Page 13 of Deceptive Desires

Cecilia

There’s a knock at the front door. I rise from the couch, but Gracie beats me to it.

“Sit your ass down. You’re still healing,” she grumbles at me. Under all her grouchiness, is sisterly love, and that’s why she bosses me around. “Do you have anyone coming over? Ugh, please tell me it’s notLeo.” She fakes a gag at his name.

She’s not a fan of my guy friend. She never has been.

“The concussion was two days ago, I’m pretty much healed. But thank you for grabbing the door. And no, I have no idea who it could be. I haven’t even told Leo about the concussion. I didn’t want to worry him. He’s a sweet guy. I don’t know why you dislike him so much.”

“I don’tdislikehim. Ihatehim. I don’t trust the weasel.” She swings the door open, then her jaw drops. I can’t see past the door as to who it is, but she eyes whoever it is up and down and raises a brow. “Definitely not Leo,” she practically purrs it. “How can I help you?”

I’m taken aback by her tone. I’ve heard her answer our door, her phone, and many others with a rude, ‘What do you want?’ more times than I can count. Why is she being nice?

“I’m here to see Cecilia. Is she available?” the sexiest voice carries into the room.

I instantly straighten. My body reacts instinctively. Goose bumps spread across my skin.

Roman.

He’s here.

“She may be. Who are you? What do you want?” Gracie’s flirty demeanor shifts to a protective one. She’s not about to let in any man who she doesn’t know. Especially not if he could be after me. Gracie is nothing if not paranoid and pessimistic.

“Gracie, please let him in,” I plead, not wanting her to make him suffer. He’s already such a selfless, kindhearted man. He helped me, a stranger, for no reason except for it being the right thing to do. And now he’s back to check on me.

“Who is he?” she addresses me but never turns from Roman. She glares at him, as if trying to uncover his ill intentions.

“He’s the one who brought me home and took care of me after the concussion,” I confess.

Her head snaps to me, and she raises a brow. “It seems you left out a fewcrucialdetails. I expect a full, honest retelling soon.” She checks him up and down one final time with an eyebrow arched, then steps aside. “Welcome,” she says dryly.

Instead of going to her bedroom to give us some privacy, she sits on a stool at the island and faces the living room.

Roman walks in and his eyes immediately find mine. A warm smile breaks out on his face, bringing one to mine.

I start to stand, ready to greet him properly, but he rushes to my side and gently pushes me back on the couch.

“Don’t get up on my account. You’re still healing, sunshine.”

I nod at him and try to force my skin not to redden at the nickname. I try and fail.

I look him over. His buzzed hair calls to me. I still feel the phantom prickle on my fingers. His tattoos peak up his neck from his shirt neckline and down his arms. I want to trace them with my tongue. It darts out and licks my lips instead. I didn’t realize just how big he is. He’ll tower over my five-foot seven-inch frame. I clench involuntarily at the realization. I didn’t realize big, muscular men were my type, but Roman is definitely doing something to me.

“Hey, Celia.” It comes out low and gravelly. My eyes shoot up, and up, and up, to meet his, and I find them dark.

The energy between us is palpable. I can feel the electricity.

“It’s Cecilia,” Gracie corrects from the kitchen, snapping us out of the moment. I turn to see her eating a banana, watching us. She’s not even trying to hide it. She’s not on her phone or anything.

He takes that as his cue to sit in one of the armchairs. He takes the whole thing up. I’m not surprised when I hear it creak under his weight.

“I know her name. Cecilia María Álvarez Rivera.” I giggle as he butchers the pronunciation. He doesn’t tear his eyes from mine as he answers her. And suddenly, the room feels hot again.

“I guess high school Spanish didn’t help with pronunciation,” I tease him. When his face drops a little, I quickly lift him up. I’ll never be the one to tear someone down. “It’s okay. I’m surprised you remember.”

His grin is immediate. “I remember our whole interaction. Every second of it. However,I’msurprisedyouremember. With your concussion, I wasafraid you forgot me.”

“How could I forget my hero? Is that why you came back? To reintroduce yourself?” I ask teasingly.