

Or getting out of her Toyota.

Or stepping into his motel room.

Those were signs he was fucking broken, right?

In the past, he’d been relieved when women simply disappeared out of his life. No “goodbye” was necessary. Truthfully, if they left quietly on their own, it made his life a fuck of a lot simpler.

No whining. No screeching. No stalking.

No fucking drama at all.

So, why the fuck was he here?

He said he had a list of reasons. Really, there was only one.

Her.

“You’re right. Your fifteen minutes is up.” She rose from the bed. “I need to go. Thanks for the explanation and I’m sorry for what happened to your mother. I’m sorry you lost her in that manner. But what happened to you, Rome, is your fault. What you did was reckless. I didn’t tell you to rough up Roger. You did that on your own. I told you to a thousand times to stay out of it, but you couldn’t. Now, not only am I unemployed and possibly blacklisted, you were broken into pieces.” She headed toward the door. “Have a great life, Rome. I’ll try to do the same.”

He raised his crutch and used it to block her path. He wasn’t done with her yet. “Could give you a great life, Maddie. Could give you whatever you want.”

Her eyes bugged out. “Whatever I want? I think you tried that already and look where it landed. Are you really willing to give up your title of Supreme Stud? Are you feeling okay? Do you have a fever?”

“Got a few aches and pains,” he answered. “I get that youdon’t think I’m bein’ serious, but I am. You could come back with me.”

Her brown eyes got even wider. “And do what?”

“Wear my cut.”

For fuck’s sake.Did that really come out of his mouth? He never wanted an ol’ lady and figured he’d die a bachelor. Remain free to the very fucking end.

No one to answer to. No woman going on and on about bullshit in his ear. No long honey-do lists. No…

He pulled in a breath.

No Maddie.

The tightness in his chest returned.

All of this was proof Smith’s goons knocked his brain loose and scrambled his wiring.