Roman looks around the room. “I was coming to whisk you away to our bedroom to—”
“Roman, your dad is looking for you. I think he wants to talk about Liam’s stag party.” Ollie comes into the room. Roman presses his palm into his eye.
“How about after you are finished with your dad, you find me?” I take his hand, look up, and wink.
“Okay.” He bends and kisses me again and runs off with Ollie.
I bite my lip as I watch his perfect butt move away.
“Wipe your drool, sister.”
I turn just in time to see Tillie sitting on an armchair opposite mine.
“I am not drooling,” I reply as I wipe the side of my mouth…just in case I was.
Tillie pulls her ponytail, as is the norm. Even in a relaxed state, she is neat as a pin.
“You’re right, you’re not drooling. You’re just in love.”
My heart skips a beat.
I bend my head, trying to hide my blush. “Love? Tillie, it’s been a week and some days. Plus, you know about us, so…this is not love.”
Tillie folds her arms over her chest. “Every love story has to have a beginning, and this is your beginning.”
I shake my head. “I will not feed into the delusion. I think we enjoy each other’s company.”
Tillie stands. “Call it what you like. I saw you guys today in your full glory, and that look in Rom’s eyes? That was love.”
“No, it was shock,” I cackle.
Tillie stops by my chair. “All I am saying is that if you both decide to stay together, it wouldn’t be a bad thing.”
“Thank you for telling me.”
Tillie raises her eyebrows. “Don’t thank me yet; you will be joining this crazy family. Anyway, going to have some tea. Later.”
“Later,” I reply. Love? I don’t want to lean into the idea, but it’s tempting. To be loved and cherished by Roman Voss would be amazing.
ROMAN
The meeting in my dad’s office took about an hour and a half. We decide on a bar downtown. Liam came in and changed the plans. He doesn’t want a stag party; he wants to relax with the family tonight at home. I couldn’t be happier. I wasn’t in the mood for a bar and noisy people. My family around me and my girl on my lap sounds like perfection to me. My girl?
After spending time with Noelle, I realize her chaos keeps me on my toes. She’s honest, intelligent, open, and gorgeous. I know it’s just been a week and some days, but I don’t know. That’s why I am on my laptop looking over the contract between Prestige Partners and me. I like following the rules, but I need to know what the procedure is when you fall in love with a companion. Shit, wait a minute. Love? Am I in love? After a week? Is it love or infatuation? How do I even know if it is love?
I don’t hear the knock on the door or see the person walking into the room.
“Hey, can I bother you for a bit?”
I lift my eyes to see Tessa closing the door behind her. I wait for the skip in my heart, the nervous tick. Nothing. I feel nothing. What is she doing here?
“How can I help?” I ask. I stand and walk around my desk. She sits in the leather armchair.
Tessa was my dream years ago. I look at her sitting in the chair, her rich brown hair, slim body. She is beautiful. I wanted to have children with her. Until one day, I found a text of her talking to another man. Boy, I was gutted at the thought that I wasn’t enough for her.
Three years after, I dated but never found anyone to fill the void that she left in my heart. Until Noelle.
She pushes her hand behind her ear, and for the first time, I look at the ring my brother got her. It was a big shiny rock. Exactly what I expected Liam to get her.
