Page 38 of Under His Watch

“Oh, myGod,” she repeated around her tears from laughing so hard.

“What?” I asked, glancing at Eva, who stared at Nina like she was a lunatic.

“If you hook up with Romeo and marry, then I’d be your stepmother-in-law!”

We laughed with her.

“You are both messed up,” Eva teased.

“No, there won’t be any marrying,” I said as I finished giggling.He’s friend-zoned me already. I can’t see him popping the question with that trend.“We’re just…”

“I was just teasing,” Nina said, seeming concerned about potentially offending me somehow.

“I know, I know. In all seriousness, I’m just so glad and grateful that I don’t have to deal with my parents anymore. Or Elliot.”

Nina raised her brows. “You haven’t talked to them once?”

I shook my head. “Nope. My old phone is blowing up with calls and texts from them, but I don’t answer. I haven’t since that night that Romeo rescued me. I made the mistake of unlocking that phone once. And I saw enough from my mom to not want to bother at all.”

“What’d she say?” Nina asked.

“She accused me of being a spoiled brat for running off with some man when I should be focusing on marrying Elliot like they want.”

“That’s messed up,” Eva said.

But also, somehow true.

From all accounts, with us living together in this isolated, remote cabin, it was all too easy tofeellike I’d run off with him.

But not as a woman he’d want.

15

ROMEO

After I spoke with my father and Franco for a while, I asked why they wanted to meet in person.

My father shrugged. “Nina wanted to see Tessa. And I wanted to check on you.”

Franco and I shared a look. My father cared about everyone in the family, but he never made a habit of personally checking up on me. I was thirty-one, not three. “How come?”

“Just with this new woman in your life…” He rocked on his heels and shrugged. “Making sure you’re not too busy in La-La Land and in love and lowering your guard.”

Franco grunted a laugh. “Romeo lowering his guard? Ever?”

I smiled at his backhanded praise. I was the serious guy, but I wasn’t convinced that was a bad thing. “I’m fine.”

“You won’t deny anything I just said?” My father smirked.

“I will. I’m not in anything with Tess.” I hated the sound of those words out of my mouth. I wanted to be, but I had to do this carefully and at her pace. I hadn’t forgotten how she’d toldme that she wasat riskof falling for me. The wording implied that I was a risk to consider and that she shouldn’t normally want someone like me. I couldn’t fault her for not wanting to jump into anything too soon with both feet, but it would ease my worries if it seemed like she was nudging one foot closer to taking a leap of faith on me.

“But you want to be?” Franco guessed good-naturedly. He knew when to joke and poke fun. “Guess you’re taking my advice to get laid, then. Huh?”Or not.

I deadpanned at him. “Tess and I are making sure she can cope with her trauma. I’ve promised to help her however she needs me.”

Which is awfully telling because she hasn’t approached me for a whole week after we had sex.

My father nodded, patting both of us on the back. “All right. I’ve seen enough to know you’re doing fine here.”

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