Page 76 of Henley

“Enough, Roman. I’m going to hang up now. Goodbye.” I didn’t wait for a reply and put my phone on silent once I had hung up.

“What on earth was that about?” Pat asked.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Henley

“Nothing important,” I replied before I took a bite of my sandwich.

“My brother is rather protective. He feels the need to try and control my life.”

“No, he tries to bully you and everyone else around you,” I said around the food in my mouth and got a stern look from my mother.

“That’s not true,” she responded, and I stared at her like she’d lost her mind. “Okay,” she muttered on a huff, “maybe he does. It’s his way of protecting me.”

“Or controlling you,” I added, and she glared at me.

“Henley, be nice,” my mother admonished me.

“Actually, Henley is right; Roman does try to control me, which is another reason I am glad I moved here and took this job. I know he only does it because he worries about me.”

“Well, that is nice that he cares so much about you that he wants you safe.” She turned to me. “Why did he want your phone number?”

“In case of an emergency. He wanted me to know how to reach him.” He lifted his phone as it made a ping sound. “And he just texted me his number. I’ll write it down for you in case something happens with Roxanne, and then you can reach him quickly.”

“That’s a good idea,” my father said, and my mother agreed with him.

Our conversation turned after that to what was happening in the lives of my siblings. After we finished, Roxy and I were getting ready to head to the country club when my father handed her a key.

“Now you can come and go as you please,” he commented with a wink.

“Wow, I like totally forgot about that, thank you,” Roxy replied.

“You let us know if you need anything while you are here, and I know Pat already told you this, but you are welcome to stay as long as you need to.”

“That is very kind of you both. You have no idea how much I appreciate your hospitality.”

I patted my father on the shoulder, thankful that I had such amazing parents and followed Roxy out of the house. When we got to her car, she spun on me and threw her arms around me, hugging me tightly.

“You okay?” I asked as I held her back.

“Yes, I’m just a little emotional right now.” She pulled back and gazed up at me. “Your family is so sweet, and I can’t thank you enough.”

I caressed the side of her face for a moment. “You can thank me later.”

A sexy smile slipped over her lips. “Yes, I can, but seriously, I want you to know how much this means to me.”

“You’re welcome, Rox.” I kissed her slowly.

“I wish you didn’t have to leave tonight,” she said after we’d parted.

“Yeah, me too, but they needed my help on tomorrow’s shift. I’ll be back on Monday evening.”

“I know, but I have gotten used to you in my bed.”

I grinned. “I’m glad. I happen to like sleeping next to you.”

She sighed heavily and stepped back. “Okay, let’s go check out my new office.”

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