Page 15 of Roman & Olivia
“Eww. Gross.” Olivia tossed a hand towel that had been hanging from the stove at her friend.
“And since you’d be going on the date to try to get closer to Mason…” This time Cammi faced Olivia and smiled wide. “It makes sense, right? I could be a distraction—give you a chance to talk to Mason if I pull Roman away from you long enough.”
It wasn’t a terrible idea. But there was one big problem. “What if Mason already has a date lined up?”
“This Mason we’re talking about. He didn’t have a date for that formal event until a few days before it happened. He still has a full week to find someone. All I’m saying is that you should recommend me the next time you see him.”
Olivia worried her lower lip. “Yeah, I could do that. You’re right. It would be nice to have someone running interference between the two guys.”
“And…” Cammi drawled. “When Roman is oh so broken up about losing you to the better man… I could be the one to pick up the pieces.” She was teasing. Olivia knew it.
Deep, deep down, she knew it.
And yet, Cammi’s words rubbed her the wrong way. She couldn’t tell why, exactly. Maybe it had to do with the idea of Roman having a broken heart. Or maybe it was simply that Olivia was protective of her best friend, and she didn’t want Cammi to pursue him if she wasn’t completely invested in dating him for the long haul.
Or maybe it was something else entirely. Olivia couldn’t bring herself to investigate the possibility of whatever that was.
Her stomach knotted and she smiled weakly, choosing to shove that last thought so far deep down into her soul that it would never see the light of day. “Yeah, okay. I’ll talk to Mason,and then when this is all over…” She didn’t have to finish that sentence. Based on the grin Cammi wore, it was clear she was looking forward to something starting between herself and Roman.
“You ready for tomorrow?”
Olivia glanced up from where she sat perched on the edge of the corral. Roman had a rope in his hands, coiling it around and around. Today, he’d been assisting a cowboy named Cameron with a mare and her foal. A checkup was needed to make sure the baby was growing right, and the mother was far too protective.
It was always fun watching Roman at work. Normally, he worked as a second-in-command to his older brother with the cattle dogs they bred. But Mateo hadn’t needed him much today.
“Tomorrow?” Olivia asked.
“The double date.” Roman chuckled. “Or have you already forgotten what all this has been about?”
She flushed. “Of course I haven’t forgotten. I’m ready. You’ve pounded your ideology into my brain harder than a metal stake into the ground. And things have been going better at work. I’m not nearly as ditsy as I was before.”
“That’s good to hear. We’re going to do a ride out to this spot that overlooks a pasture where we keep most of the cattle. There’s shade and a creek. Lots of flowers too.”
Grinning, she hopped down from the corral and came up to stand before him. “I want to thank you for what you’re doing for me. You’re such a good friend.” She lifted her palms to his chest and a zap of static electricity buzzed between them. It wasn’t like she’d never touched him like that before. It was friendly,and familiar. But for some reason the universe said otherwise. Gasping, she pulled away. “You shocked me.”
Roman chuckled and reached for her hand. His large one practically swallowed hers as he lifted her fingertips to his lips and pressed a kiss to each one. “There, all better.”
She stared at him—or rather, gawked. Nowthatwasn’t a typical response. And yet Roman didn’t seem to notice he’d done something so out of character. He simply jerked his chin toward the barn.
Olivia followed without speaking. She stared down at her hands, unable to shake the dazed feeling that came from their interaction.
“Didn’t you say that Mason hadn’t picked who he’s bringing yet? A couple days ago?”
Her head snapped up. “What?”
“Mason’s date. Who is he bringing?”
“Oh, right. Actually, that’s an interesting story. I asked him about who he was planning on bringing the other day. He said he had a few ideas but hadn’t decided yet. So…” She grinned wickedly, “I told him he should bring Cammi.”
Roman stopped mid-stride and stared at her for a moment. “Your roommate, Cammi?”
“Yup.”
“Is that… wise?”
“What?” Olivia laughed. “She knows what’s going on. And she’s not interested in Mason whatsoever. In fact, she admitted that she has a crush on you.”
One side of Roman’s mouth pulled upward. “Did she now?”
