Page 135 of Along Came Amor
The truth looked like a skinny little boy with brown hair and big, hungry eyes, clothes that were clean but definitely not cool, and a constant knot of anxiety in the pit of his stomach.
A poor, powerless little kid who had nothing. No means, no security, no faith in his future.
Roman’s eyes squeezed tight as he faced this kid, the kid who washim, the one who’d been steering his life, operating out of helplessness and fear.
This is why you work so hard, Ava had said, after seeing Roman’s baby pictures.
Yes, the boy who was Roman said.This is why.
Making money had given him a sense of purpose and power. But now, the thought of opening another hotel or buying another business didn’t excite him like it once had.
He’d made a different choice the night he’d met Ava. He’d stepped off his excessively scheduled path and gone down theroad of spontaneity with her. Making her a drink and taking his time with it. Canceling his car and asking her to have dinner with him. The pool. Thebed.
And the freedom that came with it. Thejoy.
If he stayed on the path before him, the path of Mr. Roman Vázquez, CEO, he was never going to have room in his life for the things that made it worth living.
He wouldn’t have room forAva.
He loved her. The soul-deep kind of love that required taking a risk. He wanted tobewith her, like the guys had said.
Something had to change.
Who was he if he wasn’t putting every ounce of his energy into protecting his family?
Instead of running away from the question, he let the boy inside him answer it.
Just Roman.
It was enough.
You’re safe now, he told the boy.I’ve got you.
The boy nodded. Turned. Disappeared.
Not gone, just... resting. Finally.
Roman took a deep, cleansing breath.
The future he wanted was within reach. Freedom. Flexibility. Spontaneity. Connection.Love.
And Ava. All of it with Ava.
When do you get to rest?she had asked.
Now, he thought.
He pulled out his phone and called Camille.
When she picked up, he said, “I know what I have to do.”
Chapter 42
Two Days Until the Wedding
“How’s your hot billionaire?” Michelle asked Ava as the two of them left their waxing appointment at the Bellísima spa. The Primas of Power had flown to Puerto Rico early to make sure everything was going according to plan.
Ava huffed out a breath. “He’s not a billionaire.”
