Page 42 of Sapphire Storm

Ethan nodded, sucking in a long breath through his nose.“Well, perhaps you could stay with me for a while.”

Roman’s heart raced. “On the sofa?”

“I actually have a guest bedroom, but if the sofa’s morecomfortable…”

“I think what made it comfortable was you.”

“I will be staying in my room, as we discussed thismorning.”

Roman smiled. “We didn’t discuss that this morning.”

“You know exactly what I mean, young man.”

And Roman did, but when Ethan said it in that gruff,commanding voice, Roman wanted to pretend to be confused. On all fours.

“The offer is for a place to stay while you plan your nextmove. And I’ll also throw in meal service while you’re there. Preprepared, allthings you can heat up. And don’t worry, it’ll be high protein, low carb.Because as we all know”—Ethan cleared his throat, and his gaze became moreintense—“sugar is poison.”

Oh, how Roman wanted to believe the man was flirting, but hewasn’t. He was reminding Roman of his devious actions the night before.

“Preprepared ’cause you’ll be working the whole time?”

“Actually, I won’t be there at all for the first few days. Ihave a vacation coming up.”

“Well, that sucks,” Roman whined.

Ethan’s eyebrows went up, but every other inch of his faceremained still. “The offer is for a place to stay, Mr. Walker. Someplace foryou to settle for a bit while you plan your next move.”

Stop pouting,he told himself, but he was clutchingGertrude to his chest as if he was about to start crying into her featheredhead. “All right, well, will you want me out by the time you come back fromyour little vacay?”

“Not necessarily.”

“Oh my God, what does that mean?”

“It means you will need to find another place to live at somepoint. I’m not inviting you to join the lease.”

“I know that. I’m just trying to, you know, think itthrough.”

“Okay, well, see if a little gratitude will focus you.”

Roman grabbed Gertrude’s head and turned the bird towardEthan as if it were a ventriloquist dummy. In a deranged, and hopefully,birdlike voice, he screeched. “Is itappropriateto ask someone forgratitude?”

“Well, Gertrude,” Ethan said, eyes meeting the ceramicbird’s tiny ones. “It’s far more appropriate to thank someone for a gift. Be ita ceramic bird or access to their home for an undetermined period of days.”

Roman’s effort not to roll his eyes had him shifting againstthe bench. “I’m sorry. It’s just, sometimes you’re like a cross between abutler and that teacher fromMatilda,and I have troublekeeping up.”

“I’ll slow down then so as to avoid future Miss Trunchbullreferences,” Ethan said.

An awkward silence settled, punctuated by wind-drivenlaughter that sounded like it was coming from another world.

“I really do love Gertrude,” Roman finally said, daring tolook at Ethan again only to find the man’s level gaze had never wavered. “And Ireally do love the idea of not having to drive back and forth to Victorvillewhile I apply for jobs. So thanks.”

Ethan nodded, wearing a placid half smile.

“Where are we eating?” Roman asked.

Ethan’s smile vanished. “Oh, I’m sorry. I…uh…have dinnerplans with a friend.”

Roman felt as if he’d fallen off a cliff, hit a jagged setof rocks, and bounced. But what he said was, “Oh, that’s fine, ’cause Hankwanted to have dinner anyway.” It was a lie. Clutching Gertrude’s base with awhite-knuckled grip, he looked away from Ethan suddenly as if he’d beendistracted by a loud noise.

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