Page 74 of Seasoned with Love (Prosperity Ranch 4)

“Oh, he’s not,” Cara said. “But my mom is, and she knows that Holt is the brother I’m closest to, so she asks him a lot of questions.”

“Ah, your mom is a strategist.”

“To say the least,” Cara said with a laugh. “But there is something I didn’t tell you about Holt and Macie.”

Roman’s brows popped up. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah,” Cara said. “It’s just that Holt met Macie first, and then she took off with Knox at the dance where they’d all met. Holt regrets not being more open with Macie. Not asking her to dance after she’d danced once with Knox. He just sort of sat on the sidelines and let them get to know each other.”

Roman lowered his fork before taking another bite. “Regrets are a horrible thing.”

“Agreed.” Cara took a steady breath. “So when I first got back to Newport after Christmas, and I hadn’t heard back from you, I called Holt to get advice.”

Roman set his fork back on the plate, focused solely on her.

“He told me to call you and to be really direct when we talked,” Cara said. “I’d already left one voicemail. But I planned to call you again if you didn’t call later that day.”

“And I called after midnight.”

Cara nodded. “You aren’t annoyed that I spilled my guts to my brother?”

“I’m glad you did.” Roman reached across the table and grasped her hand. “Holt’s a great guy. Your whole family is great, and besides, he gave you excellent advice.”

Cara smiled, feeling warm, maybe from the good food, or Roman’s touch, or his words.

“He was a good brother when they announced they were expecting a baby,” Roman commented.

“What do you mean?”

“It was obvious Knox already knew, so they must have told him ahead of time.”

“Huh.” Cara blinked. “Did one of my brothers say something?”

“No,” Roman said. “I just noticed that when Holt was about to make the announcement he looked at Knox, and Knox gave him a nod of approval.”

“Really.” Cara thought about this, and it made sense. “Holt probably didn’t want Knox blindsided. Even though it’s all in the past now, it might still be a hard thing to hear at a family dinner.”

“That’s what I thought, too,” Roman said. “All of your brothers are good men. They have their strengths and weaknesses, like we all do. I figure they’ll be forgiving of mine, too.”

Cara stared at him. “What do you mean? Do you have some deep, dark secrets that you think they’ll want to beat you up for?” She was mostly kidding, but it was also kind of an odd comment. Should she be worried?

“I don’t know if they’re deep or dark, but since we’re kind of official now . . .” He squeezed her hand lightly. “I think I need to tell you the truth about my broken marriage, and about Mia.”

Now he had her curious; maybe dreading things a little, too. What did the concern in his gaze mean? Was he worried his story would be a deal breaker for her? That she’d be upset?

“Only tell me what you want to, Roman,” Cara said. Yet she was dying to know what had gone wrong with his marriage, besides what he’d told her about being so busy in his career, and the pair of them drifting apart.

“I want you to understand all of me,” he said. “Before we get in deeper.”

Cara ran a thumb over the back of his hand. “Okay. I’m listening.”

Just then, another couple entered the restaurant.

“Let’s go where we aren’t surrounded by people.”

“There’s a pier not far from here with a beach area.”

“Perfect.”

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