“You didn’t tell her?”
Noelle stands and walks to the cupboard. She takes down a bottle of saltines and passes me the box.
I rip it open and take a saltine out. “No. She wanted to be free of me, so I let her go.”
“You know what I think?”
“You think I was a coward for leaving?” I ask nibbling on the dry cracker.
Noelle looks at the fire; her side profile is exquisite.
“You didn’t leave because you were a coward. You left because you were the only one who refused to live with all the lies.”
My heart tugs, and I swallow. “Thank you for that.”
The room quiets again. We both sit at the end of the bed, watching the fire burn the wood.
I turn to her. “What about you?”
Her eyebrow raises. “What about me?”
“What’s your sad story?”
She smirks. “My father doesn’t think that a woman has the capability to run his empire.”
“So your dad is misogynistic.”
She nods, and her eyes sadden. “Yes, unfortunately. My brother—”
“Nicholas,” I interject, earning a small smile.
“Yes, Nick. Nick will take over the family business. He will be amazing.”
“So would you,” I add.
“How do you know that?”
I look at her, like really look at Noelle. She is beautiful. Her eyes, lips, and facial structure are perfect. But her mind, her mouth…those are the dangerous parts.
“I just know. Trust me, I got great instincts.”
She bends her head and blushes. “Can I be honest, Roman?”
“I thought we were being honest for this whole conversation.”
I roll my shoulders forward, still feeling the slight sting from the shovel.
“You didn’t need an escort for this weekend. Everyone here loves you or looks up to you.”
Looks up to me?
“Maybe…I don’t know, but having you here with me makes this trip more tolerable.”
Noelle stares up at me, and the flame casts a soft glow around us. I don’t know when we start moving toward each other. When our lips were a breathe away from kissing, she asks, “Where are your glasses? You been wearing them less”
“I’m wearing contacts. Makes me appear less intimidating.”
She places her palm against my cheek. “I like when you look intimidating.”
