Sadie’s cell rang. She glanced at the screen and her eyebrows furrowed. “I need to take this. It’s a client.”
She moved through the entryway into the living room.
“Babushka?” Roman called his grandmother, who was mid-chip dip.
“Vhat?”
“Your services are no longer needed.”
She shoved the chip in her mouth and chewed.
He waited.
“I have no idea vhat you are talking about,” Babushka replied.
“The thing that I asked you to do? You’re off duty.”
“Okay.” Babushka shrugged.
Huh. Well, that was easy.
Everything looked to be sunshine and daisies, but that tickle in his gut insisting nothing was as it seemed turned into a full warning bell. What had he gotten himself into?
Sadie’s emotionssurrounding Roman were tied in knots that she couldn’t seem to untangle. The more time they spent together, the tighter the tangle became. Roman’s ease with her made her seriously ponder her previously held beliefs on not trying one more time.
But that was how a girl got sucked in. She was positive.
She’d believe that it would work and then,boom, let the heart stomping commence.
Dinner had been fun. But the fun was temporary, and she had to get out of there before she got so entrenched with Roman that she wouldn’t be able to extract herself.
The comfortably cool air of Denver’s summer evenings brushed over her as she walked briskly to her car. The blue sky with the sun setting behind the mountains of the Front Range was totally gorgeous. Like the time she’d spent with Roman’s family.
Tomorrow, though, the monsoons would come again and the rain would cover it all.
This was the metaphor of life.
“Sadie…” Roman jogged after her. “I’ll walk you to your car.”
“Sure.” She tried to smile, but all she could see was how messy it would be when the braided knot unraveled and dropped her onto the concrete.
“Babushka mentioned earlier that you need some photos taken for your office?” he asked.
“Actually, that’d be great. I haven’t had a moment to get any done. Do you want to do them—”
“Yeah.” He was like an eager puppy.
An eager puppy built like a tank, but still.
“Now?” he asked. “It’s still early and I don’t have plans.”
If they were alone tonight, she had a hunch they’d end up tangling sheets and the knot of emotions she was trying to sort through. Which meant—
“Not tonight.” She bit at her lip to keep herself from saying yes. “I’ve got to get home. Maybe I’ll even stop and check in on Luke.”
“Do you want company?” he asked. “Luke is one of my favorite Howards.”
She shook her head. “Not tonight.”
