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There’s no judgement there, just sadness, and I sense he’s speaking from personal experience.

Perhaps it’s someone on his team. His own parents, who I don’t know personally, are amazing people.

His dad is a public figure, constantly in front of the camera, and his mom is always by his side.

They’re always so happy together. You can’t fake that, right?

“I just want what’s best for you,” he adds quietly.

“What’s best for me, is for you to go shower and get ready, and for me to stay here, fix this dress and order room service.”

He grins. “Okay, you stay here.” He kisses me. “My little runaway bride.” He gives me a quick kiss. “Put the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign up after room service. I’ll let myself in.”

Turning, he heads toward the shower and I sigh as my gaze drops to take in his tight backside. Maybe I should join him in that shower. If I do, he might never get out the door on time to meet his friends and I refuse to hold him back from anything.

The shower turns on, and I saunter to the bathroom, catching sight of his beautiful, hard body behind the glass doors. I can’t believe he’s offering me a place to live.

Do you know what you’re doing, girl?

No, I don’t. What I do know is I don’t want to go home with my parents.

I want to make it on my own, and figure out what comes next.

Maybe I can find work in Boston, make my home there.

I step from the bathroom door and go back to the living room.

I pick up my phone, and my stomach squeezes tight when I realize I have no one to call, no one worrying about me, or waiting to hear from me.

I left all my old friends behind when I met Cass and entered his world.

I put on some tunes to drown out my thoughts and after calling room service, I pick up my scissors, stand over the coffee table and go to work on the dress.

Not that I’ll ever wear it again. I have no intentions beyond experimenting, and cutting Cass and his dad out of my life sounds like a great idea.

I hum to the music and cut away. Long after I hear the shower turn off, I lift my head. I was so lost in my work, I’m suddenly not sure if Roman left or not. Surely I would have seen him, and he would have said something before heading out.

He’s not Cass, slipping out and never telling you where he’s going or when he’ll be back.

I turn and my heart jumps when I find Roman standing there in nothing but a pair of dress pants, his ankles crossed as he watches me, heat brimming in his eyes.

My God, the man exudes heat and confidence, and for the briefest of seconds I’m back in high school, the chubby girl who watched from the corners of our circle.

Even if I am still that girl deep inside, it doesn’t seem to matter to Roman. He told me so last night.

“What are you doing?”

A low growl rumbles in his throat and it weirdly brings heat to my face.

What is it about this man’s attention that has me acting like a schoolgirl with a crush?

Oh, maybe because I’ve never seen a man look at me like that before.

Like I’m dessert and he skipped dinner. Okay, it’s true, I wanted that kind of attention from him in high school.

But I can’t get too caught up in it. This is Roman, aka Romeo, at his finest. I’d be wise to remember he’s a well-known player who has this seduction thing down to a science.

Am I going to enjoy it while it lasts?

Pretty sure I’d be a fool not to.

He arches a brow, his gaze sliding over me one more time before he answers. “Do you have any idea how sexy you are when you’re in your element?”

“Stop it,” I say and wave a dismissive hand at him, which is exactly what people do when they don’t want someone to stop. His grin widens and I chuckle. “Okay, fine. Tell me.” Working to make this about him, I playfully add, “Clearly you want to.”

He laughs and pushes off the wall, closing the distance between us. “Your hips were swaying as you hummed, and you seemed so lost, so happy as you reworked the dress.” His gaze shifts to the now short gown on the table. “It’s beautiful.” Heat imbued eyes flick back to me. “Just like you.”

My heart stumbles over itself. “Roman,” I murmur as he slides his hand around my waist and tugs me against him. “Do you have any idea how disarming your dimples are?”

“Yeah, I kind of do.”

I laugh. “Of course, you do.”

Feigning offence he shoots back, “Hey, I’m just working with what I was given.”

“We’re all grateful for that, Romeo.”

The music shifts to a slow song, and Roman doesn’t miss a beat. He spins me around the room like he was born to dance, his lips sweeping over my throat. The heat in his eyes is explosive when he lifts his head, but then the smile fades, and his brow furrows.

“Roman?”

“We have a problem.”

“We do?” I ask as my heart lurches.

“You see. Tonight, after the wedding, I’ll be on the rooftop watching the fireworks with the rest of the guests.”

I angle my head, and narrow my eyes. “And?”

His grin turns wicked as he dips his head and brushes his lips over mine.

“If I let myself think about you waiting for me back in this room…” He nods toward the bedroom.

“…waiting to finish what we started…” His mouth ghosts over my jaw, his breath hot against my skin.

“Let’s just say I’ll have to get back to you, before the grand finale happens… in my pants.”