Roman shrugs. “It’s a start.” The phone in his hand pings, and he glances down at the screen. “It’s Callum.”
I raise my brows. “And?”
“And Fran and Rosalie will be here in an hour.” He looks me over, and I tighten the robe front with my hands. “You might want to change,” he says, walking over to the bathroom door.
I bark out a laugh. “You might want to actually put some clothes on.” I lean back, snatch a pillow, and toss it at Roman’s head. The man ducks just as the pillow whacks into the closed bathroom door.
“Ninja reflexes,” he says, standing straight once more.
“Ninja?” I stand, slip my robe off my shoulders, and chuck it at Roman’s head too.
He dodges the flying garment easily. “Pro soccer playing ninja skills. You can’t hit me.”
But I’m not so sure. I think I can. I pick up another pillow and Roman hunches, like he’s a pro wrestler ready to take me out. I keep my eyes on his, determined.
I fling my throw pillow like a Frisbee right at Roman’s legs, and he leaps, jumping over the thing. My arms fall to my sides, and I roll my eyes.
“I told you.”
Storming past him, toward the bathroom, I don’t bother looking at him. “I’m showering!” But I snatch up the pillow I just threw, then backstep toward him. Holding it like a samurai sword, I smack him in the back.
“Hey,” he barks, spinning around on me.
“Just testing those ninja skills,” I say.
Roman leans toward me until I’m backed up against the closed door. Pine, musk, and bare chest fill my senses. I hold my breath as his cheek skims mine. The pillow falls from my hand, and my head tilts up to him. My mind whirls as I stand here, still and frozen. It’s like a broken record playingthe same song:Remember that time you kissed Roman’s chest?
Um, yeah, spinning head, I remember. It was, like, fifteen minutes ago.
He’s so close, and then—click.The door to the bathroom unlatches, and I stumble back, flailing my hands to catch myself. But Roman catches me first, supporting me with one hand around my back.
“You’re down to fifty-three minutes,” he says.
I duck beneath the arm around me and slip through the bathroom door. “I’d better get ready, then.”
Roman smiles and backtracks into my bedroom.
I shut the door and lean against it in the seclusion of the bathroom. And suddenly, things feel a little clearer.
I’m here so that Roman can keep this cabin.
I’m here to keep my parents from worrying over me.
And, I think, just maybe I’m here to bring back the Roman of old.
Thirty-One
Standing in Roman’s bedroom,I thread my fingers through the ends of my hair. “This feels strange.”
“It’s not. It’s just creator and client chatting.”
“But I’ve never done it like this before. I’ve only sold a handful of things, and they were already made. I’ve never chatted first and created second. And I still stink!” My fingers get stuck in a tangle of my wavy hair. I yank, but only jerk my head downward.
“Stop that,” Roman says, pulling my hand from my hair. “You look great. Your work is great. This is going to be?—”
“Great?” I offer, my jaw clenching.
“Yes. It is. If you’ll relax.”
