Roman snaps his attention to Mr Paris. “Can you sign here please?” He holds out a pen. Even in his delivery jacket, he outshines every guy in this room with his huge frame and gorgeous face.
“Busy day?” Mr Paris asks, reaching for the pen. “I started out as a delivery driver before I worked my way up. Hard work.”
“Yes. This is my last job.” Roman’s usually animated voice is flat. He’s avoiding looking at me. I want to explain why I’m here but I can’t.
“Thanks.” Mr Paris hands the pen back. Roman stands there for a second and then turns quickly and marches out the door.
I sneeze five times in quick succession. I’m not sure if it’s the lilies or shock. A waiter arrives with some oysters arranged in a heart shape and waits for me to stop sneezing before he puts them down on the table.
“Excuse me. Need the ladies room,” I stand up quickly, sneezing again for emphasis.
I stare at my reflection in the mirror. My mascara is smudged under my eyes and my nose is slightly red.
How has my Valentine’s Day gone so badly? I’m in a fancy restaurant with a man who wants to tear down parts of the town I love and who’s bought me lilies which I’m allergic to. The guy next door who I should be with today now thinks I’m some sort of flighty, gold-digging type.
I have to make things right.
There’s a door leading from the ladies room to the back entrance onto the street, so I step outside to get some air. Except my legs keep moving relentlessly, towards Fircroft street, towards Roman. Have you ever started doing something with no idea of the outcome? That’s how I feel, and it feels good. I’m being true to what I want - not what my parents want, not what Mr Paris wants, but what my heart, mind and body longs for.
I have a momentary mental flash of poor Mr Paris sitting in the restaurant with his plate of heart-shaped oysters and the basket of lilies but I put it out of my mind.
It’s freezing cold but I’m warm as I make my way up to my apartment. I can see Roman’s home, because the light is shining out of his window onto the yard below. He’s either going to think I’m crazy or… I don’t know.
I swing my legs over the iron divider between the balconies and knock on his window. He looks up and - thank goodness - he smiles.
I’m shivering as he carefully opens the door.
“Bad date?” he says with a grin.
“Beyond bad. Can I come in?” I can’t help staring into his eyes. He’s wearing sweats and his hair is damp from the shower. He smells like pine and musk, it’s intoxicating.
“Of course.” He takes my hand and helps me inside. His place is warm and cozy, and I settle down next to him on the sofa.
“Look Roman. I have some explaining to do.” I can’t look directly at him. I couldn’t bear it if he hates me now. My breath catches slightly in my chest.
“Okay.” He sounds neutral.
“My Dad made me go out for dinner with Mr Paris. He’s trying to get investment in the town, I guess I was meant to be friendly to him. But I’m not attracted to him in any way. In fact, now that I've got to know him I think he’s a bit of a dick. I thought he was here to help Snowflake but it turns out he just wants to rip up Blitzen Street and make money.” I sigh and sneak a peek at Roman’s handsome profile.
He’s looking directly at me. “Well, you seemed a bit surprised by those lilies.”
I turn towards him. “I’m actually allergic. Couldn’t have got any worse. I left him in the restaurant and came to see you. Am I an awful person?”
He grins at me. “Awful. Just the way I like ‘em. Anyway, I wanted to talk about Ty. He came for me all guns blazing and I pushed him away, he bashed his eye on a car. I wasn’t going to fight a drunk guy, especially not your crazy cousin. I might kill him by mistake.”
I think he’s joking.
“Are you serious?” I raise an eyebrow at him.
“Don’t do that. It’s crazy sexy.” He strokes my arm lightly, sending tingles of pleasure up and down my body.
I can’t resist any longer and reach forward to run my hand over the back of his neck, stroking the back of his hair. I gaze into his warm brown eyes as his pupils dilate. It’s like falling into a wonderful dream, looking into the depths of his eyes as he looks back at me. He leans forward and lifts me into his lap so I’m straddling him. I close my eyes and gently kiss his warm lips.
A fire ignites in the pit of my belly as he presses his lips onto mine, his hands stroking my back, thighs and waist. My nipples harden as his lips push my mouth open and he explores it with his tongue. My hands roam under his T-shirt, feeling the heat of his body and the smooth contours of his muscles.
His cock is hard beneath me as I grind down, making him groan. My breath hitches in my throat as he runs his hands up my thighs, pushing up my little black dress, so he can feel my ass. I’m wet already in anticipation as he trails his fingers under the lace of my panties, brushing my pussy with his fingertips.
He unzips the back of my dress and I pull it over my head. He groans again as he takes in my stockings and semi-sheer bra. His hands are running over my curves again as I grind down harder, feeling his huge cock get even harder underneath me. His fingers brush against my hardened nipples, softly at first and then more firmly, kneading them between his fingers as I gasp.
