Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 113330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Roman’s smile is beaming and glorious—every bit as radiant and full of pride as the one he wore a week ago while watching Maverick on that pony. With a squeeze of my hand, he says, “With pleasure. Come on, baby.”
As we turn to stride away, Brandon calls out from the sidewalk, “I’m gonna sue your ass for assault, Roman!”
“Go for it, you little shit,” Roman tosses out, without bothering to stop walking. “I’ve got an unlimited budget for attorneys, and any jury would cheer me on for what I did.”
When we get inside the ice cream parlor, I’m surprised to discover Maverick’s not sitting in the booth any longer. Outside, I assumed Roman left him there and told him to stay put.
“Where’s Mav?” I ask, as we slide into our booth on opposite sides of the table.
“In the back with the store owner. She’s showing him how she makes the ice cream.” He flashes me a lopsided grin. “How do you feel?”
“Fucking amazing.”
He chuckles. “As you should.” He reaches for my hand across the table, so I happily give it to him. “Come to LA with me tomorrow, Iris. I don’t want to leave here without you.”
Hallelujah. I’ve been hoping to hear those exact words from Roman for days now. But even so, I don’t want him asking me only because he’s currently drunk on jealousy and testosterone. I want him to want me even in the calmest, quietest of times.
“Are you sure?” I ask, even though I want to scream, “Yes, yes, yes!” “I don’t want you inviting me because you’re suddenly feeling territorial.” By way of explanation, I motion vaguely to the window.
Roman rolls his eyes. “That’s not it. I’d just mustered the courage to ask you to come with me when Brandon walked in. I swear, he interrupted me mid-sentence.”
Butterflies whoosh into my belly. “You had to muster the courage to ask me?”
“Are you kidding me? After the way you kicked my ass in Hawaii—and rightly so, by the way—I’m scared to death about what your answer will be. Especially now, when there’s so much more at stake, yes, I most certainly had to muster my courage.” He inhales deeply. “Please, Iris. Come with me tomorrow. Maverick is going to his mom’s house for a couple weeks when I get back to LA, so we’ll have the place to ourselves.”
It sounds like Roman is asking me to come for only a two-week visit, which, admittedly, isn’t what I was hoping for, in a perfect world. But it’s not nothing, so I decide to accept his invitation.
I open my mouth to say yes, but when I notice the pleading, waiting-with-bated-breath look in Roman’s dark eyes, I suddenly realize I’ve got some leverage here.
“What’s at stake now compared to in Kauai?” I ask, referring to his interesting word choice from a moment ago. “Answer that question to help me decide.”
Roman runs a hand through his mop of dark hair, but he doesn’t answer my question.
“Tell me, Roman. Explain it to me. I need to know.”
After a long pause, Roman inhales deeply and answers me on his exhale. “If you say no to me this time,” he murmurs softly, “I’ll know it’s not because of bad timing. Not because you just got out of a long-term, terrible relationship. Not because you just involuntarily starred in a traumatizing viral video.” He shifts in his seat. “It wouldn’t be because you haven’t had the chance to get to know me. It wouldn’t be because you don’t know what’s real.” He pauses, looking intensely uncomfortable. “This time, unlike last time, you know me. The real me. You’ve spent time with me. With my parents and my son. And I’ve met your family, too.” He swallows hard and his Adam’s apple bobs. “This time, unlike in Kauai, if you say no to me, I’ll know it’s because you’ve decided you simply don’t want me. The real me.” He shifts in his seat again. “And if that’s your ultimate decision here, Iris . . .” He levels me with dark, blazing eyes, and his broad chest rises and falls in the brief, poignant silence. “Then that would honestly break my fucking heart.”
I’m swooning uncontrollably. It’s the most vulnerable—and handsome—he’s ever looked. “Yes, I’ll come to LA with you tomorrow,” I blurt. “I can’t believe you doubted my answer.”
Roman looks equal parts relieved and elated. “When it comes to you, Iris, I don’t take anything for granted.”
We share a beaming smile. I don’t know what will happen between Roman and me after my two-week stay, once it’s time for Maverick to return to Roman’s from his mother’s. But in this moment, I don’t care to think that far ahead. For now, all that matters is I’ll be leaving Orchard Blossom with Roman and his family tomorrow, rather than saying goodbye to him for however long and then going home to sob into my pillow. For now, I remind myself, that’s simply got to be enough.