Page 79 of Roman & Olivia
Roman pulled her into his lap where he sat before the fire. The heat from the flames warmed her, but not nearly as much as the man at her back. He wrapped his arms around her middle and nuzzled her neck. “We like it. We just rarely have an excuse to get out all the gear and go. The folks adopting those pups over there wanted the dogs introduced to camping life.”
She glanced over to where a small fenced-in space held three rambunctious Australian shepherds. They yipped and paced,wanting to be allowed more freedom, but with dinner still being cleaned up, they’d been penned.
Olivia leaned back into Roman, curling against him as she allowed her attention to sweep over the individuals who were present. Camilla and Isabelle were laughing about something, their heads together. Nikki and Mateo were holding hands a few feet away as they watched the fire. Marcus was chatting with Sophia and her husband.
This was the sort of family that she’d always dreamed of being a part of. And she had been part of it before—but now? It was different. Now? She could safely say that she truly felt as though she belonged.
Roman’s soft hum against the side of her neck had goosebumps rising all over her body. “I have something I need to talk to you about.”
She squirmed in his grasp. “Oh? What is that?”
He ran his nose along her neck and up to her ear.
Olivia exhaled. It was moments like this one that made her truly appreciate what it was like being with Roman as more than just his friend. She shivered, anticipating what he might say.
“I was wondering…” he murmured.
“Yeah?” she hummed.
“Would you mind getting the flashlights out of your tent before it gets too dark?”
She sat up and gawked at him. “What?”
He chuckled. “It’s getting late, and you know how hard it is to find the flashlights.”
“That’s what your cellphone is for.”
Roman pouted, and she rolled her eyes. “Fine. I don’t want you in my tent anyway.” She rose from his lap, the chill in the evening air hitting her immediately. Not only did she feel his eyes following her to the tent, but she felt the attention of the others in the group, as well.
Olivia peeked at them before she reached for the zipper to the tent she shared with Camilla and Isabelle. Then she yanked on it until the door opened. One foot into the tent, and a scream erupted from her lips.
A huge snake lay curled up on her sleeping bag. She scrambled backward, nearly tripping on the ledge of the tent doorway.
But then she froze, stopped in her tracks as Roman came into view in front of her. She’d only just made it outside of the tent and he was there, in front of her, on one knee.
In his hand was a small box, and it had already been propped open. He wore a mischievous smile, which only made her racing heart pick up its pace—but for an entirely different reason. “Roman?”
Olivia was fully aware that everyone was watching. The experience was reminiscent of when she’d come to the house last year to tell Roman that she’d broken things off with Mason. Only this time, they probably were in on Roman’s plans.
He’d pranked her! The snake was obviously a fake.
She placed a hand to her chest, but it did nothing to quell the nervous energy she still felt. “What…”
“You are…everything… Liv. You are the reason I want to wake up every day. You’re the last thing I think about before I go to sleep. You are the source of my joy and the keeper of my heart. You are the only one I want to laugh with for the rest of my life?—”
Propping a hand on her hip, she narrowed her eyes at him. “Is that why there’s a rubber snake on my sleeping bag?”
His chagrined smile said it all. “You’ll get me back.”
“Oh, I’m definitely getting you back.”
Roman laughed, and it was music to her ears. This was how they were together. Serious one moment and laughing until they cried the next. She’d never been happier than she was when she had him by her side.
Her eyes drifted to the ring, and tears burned behind her eyes. Tears for the short time they’d been lost to each other. But also tears of utter joy. Roman stared at her expectantly, and she arched a brow. “Well?”
“Well… what?” he hedged.
“I don’t recall you asking me a question.”
