“I’m gonna do it too. Skin for skin,” Romeo said before she could make up her mind, reminding her of their night together in Las Vegas. “Fair enough?” Now that was really dumb. The lawyer side of her brain wanted to scold Romeo, because the man was famous and a video of him jerking off would be worth a small fortune. Yet even as she formed the thought she really understood what he was saying.
He trusted her, and she got the impression Romeo didn’t trust easily.
“Fair enough. I got to go get my laptop. I left it downstairs.” Jules stayed on the phone with him as she made the trek downstairs in the dark. She grabbed her laptop quickly, then bounded up the steps that creaked under her enthusiasm. She locked her door, hopped back onto her bed, and opened the computer.
It took them a bit to get the log-in taken care of because they’d never connected via video chat despite all the time they spent on the phone. Likely because they both 126
knew where visually connecting would lead, and Romeo had obviously been as paranoid as she was—until now.
Jules had about twenty seconds to examine herself in the little window that appeared on the screen, and she didn’t like what she saw. All she had time to do was pull the scrunchie out of her hair, letting it tumble long and loose around her shoulders.
When the computer chimed and the connection was made, Jules buried her face in her folded arms as she lay on her stomach in front of the computer. All Romeo was able to see was the top of her head, and she was fine with that because her eyes were still red from crying and Wyatt’s old football jersey didn’t exactly look sexy.
“This is a horrible idea,” she mumbled into her arms.
“No, it’s not.”
Jules heard Romeo’s voice twice, once through the phone still pressed against her ear out of sheer habit and again through the computer. She hung up the phone and tossed it aside without looking up.
“Is that a poster of Bruce Lee over your bed?”
“Don’t judge me.” Jules buried her face tighter. “I know my room looks like something a teenage girl would do. We ain’t exactly great at updating ’round here.”
“Actually, I was thinking that poster makes you awesome,” Romeo said, sounding genuine. “Bruce Lee’s my idol. That’s what Tino and me were doing tonight, watching The Chinese Connection. It’s on AMC.”
“Oh my God.” Jules lifted her head in shock. “That’s what Wyatt and I were doing!”
Romeo flashed a triumphant smile when she stayed out of hiding, as he lay sprawled out on his stomach over the big hotel bed, his ankles hooked together near the headboard. He was bare-chested, showing off tan skin, broad shoulders, and massive, muscular arms folded in front of him.
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He was more beautiful than she remembered. Jules was instantly enthralled, but she still had to say, “I didn’t know you liked Bruce Lee.” Romeo gave her a look. “I’m pretty sure it’s a requirement for all MMA enthusiasts to worship Bruce Lee.”
“Clay could give or take him.”
“Well, he’s more into wrestling and jujitsu.” Romeo shook his head sadly.
“Ground and pounders. Fucking oobatz.”
Jules giggled. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe you’re planning an extended stay in Garnet to learn more of both those things.”
“That’s not the reason I’m planning an extended stay to Garnet,” Romeo assured her, his beautiful gaze sharp and intense, making it obvious he was studying her.
“Perfecting my wrestling and jujitsu is just the bonus. I’m coming to Garnet for you, Juliet.”
Jules’s cheeks heated, and she rested her chin on her open palm as she stared Romeo down. She wasn’t sure what she was looking for—a lie, some sort of indication this entire affair was just a dalliance for him—but all she found was the earnest sincerity she heard in his voice every night.
“I like you without makeup,” Romeo said as Jules continued to look for a reason to feed her cynicism. “You’re always the most beautiful when you’re just being you.” Jules rolled her eyes. “You’re just trying to get me naked.”
“That is the goal,” Romeo admitted without shame. “I’m sorta wishing Clay and me hadn’t agreed to this damn publicity tour, even if the paycheck was sweet. I could be there now.”
“Clay says it’s cold where you’re at.”
“Holy shit.” Romeo shuddered. “Cold is a friggin’ understatement. I’ve been freezing my balls off for three days, and if I have to hear Tino bitch about it anymore, 128