“I don’t need to be rescued,” Sadie said.
“Who said you do?” Becca shrugged. “I needed a break from my life. This is the perfect opportunity. I get to look like a saint and an awesome friend, and you get…me.” She held her hands up in illustration of all that Sadie would get.
She was right, that didn’t suck.
“Sadie?” Roman’s voice drifted through the reception area to her office.
“He’s here,” Marlee said, standing and peeking around the corner. “Are you two…? Have you…?”
“No.” Sadie shook her head. “I haven’t seen him since—”
“Sadie?” Roman asked from the open door right next to Marlee.
“Hi,” Sadie said. His appearance in her office made her tingle all the way down to her peep-toe pumps.
“Hi,” Roman said.
“Hi,” Marlee added in a much perkier tone than they had used.
“Hello.” That would be Becca. “You must be Rome? I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Sadie did a quick introduction for Roman and Becca before he handed her a twelve-by-twelve cardboard box. “It came to my office, but it says it’s for you.”
His fingers brushed hers as he made the transfer, setting her damn nerves on fire once more. His scent seemed to fill the space. His cologne—or was it aftershave?—smelled of tea and coffee and cloves. The scent of everything that made Sadie happy. The scent of Roman.
Never one able to wait to open a package, Sadie pulled off the tape and removed a copper water fountain from the packing peanuts. A small card fluttered beside it.
She opened it.
So you can take your wishes with you. - R
“You bought me a fountain?” Sadie asked.
“To keep the fish company,” Roman replied, suddenly sheepish.
“Why a fountain?” Becca asked in a whispered tone that was really not quiet at all.
Marlee shushed her.
Sadie reached into her desk drawer for the penny that Roman had tossed to her in the lobby. She turned it over in her palm, studying the image of Abraham Lincoln. Then, her wish suddenly found her.Wish for everything. Wish for Roman.
She couldn’t help it, her eyes misted.
Sadie glanced at her friends. “Do you two want to give us a minute?”
“No,” Becca replied quickly.
“Absolutely not,” Marlee agreed.
“Go,” Sadie mouthed.
They went.
“I turned down the Chicago job,” Sadie said once they were gone. He needed to know that. Needed to know what she’d chosen. “I’m not leaving.”
Roman released a whole lungful of air, his shoulders relaxing.
“What are you going to wish for then?” he asked.
