Page 4 of Roman & Olivia
Her mouth felt dry. She knew if she were to swallow at this moment, it would feel like sandpaper rubbing against every surface.
Cammi’s eyes narrowed before they turned back to Olivia. She knew better than to ask any questions. She knew about Roman. She knew about Mason. And Olivia had simply not gotten around to the truth of what was happening. Her friend didn’t know that Roman was pretending to date her, if only for one night.
Olivia offered her an uneasy smile, then moved toward the door. “I’ve got my key, Cam. Don’t wait up.”
Cammi’s eyes widened and her mouth fell open slightly. There was going to be a long talk the next second they had time alone together.
Pulling the door shut behind her, Olivia then leaned against it. She let her eyes sweep over Roman’s body unabashed. Then she teased him with a wolf whistle. “You clean up nice, Mr. Palmer.”
Roman slipped an arm around her waist and pressed a kiss to her temple before holding out the rose to her. “You don’t look half bad yourself, Ms. Whitten.” His voice was low, warm, andif from anyone else, would have given her chills. Coming from Roman, though, it served only to make her feel cared for.
She leaned into his chest and smiled. “Thank you again. You don’t know how much?—”
“Oh, I have a pretty good idea how much you appreciate this. And don’t worry. I’ll make sure you pay up when the time comes.”
Olivia smiled despite herself. “I have no doubt.”
“And you know what they say about payback,” he said against her skin.
She laughed. “Yeah, well… it’ll totally be worth it.”
Roman meant the world to her. He was everything she could ever want. She’d been an only child and when she’d graduated from high school, her parents chose to sell the house and move into a camper so they could travel the world. She would have felt so alone—had it not been for Roman. She’d followed him to Copper Creek and hadn’t looked back. There was nothing left for her back home anyway. He was her rock, and she knew she could count on him for anything.
Even if it meant pretending to be in love with her.
He kept shooting glances in her direction the whole way to the capitol—so many times that she started to squirm. And when he came around to open her door for her, she finally let him have it.
Roman held out his hand, and she took it. Once she was situated and no longer at risk of twisting her ankle in the heels she never wore, she placed her hands on her hips. “What?”
He froze, whether by her random question or her tone of voice, she couldn’t tell. “Hmm?”
“Why do you keep looking at me like that?”
“Like what?” There wasn’t even the slightest amount of mirth in his voice.
“Like I’m a little girl dressed up in her mother’s clothes.” Her nerves were officially getting the better of her. He’d said she cleaned up nice at her apartment, but he hadn’t said much else. Was he simply being nice? “You don’t have to be nice. Tell me how it is,” she voiced her thoughts. “I can take it, I swear.”
“Liv—”
“Oh no. It’s bad. Cam insisted that this dress was perfect, but?—”
“Liv.” He wrapped his large hands around her upper arms, a grin spreading across his face. “What are you talking about? You look…” He blew out a breath and shook his head. “There aren’t words, Liv. This?” He released her to gesture to her and then brought his knuckles to his mouth and bit down before he finally finished his thought. “He’s gotta be blind if he doesn’t notice.” It wasn’t what he said but the way he’d said it. The way he looked at her.
Butterflies erupted in her stomach, coiling and spinning like they were in a cyclone. “You really think so?” she whispered, her voice small.
“I know so.”
She forced a nervous smile. “Then let’s go.” She looped her arm through his. They headed for the door, and the second they were inside, it was like a different world. This was nothing like the place where she worked.
The Capitol had high ceilings and a grand staircase that led to most of the banquet rooms. There was an open foyer with a grand piano right off the entrance, which was where it appeared everything would take place. In the back of the hall, tables were set up with refreshments. A string quartet was playing near the piano, and soft music floated through the room. The hum of voices could have lulled her to sleep if she wasn’t so on edge.
“Ms. Olivia Whitten, you made it.” His voice was low, warm like honey. Mason definitely knew how to use it to his benefit.She turned to find him with a woman on his arm, and her smile faltered.
The girl was tall and dressed like she’d just left the catwalk. Her neck was long, and her legs went on for days. Her dress barely reached her mid-thigh, and she was… gorgeous.
Olivia swallowed hard, forcing a smile at the man she wished would give her just one chance. “Mason! Hi!” She squeaked. Then she grimaced and cleared her throat. “It looks so nice in here.”
He didn’t seem to notice her reaction, and he leaned forward to take her hand in his before slowly lifting it to his lips and brushing a kiss to her knuckles. Her breathing shuddered as her eyes remained locked on his.
