Page 49 of More Than Nothing
Elenie was studying their wedding portrait on the wall of the living room with a raw heart when the hammering started on the door. Wired but exhausted, edgy and unsettled, her nerves jangled. There was no going back now; the plan was in motion.
“Did you find her? Is she here?” The front door slammed, footsteps sounded in the entryway, and Roman surged into the room. He checked his stride for a second when he saw her. His eyes flashed with relief as he crossed the floor to stand in front of her, laying careful hands on her shoulders. “You OK?”
“I’m fine.” Only an iron will stopped her from swaying toward him.
He searched her face. She knew he knew she wasn’t fine. “You were great.”
“You didn’t need to send them to find me.” The concern in his eyes nearly melted her. What she wouldn’t give to slip back into a fantasy land where he might look at her like that because he really cared. But in the real world this man could never be hers.
Roman grunted. “You’re not on your own in this, Elenie. You’ve got people looking out for you now. And you’ve got me. They only know we’ve done this to keep Frank off your back. Nothing more.”
He might have continued but Caitlyn barreled into the room, leading with her stomach first.
“You didn’t get a chance to answer so I’ve made us all hot chocolate. Since I can’t drink, I don’t see why you can’t all keep me company.” She plonked four mugs down on the coffee table, kicking off her sneakers with a sigh of relief. “I’ve even given you marshmallows. Don’t tell me I’m not the best hostess ever.”
Roman pulled Elenie down next to him, leaning forward to snag them each a mug of chocolate. Milo perched on the arm of Caitlyn’s chair and stroked a hand over his wife’s fiery curls. Elenie blew across the top of the hot chocolate to cool it, a wave of exhaustion rolling over her. Roman’s arm pressed against hers and the closeness made her unruly heart scurry.
“I’ve always wanted to be a getaway driver,” Caitlyn said around a mouthful of marshmallow.
“Strictly speaking, you were the getaway passenger.” Milo gave his wife’s ear a tug. “But you kicked ass whichever side of the stick you were on.”
Chapter 24
Roman
“Any chance Elenie can use your spare room?” Roman asked. They’d been talking for more than an hour and it was late.
“Sure, bro.” With a yawn, Milo began to gather the empty mugs.
“I’ll grab you one of Milo’s tees, Elenie.” Caitlyn levered herself up from the armchair.
Five minutes later, Roman stood in the bedroom doorway feeling like a vampire who hadn’t been asked inside. He hooked his hands into his pockets for want of something better to do with them and kept his eyes deliberately away from the queen-size bed. Mental snapshots of their “fake date” taunted him; a sliver of heat licked at the base of his spine.
“Didn’t think to bring my own sleepwear,” Elenie said weakly, holding up the cotton shirt she’d been given.
“You need to get some rest. It’ll be morning before you know it.” He smiled to ease the tension. “If you need anything, I’ll be on the sofa right downstairs.”
“OK.” She fiddled with the curtain ties on the other side of the room.
Roman forced himself to turn. “Goodnight, Elenie.”
“Night.” Her reply was so quiet he barely heard her.
His tread was silent on the stairs. Behind Caitlyn and Milo’s door, he heard the rumble of low conversation, and unexpected splinters of envy jabbed at his ribs. In the kitchen, Roman closed his eyes and braced his arms on the counter. The clock on the wall ticked loudly and steadily; he waited until his breath matched its pace before raising his head. Pouring a tumbler of water, he drained it in five long gulps and refilled it.
A movement in the doorway caught the corner of his eye. When Roman turned he found Elenie watching him.
She’d changed into Milo’s t-shirt and her feet were bare. As still as the center of a hurricane, only her fingers fidgeted. Face scrubbed clean and ready for bed, she was the perfect picture of casual familiarity, and an aching sense of the forbidden danced with the swirl of heat that smoldered in his gut.
“You OK?” He was grateful his voice emerged measured and steady.
Elenie cleared her throat. “I think the world record is fifty-four people on a single bed.”
Roman tipped his chin. “I see.” He didn’t see.
“The one upstairs is a queen.”
His brain couldn’t form any kind of answer to that.
