Page 3 of Loving Roman
“Thank you.” I dip my head demurely and curtsy at his compliment.What the hell?I may as well giggle like a schoolgirl while I’m at it. My entire body heats from the inside out as if someone’s turned the furnace full blast. Shit, that’s all I need right now—a hot flash. My body burns hotter and hotter, and I’m thankful for the cool morning air, but it’s not really helping to control my internal thermostat.
His smile widens, causing deep crinkles at the corners of his eyes. The depth of the creases tells me this man smiles a lot. He pushes his hair away from his face, and I admire the way his bicep bulges beneath his T-shirt, the green doing amazing things against his tanned skin.
He tips his chin toward the top of the cliff where a café perches close to the edge of the rugged terrain, and I follow with a turn of my head. “I was heading to breakfast.” My stomach drops. I guess that’s the end of our encounter. “Would you like to join me?” My stomach swoops without permission, so I lay my hand across my middle, trying to control my reaction to Roman.
I pause for a moment to evaluate the situation. I don’t know this man, but I’m not getting any unsavory vibes from him. The café will be busy at this time of the morning, and I promised Noah and Heather I’d enjoy everything this vacation has to offer.
The hope in his eyes dims a little the longer I take to answer. “Sure. I could eat.”
His grin is instantaneous. “Fantastic. I hate eating alone.”
We turn toward the steep pathway that leads to the café, and I wave off his comment. “I eat alone all the time. I’m used to my own company now, though it took a little while to get used to.” I chuckle.
He pushes his hair away from his strong forehead again. “I never eat alone, so I find it … odd when I do. I can’t even remember the last time I took a vacation. This one was kind of forced on me.” He laughs, but it holds no humor.
My stomach falls, and I study his left hand for evidence of a wedding ring, but there’s nothing there. Not even an indent or tan line. I remind myself that not all men wear a ring, then slide my defenses back into place. I’m not into married men.
I stop walking. “Uh, I just remembered I have a tour booked and I need to shower and change. I don’t want to be late.”
He stops too, deep lines forming across his forehead. “You still have to eat, right?”
Rubbing my hand across the pooch of my stomach, I shift on my feet. “Uh, I’ll just grab a coffee at the inn I’m staying at.”
Disappointment slides over his features, and his shoulders slump. I feel terrible for putting that look on his face, and the people-pleaser in me wants to revoke my words.
“Oh.” He runs his hand through his dark hair, and I wonder if it’s as soft as it looks. “Well, it was nice to meet you, Alice. Maybe I’ll see you around. I’m here for one week.” Heholds out his hand again, and I slip mine into it. Closing his fingers around mine, he squeezes lightly, and it almost feels like a full-body hug.
His easy acceptance of my sudden change in plans disarms me and should make me feel better, but it doesn’t.
3
–roman–
I can’t sayI like this feeling moving through my body. The deep loneliness is like an ache seeping into my bones. I never realized how much of my time and energy is focused on the kids in my care until I stepped away from them. I love the busyness of my life with them in it, but now I’m wondering if I should find a hobby or something that’s just for me. A way to build connections away from the group home and the kids.
Pushing through the heavy ornate door into the Broadwater Inn, I spot Cristina, the hostess, and head in her direction. Her smile is instant as I get close, as if she loves her job. “Good morning, Roman. How was your run? I saved you some breakfast in the dining room.”
Now I feel like shit. “I’m sorry, I already ate at the café.” I thumb over my shoulder, gesturing in the general direction from where I came.
She waves off my apology. “That’s fine. Derek makes the best waffles and bacon around. On occasion, I’ve been known to sneak over there for breakfast myself,” she whispers, like she shouldn’t share such information, putting me at ease. “Is there anything I can help you withthis morning?”
I rest my hands on my hips. “I was wondering if there were any activities you’d recommend?” I need to keep busy, or I’ll go crazy with too much time on my hands. I was hoping to spend some time with the stunning brunette on the beach, but I guess it wasn’t to be.
“Certainly. We have several I always recommend, and guests always tell me how much they enjoy them.” She pulls out a brochure and explains each activity in detail.
I point to the third one down the page. “Any chance I could get on this one?”
“I’ll check for you. Please give me a moment.” I nod and step away, admiring the watercolor paintings of local scenery and wildlife on the wall. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Cristina step next to me. “You’re in luck. They had one opening left,” she tells me with a smile.
I’d better hurry if I’m going to make it to the surf shop in time. “Thanks. I’ll just head upstairs to shower.”
“You’re welcome.”
When I walk into the crowded surf shop overlooking the quiet bay, there’s a group of college-age boys most likely enjoying the end of their vacation. Great. That’s all I need—a bunch of teenagers horsing around non-stop.
Standing off to the side is a familiar figure that I won’t soon forget, and my lips tip up before I remember how she brushed me off this morning. Women are so confusing. She seemed interested, if the way her eyes roamed over my body was any indication. I was thrilled when she agreed to share breakfast with me until she suddenly changed her mind, making my head spin. I wasn’t sure if it was something I said, but her change of heart leftme confused.
Maybe I should come back tomorrow to do this. Alice obviously didn’t want to spend time with me, and I don’t want to make her uncomfortable by being here.
