“You think he would have stuck around?” I ask.
“Unlikely,” Roman runs a hand down my arm, touch soft as if he just needed to reach out for something to ground him. “But I won’t take any chances with you.”
Chapter 36
Several days have passed since we were told Jenson has gone on the run, and I think I’m going to go mad. There is no way — absolutely no way — I am staying holed up here until he gets caught. That could take months, years even. Deputy Wright has stopped by on a few occasions, checking in or giving updates on the search, but so far, nothing has changed. He has not been seen or heard from since the night he attacked me at the bar. It’s been so long since then that even the bruise on my jaw has faded to nothing more than a shadow.
Roman hovers, constantly checking we are safe, distracted by all of this and neglecting his own duties and the ranch. He has calves being born daily, paperwork that is piling up in his office. I don’t work shifts at thebar, even though they need me. I have a great workforce, but it’s such a busy season that they need all the hands they can get. At some point we need to say enough is enough and come to terms with the fact that he isn’t here, and we can’t remain in limbo.
Fluffing the pillow, I release a breath. “I’m going to work tomorrow.”
Roman halts at his drawers, a towel wrapped around his hips. “It’s too dangerous.”
“No.” Collapsing down onto the mattress, I hold his eyes. “It’s not. We can’t just stay like this, Roman.”
“It won’t be much longer.” He dismisses me, but I can see how tense his shoulders are.
“How long?” I press. “A day? A week? A month?”
“I don’t know.”
“How long, Roman?” I put on the pressure.
“I don’t know!”
“Exactly. I have a bar to run.”
“You’ve got staff.”
“Roman,” I snap, my frustration growing, “I get it, I do. You want to keep us all safe, but at what expense?”
“I don’t want to argue, Niamh.” He sighs, so much weight in the sound, I soften a little.
“We’re not arguing, Roman.” My voice is lower now, gentler. “But this is not sustainable.”
“Just a few more days.” He comes toward me, abandoning the drawers and whatever he was looking for.
“No.” I don’t back down. “I’m going to work. You’re going to work.”
“I am working.”
I scoff, “No, you’re hovering.”
His brows scrunch adorably. “I am not.”
“What’d you get done today, cowboy?” I chuckle, crossing my arms as I wait for him to answer.
“Well, I —” He cuts himself off before starting again. “There was —”
“My point exactly,” I shuffle closer and get onto my knees, wrapping my arms around his neck and lean in, whispering my mouth on his, “I understand your need to protect everyone you love but let’s not forget the life we are trying to build.”
He tilts his head forward and rests his brow against mine. “You’re right.”
“I know I am,” I grin.
He moves quickly, pinning me beneath him as he rests his weight on his forearms. “Just promise me you’ll be smart. Anything happens, and you get out of there.”
“I’m a big girl, cowboy. I can take care of myself.”
