“I’ve got to tell you,” Smith said, “you’ve got me worried. If you need help with anything—”
“I swear, I’m fine.” Her cousins were as overprotective as her brothers. She loved them all, but sometimes it wasn’t easy to be part of such a big family with so many alpha males surrounding her at every turn.
“We’ll talk more when you get to the lake,” Smith said, making it clear that they weren’t done with this conversation, even if he was dropping it for now. “I’ve got most of Alec’s planes on call to get everyone here on such short notice, so let him know what time you can be ready to head out.”
“Thanks, but I’ll probably drive.” Her brother’s planes were a really nice ride, but she wanted the flexibility to be able to come and go as she pleased for the next few days. “Give Valentina my love and let her know I can’t wait to see her dress.”
“You and me both,” Smith replied. “I hope I can still form a coherent sentence when I finally see her in it. I’ve waited so long to make her mine…”
Suzanne sighed. Smith and Valentina were so sweet together. As one of the biggest movie stars in the world, it might have been difficult to see Smith falling this hard for anyone. But Valentina was special—the perfect woman for him. Not at all interested in the spotlight, but willing to brave it for the man she adored.
For a few moments after they hung up, she savored the sweetness of knowing Smith and Valentina were finally tying the knot. There was nothing more wonderful than true love turning to forever love. One day, she wanted the same thing for herself.
Despite the way her parents’ marriage had turned out, Suzanne still believed in love, still held out hope that she’d find a man who cherished her, who appreciated her. That future love had always been nameless, faceless. Until today, when for some crazy reason, Roman’s face—and all those breathtaking things he’d said to her in the heat of the moment—were suddenly filling in the blank spaces.
“Change of plans,” she told Roman. “My cousin Smith is getting married on Friday. Since he’s super famous, it’s super secret and totally spur of the moment.”
“I figured, based on your side of the call.”
She appreciated that Roman wasn’t freaking out over the fact that he was going to be attending Smith Sullivan’s wedding with her in a couple of days. So many other people had such stars in their eyes when it came to her family. Sometimes it felt as if she was nothing more than a stepping stone for people who were hoping for a piece of her family’s money and fame.
“Wherever you go,” he added in his deep voice, “I’ll be there.”
Perhaps she should have been irritated by this reminder that his job was to keep watch over her at all times, but the truth was that right this very second, she was more reassured than anything. Although maybe reassured wasn’t exactly the right word for what she was feeling.
The simple comfort of knowing no one would harm her while Roman was there was one thing. But the butterflies in her stomach at the thought of attending a family wedding with him at her side—and the anticipation of sharing a dance with the most attractive, intriguing man she’d ever known—were something else entirely.
CHAPTER TWELVE
The six-hour drive to Summer Lake the next morning—with Suzanne close enough to drag onto his lap and kiss senseless—was a lesson in restraint for Roman. Restraint he’d already proved he sorely lacked.
What the hell had he been thinking saying, Do you have any idea what your beauty does to a man? and Any guy who’s lucky enough to get to be with you isn’t going to want to lose you.
He hadn’t been thinking, that was the problem. Not when he’d grabbed Craig by the throat and shoved him up against the wall. And not when he’d nearly pulled Suzanne against him in her office and kissed her until she forgot all the reasons they couldn’t be together.
She’d asked him if he was crazy, and the truth was that around Suzanne, he felt that way. One smile from her, one saucy word from her smart mouth, and all his hard-won control disappeared as if it had never been there at all.
And yet, after getting off the phone with Smith, instead of spending any more time confronting him about his unacceptable behavior—which he definitely deserved—she’d been pulled into several overseas calls that went late. He understood that she needed to get as much done as possible before she left town for the wedding. But he also wondered if, perhaps, she was using work to avoid him.
Not that he blamed her for it. Ignoring the attraction between them was the smart thing to do. And Suzanne Sullivan was the smartest woman he’d ever met.