Page 3 of When In Rome

“Now…we are going to talk about…,” my phone is so loud it echoes through the house. I raise my eyes to the ceiling and try to bring my patience back from the grave it has been shoved into. “God damn it, can you… just sit still and I’ll be back as soon as I can, I promise.”

She actually rolls her eyes and starts mumbling what sounds like curse words. I’m pretty sure she just questioned my mother’s decency. I make a run for the stairs and don’t waste time grabbing my phone and trying to figure everything out. I check the phone but don’t recognize the number. I should call them back, but I’m a little busy right now.

I hear the door open and hurry down the stairs. Surely, she couldn’t have untied all those knots and made it to the door so quickly… could she? But when I hit the bottom step, it only takes a glance to realize my little hostage is still tied where I left her. Then a sound catches my attention and I turn to find one of the guys from my hockey team standing with a small blonde woman staring back at me.

“Roman?” Her voice seems familiar, and she apparently knows me, “Why is my sister tied to a chair… in her underwear?”

Sister?

“Maybe you should explain what the hell is going on, Rome.”

I turn my attention back to Roan. Why is he here? How the hell did they get in without setting off the alarm? Sister? Now, Roan is here looking at me like I’m some kind of monster.

“I’ll explain as soon as you guys explain what this hellcat was doing in my bed?” I step into Roan’s line of sight. Even if everything is covered, he doesn’t need to see her…like this. “And don’t look. She’s not really dressed for company.”

“Bed? My sister was in your bed? Why was my sister in your bed?”

“That’s what I’m asking you…,”

I stare at the blonde finally placing where I have seen her before. She’s the girl that was supposed to be staying here with Pearl - my sister, who isn’t here right now because she fell in love with my friend Spade. Everybody is hooking up or going off and getting fucking married it seems. It’s one of the reasons I left so quickly after coming home to find my sister in love with my friend.

“Okay, maybe… maybe we just need to take a big step back and start all over again. Hi. I’m Summer -Pearl’s friend…,”

Summer! That was her name.

“And that is my sister, Nolia.”

I turn to look at the tiny woman I have tied to one of my chairs. Nolia. Her name is Nolia. The little ray of sunshine that’s pushed her way into my life is named Nolia.

Chapter Four

Nolia

I see the moment recognition hits the big lug. He does know my sister. His next words confirm it.

“I know you, you came over to spend one of the holidays with us. With Pearl.”

Great, the guy probably has the hots for her. No one can meet Summer and not think she’s the most beautiful person in the world. It’s her soul. It just shines and you can see all her goodness right on the surface. It’s one of the reasons I’m here. My sister is too sweet.

I’m not!

I start talking directly to my sister to try to explain I wasn’t trying to seduce this buffoon or end up in my underwear tied to his chair, but this damned rag is still in my mouth, and nothing comes out but mumbles.

“Roman, let the girl go, buddy.”

“Why are you here, Roan?”

Roan is the man with my sister…and someone I am very interested in since he is acting all…alpha towards her. I try to lean around the big bastard in front of me, but he’s too… big.

“I’m with Summer.”

What? What did he just say? Did he just say he’s with my sister? I can’t figure anything out, damn it, and no one is talking anymore.

“Oh! You’re WITH her.”

That sounds like what I thought it was. The guy who came with my sister is… with my sister. I wait for the big guy in front of me to move aside, throw a fit, try to change my sister’s mind or at least get all pissy, but he doesn’t do any of those things. He just stands in front of me.

“Can I have my sister back now, please?”

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