Page 104 of Along Came Amor
With myself, she replied fiercely.
After slipping on her chancletas, she went out to the patio, where Roman had told her to meet him for dinner.
Dusk was falling, and with it came the song of the coquí, the little tree frogs that were native to Puerto Rico. The temperature had dropped marginally, and the patio’s ceiling fan worked overtime to cool the space. Soft yellow light came from sconces on the walls, and the pool water lapped lazily in the languid breeze.
In the middle of it all, Roman sat in one of the armchairs, reading a magazine. He wore a short-sleeved chambray shirt and tan shorts. With his reading glasses and his wet hair springing into loose curls, he was unbelievably adorable. And all hers, at least for the next two days.
As she approached, she saw their “dinner” and gave a surprised gasp. “What’s all this?”
The low outdoor table was positively groaning under the weight of dishes. It was like their first night together, when Roman had ordered a little of everything, and it had amounted to a lot.
Smiling, he set his glasses and the magazine aside and rose to his feet.
“I felt bad that you missed the tasting yesterday,” he explained, bringing her a glass of sparkling rosé. “I arranged for a few of the items to be served tonight, so you can give your opinion.”
“A few?” Ava gaped at the table. “This must be everything!”
He shrugged. “Most of it.”
Ava shook her head, unable to take it all in. “This is too much. It was my fault I missed the tasting. You were right, I’m too available to my family.”
“That may be. But you’re right that you know Jasmine better than I do, and you’re here to have a hand in these decisions. Shall we sit?”
Ava let him lead her over to the round daybed and sat while he retrieved his own drink—amber liquid with a large cube of ice and an orange peel.
“Another Romy Negroni?” she asked.
“Of course. Every time I have one, it makes me think of you, and how glad I am that you ordered that horrendous lemon drink—which, by the way, has been removed from the menu.” He sat beside her. Not across, but next to. Like he wanted to be close to her.
This absolutely charming man. How the hell was she supposed to guard her heart against him?
She couldn’t. It was as simple as that.
Two more days, she told herself. She had two days to enjoy this, enjoyhim.
So she cuddled against his side as he launched into an explanation of all the dishes, as knowledgeable as any head waiter. When Ava made to get up, saying she needed her planner to take notes, he put a hand over hers and shook his head.
“I’ll remember for you,” he said, and it was the sexiest thing she’d ever heard.
Dinner was a slow, sensuous affair. Roman fed her bits from each dish, watching her reaction carefully and asking for her thoughts. Such close scrutiny from anyone else would havemade her nervous that she was being a nuisance, but with Roman, she understood the gift of his undivided attention. Under his gaze, she felt sexier, and more present, than she probably ever had in her whole life. Besides, if he wanted to be elsewhere, he would be. He’d gone out of his way to take this trip with her—to spend time with her, he’d said. She knew it wasn’t only for Ashton. They were friends, but Roman wouldn’t miss entire days of work, with his phone off, for just anyone.
And yet he’d done it for her.
What did it mean?
Don’t worry about that, she told herself.Just enjoy.Savor this moment.
So she did.
Around them, the humidity in the air finally reached saturation point, and it began to rain. Softly at first, a gentle smattering against the roof of the patio, then harder, with a force and velocity specific only to a tropical rainstorm. The noise cocooned them, making their outdoor oasis feel even more secluded, and the temperature cooled to something bordering on pleasant.
By the time they reached the cupcake tray, Ava was in flavor overload. She’d never thought so much about the food she’d put in her mouth.
Then Roman dipped his index finger into the smear of lemon icing and held it out to her. “Ready to taste?”
She fought back a shiver. This man was going to incinerate her.
Leaning forward, she closed her lips around the end of his finger and sucked. The icing was sweet and tart, creamy with a slight sugary crunch, and underneath, the taste of his skin. Keeping her eyes on his, she swiped the pad of his finger with her tongue before easing back. Because she was watching, shecaught the movement of his throat as he swallowed hard. His brown eyes filled with banked fire, and Ava was real freaking glad she hadn’t bothered with panties.
