I inhale deeply before beginning my short journey toward Roman’s opened arms, during which my knees feel rubbery and my heart feels like it’s exploding in my chest. And the minute Roman embraces me and I smell the familiar, musky spice of his aftershave, I’m hurtled straight back to our magical kiss at the waterfall.
“I’ve missed you,” Roman whispers into my ear, and my heart leaps with excitement. They’re the words I’ve been dying to hear for over a month.
“I’ve missed you, too,” I confess. I’m telling the truth. And yet, as soon as I say the words, another truth slams into me: I’m wary. Skeptical. Worried about getting my heart broken again. Obviously, it’s exciting to realize Roman came here to Orchard Blossom to visit me—for a full week, no less, and with his family in tow. But a week isn’t a long time. Not nearly long enough, anyway, for me to hope for any kind of future with Roman after he leaves and goes back to his new life in LA.
Roman leans back from our embrace to look into my eyes. “Was Denver okay? I was worried about you running into your ex.”
“I didn’t see him.” I cock my head. “By any chance, did you send someone to watch over me in Denver? There was a dark SUV that seemed like it kept popping up, especially when I was at Brandon’s house to get another load of stuff.”
Roman looks sheepish. “Yeah, that was my guy. A bodyguard.”
I bat his shoulder. “You should have told me! I thought human traffickers were after me.”
“Your number was disconnected. Plus, you told me to rip offthe Band-Aid, remember? I didn’t think you’d want to hear from me.”
“So you let me think human traffickers were after me?”
Roman laughs. “I didn’t think you’d notice him.”
“I did.”
“Sorry.” He bites his lower lip. “God, it’s good to see you again, Iris.”
“You, too.”
He touches my cheek, sending shivers skating every which way across my skin. “Do you have time to meet my son?”
“When?”
“Now.”
“Where?”
“Here.”
“Maverick’shere—at the ranch?”
Roman nods. “My parents, too. I left them chatting with a young woman with dark hair.”
“Was her hair in braids?”
“That’s the one.”
“That’s Harper. She’s been my best friend since grade school. Her family owns the place.”
Roman grins. “The minute she told me where to find you, Harper became my best friend, too.”
Even as my stomach flutters with butterflies, it’s also tight with anxiety. For weeks, I’ve been fantasizing about getting to see Roman again. In person. Just one more time. But now that he’s here, I’m equal parts elated and wary.
“So, do you have a few minutes, or ...?” Roman asks.
“Oh. Yes.” I clear my throat. As wary and nervous as I am, there’s no way in hell I’d say no to meeting Roman’s son and parents. “Just give me a minute to finish up here, and we’ll go.”
“Great.” Roman steps back while I finish brushing Butterscotch. While I work, he asks, “Do you think you mighthave some time to put Maverick on a horse this week? He saw all the horses as we drove up and begged to ride one for his first time.”
“I can saddle up a pony for him right now. Is he wearing close-toed shoes and long pants?”
Roman nods. “Sneakers and jeans.”
