Page 23 of Nothing to No One

Wine. Good, there was—what did he say? Apparently, Roman wasn’t the only one not paying attention to others.

“Her what?” Roman barked.

“Her lips,” Struan said. “That plump cherry red pout. That’s the first thing you noticed about her.”

Usually “plump” wouldn’t be considered complimentary, but, shit. Sucking her lower lip into her mouth, she dug her teeth into it.

“Good, yeah, it’s like a script. Keep feeding me the lines, bro.” Because Roman’s head was somewhere else. “Talk to Priest today?”

They had their own priest? That couldn’t be what he meant. A priest for an addict? Hollywood could be accused of worse.

“No,” Struan said. “Even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you. Leave her alone. She doesn’t want you calling.”

“We could take a stroll to…”

“New York?” Magnus asked. “Not a chance, you’re on set this week. The calendar’s full.”

“They’re not in New York yet.”

“You knowing that highlights the problem.” Struan distributed salad family style. “You didn’t know what planet you were on last night, but you know where Sway was? Get over it, Ro.”

“They?” she asked.

“Roman’s ex,” Struan said. “Sway Sheridan.”

“Oh, God, Sway Sheridan, she’s—” Gorgeous, glamorous, glittering. “Is she an addict?”

Real smooth. But, hey, she finally got Roman’s attention.

“No one’s a fucking addict,” he snapped. “Don’t read the fucking press, they don’t know shit.” Offending him, well, that was one weapon against molestation. If he disliked her enough, he’d never get close. Bonus secret strategy? “And Sway’s fucking perfect.”

“And that right there is your problem, idolizing her doesn’t change anything.”

“You tell Priest to keep his hands to himself,” Roman snarled through gritted teeth. “Touching my woman comes with a price.”

“She’s not your woman and can do whatever she wants.”

“Just not Priest, anyone but Priest.”

“You’re the only guy on the planet who doesn’t like him,” Struan said. “Think maybe you’re missing something?”

“I’m the only guy who sees through it, the bullshit act,” Roman said, almost petulant in the way he stabbed at his food in his exaggerated slouch. “He’s a dick, and I’ll be right there to see it when the truth comes out.”

Struan sighed and caught Magnus’s eye. These men were no strangers to Roman’s pout. She sucked her lips into her mouth again. Did she pout?

“Focus on keeping this truth under wraps,” Magnus said. “You’ve got to sell this relationship, every minute, man.”

“Her pout, I heard him,” Roman said. “Rack isn’t bad either.” And she just sat there, being objectified. Great, offending him might keep him away, but it didn’t repel his eyes. “Need to watch that video again, get myself familiar with everything that’s mine.”

“Nothing is yours,” Struan was quick to warn him. “You touch her, or push her further than she wants to go, I’ll walk out there and tell the damn world the truth myself.”

That didn’t surprise only her.

“Yeah, fucking right,” Roman’s initial surprise gave way to his usual arrogance. “You know your fucking place.”

God, he was just vile. “Do you have to swear so much?” she asked. “It’s unattractive and unnecessary.”

In the corner of her eye, Magnus’s jaw drop didn’t go unnoticed.

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