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I had spent years watching Roman decide what I could have. My son was still in his house. Part of me wanted to tell Justice that he didn't understand how far Roman would go, but he had already seen Keenan's eye. He had listened to me without making me prove I deserved to be heard.

For today, I needed to accept that.

Justice stood and reached for his phone.

“Come on. Let's get you settled.”

We walked to the parking lot together. When we got to my car, I stopped beside the driver's door.

“I'm still mad at you.”

“I know.”

“You embarrassed the hell out of me.”

“I know that, too.”

He waited while I unlocked the door.

I wanted him to kiss me. That irritated me almost as much as everything else he had done. I got in before he could see me looking at his mouth.

I followed his truck to the hotel, keeping him in sight through every light. When we pulled up, he waited for me to park before coming around to my door.

I stepped out with my purse. He held out his hand, and I took it.

Justice pushed the hotel door open and led me inside.

25

Melody

We rode the elevator in complete silence, but the energy rang louder than anything either of us could say.

I stood on the far side with my arms folded and watched the numbers climb. He watched me. I could feel it on the side of my face the whole ride up, heavy and patient, like he used to watch me across his kitchen.

The weight of his sexy eyes all over my body made me ready to strip out of my clothes. This is how I got in this mess in the first place.

He rented the presidential suite on the top floor for me. It was a nice beginning to a long apology. Yeah, I was wrong for lying to him but he was equally as wrong for not listening to me.

The elevator landed right at the threshold to the room. He used the keycard to let us in and I was taken aback by the view.

Sunlight poured through windows that wrapped around the living room, overlooking the canal and the trees beyond it. A cream sofa faced two pale green armchairs, and a glass chandelier hung above a dining table set for six. The rich wood and soft colors made the whole place feel warm despite how big it was.

I walked farther inside, trailing my fingers along the back of the sofa. I had lived well before Roman ruined my life, but this was enough to make me forget what I was about to say.

Aubrey’s house was nice, but I was staying in her guest bedroom, which was a bit cramped. I’d never complain, though. But this was magnificent. And it was all mine.

There was a separate bedroom from the living area and there was a small kitchen.

It was much bigger than the apartment I had to myself, which was only 700 square feet. Of course, Justice’s home was far larger but it wasn’t mine. And it felt so much smaller with Storie around.

“This is beautiful,” I said as I stood near the window ogling the serene view.

“You deserve it and so much more,” he replied as he stood behind me.

His presence eased my nervous system. I’d been feeling like I was on the run since I left his house but being around him again made me feel like I was at home.

“We have so much to figure out.”