Page 58 of Saved By the Billionaire

Tia’s eyes widened. “Excuse me?”

“You’re immaculately put together, you never have a hair out of place, evidently you can drink like a sailor and not show any sign of it, you’re a phenomenal success, you’re beautiful, smart…”

“Hey, careful, Aussie girl. Keep going like this and I might be the one wanting to drag you to bed,” Tia said, then laughed. “Come on.” She tucked Kate’s hand into her arm and helped her from the room, even though Kate had said she was fine. Somehow, it was better to walk out like this, arm in arm with Tia, as though she were an extra piece of armour that Kate suddenly needed. It was only when they stepped into the palatial living room that Kate registered what Tia had said. I might be the one wanting to drag you to bed. As though she knew how Roman felt, had seen the spark between them, the heat, and understood what it meant.

And didn’t seem to care.

She wasn’t jealous. Kate’s heart gave a little leap.

Roman was in the kitchen when they entered, and as soon as Kate’s foot connected with the carpet of the room, the air changed. Thickened and sparked. She felt her throat constrict and breathing grew difficult.

“How do you feel?”

“No preamble, huh?” she asked, her cheeks heating as self-consciousness assailed her. And yet she couldn’t look away. It was like his eyes held hers in a vice-like grip.

“Kate.” A command, just like Tia had said. Kate’s lips quirked.

“Fine.”

He nodded once, a muscle shifting quickly in the base of his jaw, as though he were clenching his mouth. “Come and eat.”

“We’re having toasted sandwiches,” Tia said, gently prodding Kate back into a walk. She winced as she forgot about her ankle and put her weight on it again, heard Roman’s sharp exhalation, felt his concern but this time, it left her cold, because she suspected it wasn’t really for her, after all.

All the preciousness he’d made her feel, the protectiveness she’d taken as an indication that she mattered, she now knew to be founded on someone else. Someone else he loved. Someone else that mattered. Her eyes dropped away. No, they tore away, as though even looking at him was a betrayal.

She felt Roman’s eyes on her though, burning through her, as she walked carefully towards one of the sofas and sat down. But within minutes of her bottom connecting to the gloriously soft cushions, Roman was there, his big, bear hands moving Tia aside and glancing across Kate. He touched her upper arms and moved her backwards, against the edge of the sofa, then oh so carefully lifted her legs, so they were outstretched on the sofa, before putting a cushion beneath the injured ankle. His hand hovered there, though, on her bare flesh and when his eyes shifted to hers, it was impossible to think he didn’t see her.

She swallowed and found they were back in that bubble. Tia had moved away, towards the kitchen, and it was now just Kate and Roman.

“How do you feel?” he repeated, crouching down so he was at her eye height, right beside her.

“I’m okay,” she said, dropping her gaze. “Embarrassed.”

“Why?” his hand moved up her leg, higher.

She couldn’t say, though. Couldn’t admit that she felt like a fool for throwing herself at him, for having him pull her from her knees back to standing, kiss her and walk away so easily.

“Why?” he asked again, more insistently, even when his voice was little more than a whisper.

“Come on, Roman,” she said. “Don’t do this now.” And she nodded towards the kitchen, where Tia was cutting sandwiches and arranging them on plates.

“Do what?”

“Make me admit how stupid I was.”

“Stupid is not a word I would ever apply to you.”

Kate ignored the soaring sense of pleasure his compliment evoked. Focused on the tangle of her feelings instead. “I don’t know where I stand with you.”

“I’d prefer you not to stand at all,” he said, the words bursting with heat, and need.

“Because of my ankle?” she couldn’t help teasing.

He arched a brow. “Something like that.”

Kate sighed. “Roman, your sister⁠—”

His eyes flared but he stayed silent.