Page 27 of Taking What Was His

“I will.”

Roman walked back to his chair and sat. His teeth snapped together at the distress on Beth’s face. He set down his cup and held a hand out.

“Come here, baby.”

Beth went right to him and let him pull her down on his lap and cuddle her against his chest.

“What’s upsetting you?”

“Evan. He’s angry about us.”

“I noticed. He’s wanted you for a long time, hasn’t he?”

She looked up at him in shock and then nodded. “Since before Rick died, but he knew nothing was ever going to happen. I don’t feel like that about him, and I’ve told him several times.”

He placed a kiss on her forehead. “It will be all right as soon as he gets over the shock.”

“I hope so.”

Roman cupped her cheek, lowered his head, and pressed his lips against hers. He twisted his head to open her mouth and dove in, letting their tongues wrestle.

After a long moment, he lifted his head and groaned at the look on her face.

“Baby, we need to go before this gets out of hand.”

He just about lost it and bit back a groan when her little tongue came out to lick her lips.

“Up you go,” he said and lifted her from his lap.

He held her steady until she was ready, then released her, stood, and took his cup to the sink. “Are you ready?”

“Yes,” she murmured distractedly. She locked up the back door, grabbed her purse and bag with her change of clothes, and they walked out the front.

He waited until she secured that and then wrapped an arm around her waist and led her to his car. He closed her car door when she was settled, then walked around to his side. He opened his door as the little hairs on the back of his neck stood out. He glanced around and saw nothing.

It didn’t happen very often, but he’d stayed alive because he followed his instincts. He would have to be on high alert for a while. He didn’t think Evan was a threat, but he didn’t know the man that well yet, so he wasn’t going to take a chance.

He reached for her hand as they drove away.

“Can I ask you a question?”

She turned to look at him. “Sure.”

“Does Evan have a key to your house?”

“Yes. Why?”

“Have you ever come home to have him there?”

“Yes, a few times. What’s going on?”

“Nothing, baby. What was he doing?”

“He works down in the basement a lot, but I’m not always sure what he’s working on.”

“How often does he come over?”

“After Rick died, it seemed like every other day. I finally had to tell him enough. Now it’s every week or every other. Is there something I should know?”