“What are you doing?”
“Trying to sleep,” he says, annoyed.
“No, you’re cuddling me.”
“Do you want me to stop?”
His question stops me in my tracks. Because no, I don’t want him to stop. I wish I wanted him to stop, but the feeling of being wrapped up in his arms and tucked in close has me so content it feels criminal to move.
“No,” I admit, voice barely loud enough to be considered a whisper.
“Then go to sleep,” he mumbles into the crook of my neck. I drift off to the steady movement of his chest as he breathes deeply.
Chapter Forty-Five
CLOVER
Unlike yesterday morning, today I don’t immediately freak out over being semi-naked in the same bed as Roman.It’s fine, this is fine. We’re in Napa,I reason to myself.Being semi-naked in bed together is allowed in Napa.
The mattress shifts as Roman rolls, lifting his arms for a stretch. His eyes are still closed, but he’s awake. Seizing the opportunity, I let my eyes wander over his body, drinking in the details I hadn’t gotten to appreciate until now. Looking at his tattoos, I reach a tentative finger out and trace the outline of one of them. His eyes snap open.
“Sorry,” I mutter.
“Don’t be.”
His voice is low and gravelly from sleep. It’s unfair that someone should sound so good in the morning. He places his hand atop mine, and traces circles on it with his thumb.
“What do you want for breakfast? We can order in.” He breaks contact with me and leans over to the bedside table, grabbing a menu and flipping it over.
“I don’t actually eat breakfast, so just a coffee will be great.” The lie rolls off my tongue easily, but it tastes bitter.Roman doesn’t answer initially, so I spare a glance at him. He looks at me as though he sees right through me.
“Is there something we need to–”
“I’m going to hop in the shower. How about you order the two things you want most on the menu and I’ll have some bites?” I don’t give him the opportunity to answer because I’ve already shut and locked the bathroom door by the time the last word is out of my mouth.
When I come out twenty minutes later, the delicious smell of brunch wafts by. I head into the living room where Roman’s got the breakfast set up.
The smell of coffee swirls through the air, and when I look at the table, there are multiple to-go cups.
“What’s with all the coffees?”
“I got you a black coffee, and the rest of these are variations of what’s on their coffee menu. I know you say black is your favorite, and I’d believe you... if you didn’t make a face every time you drank it.”
“It’s an acquired taste... that I haven’t quite acquired yet,” I admit sheepishly before heading over to the lined up coffee cups.
“Well then, let’s take a little time to figure out what you like.”
After sipping various drinks, I finally settle on one, telling myself that I’m allowed to just enjoy it, and that I’m not going to stress myself out over thinking of what’s in it. Instead, I’m giving myself permission to enjoy something because it tastes good.
Beside me, Roman stares down at his phone and makes a face. “Janine booked us in at another winery today. My God, how much does this woman think I can drink?” he mutters.
“More, clearly,” I say between sips of my London Fog.
“How do you feel about blowing off her plans and goingrogue again?”
“You like to do that, don’t you?” I ask.
“What?”
