A low whistle sounds from behind me, and I look over my shoulder to find Roman’s appreciative gaze taking me in.
“Diabolical,” he says, his eyes sparkling down at me. “Make sure he remembers you’re gorgeous, hmm?”
“You’re shameless,” I say. It’s true, and I don’t know what to do with that—such easy, blatant flirtation. Of course I doubt he’s serious, because people usually aren’t with me, on the rare occasion they attempt sweet talk at all. My cheeks heat all the same, and I straighten up to avoid any more talk.
My walk is steady as I head up the driveway, Roman close behind me, his hands tucked casually into his pockets. His steps are quiet, but I can feel his presence, on the sidewalk through the lawn and to the front door. I knock with no hesitation, and next to me, Roman steps into view.
I glance over at him and frown. “Why are you standing like that?”
“Like what?” he says.
“Like that.” I gesture at his posture, looming and straight as he folds his arms. “You look like a bouncer.” I pause and then go on, “Are you sure you didn’t get put in that holding cell for beating someone up?”
When he looks over at me, it’s with an expression of pleasant surprise. “Do I look like I could beat someone up?”
I roll my eyes and nod at the front door, which remains resolutely unanswered. “This is not a physically intimidating man.”
“One never knows.”
“Iknow, and he’s not,” I say. “So cool it.”
Roman shrugs, relaxing a bit, and then he grins. “Your wish is my command.”
“I highly doubt that.”
But our back and forth helps me regain some of my confidence, banishing my concern at imagining Tyler so different from how he was when we dated.
Yes, I’m facing an unknown here, but Roman’s presence really does ease my worries?—
My thoughts startle to an abrupt halt when the front door lurches in front of us, opening just a sliver. Inside I can see a strip of Tyler’s face, recognizable even though he’s sporting a scraggly beard now. But when his eyes fall on me, they widen, and then he closes the door again.
Well—I guess I should say hetriesto close it again.
Faster than I can register, Roman’s hand shoots out and holds the front door in place, even as Tyler struggles on the other side. With a cheerful smile, Roman pushes the door even wider and then slides one fancy shoe into the opening.
“Guilty conscience?” he says, still smiling pleasantly as though we’re all old friends.
Tyler doesn’t answer, and anger bubbles in my chest. It’s one thing not to tell me—it’s another to try to run when I show up to talk.
“Tyler,” I say in a low, even voice. “I swear I will get in my car and drive it straight into your living room.”
It’s this, finally, that gets him to speak.
“Right out of the gate,” he mutters in a strained voice. “Just—get—out?—”
Roman looks over at me. “Would you like me to open the door?” he says. His gaze is mildly amused, his voice polite, and he looks perfectly at ease as he renews pushing the door wider open while Tyler curses on the other side.
But my shoulders slump as a frustrated sigh escapes. “It’s in my best interest not to break the law.”
His eyes sparkle, and he leans sideways, bending down a bit until our faces are level. “But you’d look so good in prison orange,” he drawls.
I scowl at him and force myself to take another deep breath. Then, keeping my voice calm, I look back at the partly open door. “Tyler,” I say, “just listen, okay? I’m paying. I’ve already set up a payment plan. I do need to know what happened, though. Can we just talk?”
From behind the door comes a disbelieving scoff. “You brought a bouncer, Aurora.”
My head whips toward Roman as I shoot him a look that saysSee?
But he just seems pleasantly surprised once more.
