Page 30 of His Smile
“You’re a monster.”
“I tried to warn you,” he flashed her a grin of white teeth.Setting her bag on a nearby barstool, he gestured towards the expanse of theroom. “Make yourself comfortable.”
Stopping at the edge of the hallway, Rahina took in hersurroundings. To her right was a large open kitchen, lined from one end to theother with matte black cabinets that spanned to the ceiling. The white marbleveined countertops were free from any of the normal items one would see in akitchen giving it a cold but professional feel. Over the gigantic kitchenisland was the living room. The fifteen-foot windows covered the far wall andwrapping around to cover the distance of another wall took her breath away.Broken up only by a strip of narrow wall that ended in a stately marblefireplace, the surrounding windows overlooked from what she could tell throughthe rain pelted glass a large pool glowing blue from its recessed lights in thebackyard.
“My god,” she whispered in obvious awe as she steppedforward to catch a glimpse of the upstairs balcony above the quiet kitchen andliving area. She could only assume they lead to the bedrooms. “A life of crimereally does pay well. I am starting to think my family may be doing it wrong.”
“They are,” Roman assured her without a shred of remorse.Opening the enormous restaurant grade, double-door refrigerator, he stoodlooking at the contents with his back to her. “Chicken or fish?”
Pulling herself onto the black cushioned stool, she leanedforward onto the cold marble counter with both elbows. “Are you going to cook?For me?” she asked, watching the pronounced muscles in his back tighten andflex as he grabbed supplies out of the fridge. “I feel so honored.”
“You should,” he replied dryly, setting various items on thecounter they shared. “I cook for no one but myself.” Holding up two packages,he gave her an expectant waiting look. “Decide.”
Pointing to the chicken, he nodded and put the fish back inthe fridge. She watched as he lined up all of his ingredients.
“Thank you,” her voice barely rose over the sound of therushing water.
Transferring the chicken to the cutting board, his gray eyeslooked up and met hers for one intense moment that made her whole body stiffen.The brief look of silent understanding acknowledgment affected her more thanshe could have ever anticipated. Turning away from him, she forced herself tostare out the window as tears watered her eyes. This wasn’t how it was supposedto go, she was supposed to be here celebrating and smiling in this man’s armsnot crying at his kitchen counter. Wiping his washed hands on a towel, Romantapped a few commands in his phone. Soft notes of music began to drift throughoutthe grand open room as he tossed his phone back across the counter and silentlywent to back to work. The calm quiet that existed around them gradually beganto seep into her tense muscles, and she relaxed into the high-back of thecushioned stool. She found herself staring at the shifting muscles in his widetattooed forearms as he worked.
“Do you know,” she began, leaning her chin on the palm ofher hand. “Theodore actually had the nerve to come to me, in secret of course,away from the celebration going on in the other room for Nadia. And told methat he will be paying me more than Nadia, and if I look at the schedule, I amactually performing in more solos than her,” she laughed bitterly. “And thatthe only reason they picked her as principal was for the company's board ofdirectors. He said it was some sort of look or something they were going for.He really tried to brush it off and have me focus on the salary. But I heardhim,” she stabbed one finger down onto the marble, anger starting to rise withinher. “I heard him clearly, I saw past all of his backpedaling. They did notthink I was a good look for their company.”
Pausing with his knife suspended mid cut above themushrooms, Roman looked at her sharply. “Did he see you cry?”
Shaking her head, she wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Godno, I would never let him have that.”
“Good girl,” he turned and tossed the cut vegetables intothe skillet along with the chicken, before grabbing a bottle of amber cookingwine.
A nudge at her thigh, caused her to look down with a smileas Hannibal looked at her for attention. Reaching down, she stroked the top ofthe dog’s head. “All I thought of while he spoke was killing him,” she groaned.An image of Theodore’s pencil-thin neck came to mind. “I mean the act ofactually wrapping my hands around his skinny neck and watching him die,” shepressed.
“Now, now, gorgeous,” he gave her a reprimanding click ofhis tongue, before turning from his skillet and gave her a smile so wide anddangerous it reminded her instantly just who Roman was, in case she forgot. “Donot joke about such things I may get confused and deliver that wish as abelated birthday gift.”
Laughing for what felt like the first time in forever, sheinhaled the aromatic aroma of the cooking food and realized she really washungry. That morning all she had was a small muffin and a bottle of water.
“It will be a few minutes before everything is done if youwant you can go take a quick shower,” he offered over his shoulder as he workedat the stove.
A shower sounded amazing. “Can I? I would really like that,”she admitted.
“My room is directly above.”
Sliding off the barstool, she grabbed her bag and headedtowards the stairs. The second floor overlooked the entire living room andoffered what was probably a magnificent view of the backyard during the day.For now, all she could see was her own reflection as she walked up the stairsand crossed the narrow landing to the last door. Walking into the dark bedroom,she was struck by Roman’s familiar scent. Inhaling, she closed her eyes for asecond and stood to appreciate that wonderful mixture of soft cologne andcoffee beans. Finding the switch on the wall, her pulse awakened at the sightof the gigantic bed directly in front. It was huge and totally fitting for aman of Roman’s stature. Walking closer, she couldn’t help but marvel at thesize. She had read somewhere about basketball players and some NFL playersgetting huge custom-made beds, this had to be one of those custom orders.Turning away from the bed, she spotted the open door to the bathroom and letout a strangled groan when she stepped through.
“Dear God, I want to be rich,” she whined, taking in the darkshiny chocolate granite lined with veins of iridescent caramel and light hazelmarbled floors. She would willingly die in this bathroom.
Showered and dressed in a simple but cute blue pajama shortset, Rahina made her way back down to the kitchen.
Turning around from the stove, Roman gave her an accessingstare. Wherever his eyes passed over, she could feel her skin react to thestudying look. Her outfit was by no means sexy, but she knew that on her longdancer’s body that the discreet pajama shorts sat high revealing the fulllength of her toned brown legs. The unmistakable recognition of heat in Roman’susually laughing eyes left her feeling exposed and very aware of her own body.Resisting the urge to look down and check her breasts through the loose-fittingtank-top, she prayed the thinly padded bra she wore hid her stiffening nipples.
“You are just in time,” he motioned for her to sit back inher chair, as he grabbed two plates.
Serving the food onto the plates, he placed them in front ofher before grabbing two wine glasses by their stems in one hand and grabbing abottle of wine from the small wine cooler that was built into the cabinets.Rahina did her best not to stare as he walked around the large island counter.Even casually in his home, she found Roman magnetizing. Unlike some men, hedidn’t walk with practiced swagger or dominating pretense. His tall, muscularform radiated power as he moved with a natural authoritative canter that mademen want to move aside. Setting down the wine between them, he easily slid ontothe stool next to her.
His ever-constant smirk grew wider as he looked at her. “Ihave never met a woman like you before. Sometimes I will catch you staring atme like a lioness stalking her next meal and then others times like now youwill surprise me and switch the roles entirely and stare at me with thosebeautiful wide brown eyes of yours like a small rabbit being cornered by awolf.”
Embarrassed, she looked down at her steaming plate of food.Chicken smothered in a wine sauce with capers and mushrooms on a light bed ofpasta. “You’re a handsome man,” she admitted, picking up her fork. “It’s hardnot to stare at you.”
Receiving no response and seeing no movement in herperipheral, she looked up and caught her breath at the molten steel in hiseyes. He was staring at her with a large carnal smile and a gaze that silentlydetailed everything he wanted to do to her.
“Roman?” she whispered cautiously.
