Page 73 of More Than Nothing
Half an hour later, Elenie placed a lemon pound cake into the oven to cook in a loaf pan she’d unearthed from the back of one of Roman’s cupboards. If it came out looking halfway decent, she would at least have a peace offering to take to Ava and Elias later. She cleaned up, wiped down the countertops, and made herself another cup of coffee. When Elenie realized she was smiling, shegave a little laugh and shimmied across the kitchen to grab the milk from the fridge. This was the best Sunday she could remember in forever.
With the cake baking in the oven, Elenie picked up the book Roman had left open on the coffee table, broken spine and all—the horror. Curling up at one end of the couch, she read quietly for the next hour until the kitchen was filled with a wonderful smell and the lemon cake sat cooling on the counter.
Worried about overstepping but needing to find a bathroom, Elenie headed for the stairs. At the top of the landing, she found two doors opposite one another; both were ajar. Pushing open the one to her left, she discovered a compact bathroom that was almost entirely taken up with the most jaw-dropping shower she’d ever seen. The faint scent of Roman’s shampoo or shower gel lingered in the air. An involuntary moan escaped her at the thought of standing under the huge showerhead with a steady stream of hot water raining down on her body.
Lucky, lucky Roman. And lucky, lucky shower to get to wash Roman’s muscular frame clean.
Elenie used the toilet quickly, washed her hands, and stepped back out onto the landing. Giving in to curiosity, she gently pushed open the second door.
Roman’s bedroom was simple. A large bed made up with moss green linen sat against one wall, covers pulled roughly into place. Next to it was a small mahogany nightstand with a lamp on top. There was a dresser, a tall, old wardrobe, a long mirror, and that was it.
Two glazed doors made up most of the wall at the far end of the room. They opened onto a small balcony, with the woods stretching out beyond. Transfixed, she crossed the room, pressed her hands against the glass, and gave a sigh. Sleeping in here would feel like being in a treehouse. The view was heavenly. She hopedthe woodland setting had been a comfort during those nights when Roman’s sleep was broken.
Turning to leave, Elenie paused by the bed. With a hesitant glance toward the door, she sat down gently on the edge of the mattress, her hand drifting over one of the pillows. She leaned down and inhaled. The linen smelled of Roman; Elenie would recognize his scent anywhere. Picking up the pillow, she buried her face in it. Her blood fizzed in her veins.
I’ve officially lost it.
I’m a freaky, odor-obsessed lunatic who should be locked up.
He needs protecting from me.
Hit with a wave of exhaustion and unwilling to let go of the pillow, Elenie curled up on the very edge of the bed, hugging the feathery softness against her chest.
She would lie there for just a few minutes and Roman would never know.
Chapter 34
Roman
“Just like Goldilocks,” Roman murmured to himself from the doorway.
Unable to concentrate on paperwork and with nothing else needing his attention—not even a littering offense to write up—he had closed the station soon after midday. People could call him if they needed to. Driving home, he found himself praying Elenie would still be there. He was jittery, buzzing; anticipation tingled in his bloodstream.
The smell of baking greeted him the moment he opened the door, and the cake sitting on the side in his kitchen brought a smile to his face. A big, wide grin he’d used so rarely in the past few years that it felt rusty. The house was quiet. An empty mug on the coffee table, her sneakers on the rug, and his book on the arm of the couch had the muscles at the back of his neck easing.
And now, here she was.
Her hair lay in a cloud around her head, her skin pale against the rumpled sheets, face as relaxed as he’d ever seen it. Her lips were slightly parted, her arms wrapped around one of his pillows. Roman moved closer. He couldn’t help himself. He could hear his own heartbeat as he sat down on the edge of the bed.
Elenie stirred and turned toward him. A curl fell across one eye, catching on her dark lashes. It must have tickled her nose because she twitched; a frown creased her brow. He caught hold of the stray strand and lifted it away from her face. It slid through his fingers.
Barely breathing, heart full, Roman placed his palm against Elenie’s cheekbone. She gave a small sigh and turned her head into his hand. Her drowsy gray eyes opened slowly. Roman felt the punch of them in his groin.
“I fell asleep.”
“It would appear so.” His own words emerged as a husky rumble.
A flush broke over her face. “Oh, God, it can’t be after two o’clock already! I’m so sorry—I honestly wasn’t snooping. I came up to find the bathroom.”
“Don’t worry. It’s not even one yet. The station was dead and for some reason I was keen to get home.”
Elenie’s eyes slid away from him. “I just—I didn’t sleep well last night and your house is so peaceful. You said to make myself at home...” She trailed off.
“So really it’s my fault that you couldn’t resist my bed.”
She gave a tiny snort and scrubbed her face. “One hundred percent. You lured me here with your upstairs bathroom and your woodland silence and then I could swear your soft, soft quilt cried out, ‘Lie here, just for a minute, you weird snooper!’” She flashed him an awkward grin.
Roman shrugged and held out his hands. “Honestly, what’s a girl to do, huh?”
