Page 38 of The Temptation

“This conversation is done.”

“Just like that?”

“Yep.” I don’t look back as I stride towards the door.

I almost make it out of the room when she calls out my name. “Romeo.”

I stop and glance at her over my shoulder. “What?”

“On the other side of fear, you’ll find happiness.”

I stare at her for a beat before turning away and forcing my legs to continue moving.

I’m not going there with her.

Not now …not ever.

I already know I could love this woman for the rest of my damn life. I’d worship the ground she walked on if I could just find the courage to let myself do that.

Chapter 9

Lucia

I’m on my bed, lying with my arms and legs spread wide, on top of the covers, with my gaze trained at the ceiling despite not being able to see anything in the darkness. I’m unable to sleep. I keep going over the conversation Romeo had with me earlier today, and I’m not sure what to make of it.

I wish I could climb inside his head and shake some sense into that stubborn brain of his. I’d also love to get my hands on his mother and give her a thorough, in-depth bitch-slapping for the irreparable damage she’s caused her son over the years. My heart bleeds for that little boy.

I don’t know much about his childhood, but what he’s shared was more than enough. The way he talks is so guarded and vague. He’s only scratching the surface, and I can guarantee there’s a world of pain he’s still too wary to name.

My own upbringing was far from perfect—my father made sure of that—but at least I had a loving Mamma for those first seven years of life. I also had my sister, Arabella.

Who did he have to hold on to when it all got too heavy?Who told him he was enough? I’m beginning to think the answer might be nobody.

I’m pulled from my thoughts when there’s a light tap at my door. “Luc, you awake?” I hear Romeo ask.

“Yeah,” I say, quickly sitting up and moving to the edge of the bed.

When I open the door a few seconds later, I find him standing in the hallway fully dressed.

My eyes peruse down the length of his body. “Are you going out?” I ask. He went to bed hours ago.

“I won’t be long. I just wanted to let you know in case you were looking for me and I wasn’t here.”

“Where are you going at this time of night?”

Please don’t let it be a booty call.

I catch his wince as he turns his gaze away from mine. “To pick my mother up. I don’t want her walking home alone this time of night.”

“Where is she?”

He blows out a long breath. “At the police station. She got caught driving under the influence while on a suspended licence.”

“Oh, Romeo,” I say, automatically reaching for his hand to give it a light squeeze. When his gaze moves down to where my fingers are wrapped around his and he frowns, I instantly let go.

Boundaries, Lucia, I remind myself.

It’s time I respected his wishes, whether I like them or not. I’ve spent the last few weeks trying to break a man who is clearly already broken, and for that, I feel like a terrible human being.