Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
So wrong on so many levels.
It turned out that Rome’s place wasn’t too far from my mom’s. Once upon a time, this had been one of the most historic and charming neighborhoods in town, but the fires hadn’t been kind to Hallies Falls. Half the city had burned that horrible, endless week that we had to evacuate.
Now this area was all new construction—mostly apartments and condos. Rome’s was one of the nicer ones. He had a second-story unit overlooking the park, and it wasn’t just a hole in the wall. There was a spacious entry way and a good-sized living room separated from a full-sized kitchen with a breakfast bar. The ceiling overhead formed sort of a half vault, slanting down to what looked like patio doors off a separate dining area. The living room itself had large picture windows and a small, cozy-looking gas fireplace.
“You want something to drink?” Rome asked as I looked around, curious about his natural habitat. The kitchen cabinets formed a shelf, and he’d lined the top with old-fashioned firefighting things. A flame-scarred helmet. One of those axes with a pick on the end. Other things I didn’t know the names for, but they all had the worn look of true antiques.
“No, I’m fine,” I said, exhaustion abruptly overwhelming everything else. Adrenaline had been carrying me through the evening, but it was fading fast. “I should get into the shower or I’m gonna fall asleep. But you don’t need to worry about my clothes. It’s not like I have anything to change into.”
“You can borrow a shirt and shorts from me,” he said. “And you might not be thirsty, but you need some ibuprofen for that eye, so drink up.”
He handed me a glass of water and a couple of pills, supervising as I obediently swallowed them.
“Good. You’ll want to take more in the morning,” he said. “Now it’s shower time—the bathroom is in here.”
I followed him though the dining area and into his bedroom, noting that the covers on his queen sized bed were made up neatly. The whole room was fairly tidy, actually.
Wonder if he’s always this clean, or if he was hoping to get lucky tonight and wanted to impress me?
Rome paused to open one of the dresser drawers and took out some clothing, then handed me the small pile. The bathroom was nice. Nothing fancy about the finishes, but the room was good sized and there was a jetted tub big enough for two. If things had gone differently, I might’ve been settling in for a bath right now instead of a shower.
“Towels are under here,” he said, opening one of the cabinets below the sink, pulling out a couple. “Grab more if you need them. Go ahead and throw your clothes out the door when you’re ready, and I’ll get them started.”
“It’ll take half the night,” I protested. “I get why you wanted me to clean up, but I really do need to get home. I’m exhausted.”
“You can sleep here.”
I stared at Rome, wondering if I’d heard him right.
“Why would I sleep here?”
“Because you’re tired,” he replied, his tone matter of fact and casual. Too casual.
“What’s your game?” I asked bluntly, too tired to guess.
Rome raised a brow, then gave me that panty-melting little smile of his. “No games, Randi. I’m tired. You’re tired. Just because this started out as a date doesn’t mean it has to end as one, and there’s plenty of room for both of us. You can have the bed and I’ll take the couch. Tomorrow morning, you’ll have clean clothes. The swelling will have started to go down, and then you can explain to your family without setting them off in the middle of the night. Unless you really think you can sneak in without your sister waking up and asking what happened?”
I tried to think of a reason to say no, but my exhausted brain came up blank. And I absolutely knew Lexi would be lying in wait for me. She’d start screeching, and then my mom would wake up and that would be it for the night.
The only thing worse than going to a class reunion with a giant black eye would be going to a reunion with a giant black eye after a night of arguing with my family.
“Okay,” I said, reluctantly agreeing with him. “But I’m taking the couch. Not the bed. You’re on your own in here.”
He raised a brow.
“My mom would kick my ass if I let you sleep on the couch,” he told me.
I crossed my arms, shaking my head. “I’m smaller than you. The couch will be fine, and then I won’t have to feel guilty about taking your bed.”
Rome held my gaze for a minute, and I thought he might push the point. Then he shrugged and said, “Okay. I’ll go grab some blankets and a pillow for the couch.”