Page 19

Roman

“ T his is it,” I say as we pull up in front of my building.

Gabby leans over in the Uber, her gaze trailing up the towering building, her fingers curling into the hem of her sweater.

There’s a quiet hesitation about her as she takes it all in, like she’s not sure she belongs.

The driver grabs our bags from the back, not that we have much and really, she has nothing other than what she packed for her wedding.

With my jacket over her shoulders, she steps a bit closer to me as we walk to the entrance. Everett, the elderly doorman, straightens when he sees me. “Welcome home, Roman.”

“Thanks. Good to be home. Everett, this is Gabby. She’s going to be staying with me for a while. I’ll be giving her a key.”

Everett nods, his gaze flicking over Gabby in a quiet assessment. There’s a look of approval about him and I get it, she’s different from the other girls I’ve brought home with me. “Nice to meet you, Gabby,” he says with a curt nod and opens the door. “If you need anything, be sure to reach out.”

“Thank you,” she answers quietly.

I guide her to the elevator, and press the button. “We’re on the twelfth floor.”

She nods, and remains quiet as we head up. “I can show you around the city tonight. It’s New Year’s Day and not much will be open, but I can show you where to find shopping. You’re going to need clothes, and other things.”

She yawns, but it doesn’t hide the uncertainty in her expression. “Thanks, Roman. Is it okay if I just stay in?”

“Sure, but tomorrow, I have practice, and then games next week. I won’t be here to show you around.”

She hugs herself, and I don’t think it’s from the cold. “I’m not sure I really want to go anywhere, anyway.” She glances at her feet and I can’t help but wonder if she thinks this is a colossal mistake.

“Gabs,” I say gently, and she slowly lifts her eyes to me.

“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.

If you do decide to go out, Everett will call you an Uber—” She quickly glances down again, and it catches me off guard, until I read the tightness in her body.

“I’m going to give you my credit card.” Her eyes flash to mine and I hold my hands up.

“You can pay me back,” I add before she can protest. “I’m in no hurry for that, but when you’re on your feet again, you can.

Until then, just get what you need, okay? ”

Her lips part like she wants to say something, but then something in her softens. “Thank you.”

I chuckle. “You can stop thanking me.” I pause, my voice dipping lower, teasing.

“Wait, unless you want to do it without words.” Jesus, I haven’t been able to get last night out of my mind.

Sex with Gabby was explosive, and fireworks weren’t just going off in the night sky or my pants. They were going off in my brain.

Gabby laughs, but I see the heat in her eyes, the way she shifts just slightly closer. As the elevator climbs higher, I remember the way I slid my fingers beneath the lace of her panties last night. The way she trembled under my touch. From the look in her eyes, I know she’s remembering it too.

I shift, adjusting my dick, and Gabby’s quiet chuckle fills the space between us. My mouth quirks. “Yeah, I’m thinking about last night,” I admit, shaking my head. No point in denying it. Not when the memory of her is still burning through me like molten lava.

The elevator dings, and we step out onto my floor. I place a hand on her back, a light touch meant to guide, but she hesitates for a beat. I tilt my head toward the right. “Just down here.”

She follows me, her eyes taking it all in as I slide the key into the lock and push open the door. I suddenly see my place through her eyes, and that’s when I cringe.

The eat-in kitchen, the barely furnished dining room, the simple two-bedroom, tiny den, one-bath layout—practical, lived-in, but undeniably bare. No warmth, no touches of home. Just a place to crash between games and practices.

“Wow,” I murmur, rubbing the back of my neck. “I really had no idea how much of a bachelor pad this place was until now. I’m sure it’s not at all what you’re used to.”

“It’s perfect, Roman,” she says, stepping inside looking a little more sure of herself. “Exactly what I need.”

Something in my chest tightens unexpectedly.

I never cared about having one of those sprawling houses on Beacon Hill like the other guys.

They have wives, serious relationships—things I never saw for myself.

So I never bothered investing in something bigger.

But for the first time, I wish I had. Wish I had more to offer her.

She turns toward me as I set the bags down. “You should have seen my apartment in New York. If I had company, one person had to back out of the kitchen before the other could get in.”

I arch a brow. “Sounds cozy.”

She exhales a short laugh, but it fades as her gaze flickers away. “I gave that up when I moved in with…”

Her words trail off, the pain still too fresh to voice, and I don’t push. Instead, I watch as she walks through the space, taking it in.

“There are two bedrooms,” I say, nodding toward the hallway off the living room. “And a small den.”

Gabby heads down the hall, and I pick up her bag, but I hang back, waiting. Letting her decide. I don’t want her to think she has to sleep with me. That this arrangement comes with expectations.

She steps into the spare room, pausing in the doorway. The single bed, neatly made. Unlike my room the blankets are half on the floor—right where I left them when I tumbled out in a rush to Vegas.

“I can get you a double bed,” I offer, my voice softer now.

She glances back at me, a hint of a smile.

“No this is perfect. I don’t need much.” She walks to the window and before she looks out I see something on her face, something that says she wants to take up as little space as possible.

“I don’t want to put you out in any way, and I hope to be gone before I’m a nuisance. ”

My chest tightens. “Hey.” I drop her bag on the bed and pull her to me before she retreats deeper into those thoughts. “You are not a nuisance, and if I hear you saying that again…”

She cocks her head, a playfulness about her that I’m happy to see. “You’ll what?”

I glance at the bed. “Oh, maybe tie you to the posts, and kiss the hell out of you until you’re screaming my name.”

“I’m a nuisance.”

“Evil,” I say.

Her laughter is light but wicked, and it lifts the tension. A moment later, she tries to stifle a yawn, and I give her backside a little pat, steering her toward her bag. “Get unpacked. I’ll go find us something to eat.”

Before I leave she says, “Tomorrow, I’ll make some phone calls. See about work.”

My body stiffens, and I try to keep my expression neutral, not wanting to upset her, but we both know the reality. Thanks to that asshole, she’s going to hit roadblocks. Going to have doors slammed before she even has a chance to knock.

I hesitate in the doorway. “You know there’s no hurry, right?”

“I know but I don’t want?—”

“Gabby,” I warn in a soft tone.

“I don’t want to be a freeloader, and honestly Roman, I’m not used to having spare time on my hands. I won’t know what to do with myself.”

An idea sparks in my mind but I file it away for later. “I can understand that. But if you call your connections, what are you going to say?” The thoughts of her getting doors slammed in her face makes me want to hunt that asshole down and tear him a new one.

She sighs. “You’re right. Maybe it’s too soon.

” She frowns and throws her arms up, letting them slap against her hips.

“Maybe I can get something in Boston until things cool down and Cass comes to his senses and isn’t hell bent on ruining me.

” I’m not sure either of us believe that will happen.

“I’ve only ever known fashion, but in the meantime, maybe I can find something to keep me busy and bring in some money. ”

“I could talk with Gina. Maybe there’s something at the Nook.”

She nods. “Thanks, Roman. Is it okay if I think about that?”

I probably shouldn’t have offered. She wants to stand on her own two feet, but sometimes it’s okay to ask a friend for help.

“Of course.” Leaving her to her thoughts, I head to the kitchen and pull open the fridge.

After a quick scan, I let out a sigh and shut it.

Pizza it is. I pull out my phone and place an order at my favorite spot.

Once that’s done, I grab my bag and dump the contents straight into the washing machine.

When I turn and find Gabby standing behind me, I nearly jump two feet in the air.

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry, Roman.” She presses a hand to my arm, her eyes wide.

I clutch my chest dramatically, feigning a heart attack.

“You really are used to living alone, aren’t you? Maybe I’ll have to wear a bell.”

“We don’t have to go that far, but if you want to wear a bell and nothing else, I’m not going to protest.”

She chuckles but it dies an abrupt death when she glances at the washing machine. Her face contorts like it physically pains her to see all my clothes bunched up. “Um, you’re going to wash all those clothes together? Darks and lights?”

I glance at the knotted ball, then back at her. “I normally do.”

Her lips twitch. “Roman.”

“What?”

She exhales like I’ve personally offended her ancestors. “Would you mind if I did a load too? Actually, I don’t have a lot, so maybe we can mix our loads and do a proper light and dark, like we’re civilized human beings?”

I raise a brow. “Civilized. That’s a strong word for laundry.”

She crosses her arms looking downright pained. “I work in fashion, Roman. It physically hurts my soul to watch you commit a crime against fabric.”

“Fine, but if I start losing socks with all your mixing and matching, and civilization, there’s going to be trouble.”