by Sharon Sala
“Roman.”
“Yes?”
“I love you,” she said softly, and then went to sleep.
God.
He closed his eyes, swallowing past the knot in his throat. Twice he took a long, deep breath, trying to gain control of his emotions. But it wasn’t to be. Holly Benton had done to Roman’s heart what no other woman had been able to do. She’d given him her trust and taught him to love.
Tears burned his eyes and at the back of his throat as he buried his face in her hair, inhaling the clean, fresh scent of her shampoo and the soft, sweet smell that was hers alone. He tightened his hold as his heart went free.
“That’s good to know, baby, because I love you, too.”
Epilogue
Night was looming as Roman took the last turn in the road.
“Are we almost there?” Holly asked.
He grinned. “Yes, Mrs. Justice, we’re almost there.”
Holly closed her eyes, savoring the sound of that name on his lips.
“Good.”
“I hope you’re not going to be disappointed. The cabin is a little rustic for a honeymoon.”
She looked up. “It isn’t rustic. It’s romantic. Besides, it’s where we started our relationship. It seemed only fitting that we should begin our married life there, as well.”
Roman nodded. For the moment, speech eluded him. He loved this woman beyond words. Sometimes, it was easier to show her than to tell her. And if his brothers did as they’d been told, she would see soon enough.
“At least we don’t have to worry about snow,” she said, and then glanced at him and frowned. “It doesn’t snow here in July, does it?”
He cocked an eyebrow and grinned. “I think we’re safe.”
She smiled. “Not that the fireplace wasn’t cozy, but I have a new swimsuit. I want to go swimming.”
“You won’t be needing that suit.”
Her smile faded. “Why not? Isn’t there any place to swim?”
“You can swim all you want, but you won’t be needing a suit.”
She blushed, but the idea intrigued her. “I’ve never gone naked outdoors before.”
His grin widened. “Well, now, you know what they say. There’s a first time for everything.”
When he began to slow down, Holly leaned forward in anticipation. It was strange, but in a way, this was her first visit. Daisy had been here, but Holly had not.
As they came around a curve in the road, he braked, giving her time to look. The last rays of sunlight were beaming upon the two-story A-frame cabin. The honey-colored logs seemed to be storing the fading sun’s warmth. As she looked, her eyes filled with tears, remembering the relief she’d felt as she’d stumbled out of the forest and into the clearing. A place of safety.
She glanced at Roman. He was watching her. She tried to smile and failed. Her voice was shaking as she leaned against his arm.
“I’m glad we came.”
He tipped her chin upward, then went to meet her, capturing her mouth with a slow, gentle kiss.
“I’m glad we came, too,” he said softly. Then he glanced through the windshield toward the setting sun. “We’d better get unloaded. It’s going to be dark before you know it.”
“Yes. I remember.”
He touched the side of her face. “Feels good, doesn’t it, baby?”
“What does?”
“To remember.”
She sighed. “Oh, yes. More than you will ever know.”
They parked at the cabin and began to unload the car. As Holly helped carry things inside, her thoughts kept returning to the events of the past months.
Of everything that had happened, one thing kept returning to haunt her. Billy Mallory. Was he all right or was he still running from his past?
As for Gordon, the evidence against him had been overwhelming. He’d been charged with theft, murder and kidnapping with intent to commit bodily harm. Holly’s testimony sealed his fate. Spending the rest of his life behind bars without parole was a better sentence than he deserved.
His only saving grace had been denying that his brother had prior knowledge of any of his crimes until after they’d been committed. Gordon had maintained Billy’s innocence throughout the entire trial. When asked, Holly had been able to answer truthfully that it was Billy Mallory who’d saved her life, as well as given her the stolen money to return. In the eyes of the world, Billy was a free man. It remained to be seen if he would ever forgive himself. Wherever he was, Holly hoped he knew she was grateful.
As they carried their things into the cabin, Roman sensed Holly’s mood. She’d been through more hell in the past few months than most people would endure in a lifetime. Whatever it took for her to get through it was what she would have. He’d see to that.
Finally, everything was safely inside. It was only after Roman had closed and locked the door behind him that he began to relax. As he stood within the quiet, Holly came out of the kitchen. When she saw him standing by the door, she smiled. At that point, his heart took flight. It was true. She was here. And she was his for the rest of their lives.
Holly turned in a circle, looking up at the loft and then back at the kitchen.
“Oh, Roman, I feel like I’ve just come home.”
“Come here, you,” he growled, and then went to meet her, unable to wait.
He scooped her off of her feet and into his arms, then started walking toward the stairs.
Startled, she threw her arms around his neck for support and began to laugh.
“Shouldn’t we unpack first?”
“It can wait. Now close your eyes.”
She did as he asked.
He kept walking up the steps to the loft, holding her close against his chest as they returned to the proverbial scene of the crime. When he got to the landing, he stopped.
“Can I look?” she asked.
“Not yet,” he said, and then set her on her feet.
“Now can I look?
He grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her around until she was facing the bed.
“Holly, baby...”
She was all but dancing with excitement.
“Yes?”
“Open your eyes.”
The bed was the first thing she saw, and then what was on it.
“Oh, Roman.”
She tried to say more, but the words wouldn’t come. Her vision began to blur, but there was no way to mistake what she was seeing.
Daisies. They were everywhere. Hundreds upon hundreds of delicate white blooms with bright yellow centers. Scattered upon the bed, around the floor and across the pillows.
Roman pulled her close, letting his chin rest at the top of her head. His voice was low and filled with emotion, but there was no mistaking his intent.
“I’m going to make love to you there. And for the rest of your life, every time you see a daisy, you’re going to remember this day...and me.”
She turned. With tears streaming down her face, she reached for him.
“I told you once before that I might not remember my name, but I would always remember who loved me.”
He nodded, silenced by the truth of her statement.
“The daisies will fade and the years will pass, but I will never...and I mean never...forget you, Roman. Do you understand?”
Nearly blinded by his own tears, he touched her face. “More than I would ever have imagined.”
He picked her up and started toward the bed. Just before he laid her down among the flowers, he pressed one last, gentle kiss upon her mouth.
“No regrets?”
His tenderness was nearly Holly’s undoing. Her breath caught at the back of her throat as she whispered against his lips.
“No regrets.”
He’d been right after all. She would never forget the feel of silken petals sticking to her skin, or their clean, tangy scent filling the air as they crushed beneath the weight of their bodies. She wrapped her arms around him, holding on tight as he sent her to ecstasy.
&nb
sp; It was forever a moment to remember.
Daisies in her hair.
Roman in her heart.
Don’t miss the exciting finale to The Justice Way
miniseries! Look for Royal’s story, coming in
1999—only from Silhouette’s Intimate Moments.
ISBN : 978-1-4592-6561-5
ROMAN’S HEART
Copyright © 1998 by Sharon Sala
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