Page 20 of Inside Out
“I know so, J. Talk to you soon.”
“Goodnight, Mom.”
The thing I disliked most about fall was how early darkness fell. I found Rome’s house easily based on his directions, but I shouldn’t have been worried in a town the size of Blissville. Even though it was dark, I knew what his house looked like because I’d driven by it many times before without knowing it was his home I was coveting. It was a bungalow-style home painted a cool dark gray with white trim around the windows, a large covered porch, and a dark red front door. The exterior of the home was both cool and warm and combined old-world elegance with contemporary touches. I thought the dichotomy represented the man who resided beneath the slate gray metal roof.
I wasn’t sure what kind of wine he liked, so I bought a bottle of white and red wine. On a whim, I also grabbed a bouquet of flowers and a toy for Dolly at the supermarket. I felt a little silly and second-guessed myself after I rang the doorbell and waited for him to answer. I looked for a place to stash the flowers until I left, but Rome answered the door before I could put my plan into action.
“Hi,” he said, sounding and looking tense. Rome glanced down and smiled when he saw the flowers in my hand. “Please come in.” He stepped aside so I could enter.
The living room was beautiful and immaculately decorated. The walls were painted a slate blue-gray and were decorated with black-and-white canvas prints of cities from all over the world. Rome had real hardwood floors, not the laminate that was so popular. They looked like someone had refinished them recently with a dark stain that was warm, and inviting. Throw pillows the same deep red as his front door decorated the gray and cream striped sofa and chairs. The various types of plants strategically placed around the room was a lovely touch and a telltale sign that the inhabitant was a nurturer. Dolly was nestled on a blanket in the corner of the couch wagging her tail but not giving up her cozy spot to greet me.
I handed the wine and flowers to Rome. “These are for you.” He accepted them and buried his nose in the bouquet of lilies, carnations, and roses. “I couldn’t decide on white or red wine, so I bought both.”
“I would’ve been happy with either. Thank you for the flowers, Jules. They’re beautiful.”
We both sounded so stiff, formal, and uncomfortable like neither of us had ever dated before meeting one another. I suspected Rome was concerned he would come across too strong. He was likely feeding off the tension I emitted. If I relaxed, then he would too.
“Your brother had a great game today. I bet he was excited for breaking the school’s record for interceptions.” I was surprised he watched, but then again, I wasn’t. Marcus was important to me, and therefore, he’d become important to Rome if we ever got past this awkwardness.
Without thinking it through, I leaned forward and kissed Rome. The urge to cup his face and deepen the kiss was strong enough to make my knees weak, but I pulled back. I slowly opened my eyes, savoring the way my lips tingled from the brief contact. A relaxed smile and dazed eyes greeted me, telling me I’d made the right decision.
“That was lovely but very unexpected.”
“You looked like you were stretched tight enough to snap, and I knew it was my fault. I wanted to put you at ease instead of us trying to make clumsy conversation.”
“I truly was excited about your brother’s accomplishment.” I saw the sincerity in his eyes, and it only made me want to kiss him again, but Dolly barking from the couch stopped me from reaching for him again.
“I have something for you too, little lady.”
I pulled the stuffed toy shaped like a latte out of the bag and walked across the room to give it to her. She sniffed it suspiciously at first then snatched it out of my hand and shook it vigorously. “I think she likes it.”
“That’s the cutest dog toy ever. Thank you.”
“I thought it was appropriate to commemorate the first day she and I met.”
Rome reached for my hand and linked our fingers, and I loved that his hesitation from before was completely gone. He acted on instinct which was exactly what I wanted. “Come keep me company while I find a vase for my flowers and put the finishing touches on dinner.”
“It smells delicious,” I said as he led me through a dining room and into a spacious kitchen. The cabinets had a dark cherry finish which complemented the black marble countertops. Rome’s appliances were top-of-the-line stainless steel and belonged to a man who loved to cook. I loved the little pops of red color from the coffee maker, canisters, and stand mixer. The walls in the kitchen were painted ivory to balance out the darkness of the other materials. More plants sat in the window above the sink. “You have a lovely home.”
“Thank you,” Rome replied. “I’d love to take credit for the design, but I can’t. I hired Dare to decorate it for me. He did a phenomenal job.”
“Dare? My landlord?” I asked as if there were more than one living in the small town.
“Yeah, he used to work part-time as a designer at a furniture store nearby. He needed full-time work which Josh offered him as a salon manager. It has also allowed him to start his own interior design company. I was one of his first clients. The guy knows his stuff.”
“He did a great job here.”
When Rome turned his back on me to reach a vase on the top shelf of his cabinet, I used the time to study him. He wore a dark gray V-neck knit sweater that clung to his torso and arms and dark denim that fit him like a glove, showing off the rounded swells of his ass. Rome had long, lean legs that reminded me of a runner or soccer player. Then I noticed his bare feet sticking out from beneath the legs of his jeans. I never knew bare feet could look so sexy. Maybe it wasn’t so much his feet that appealed to me, but what they signified. It meant he was relaxed and comfortable enough around me he didn’t need to wear shoes, which only made his nervousness when I first arrived more endearing.
I let my eyes wander back up his legs and settle once more on his ass, which was when he turned around and caught me ogling him. I grinned unabashedly. He had a fine ass. What’s not to appreciate?
“The breadsticks will be ready in about five minutes then we can eat. I’ll open a bottle of wine and let it breathe. Red or white?” Rome asked me.
“You pick.”
“Okay,” he said then winked. “We’ll save the other bottle for next time.”Next time.Rome ended up choosing the red wine. “I’m going to put you in charge of music.”
“What do you like?” I asked.