Page 60 of Roman

“I’m just—” I huffed, unable to explain it and hoping he didn’t delve into the reason for my high color. “I’m bored. I don’t hurt as much as I did, my mind is on overload, and I can’t go where I want.”

“Which is where?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.

I took a deep breath. “To the diner.”

“No.”

I leaned on the desk, rubbing my eyes. “It’s my business, Roman. My home.”

“It’s not safe.”

“Margi has questions. She doesn’t understand why she can’t come see me. I can’t explain it to her, and she is suspicious. I just want to go and make sure everything is okay. Let her and the staff see me.” I paused. “I need to check inventory, see how things are. Talk to her and the other staff. Assure them I am fine.”

He frowned, looking displeased.

“How would you feel if you weren’t allowed to come here? To see for yourself how your business was doing?”

His frown deepened. He began to pace in front of me, thinking. Finally, he stopped, meeting my eyes. “One quick visit. You talk to Margi, do what you have to do. And I will be with you. You stick to the story. Tell them you’ll be back soon. That is all.”

“Okay,” I agreed quickly, not wanting him to change his mind.

“We’ll go at two as the diner is closing. You have an hour. And you will not leave my sight. Do you understand?”

I bobbed my head. “Yes.”

“I mean it. You are in my line of vision the whole time.”

I rolled my eyes. “What do you expect me to do, Roman? Sprint away and yell for the police? I am well aware they can’t protect me the way you can. I know you’re worried. I’m not trying to run or do anything except make sure my diner and my home are okay.” I grimaced. “I don’t imagine you watered my plants. They’re probably dead.”

He blinked, a slow smile creeping up on his face. “I don’t do plants, so no, I didn’t water them.”

I lifted my chin. “See? My point exactly.”

“All right, Little Tiger. Stop pacing and pulling on your hair. We’ll go to your diner, and you can check it out yourself.”

“Thank you.”

He grabbed my shoulders and hauled me close, kissing me again. His mouth was addictive, and I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, kissing him back. He eased away, leaning his forehead to mine before releasing me and heading for the door. He glanced back at me, shaking his head.

“Jesus,” he muttered and walked out.

All I could do was smile.

ROMAN

I let my head fall back against the wall of the elevator.

What the hell was it with that woman? I couldn’t say no to her. The last thing I needed to do was take time out of my day to take her to her little diner. I had things that needed to be handled at the casino. I needed to call my brother, who had been blowing up my texts and voice mail, telling me to get in touch. I had to deal with suppliers, staff, offshore banking, and a hundred other details.

And all I wanted to do was be locked in my suite with Effie. Buried in her tight little body. Listen to her sweet voice.

And apparently give her anything she asked for.

I pushed off the wall as the doors opened, and I strode into the planning office. Aldo was busy working on something on the computer.

“Nice of you to finally show,” I muttered.

“I was here until three a.m. You, apparently, were unreachable,” he stated mildly, lifting a cup of coffee to his lips. “Busy with what exactly, I wonder, Roman?”