Page 32 of Worth the Trouble

The world feels like it’s shrinking. The last place I’d expect to see a rock band is at an event thrown by a higher-up in the dance community, but here he is, proving there’s no escape as long as I remain in Denver.

“Small world,” I say, meeting his gaze once more.

Rome smirks. “That it is.”

His eyes skim me, and while I’ve felt eyes on me all night, none strip me like his. And not in a way that feels sexual because he doesn’t stop at the dip of shimmery green fabric that lands beneath my belly button in front or the slit that hits me mid-thigh. His eyes rip through the surface of this façade and slice to places it’s not safe for me to let him see.

“You’re beautiful, Lili,” he says, looking me in the eyes.

Something about the softness of his tone paired with his genuine gaze takes the fight out of me.

“Thank you.” I nod, waving my hands up and down at him. “You’re not so bad yourself. The Riff King in a suit. Who would have seen it coming?”

Rome leans in closer, bringing his lips inches from my ear. “Don’t let appearances fool you.”

He pulls back a step, but it doesn’t make it easier to breathe because anywhere he is, feels consuming.

“There you are.” Rico moves around Rome and stops at my side, snaking a hand around my waist.

I don’t miss that Rome’s gaze drops to Rico’s hand on my hip, and I swear his jaw clenches. But just as I’m about to introduce them, another person catches my attention.

“Rome, you’re not going to believe who I just ran into…” The brunette bombshell stops right in front of me, at Rome’s side.

His eyes cut in her direction, and his expression softens, almost like he’s happy to see her.

“Natalia Carmichael,” the brunette finishes. “What are the chances?”

She laughs freely as she wraps her hands around Rome’s arm, exuding the kind of comfort that extends beyond good friends. Her head tips back as she looks up at him, and it sends her dark waves cascading further down her back. She’s short but curvy in all the places I’m sure Rome appreciates.

My opposite.

While I’m small and cold, she’s warm and inviting. And even if jealousy isn’t something I’m used to feeling, a knot tightens in my throat.

What did you expect? Him to be here alone?

He’s Rome Moreno.

But something about witnessing it in the form of this woman on his arm is unsettling.

The brunette’s eyes move to Rico and me as she rubs Rome’s arm up and down. He hasn’t pulled his hands from his pockets to return the gesture, but he doesn’t seem surprised by it either.

“Ines, this is Lili,” Rome says. “And…”

“Rico.” He introduces himself as Rome’s gaze slides to him, and from the excitement in his tone, I don’t think he’s sensing the same tension I am. “Big fan, man.”

Rico reaches out his hand and Rome shakes it, but his expression is missing his trademark grin.

“That last album was killer,” Rico praises him, apparently more familiar with rock music than I was when I first met Rome.

Rome nods, looking him over, before his gaze once more finds me, like he’s trying to piece us together and decide what he thinks.

Rico leans in close and brushes my hair off my shoulder. “Your mom’s looking for you.”

“When isn’t she?” I say, finally breaking my stare on Rome and trying to ignore what feels like daggers shooting out of his eyes. “Nice to meet you, Ines, and good seeing you, Rome.”

Before he can respond, I cut him off with a nod and tug Rico away.

“What in the ever-loving world was that?” Rico asks under his breath as we disappear through the crowd.

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