Page 10 of Roman & Olivia
Mason grinned. He’d definitely noticed how awkward her reaction had been. “How long have the two of you been… dating?”
“Roman? We aren’t—” Shoot! She’d been so distracted by that smile she’d completely lost her head. She cleared her throat. “We… are recently official. I’ve known him for years, though. He’s been my best friend since before I can remember.”
“Really? I hear those sorts of relationships are the strongest.” He cocked his head, and she couldn’t be sure, but it felt almost like he’d inched closer to her. “Friendship is essential when it comes to falling in love, don’t you think?”
Her mouth had gone completely dry at his proximity, at the sharp scent of his cologne—such a stark contrast to the rustic and woodsy smell that was entirely Roman.
“I’d like to become your friend, Olivia.” This time his words were a whisper. If she wasn’t holding onto the copier for dear life, she might have crumbled right there.
“Friends are important,” she croaked. “Definitely.”
He nodded knowingly. “I’m looking forward to our double date in a couple weeks. Let me know if there are any schedule changes.”
Then he was gone, and she could barely catch her breath. At least she only made one mistake today. It could have been so much worse—especially if she’d blurted out that she wasn’t actually dating Roman.
Her skin had gone clammy, and she had to stay right where she was until her dizziness abated, or she’d really be in a puddle on the floor. It was getting worse. This inability to remain calm around the guy who filled her dreams. Roman had his work cut out for him; that much was clear.
Later, after work, she didn’t go home right away. She drove straight to Roman’s house. They sat on the porch swing and his legs gave a little push every few minutes to put them intomotion. She nursed an iced tea and shook her head. “It wasawful.”
He chuckled. “I doubt that.”
“No, really. I almost told him that you and I weren’t really a couple.”
This time he glanced at her with an arch of his brow. “Yeah, you would have ruined our whole mission.”
She slapped a palm to her forehead. “Iknow. What am I going to do?”
“At work? I can’t say. But as long as we’re on our double date, I’ll be there to help you avoid disaster.”
Smiling, Olivia leaned into him. “You’re the best.”
“Yeah,” he said airily. “I know.”
Olivia dug her elbow into his side, and he yelped.
“You know what you need?”
“What’s that?” she said, letting her eyes close as the breeze wafted between them. Here, beside Roman, she reveled in the peace. It wasn’t only the sounds and the smells of being out here in the country. It was being with him. He grounded her in ways that no one else could.
“Practice.”
Her eyes flew open, and she pulled back enough to look at him fully. “How on earth am I supposed to practice without making a complete fool of myself?”
“Practice withme.” He said it so simply and unabashed that she couldn’t help but laugh.
“I can’t practice withyou.”
“Why not?”
“Well,” she sputtered. “For one, I don’t find you attractive.” Okay, that was a big lie. Roman was objectively one of the hottest men she’d come across in her life. But there was something about remembering the five-year-old version of him picking his nose and wiping it on his pants that just didn’t do it for her.
Without warning, his hand reached out and palmed against her cheek. His eyes turned smoldering, and his voice lowered to a level that should be illegal when speaking to a woman. “Olivia,” he purred, and her breath caught in her chest.
Roman had never said her name like that before. Not once in all the time they’d known each other. Shivers coursed down her spine, and she blinked as she stared up at him.
“You have… a little… something… on your face.”
It took what felt like a full minute for her to process what he’d said. Then she yanked herself away from him and whacked him against the chest. “You’re such a jerk.” Then she wiped at her mouth to make sure he was lying.
