Loved by You

by Sophia Knightly

  “Take your time,” he said easily. It suddenly occurred to her that he would be the perfect match for their new employee, Amelie. Amelie’s strong personality would mesh well with his easygoing one. She smiled to herself, imagining how Amelie would react to Eric’s laid-back charm and hot good looks. Maybe she’d do some matchmaking of her own and get them together…

  With a parting smile, Piper made her way to the control room. As she approached the door, she noticed it was open. Inching closer, she heard muffled cries.

  Standing at the open doorway, Piper froze, immobilized at finding Brie in Roman’s arms. Nestled in the V of his braced legs, her body writhed against his. When she heard Brie cry out, “I love you, babe,” and saw her kiss Roman, Piper pivoted away blindly.

  Blinking back furious tears, she ran behind the control room and furtively searched for an exit, frantic to get away. Her stomach twisted with despair until she found the exit door. She turned the knob and threw the door open as she heard heavy footsteps behind her.

  “Piper!” Roman boomed. She darted outside and slammed the door behind her, panting heavily.

  Once outside, she doubled over and sputtered furiously, “Stupid, stupid, stupid.”

  Roman reached her with lightning speed, his face creased with alarm. “Piper, what are you doing out here?”

  She remained hunched over with her hands on her knees as she inhaled juddering breaths. “Go away!” She dug her nails into her palms, wishing she could deck him.

  Roman pulled her toward him and tried to tilt her chin upward, but she wrenched away. She pressed her lips together to stop them from trembling. Don’t cry. Don’t let him see you fall apart.

  “What’s wrong with you?” he demanded, sounding genuinely perplexed.

  “You are what’s wrong,” she uttered thickly. She met his eyes with so much contempt, he flinched. “I can’t stand to look at you.”

  “Settle down,” he said quietly. “Is this about what just happened in the control room? If so, you’ve got it all wrong.”

  Tense moments passed as she slowly uncoiled and met his gaze defiantly. Let him try to explain why his arms were wrapped around Brie…why they were kissing!

  He scraped his face with a rough hand and muttered, “You must have witnessed Brie’s reaction after I broke up with her. She had just flung herself at me before you got there.”

  “That’s not all I saw. You were kissing,” Piper huffed.

  “She kissed me, not the other way around.” A frown tugged between his dark brows. “The moment I caught sight of you turning away, I set her aside and came after you.”

  Piper’s pent-up breath came out in a ragged whoosh. Roman’s explanation eased the taut bubble of pain inside her, but she still couldn’t let it go. “You only broke up with her tonight because of what she did.”

  “That couldn’t be further from the truth. I was planning to break up with her after the gala,” he said firmly.

  “Really? You still don’t know all the mean things she did to undermine your mother.”

  He reared back and stared at her, stunned. “What are you talking about?” His gaze pinned her with such intensity, she struggled to speak freely. When she finished telling him about Brie’s transgressions, he groaned, “Why didn’t you tell me this before? I asked you to check up on my mother.”

  “I did everything you asked me to,” she retorted. “But Sadie wouldn’t let me tell you about Brie. She wanted to do it herself.” She aimed a reproachful look at him. “But you wouldn’t listen to her.”

  “It’s true,” he said, stricken. “I put her off while I was away, thinking it was just a clash of personalities between her and Brie. I shouldn’t have assumed that.”

  Piper eyed him warily. “I don’t get it. What kind of spell did Brie cast over you that it took you so long to break up with her?” She wouldn’t be satisfied until he explained.

  The air between them crackled with discord.

  “It was a huge mistake from the get go. Brie is Vince’s only child, and he dotes on her. I didn’t have the heart to say ‘no’ when he asked me to take her out to cheer her up. When he told me how emotionally abusive her ex-boyfriend had been, I felt protective toward her and didn’t mind doing it. But as time went by, I realized I wasn’t doing anyone any favors.” He winced. “What should have lasted a few weeks morphed into months, and she got ahead of herself.”

  “How long did you actually date?”

  “Three months too long,” he muttered. “The moment I saw you, I knew I had to break up with her. I woke up every morning thinking of you and went to bed at night wanting to be with you. I became obsessed with wanting you. I could think of nothing else.”

  Piper hung onto every word, desperate to believe him, but unable to fully give in. “What kept you from doing it? Why did we have to suffer while you made up your mind?”

  “It wasn’t that simple. Vince’s health was deteriorating and it pained me to watch him struggle to pretend he was OK for Brie’s sake.” He shook his head. “That last night I had dinner at their home, he kept saying how Brie had never been as happy as she was with me. He was doing everything the doctor had told him not to do, smoking a cigar, enjoying a brandy and having chocolate cake. It was as if he was planning his last hurrah before he had to face surgery.”

  “That’s awful,” she said softly. “I had no idea.”

  Roman swallowed hard. “I didn’t want to destroy his hopes all at once, so I went along with it, hoping to let him down gently. But I realize now I was diminishing his strength by treating him with velvet gloves.”

  “Why did you do it?”

  “Out of love. Vince is a good man, one of the best. He stood by me when I needed him as a kid and as an adult. I wanted to protect him and lighten his load. But the truth is I would never want someone to treat me like that. It’s emasculating.” He exhaled heavily.

  Piper felt Roman’s torment as if it were her own as she watched him struggle to continue.

  “I went to see him as soon as I got back from Scottsdale and told him I was breaking up with Brie. When I said I’d been in love with you since high school, he remembered. I said I’d broken your heart once by leaving you, and I would never let you go again.”

  A sharp, hopeful ache dinged her heart as she held her breath. “You told him that? What did he say?”

  “He said his health issues had taught him not to live with regrets or take anyone for granted. Love comes first.” The corners of Roman’s mouth lifted in fond remembrance.

  Piper stared at him helplessly. He had told Vince he’d loved her ever since high school, and he would never let her go again. The tender revelation made her throat thicken with emotion. His admission was incredibly sweet and noble.

  “Oh,” she whispered after a long pause, unable to utter more. Everything made sense now.

  “Oh?” he repeated with an ironic shake of his head. “Is that all you have to say? You doubted me so much that you immediately jumped to conclusions.”

  “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that,” she allowed. “I was just so upset at seeing you with Brie tonight.” She attempted a contrite smile. “I guess I lost my head.”

  “As I recall, you were no angel tonight,” he murmured, circling her slowly. Every nerve in her body jumped when he stopped abruptly and regarded her with a sardonic arch of his thick brow. A quiver shot to the pit of her belly as he leaned in close. “You’ve been taunting me all night, laughing and flirting with Eric. How do you think I felt seeing you dance so close to him?”

  Heat prickled her skin in a slow burn and her legs went weak. He was so close, she could feel his testosterone envelope her. “That stops now, Gypsy. I won’t share you with anyone.”

  “I don’t want anyone but you,” she said dazedly, clutching his shoulders as her knees gave way.

  “I love you so much my heart hurts,” he declared gruffly.

  “Mine too.” Her heart rioted joyfully in her chest as he bent forward.


  His warm breath tickled her ear as he languidly traced the shell of her ear with the tip of his tongue. Her skin tingled with gooseflesh and she shivered. Nuzzling the soft spot behind her ear, he blew against her sensitized skin.

  “I’m not letting you go. Is that clear, Piper Louise?” he purred roughly.

  Speechless, she nodded.

  He gave a low, wry chuckle. “Good, because I want to marry you.” He gazed directly in her eyes. “Will you marry me?”

  “Yes, oh yes,” she cried, throwing her arms around his neck and squeezing him tight.

  He kissed her eyes, cheeks and neck, lingering on the hollow of her throat before he found her mouth. Her lips parted under the pressure of his lips, his tongue tasting her, filling her, driving her wild with a deliberate mating dance.

  His fingers delved into her hair and lifted the heavy curls from her neck. “Did you know the male lion bites his lioness’s nape before he makes love to her?” he inquired, his breath warm and moist on her nape. He gave her nape a gentle love-bite, and she shuddered violently, her body inundating with fierce longing. A throaty pleasure-moan escaped her parted lips.

  “You forgot the part when the lioness screeches,” Piper murmured shakily, every cell in her body alive with desire.

  A slow smile tucked into the corner of his mouth. “Oh, she’ll screech all right. Several times,” he added with a wink.

  Piper slid her arms under his tuxedo jacket and hugged him as peered up at him. “Oh, Roman. Being your wife is all I ever wanted.”

  “You had my heart the first time I laid eyes on you. I’m keeping you with me.” His beaming eyes glowed with love. “Forever.”

  “Forever,” Piper repeated fervently.

  He bent his head and his mouth captured hers as one hand cradled her face and the other roamed her curves. Her chest pressed against his, pulsing with desire. Holding her firmly, his mouth moved over hers and tender kisses escalated to hungry, carnal ones. She clung to him, trembling, elated, barely able to breathe from his sweet torment.

  He slowly uncoiled from her and let out a long, frustrated sigh, his features taut with reining in his lust. “I could kiss you all night, but we have to get back inside. I need to close the evening’s events.”

  “OK,” she said, swallowing rapid breaths to still her pounding heart.

  He watched her with a slow smile. “I just got a flashback of our high school days.” He quirked an eyebrow. “Do you remember Ruby’s Burger Joint?”

  “How could I forget? We went there every Friday night after a game and devoured burgers, fries and hot fudge sundaes.”

  “And afterwards, we’d make out in my car. I could never get enough of your kisses.” He grinned. “Wanna go there tonight?”

  “Like this?” She laughed at the thought of them arriving in formalwear.

  “Yeah, I’m starving.” He scowled. “I lost my appetite watching you with Eric.”

  “Oh no! What am I going to do about Eric? I came with him tonight.”

  “You’re leaving with me,” Roman said in no uncertain terms.

  Piper smiled at his stormy face.

  “We’ll go to Ruby’s just as soon as I wrap up the event.” He led her into the ballroom, his big, warm hand sturdy around hers.

  Once inside, she searched for Brie and saw she was nowhere to be found, thank God. Making a quick sweep of the room, Piper was relieved to find Eric and Dean sitting side by side, watching Sadie on the stage.

  Eric’s gaze met hers, and he winked. He gave her a thumbs-up confirming what she’d known all along. Sadie had scored a grand slam, setting the stage for her son’s “come to Jesus” moment as she’d once told Piper he needed.

  Sadie beamed at Piper and Roman as they came to stand beside the stage. “Ah, there she is. Let’s have a round of applause for Piper Chandler, the designer of our grand prize auction item. This gorgeous bracelet I’m wearing is part of Piper’s Man Eater collection and the Lion Tennis Academy is offering it up tonight in a live auction.”

  A bursting round of applause followed Sadie’s announcement. “I’ll start the bids at $500.00 though this original piece is worth much more.” She lifted her wrist and turned it from side to side. “It is made of baroque freshwater pearls and18 carat gold. The eyes are sapphires and it has a ruby tongue. I wish I could keep it for myself,” she said with a huge smile.

  Enthusiasm rocked the crowd and rapid-fire bidding brought the bracelet bids to $5,000.00.

  Sadie teased the crowd, “Five grand already, Thanks, everyone! Do I hear six? Come on, folks, this goes directly to our talented kids,” she rallied.

  Dean stood and called out, “Ten grand, but only if you come with it, Sadie.”

  The audience erupted with wild applause.

  Sadie’s blinked in surprise. Her face illuminated like a shooting star as she grinned coyly. “Why, Dean, you know I will,” she flirted back, her face rosy with delight.

  Roman shook his head and looked heavenward. “What am I going to do with her? She’s incorrigible,” he mumbled to Piper. “Be right back.”

  He bounded up the stairs leading to the stage and took the microphone as Sadie rushed down to thank Dean. A round of applause and cheers followed his arrival on stage. He bowed humbly to the packed house.

  “Thank you very much. I appreciate it. Tonight was a huge success because of your generous support. The vendors, our guests, the silent auction donors, we couldn’t have done any of this without you, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. As you know, the Lion Tennis Academy provides full scholarships to talented youths.”

  He paused while applause rang out. “I have a few announcements to make. The first one is that my esteemed mentor and good friend, Vince Corrigan, has set up a full scholarship for two students this coming season.” Smiling, Roman waited until the applause died down.

  “My other announcement is a personal one,” he said with a triumphant smile. “Years ago I met an amazing young girl and fell in love with her big heart and incredible beauty. Tonight, I asked her to marry me, and she agreed.” He gazed lovingly at Piper and said, “Gypsy, you’ve made me the happiest man alive.”

  Sadie let out a whoop of joy and did a happy little jig, drawing hearty chuckles from Dean as a standing ovation followed Roman’s announcement.

  Roman rushed down from the stage and swept Piper into his arms, swirling her around and around. Her head spun madly and her heart soared with joy as everyone hooted their approval

  Epilogue

  One month later in Santorini, Greece…

  * * *

  “I still can’t believe you remembered I was dreaming of a trip to the Greek Islands,” Piper marveled. She turned on her side in the four-poster bed and noted the satisfaction on her husband’s face.

  Roman’s teeth flashed white against his tanned skin. “The minute you said ‘yes’, I started planning our honeymoon. No detail escapes the Lion,” he boasted with supreme male confidence.

  “I’ll say,” she murmured. A delicate shudder rattled her at the memory of his “detailed” lovemaking. She lay there limp and blissfully replete, unable to move a muscle.

  They had just enjoyed a delicious brunch of hearty breads and homemade jam and butter, creamy yogurt, a hunk of mountain cheese, assorted olives and meats, and local pastries washed down with freshly squeezed orange juice. She wouldn’t be able to eat another bite until dinner.

  Sunlight shimmered in from the open window of the honeymoon cottage as she watched her freshly showered husband towel off, enjoying the magnificent play of corded muscles beneath bronze skin.

  “Do you think Sadie will ever forgive us for eloping?” she asked, her thoughts returning home.

  Roman snorted. “Are you kidding? She would have done the same thing.”

  “True. I admire your mother so much. She says life is too short to hold grudges. Anyone else would have lashed out at Brie with revenge. But when I asked her what she was going to do about Brie, she smiled and said
, ‘She has suffered plenty by losing out on my son.’”

  “They broke the mold with my mother,” Roman said with a short laugh. “Right now, she’s too busy having fun with Dean to worry about anything else. I’m glad he decided to stay in Naples for the season. Who knows? Maybe he’ll decide to move here.”

  “I hope he does. They’re wonderful together. I can’t believe he bid ten thousand dollars for my bracelet, but I’m thrilled he gave it to Sadie. Orders for my Man Eater line have skyrocketed since.”

  He grinned. “You’re going to be busy when we get back, and not only with me.”

  “Yeah, good thing Comfort Creatures has Amelie working with us.”

  Roman’s smile vanished. “Are you really going to introduce her to Eric?” He folded his arms over his chest. “I’m still not happy about your date with him.”

  Piper laughed at his disgruntled expression. “Eric is a great guy. I’d love for Amelie to meet him.”

  Roman watched her from across the room, a smile playing at his lips. He looked wicked with two days worth of scruff on his square jaw. He hadn’t shaved since they arrived, and Piper thought he resembled a sexy pirate. “What do you want to do today? We only caught a glimpse of this beautiful island on our way here.”

  “I loved seeing the volcanic cliffs with the blue covered white cottages. Santorini is more beautiful than I imagined,” she said dreamily.

  “We haven’t gone out in two days.” He grinned unrepentantly. “Not that I’m complaining.”

  Piper chuckled. “No complaints here.”

  He lifted a sardonic brow filled with suggestion. “Are we ever going to venture outside?”

  Piper shrugged. “Probably not.” She turned on her stomach and rested her cheek on the pillow.

  He sank down beside her, smelling manly of clean soap and freshly laundered cotton. She felt a gentle love bite on her nape and a shiver of anticipation pulsated through her. His unshaven cheek rasped against her delicate skin sending a zap of pleasure deep in her belly.