“That’s great,” I tell her. Noticing a large display of colorful flowers on top of her dresser, I say, “Those are beautiful.”
“They are, aren’t they?” Tessa agrees. Going over, she rubs a purple petal between her finger and thumb. “Verek sent them this morning.”
“That was…nice of him,” I remark, glad that Roman isn’t the only Savage King with a sweet side.
“He knew I would need some cheering up after yesterday.”
“Right,” I agree. “And while I hate you had to go through that, I hope the sketches will help us find these guys.”
“Me too,” Tessa replies. “But enough about me.” She goes over and flops down on the bed with her legs crossed. “Tell me what’s new with Roman.”
“Oh, well, not much…” I trail off as I take a seat across from her, unable to stop the blush from spreading across my cheeks, remembering last night at the clubhouse and then when Roman got home…
“You finally did him, didn’t you!” Tessa exclaims with a clap of her hands.
“How did you…”
“Well, it was only a matter of time. Who could resist that sexy man?” she asks. “I’m so happy for you.”
“You are?” I ask hesitantly.
“Of course! I’ve been trying to set you up for years, and you refused.”
“I know, but I wasn’t ready for a relationship then.”
“And now you are?” she asks with a grin.
“I’m not sure. Roman is just a great guy, and we’re having fun while I’m here. It’s not exactly a relationship.”
“You’re living with him. That makes it pretty serious,” Tessa points out.
“Staying with him. Temporarily,” I amend. “And he hasn’t really brought up wanting more. He knows I live hours away and will be going home soon.”
“The man looks at you like you’re his long-lost queen and he’s yours to command.”
“I don’t know about all that,” I reply with a bark of laughter. “But from the first day we met, there’s been something about him…”
“He’s gorgeous with a body that was made for licking?” Tessa supplies.
“No. Well, yes, he does have that kind of body. It’s more than that, though. I was referring to how he’s always treated me like someone he’s known for years, not as a stranger. And I never hesitated to trust him, you know? Like in my gut, I just know he’s a really good person.”
“I think you’re falling for him,” Tessa says. “Not that I could blame you…”
“Who knows. Maybe? Or maybe Roman’s just incredibly sweet and attentive to every woman he meets. I guess we’ll find out when I’m ready to go home and it’s time to say goodbye.”
“Right,” she agrees. “Just promise me you’ll be open minded, open to the possibility that he could be the one…”
“Adam was the one. He was my soulmate,” I remind her. “The person I was supposed to spend the rest of my life with, remember?”
“And I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with Paul, but things happen. People die or go through radical changes. Still, life goes on, for me and for you, Charlotte. You deserve to be happy.”
“Seeing you happy makes me happy,” I tell her when I reach over to grab her hand and give it a squeeze because she’s my best friend and I hate to see her hurting.
Sighing, Tessa gives me a smile that says she knows I’m trying to change the subject but that I also mean every word. “True. Men may come and go in our lives, but at least we have each other.”
“Exactly.”
“I’m so glad you decided to stay here for me,” she says. “You’ve always known what I needed without me having to say a word. In fact, I don’t think Adam was your only soulmate. You’re mine too.”
“I think you’re right,” I agree with my eyes filling up with tears.
Roman
* * *
“Any updates?” I snap into the phone when I call the police chief for my daily check-in.
“No, Roman! I told you I would call if we get any credible Crime Stoppers tips.”
“How is it possible that no one has recognized any of those four assholes?” I ask in disbelief.
“Hell, I don’t know! Maybe they’re not from around here and this was just one of their hunting grounds.”
“Have you contacted the authorities in North Carolina to see if they’ve had any similar disappearances?”
“You talk to me like you don’t think I know how to do my job?” he grumbles.
“If you were doing your job, these four fuckers wouldn’t still be on the streets, would they?” I shout at him, which results in him ending the call without another word.
Slack asshole.
It’s been nearly a month, and still we’re not getting any closer to catching the bastards who hurt Tessa, which is frustrating as hell. Not just because other women in the area could be in danger, but because with each day that passes with no news, I feel like I’m letting Charlotte and Tessa down. It doesn’t help that time is running out for us. There’s an expiration date on the horizon that I’ve been avoiding. Stupidly, I think I’ve been hoping that if I can catch the men who victimized her best friend, maybe Charlotte would stay with me. It’s a ridiculous notion, but I’m running out of time, and I’m not sure I’ll be able to convince her to give us a real chance to be together.
From the outside, everything with Charlotte probably seems pretty great.
For the past two weeks, since the first night we were together, Charlotte and I greet the rising sun in the shower together, exploring each other’s bodies and working ourselves into a sweat under the scalding water. I then head off to the clubhouse or out to a rental if I have on-site work to do, while Charlotte spends time with Tessa. In the evenings, Charlotte either comes and finds me at the clubhouse to hang out with my crew and I until it’s time to go home, or I meet her at home where she demands sex before dinner.
It’s nearly perfect and so easy. I’ve been happier with her these last few weeks than I have ever been in my entire life.
Still, there’s this shadow hanging over us, a name she never speaks. I see her thinking about him constantly, every time I catch her twisting the wedding band still on her finger.
There’s one other odd thing I began to notice too.
If the mood strikes her, Charlotte pulls me aside and lets me have my way with her anywhere — in the clubhouse, out on our deck, in the kitchen, dining room, or on the couch. But never once has she initiated anything when we lay down together to go to sleep at night. If she even thinks I might try, she leaps up and laughingly leads me to some other part of the house, always eager to take me inside of her. Anything other than hot and dirty fucking remains taboo. So does my bed. Even though she sleeps there beside me each night, I’m beginning to feel like there’s one other person there between us that isn’t going away any time soon…