“Oh, and what exactly is this?” he asked, because he needed to hear exactly what he was up against when it came to turning her thinking around.
“Sex,” she said, deliberately trivializing what they had shared.
As much as Roman recognized the protective mechanism, he couldn’t say she hadn’t hurt him. He forced an easy laugh. “Good thing you never made that promise not to lie, sweetheart.”
With those words, he let her know he didn’t believe one word she’d uttered, and this time she sucked in a deep breath, realizing she’d been caught.
He inhaled deeply. The scent of sex did hover in the air, arousing him and making him want her despite her stubborn minimizing of what they’d shared. He’d already made his point. Together they’d experienced something much deeper than just sex.
He nudged her legs apart with his knees.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“You said you’re hungry, yes?” He didn’t wait for a reply. “You also said what’s between us is just sex.” He nudged the head of his enlarged penis between her legs and entered her slowly, methodically, with a slick, thick stroke she couldn’t help but feel. He sure as hell did.
Her lips parted and her eyes dilated as she took him inside.
What was he doing? she’d asked. “I’m going to make you eat your words.” He was going to make her experience every taste, touch, and sensation so that he’d always be a part of her. He was going to prove to her that everything between them was deep and meaningful.
His powerful strokes inside her body elicited a response he couldn’t mistake. One she couldn’t either, if the arousing sounds coming from her were anything to go by.
Every moan that passed her lips settled inside him and brought a stinging sensation to his eyes, a thick lump in his throat.
And later, as she lay asleep in his arms, he knew she’d become a part of him too. Or maybe, he thought, she always had been.
The next day, the sun had long ago dipped below the horizon, an orange ball of fire in the reddened sky, when Roman drove them back into town. Charlotte’s stomach plummeted. She wasn’t ready to end their time together so soon.
After that one serious conversation that got them nowhere, things had lightened up. They’d made love, hand-fed each other homemade cookies, slept in each other’s arms, and woke in time for the sunrise. They’d had a picnic lunch outside on the beautiful premises, then shared dinner with the Innsbrooks before returning to the room to make love one more time before they left The Inn for good.
Perhaps Roman’s melancholy matched hers, because they rode home in silence. By the time he walked her to her apartment, her stomach was in twisted knots.
She wasn’t ready to say good-bye. “I wonder if there were any break-ins last night,” she said, looking to prolong his time with her.
“Not that I wish it on anyone, but it would definitely get me off the hook with the women in this town.” His blue eyes glittered in amusement. “I have an alibi.”
She smiled. “Yeah. I know what you mean. If no one knows you left town, the thief can’t use you as his shield— if that was his intent after the article.” She shrugged.
“Only Mom and my brothers know I was out of town, so we’ll see what happens.”
Her mother knew too, but since she rarely left the house to socialize, there was no chance of her disclosing the news. “Breaking into houses and stealing panties,” Charlotte said with a shake of her head.
A blush stained his cheeks and she raised a hand to touch him one more time. As her fingertips lightly stroked his roughened cheek, he met and held her gaze. Knowledge glittered in those intelligent blue eyes and she pulled back, embarrassed by her simple display of affection that gave away too much of her feelings.
“This is more serious than a juvenile prank,” she said, keeping things between them light. “No one in their right mind would blame you. The whole idea of panty theft is ridiculous.”
He shrugged, drawing her gaze to his black T-shirt and the tight muscles beneath. “You never know what’s going to turn a man on. A strange man, anyway.”
She nodded, then swallowed hard. Silence surrounded them. No noises sounded from the other apartments or the street below. Nothing remained but to say so long. “So …”
“So.”
“Will I see you again?” She mentally kicked herself as soon as the words escaped. That should have been his line.
“Why? Looking for more sex?” he asked, a wry smile on his lips.
She scowled, his words hitting like a punch in the stomach. She’d regretted the defensive words as soon as they’d escaped her lips. Now she knew how she’d made him feel. “I suppose I deserved that.”
She’d obviously hurt him when she’d classified their relationship that way. She hadn’t meant to, had merely been looking to protect herself. As a means of defense, words were too little, too late, anyway.
He reached out and cupped her chin in his hand. “I just don’t want you to shut me out with remarks like that. Open your mind and see where things lead.”
Charlotte already knew the outcome. She’d end up in Yorkshire Falls while he traveled abroad. End of discussion, end of relationship.
But he didn’t seem in any rush to reach that inevitable conclusion, didn’t seem to be leaving town anytime soon. So why borrow trouble by arguing with him? She summoned a smile. “I suppose I can manage that.”
“She says too lightly.”
“Come on, let’s not ruin a spectacular weekend by arguing, okay?”
He stepped closer. “I was spectacular, huh?”
His masculine scent wrapped around her, became a part of her, and her heartbeat kicked into high gear. “I meant the weekend was spectacular.”
His arm came to rest above her head and his lips came within kissing distance. “And I?”
“You were even better,” she murmured as his mouth touched hers. The kiss was too light, too fast, and over too soon. He left her wanting more, which, she supposed, was the point he’d intended to make.
“You will see me again.” He grabbed her key from her hand, opened the door, and let her inside.
By the time she turned back, he was gone.
CHAPTER NINE
Roman walked into an unlocked house and tossed his keys onto the counter. The darkened rooms and absolute silence told him his mother wasn’t home. He muttered a curse. You’d think the woman had more sense than to be careless, with a thief on the loose. Then again, she probably thought the panty thief business was a joke—along with half the women in this town.
“Ridiculous.” Tomorrow morning he’d touch base with Rick and find out what, if any, break-ins had occurred last night.
But for now, he needed sleep. God knew he’d gotten none last night, and the memory of why was enough to set him off once again. He made his way into his old childhood room, dumped his bag onto the floor, and headed for the bathroom.
He set the shower water on cold, but it didn’t help ease the ache Charlotte inspired. He’d showered with her earlier today and he vividly remembered coming inside her, water pelting them from all sides. The spray hit his skin now, but not even this ice-cold dousing could cool him off.
He was tired and aroused all at the same time and when he walked into his room, he was so exhausted he didn’t even turn on the lights. Only one thought cruised through his mind. After his time with Charlotte, his life and future had changed, and not just because of a family promise.
He had decisions to make, but first he needed sleep. He crawled into bed. His head hit the cool sheets, his back eased into the mattress, and his body came into contact with warm, soft flesh.
“Holy shit.” Roman jerked back and bolted upright in the bed. “Who the hell’s there?”
He jumped out of bed and started for the door, intending to hit the switch on the wall so he could shed light on the intruder.
“That’s not the reaction I expected, but I suppose a girl has to start somewhere. Now ge
t back into bed and I’ll show you what I brought for you.” The voice sounded more feline than female.
Considering Roman definitely felt like trapped prey, the analogy made perfect sense. The sound of a hand patting the mattress echoed around him.
He flicked on the light and was greeted by the grotesque sight of Alice Magregor, her frizzy hair overwaxed and oversprayed, and her body stuffed into Charlotte’s infamous panties. It was a body Roman wouldn’t touch in drunken stupor, and he was stone cold sober now. More’s the pity.
“Oh, you don’t sleep naked.”
She pouted in a way that turned his stomach.
“Never mind. I’ll take care of that. Now turn out the light and get back into bed.” She arched and preened, stretching her hand across his pillow.
Damn, he’d have to change the sheets before getting some sleep. He clenched his jaw, her invasion of his privacy unwanted and unwelcome. “I’m going to turn around and let you get decent. Then I’m going to pretend this never happened and you’re going to do the same.”
She didn’t flinch, and before he could turn, she said, “Don’t tell me you aren’t interested. I flashed you a sign the other day and you smiled at me.”
“You’ve got your facts out of order. I smiled before you flashed your panties.”
“You journalists and your facts. It all means the same thing. You smiled. You showed interest. Now come to bed.”
Whether she was being deliberately dense or pitifully stupid, he couldn’t say. “We live in a small town, Alice. I was being neighborly. Now get dressed.” He crossed his arms and turned away. He leaned against the doorframe, unable to believe Alice Magregor was naked in his bed.
Being cruel wasn’t his style, but damned if he was going to humor her or give her any indication he wanted something like this to happen again. If the house had been locked, it couldn’t have happened in the first place. His mother was in for one hell of a lecture on safety. She couldn’t be so darn trusting any longer. Thanks to her false sense of security, she’d left the house open, her panties in danger of being stolen, and his body in danger of being violated, if Alice had her way.
He couldn’t imagine how she’d known his mother wasn’t home so she could come in and make herself comfortable. Not that he cared, as long as she got the hell out now. He glanced over his shoulder, but she hadn’t made a move.
“I love a man who plays hard to get.”
The distinct sound of laughter traveled up from the front hall. His mother’s laughter and a man’s rumbling chuckle. At the sound of other people in the house, Alice’s eyes had opened wide.
Just what he needed, Roman thought, an audience. He motioned for Alice to move, but she sat up in shock.
“… see a light on upstairs. Roman, is that you?” Raina’s voice grew louder and accomplished what Roman couldn’t.
Alice flew out of bed. “Oh, my God.” She dove for her clothes. Scrambling to pull on her pants, she danced around on one foot, attempting to get one leg inside jeans that had been turned inside out.
“Roman? If it’s you, answer me.”
“Don’t you dare,” Alice hissed.
“I thought they taught you the basics back in kindergarten,” Roman commented. “If you sat down and put only one leg at a time in there, it might make things easier.”
Raina’s footsteps sounded louder than his pounding heart and, now that he stopped to think about it, sweeter than anything he’d heard in a long while. There was nothing like being caught to kill off interest, and if Alice’s beet-red face was any indication, she wouldn’t be returning here or facing him anywhere, anytime soon.
He waited until Alice had calmed down enough to get her leg into half of her jeans before calling down to his mother. “I hear you, Mom. I got back a little while ago.”
A male voice spoke with Raina—Eric, probably—which explained why she hadn’t made her way up the stairs. She only walked the steps once in the morning and again at night. Roman had been considering speaking to Chase about turning one of the rooms downstairs into a bedroom to accommodate Raina’s health.
“I want to hear all about your weekend,” Raina called and he heard her footsteps on the stairs at a quick pace that surprised him.
“Ooh, no!” This time Alice shrieked in panic.
Roman, still standing in his doorway, turned back to his bedroom in time to see her kick the pants away. She’d instead yanked up the comforter, wrapping the beige quilting around herself like a shroud.
Strange and stranger, Roman thought and shook his head. “By the way,” he said to Alice. “Dr. Fallon’s here too. But don’t worry. Thanks to years of doctor-patient confidentiality, I’m sure he knows how to be discreet.”
Besides, Roman thought, things could be worse. It could be Chase, Mr. I-Only-Report-the-Facts, pounding up the stairs behind his mother.
Raina reached the top step and walked up to him. Roman blocked her view of his room as best he could. “Hi, Mom. Feeling okay?” He glanced over her shoulder to where Eric stood behind her.
“The stairs winded me. Let’s sit on your bed and talk.” She started to push past him and he gently held on to her arm. “You can’t go in there.”
“Who’s there? Is it Charlotte?” she asked, sounding excited at the prospect.
“No, it’s not Charlotte, now please—this is a big enough mess without you getting involved or upset.” Raina shook her head and tried to see over his shoulder.
Behind her, Dr. Fallon rolled his eyes, as if to say, Once she’s on a roll, I can’t stop her, something Roman understood too well.
“Okay, see for yourself,” Roman whispered, putting a hand to his lips, silently asking his mother to keep quiet. It wasn’t his job to protect Alice from her stupidity, but he’d rather Raina take a quick peek and disappear than humiliate the woman by bulldozing in.
He stepped into the room, his mother behind him, in time to see Alice trying to open the window with shaking hands. But as Roman immediately realized, the latch was secure and Alice was in no jeopardy of height or success.
“I think we should let Eric take care of her, Roman. She’s obviously disturbed and upset,” Raina whispered, then grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the room.
Realizing he faced his mother in his underwear, Roman snagged his jeans, which he’d left on the floor. He’d survive the embarrassment better than Alice. “You’re right. Let’s go downstairs, okay?” Roman led Raina out.
He quickly detoured into the bathroom to pull on his pants, then he returned to the kitchen in time to see his mother take a spoonful of antacid liquid.
“Would you make me some tea?” Raina asked. “All this excitement’s gotten to me.”
He glanced at her, concerned. “Are you sure it’s just heartburn? Nothing heart-related? I can get Eric—”
“No. I’m fine. Just some normal indigestion.” She patted her chest. “That girl needs Eric more than I do right now.”
“Just don’t neglect your health if something’s really wrong, okay?” He checked the teakettle for water, then turned on the burner beneath it.
“I think Alice could use a sedative and a good talking-to. What was she thinking?” Raina shook her head and settled herself into a chair.
“That reminds me. What were you thinking, leaving the house wide open?”
“May I remind you, in the lifetime I’ve been living in Yorkshire Falls there’s never been a reason to use a lock?”
“Five thefts over the last week isn’t enough of a reason for you?”
“I agree, and we’ll discuss that later.” Eric walked into the room. “Alice is waiting in the hall—fully dressed,” he said in a lower voice. “I’m going to drive her home. I promised her that word of this wouldn’t get out.” His gaze settled not on Roman, who had every reason to keep this incident quiet, but on Raina, who Roman figured would love to burn the phone wires and share her eventful night with friends.
“I’m sensitive enough to know when to keep quiet,
” she said, hurt flashing in her eyes.
Roman placed his hand over hers. “I’m sure he didn’t mean to insult you, Mom. He’s just being cautious.”
“Exactly. Thank you, Roman. Raina, I’ll call you.” Eric’s voice softened. “I’m sorry our evening got cut short.”
“I appreciate you getting me out of the house. You know the boys feel better about my health when I’m with you.” She gave him a wary glance. “I’ll just enjoy tea with my son. You and I can always spend time together.”
“Tomorrow night works for me.”
“Let’s stay in tomorrow, okay?” Raina expelled a prolonged sigh.
Eric stepped forward, but she waved him away. “A cup of tea is all I need. Norman’s grease is just lying in my chest. Someone ought to break into his place and steal all the lard from his cabinets.”
Eric laughed, then turned to Roman. “I’m not sure whether to tell you to watch out for your mother or yourself.” He chuckled and before Raina could respond, Eric walked out, leaving her without the last word.
The teakettle began to sing and Roman stood up to get it. “You know, I think Dr. Fallon’s good for you.”
“You aren’t angry?” Her voice sounded soft and worried.
He glanced over his shoulder, surprised, then got back to work, steeping the tea bag in the water and adding her one teaspoon of sugar before rejoining her at the table. “Angry at what? The man obviously makes you happy. You’re getting out with him, smiling more than you have in years, and despite your health scare—”
“Maybe that’s because you’re home.”
“Or maybe it’s because a man’s finding you special and you like the attention.” He set a mug down in front of her.
“Don’t let your imagination run away with you. He’s a lonely widower and I’m keeping him company. That’s all.”
“You’ve been a lonely widow for the last twenty or so years. It’s about time you started living your life again.”
She glanced down, staring into the cup. “I never stopped living, Roman.”
“Yes, you did.” He didn’t want to have this deep conversation, yet he couldn’t deny the time had come. “In some ways you stopped living—and you changed how we lived as a result. Roman, Rick, and Chase, the bachelor brothers,” he said wryly.
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