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Chapter Twenty-One

Roman

F riday night, and I’m officially out of reasons why I can’t hang out with the guys. But with no interest in going out and being around other women who will inevitably throw themselves at me, I decide to have the guys over at my place.

I’ve hired a chef to come prepare food. Lincoln and Kylie are coming—something that doesn’t happen very often.

Kylie has a younger brother she’s had guardianship over ever since her parents died when she was sixteen.

He always has basketball practice or some kind of hangout at their place that she doesn’t want to leave unattended.

He just turned thirteen, so he’s in those teenage years where she knows she needs to keep a close eye on him.

He’s a good kid. Lincoln absolutely loves him like a little brother now.

Chef Robin is setting up in my kitchen as I walk by.

“Can I get you a drink, sir?” he asks as he chops vegetables.

I wave a hand at him. “Get out of here, Robin. I’ll get it myself.”

Just as I’m pouring the simple syrup into my whiskey sour, my front door opens, and the guy’s bustle into my penthouse. Sometimes, I regret telling security they can be let in anytime.

“You ready to lose some money?” Dean claps me on the shoulder and continues past me.

“What is he talking about?” I ask Sawyer as he approaches.

“Walker has decided it’s a poker night. Dean’s dead set on winning back the ten grand you won from him last time.”

I let out a soft laugh, shaking my head in amusement. “That man can’t let shit go.”

“He’s worse than a chick,” Sawyer replies. “At least you don’t have to work with him like I do.”

I hear a ruckus in the hallway and look over Sawyer’s shoulder. “What’s going on out there?”

“Walker went back down really quick to get the girls. That must be them.”

Dammit, Walker . I should have known he couldn’t let it just be the guys tonight. Kylie doesn’t count; she’s one of us. But I’m not in the mood for a rowdy bunch of single women.

Speaking of Walker, he shuffles into my penthouse with five girls on his heels.

“Hey, man,” Walker greets me. “Thanks for having us over. You know I can never pass up a meal from Robin.”

I nod my head. I shouldn’t be annoyed. This is par for the course with him. Shit, I used to be part of it. Why am I suddenly so annoyed by the behavior? He’s just a young bachelor, living it up in New York City.

There’s no way my sudden distaste for the single life has anything to do with Eva. I’m probably just aging out of this type of scene. It’s completely normal, and it has nothing to do with the bombshell woman who lives below me and lives rent-free in my head.

Speaking of, when I told her I invited the guys over tonight, she never told me what she was going to do instead. Part of me is irritated, like I have a right to know where she’s going.

What if she goes out with her friends and meets a guy? Will she flirt with him? What if he puts his hands on her? Will she stop it?

Before I continue down this self-destructive spiral of what-ifs, Colton, Lincoln, and Kylie walk in.

Colton waves and beelines it to the hors d’oeuvres, where the ladies are currently standing with a glass of champagne.

I’m not sure what he wants more—the food or the women.

I’m sure he’s happy he doesn’t even have to choose.

He said he was coming straight from the hospital, so I’ll bet he needs the escape.

Working in the pediatric oncology department means he sees a lot of his patients take a turn for the worse and lose their battle with cancer. He’s become a different man since he settled on this career. I can’t imagine what seeing death so often can do to you.

Lincoln and Kylie stop at the bar with me. I lean over and give Kylie a hug.

“Nice to see you again, Kylie. Thanks for being willing to put up with us for the night.”

She chuckles in my arms, then steps back and looks at me with an easy smile. “Oh, please. Lincoln can’t go too long without seeing you guys. He goes through withdrawals.”

“I find that hard to believe since all he does is criticize our life choices when he’s with us,” I joke.

She looks up at Lincoln. “I think throwing insults is his love language for you guys.”

“All right, let’s not get carried away, saying things like I love these guys,” Lincoln responds. “Now, let’s make me a drink.”

Kylie walks over to the food while I hand Lincoln my whiskey sour and make a tray to bring over to the guys.

Lincoln and I join everyone else in the kitchen area, where the hors d’oeuvres, like bacon-wrapped shrimp and stuffed mushrooms, are displayed along the length of the island. There are several high-top tables set up along the window that overlooks the city.

I lean against the island while Lincoln and Kylie talk to Dean and Walker, laughing at something they said. I notice Kylie’s eating, but nobody got her a drink.

“Kylie, I’m so sorry. You don’t have a drink. What can I get you?”

She looks up at Lincoln, eyes wide, like she doesn’t quite know what to say.

Lincoln wraps an arm around Kylie’s waist and pulls her in close. “Well, we were going to wait a little while to tell you guys … but now seems like the appropriate time. Kylie’s pregnant!”

The room erupts in cheers and claps. Lincoln leans down and kisses Kylie, then smiles down at her like she’s all he can see. It’s a feeling I never understood, but I suddenly think of Eva. The thought is startling.

I push off the counter. “Congrats, you two.”

I wrap Kylie in a hug. “I’m so happy for you.”

“Thanks, Roman.”

I extend a hand to Lincoln for a moment, but it feels inadequate. I pull him in for a hug and slap his back. “Congratulations.”

When we pull away, his eyes seem misty. “Thanks, man. I can’t believe I’m going to be a dad.”

“You’ll make one hell of a dad,” I say sincerely.

As the guys bring out more drinks and cheers to celebrate the great news, I watch Lincoln and the way he tends to Kylie. Whispering in her ear, asking if she’s okay, bringing her sparkling water. His focus is entirely on her, but he’s happier than I have ever seen him.

I take a seat on one of the barstools.

Walker follows me, phone in his hand. “I hope you don’t mind, but I told Eva I was here. I thought maybe she could stop by and say hi.”

I try to keep my expression neutral, but a spark of excitement flickers in me. I reach for my drink to hide the heat of my smile. “Oh, yeah?” I ask casually. “Nice.”

Two of the women come up to us with those smiles that I’m all too familiar with. It’s the kind of seductive smile that promises a good time if I give them a chance. But the chance they are looking for isn’t to get to know me; it’s to get their hands on my money.

Suddenly, the mere idea that this was a preferable lifestyle to me is almost laughable.

“What are you boys whispering about over here?” a tall blonde in a tight gold dress asks.

I don’t even register what Walker’s response is—something obnoxious and flirty, I’m sure. I’m too busy listening for a knock at my front door, wondering if Eva is busy or if she’ll show up.

Walker never did tell me if Eva answered him back.

Several minutes go by, filled with laughter and giggles, and then I feel a woman’s hand on my shoulder.

“What?” I ask, coming back to the moment.

“Your place is amazing. I can’t believe the view you have of the Empire State Building.”

“Yeah, it’s pretty phenomenal.”

“There she is.” Walker opens his arms wide.

I realize how close this woman is standing next to me, her hand still on my shoulder.

I feel Eva before I see her. The air around me shifts with her energy in the room.

Eva walks into her brother’s arms, and the first thing I notice is her tight, dark jeans and sheer black top. I can see everything underneath, even her lacy black bra. My dick twitches in my pants, just as excited to see her as I am.

She looks effortlessly beautiful. Not like the other women in the room—it’s obvious they spend hours in front of the mirror. Eva just has this way where you know she doesn’t need to do that, and she still outshines them all.

The instant she looks at me, I feel the pounding in my chest and wish I could take her in my arms. Instead, I watch as her gaze bounces from mine to the woman next to me to her hand on my shoulder.

She smiles softly. “Hello, Roman.”

I notice a shift in her eyes, just for a moment. A flash of something she quickly smothers. Disappointment? Hurt?

I don’t get a chance to respond before she moves on to say hello to the rest of the guys. It’s like a dagger to the heart to see her walk away from me like I’m not worth anything more than a hello.

For the first time since we started fooling around, I hate that we have to keep it a secret. If only it wasn’t so complicated with the man standing in front of me.

I’m not sure how to handle this. I can’t exactly hang all over Eva without inviting questions.

“Excuse me,” I say to the woman whose hand is still on me.

I pour myself a second drink as I watch Eva from across the room. She is being introduced to Kylie, who seems genuinely thrilled to meet her. They share an easy laugh that I wish I were on the receiving end of.

Every part of me is screaming to pull her aside, touch her, say something—anything to remind her that I only have eyes for her.

Instead, I stand here and watch her. I don’t make a move. I can’t.

Not without dragging us both into something we aren’t ready to explain.

Kylie and Eva pull barstools over to a high-top table and take a seat like they’re already fast friends.

“All right, fellas. I was told there would be a friendly game of poker tonight,” Dean announces. “Why don’t we all take a seat and get the party started?”

Colton walks over to the corner of the room, where I stash all the cards and chips, while the rest of the guys take a seat at my circular kitchen table.