Lacey exhaled a shaky breath. “I guess.”
Roman’s grin widened. “Is that a yes?”
Lacey’s mind spun—Tessa, the business, her life in Destin, the fact that she’d finally found a career that fit. It was a lot.
“I think,” she said carefully, because she needed a thread of caution to hold on to, “I think we could make that work.”
He dropped back with a look of relief and happiness. “I’m so happy to hear that, Lace. Really. I just don’t want to imagine the season without you by my side. I don’t want you here in Destin and us so far apart.”
Lacey laughed, a little breathless. Air just wasn’t going into her lungs.
“You okay?”
“Yes, I’m…yes. I’m great. I’m also”—she made a vague gesture at her chest—“having an internal situation.”
Roman’s mouth lifted in a curve. “An internal situation.”
“That is the official medical term.”
He leaned closer. “Should I call an ambulance?”
“Do not.”
Roman’s laughter was low and warm, and she could hear the genuine happiness in the sound.
“I’ll have to talk to Tessa,” she said softly.
“Well, let me know if she won’t let you take a sabbatical or work remote. I have some pull with my birth mother.”
But what ifLaceydidn’t want to take a sabbatical or work remote? Did she? She honestly had no idea what she wanted beyond the man in front of her.
“I’ll talk to Tessa,” she said, hoping that promise wasn’t another betrayal of Tessa. She’d found Roman—after Tessa said she didn’t want to seek out her son. And now…she’d leave with Roman?
Would Tessa understand? “We’re working tomorrow at the Summer House in the morning,” she told him. “I’ll talk to her.”
He looked surprised. “Oh. I thought she moved Tessa Wylie Events permanently to her new place.”
“So did I, but last week she started coming back to the Summer House for work,” she said. “I mean, when she works, which is not much this past week. She’s been super distracted and busy. She said she’ll explain what’s going on, but in the meantime, we’ve been working at ye olde dining room table on the beach.” She shrugged. “Either way is fine with me. Plus, with her so busy, I’ve been getting some plum assignments.”
He nodded. “Well, you talk to her and if you need help?—”
She held up a hand. “I got this.”
But did she?
Their event management business wasn’t just a job. It was the first time in Lacey’s adult life that she woke up excited to work. The first time she’d felt competent and creative, like she’d found the world where she belonged.
But Roman was Tessa’s biological son! Surely she’d want them—Laceyandhim—to be happy. And couldn’t she work remotely? It would be challenging, but possible if she?—
“Are you sure, Lace?” He searched her face, looking for the truth. “You look like you’re second-guessing the decision.”
Wait. She hadn’t made adecisionyet. She’d just said she’d talk to Tessa. “All I know is that I love you, Roman.”
He beamed and leaned close to her lips again. “I love you, too.”
“I want to be with you,” she murmured into a kiss.
He drew back, his expression softened, his golden eyes warm with affection. He reached his hand to her cheekbone, brushing his thumb along her skin like he was memorizing her face. “Then we want the same thing,” he said. “It’s just a matter of working out the playbook.”
