Since I Fell For You(41)

“Perfect timing,” William said. “Smith and Valentina are hosting cocktails and dinner at the inn for whoever can make it tonight. They said to come by as soon as we’re ready.”

“I’ve got to change out of my jeans,” Suzanne said, “and then I’ll be ready to go.”

As if her brother had finally noticed what she was wearing, Alec did a double take at her curve-skimming silk shirt, sleek black jeans, and heels. “Why are you wearing something so revealing in the first place?”

She scowled at her brother. “Everyone dresses like this.”

He scowled back. “Not you.”

“Well, I do now. So you’d better get used to it.”

With that parting shot, she grabbed her bag and headed for the stairs. Something told Roman that if any of them thought her outfits had been revealing so far, they hadn’t seen anything yet. If only so that she could turn the screws as tightly as possible on the brothers she was already furious with for hiring Roman behind her back.

Alec turned to Roman. “What’s gotten into her? Harry told me she’d forgiven us for hiring you.”

“You know Suzanne better than I do,” Roman said, “but I’m guessing she didn’t care for the way you spoke to her about her outfit. I’d apologize, and soon, if I were you.”

“What the hell, man?” Alec was known for his fierce look, which he now aimed at Roman. “Whose side are you on?”

“Suzanne’s.” And not just because Alec and his brothers had hired Roman to protect her. But because he liked her.

Liked her more than any woman he’d ever known.

* * *

Maybe Suzanne should have been more intent than ever on getting Roman to resign after the way he’d gone rogue with Craig. When they’d first set out on the drive from the city earlier that day, that was what she’d been working to convince herself to do. Heck, all the previous afternoon and evening, she’d been trying to get herself to see sense. To remember all the reasons she couldn’t fall for Roman.

But then, after their talk in the car and the way he’d opened up to her about his childhood, her hard-won resolution had simply disappeared. Right now, she didn’t feel as if she needed to dress super sexy to tempt Roman into stepping over the line. But after the way Alec had spoken to her? She was angry enough to up the ante even over her previous outfits, if only to see how mad she could make him.

And if Roman happened to be wowed by the glimmering gold dress that skimmed so tightly over her curves it was almost as if she wasn’t wearing anything at all—a dress so sexy even she couldn’t quite believe she had the guts to wear it? Well, the truth was that Suzanne wasn’t entirely sure she’d mind him noticing her. For real, this time, rather than because she was putting on a faux seductive act to get him to kiss her and then resign.

When he’d opened up to her about his past, she’d felt as if they’d started to become friends. Being able to share things with him—and having him share right back—had filled her with warmth. And tenderness. She’d forced herself to fight her intense attraction to him, but she didn’t know how to fight against warmth and tenderness.

Granted, her brothers would freak if they thought Roman was looking at her with interest—and she was looking at him the same way. But she was beyond done with their trying to control her life in any way, shape, or form, all under the guise of protecting her. When would all of them see that she could protect herself just fine?

Head held high, she left the bedroom to make her way down the stairs to the living room. She wasn’t surprised to find Roman waiting for her outside the bedroom door. What did surprise her, however, was when he stared at her in wonder.

“You’re stunning.”

She lost her breath at the heat beneath his words—and in his gaze. Actually had to work to get enough oxygen to say, “Thank you.” She looked down at herself, then back up at him. “I was kind of angry at Alec when I headed up here. You don’t think this dress is a bit much?”

“There’s no denying how gorgeous you are in it,” he said without pause. “But what’s important isn’t what I think. It isn’t what your brother thinks. It’s what you think. It’s whether you like the dress.”

After having so many men trying to tell her what to do her whole life, he couldn’t know how much she appreciated his support for her decision—whatever it might be. They might just be talking about a dress, but it felt like the first step toward something bigger. Or, at least, something that might become bigger, if only the two of them decided to let it grow.