Page 1 of Roman and Jules
Chapter 1
Ty Bolt sat across from Jules in the limousine, wearing a blue designer suit and texting. He was an adorable pretty boy with a perpetual smirk riding his lips, a fashionable haircut, and a dimple low on his cheek. Even after a year of dating, she still liked looking at him, though he only glanced up at her once during their drive over to his mother’s party, and that was to look disdainfully at her cowgirl boots when he noticed them.
“I see you’re wearing the dress I gave you,” he muttered.
It was a light blue, baby doll dress with a lace overlay. The design was worth more than the material it was cut from and light and perfect for a hot September day in Vegas. His gift to her was the most expensive thing in her wardrobe—all of his gifts were slightly too expensive, actually, and that was becoming a problem. He had too much money for his own good.
Ty had said nothing about the boots that she’d carefully picked out, though he clearly hated them. She’d gotten them while visiting her parents in South Carolina. They were pink, studded with spirals and blue flowers. They told the true tale of her roots, although they pinched her toes a little.
She tugged self-consciously on them and stared outside at the casinos on the Strip as they rushed past the window. Ty had never invited her to one of his family functions before, not until someone with a camera had spotted them together a few days ago. Ever since then, the paparazzi had relentlessly tracked their every move.
Now his family demanded to see her, though Jules was beginning to get the sneaking suspicion that they didn’t approve of her, which was crazy. Her parents were teachers and well respected in the South, and Jules made a pretty good living singing with her band, “PotPan,” for weddings and parties.
Maybe the problem was that she wasn’t a socialite. Ty’s mother belonged to the richest family in Las Vegas—the Veronas. That made Ty the heir of the Capulet Beauty Spas, though it seemed like his money hadn’t spared him from their drama. Jules would rather be poor than share his sea of troubles.
“Okay,” Ty cleared his throat, still staring down at his phone, “a few ground rules—don’t take the refreshments unless someone serves them to you, don’t touch the vases—they’re urns—and… uh… don’t talk to Roman.”
Not this again.She sighed. His family had some weird feud going on—everybody knew about it. The media wouldn’t leave it alone, and no matter how much Jules tried to convince Ty that it was annoying, he couldn’t seem to get over his grudge, especially for his cousin, Roman.
“Oh, so he’s the big bad wolf now?” she drawled. As usual, his lips tipped up at her sweet Southern accent. He said it reminded him of dripping syrup over buttery waffles, and she used it to her advantage. “What’s he going to do? Carry me over his shoulder and run away?”
Ty grumbled out a laugh. “Take my word for it; he likes to cause trouble. It started with some fight from our childhood. I can’t believe that he still can’t get over it. He probably won’t come anyway. It’s our fifty-year business anniversary since my great-aunt first started the company, and he never cared about her.”
Despite her boyfriend’s nonchalant scrolling through his phone, he seemed nervous, and she let out a breath. Her sympathy overcame her irritation. He might let his family get to him, but nothing got in the way of how they felt about each other.
They’d met at a disastrous party where his friends had refused to pay her band because of technical difficulties. It was no one’s fault, but Tyson had ended up footing the bill anyway and cheered her up with a show and dinner that night. It was magic from there. Yeah, he was horribly busy with work and his charities and political crusading, but she liked that he took such an active role in the community, and he depended on her to ground him.
She reached over and patted his muscular knee. “Relax. I won’t leave your side at all tonight.”
Ty made a sound of disdain. “You can’t do that. What kind of first impression would that make? Don’t you want my family to know that you’re an independent woman?”
How independent was he thinking? Jules frowned. Ty sure knew how to make meeting the family scary. Nothing she did was good enough when he was nervous like this. “Of course I’d stick to your side.” Her loyalty was one of her best traits. “What are you afraid of? Your family might guess we like each other?”
His answering laugh seemed a little too strangled. “Maybe you should take this a little more seriously. This is kind of a big deal.”
He didn’t have to make it so big. Was this why he’d waited so long to introduce her? “Ty, it’s not like meeting your family is steps away from popping the question—sure, I’m dying to marry you, but…” As if on cue, one of the many chapels of love swept past them on the street and she decided to tease him about it. “Oh, I know. How about we swing by the Chapel del Frate after the party? We’ve waited too long already.”
He blanched. “Why would that even appeal to you? We’d get diseases just walking in there.”
“I wouldn’t…” Jules hesitated. Did Ty actually believe that she was serious?As if I’d consider marrying the man of my dreams in the Chapel del Frate?With horror, she found herself explaining the joke, though judging by his dismayed face, she was somehow making it worse. “Honey, I’d never ask you to step foot in there… when I get married, I want it to be special. I’m dreaming of a big wedding in a green field in South Carolina with my pastor there along with all my friends… and cousins, and… maybe a few cows,” she was back to teasing again, and she was sure she’d get him to smile if she laid it on super thick, “—my mother beaming and my dad crying.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t have brought you,” he snapped. Her heart constricted as he sighed and set his forgotten cellphone on the leather seat beside him. “I’m sorry to put you in this position. These parties aren’t exactly…” What was he saying? She waited in tense anticipation, but he didn’t finish his thought, only shrugged. “I didn’t realize that I had to bring a date until my great-aunt insisted last night that I bring you. And I’m not going to be the one who goes against her wishes, so I guessthisis happening.”
He sounded so reluctant. Jules leaned back in her seat, trying to cool her rising temper. “Well, I’m glad that I was free.”
Ty gave her a questioning look, like he couldn’t imagine that she wouldn’t be. Maybe that was her fault. She was always available whenever he needed her—sometimes when he didn’t, if she were being completely honest. It was never difficult for him to talk her into cancelling with her friends, so why didn’t he ever return the favor? Sometimes she wondered if he valued her.
As if reading the irritation on her face, he pushed forward in his seat and brushed a long strand of her blonde hair away from her cheek. She let out a sigh. Her attraction for him diffused her anger somewhat. “I can’t imagine a more beautiful date,” he said. “Everyone will be jealous the moment they see you.”
Even if I don’t leave his side?She actually had no idea how to act at his party anymore. Don’t stay too close; don’t talk to Roman. She felt a hundred times more self-conscious than she had before she’d gotten into the limousine with him. Sure, he’d said she was gorgeous often enough, and it always made her feel great… for a while. Even now, he smoothed her prickling arms, his beautiful, clear blue eyes melting into hers, his light brows furrowed in concern. “I should’ve brought you around ages ago, it’s just that…”
What? Why didn’t he ever finish what he was going to say? Her mind had to do it for him. Was she not smart enough? Snobby enough? Did she make too many jokes? He’d always lavished attention on her when he sensed he’d ignored her for too long, but why’d that happen in the first place? He was a quality guy with a big heart and a heightened sense of responsibility, but he always found it so hard to fitherinto his busy schedule… or include her in important life events like these. What was wrong with her?
“Just smile and agree with everything that everyone says and my mother will be impressed.” His gaze slid to her boots. “Maybe get rid of those.” She made a sound of protest, and he hurriedly caught her arms and brought her to sit next to him. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Let’s just get this night over with, okay?”
She took a deep breath and let him smooth her ruffled feelings. She didn’t have to understand it, but he was nervous about moving forward with this step in their relationship, so why not be supportive? After all, she should be flattered that he was overcoming his fear for her… right? There was no need to make things worse, and so she stared down at her boots and leaned against him. Her cheek brushed up against the roughness of his neck when she nodded.
She’d help her man out tonight, whether he wanted it or not.
