“It’s the hormones, right?” he muses and I grit my teeth.
He did this very same thing last Friday, and when I screamed no at him he got all cocky and started yammering about how if it isn’t my hormones, it must be something else.
As if I don’t know what he’s saying.
“Guys, I’m fine. I just get a little emotional sometimes, but the doctor said it was normal and I shouldn’t stress about it. Now get those people back in here so I can go back to work. Oh, and thanks for the cookies,” I throw over my shoulder, laughing at Will’s blush because I know the man has been adding to my stash even though he bitches about preservatives and salt content all the time.
A half hour later I’m all better and just about ready to face people again.
At least, I was ready to face people again, until I turn around and my eyes meet the very ones I’ve been dying to see for six weeks now. I feel all those pesky emotions come rushing back to the forefront.
I’m giddy and nervous and terrified all at once, and yet so happy to see him that I stand staring like a goober for a good minute before I can find my brain.
“Roman?”
His lips tilt up in a smile and I have to bite my tongue to stop the thing from rolling to my feet when his eyes do a slow, thorough pass over my body and come back up to my face.
“Hey, baby girl. You look good. Ma says you’re over the morning sickness?”
He wants to talk about me puking? Fine, if that’s his speed these days, I am so there as long as he keeps talking and I can keep smelling his expensive cologne.
“Uh, yea. I’m puke free as of five days ago. I can even eat chocolate now,” I stammer, swallowing again when he grins and bites his lip. “Er, so, what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at home recovering or something?”
“Nah. The doc cleared me for physical therapy but the damn leg is working just fine after Miah got me back in the gym. I’m good. All healed up and ready,” he mumbles, looking around at nothing before turning back to me with a smile that looks forced and…shy?
Roman Lane has never been shy a day in his life, and I doubt he’s all of a sudden picked up the quality.
“Why are you staring at me that way, Lane?” I ask, narrowing my eyes when he just grins and continues to hold my gaze.
“Did I ever tell you that I fell in love with you the minute I saw you, Melissa Dobson?”
That gets my usual sarcastic snort and I hand him a beer and grab a water before hopping onto my stool and giving him a look that says back the hell off.
“You mean when you scoped me out and decided I was a good way to get into the Patriots? Why no, you never said. That sure is romantic, though, falling for me before you decided I was a handy pawn. Why, I can’t believe you’re this sensitive and poetic,” I snap, wanting to bite my tongue the moment the words fall out.
Roman blanches and looks away before I see his lips twitch when Will throws him a thumbs-up from across the room.
“I mean, the first time I saw you. You were coming out of the station and one of the guys gave you lip about your ass. You remember what you said?”
I shake my head and lean forward, enraptured now because the man is smiling so wide, his teeth are all I see.
“You clocked him good and told him to go eat a bag of—”
“Okay, I remember. Sheesh. God, Lane, you know how weird it is that you fell for me after seeing me hit a man?” I ask.
I’m smiling inside, though, because I recall hearing a deep laugh and what sounded like clapping, but I never did see the eyewitness to my felony. Now that I know it was Roman, I think I’ll remember that day till the day I die.
“Not weird. You see, I knew then that you weren’t one of those women who play games and I respect that. I can say or do anything and you’ll never stand back and let it slide. You’ll give me shit right away and dare me to argue. I love that about you, because I know exactly where I stand.”
That stops my inner bitch from ranting and I look at him again, wanting to know why that’s so important. Most men are happy with attractiveness and a good body, and some are okay with just a good sense of humor.
Apparently my guy likes honesty above it all, though I will humbly admit that my looks are a definite bonus because I’m sure not ugly.
“I’d like to tell you why it’s so important to me, Mel, but it’s not a story I feel comfortable sharing in public. Would you have dinner with me and listen? I think if we get to talking again, we can actually be friends like you wanted to be.”
“Er, uh, sure. I can cook something for us, or did you want us to eat at your parents’ place?” I ask, wondering what I can possibly give him to trump the masterpieces Jude and Ellie come up with.