Page 47 of Saved By the Billionaire

The elevator pounded with silence as they rode up, throbbing and twisting until the doors opened into Roman’s apartment, where Garrett was standing, arms crossed, legs hip-width apart.

“Garrett?” Roman said, stepping off.

“I can explain,” he muttered, glaring at Kate mutinously.

Roman looked from one to the other. “No need. I’m well aware of her stubborn side.”

“Her?” Kate spluttered.

“And her stupid disregard for her wellbeing.”

Kate balled her hands into fists by her side and beside Roman, Tia laughed.

“Careful, Roh. This one’s a fighter.”

Kate didn’t even smile as she looked at her; Tia was right. She was a fighter. “Damn straight.”

Roman held his hands up. “Garrett, it’s fine. This is between Kate and me.”

Garrett put a hand on Roman’s shoulder and squeezed. “I’m sorry, man.”

Their eyes held and Kate stood still, the words seeming somehow important. Not today. Garrett had said that this morning, as though this day held a particular significance, but Kate had been too busy wrangling her disappointment into line to process that.

She frowned as Garrett left, watching him all the way to the lift before turning back to Roman. It was on the tip of her tongue to ask him what was going on but the look he threw her was pure…something. Emotion. It seemed to bounce from him to her, barely contained, and then Tia was moving, sashaying elegantly towards the fridge and removing an expensive bottle of champagne.

“We’re getting drunk, if you’d care to join us?” she offered, over her shoulder.

We’re. Us.

Kate heard the words for what they were; a claim. A circle, which she sat on the outside of.

Roman was still staring at Kate, his attention laser focused, and she wondered what he was thinking and decided she didn’t give a damn. “Sounds like a plan.”

Tia’s smile seemed genuine enough. “Excellent.” When she looked at Roman, it was with obvious teasing in the depths of her eyes. “Any issues with that?”

Roman was practically seething but in their desire to provoke him, Kate and Tia had become sudden, unexpected allies.

He waved a hand in the air, which wasn’t exactly an answer, but Tia hadn’t waited in any case. She poured three glasses and slid one to Kate.

“To family,” she said, thickly, and just like that, the alliance seemed to crumble. It was hurtful on so many levels…exclusionary to Kate—definitely intended—and a sharp reminder of what she didn’t have—likely unintended, for how could Tia have known that her toast was driving a stake into Kate’s lonely and isolated heart?

Tia replaced her glass a little steadily, Roman held his without taking a drink. His eyes were resting on Kate; she felt them in the fibres of her spine but didn’t react.

“How was your meeting?” she asked instead, the hint of a challenge in her voice. Because he’d told her he had a meeting—and maybe he had. But at some point, that meeting had devolved into a drinking session with Tia and it was hard not to hate that.

“Fine.” His answer was abrupt, telling her nothing. “Where have you been?” The question was casual enough, lacking accusation. The sort of question any person might ask another. But Kate knew what was at the base of it. His protective—over protective—instincts. His obsessive need to keep her safe.

“Oh, you know, around,” she answered noncommittally, taking advantage of a moment of Roman’s distraction, when he briefly turned to place his glass on the counter, and hobbling across to the sofa to sit down. Her throbbing ankle practically exclaimed in gratitude. She lifted it up surreptitiously, curving a palm around it in a futile attempt to stem the pain.

“Really, Roman, you’re so overbearing,” Tia said, rolling her eyes. Apparently they were allies again. She grabbed the champagne bottle by the neck and brought it with her, across the room, and took a seat on the sofa near enough to Kate to chat easily.

“Tell me about yourself.”

Kate laughed softly.

“Something funny about that?” Tia asked, her eyes narrowing.

“It’s only—you’re the second person today to remind me of Roman,” she apologised, sipping her drink.