“You’re welcome,” Charlotte says with a smile. “Now go and get your business done and come home.”
I start to tell her how much I love hearing her call my place home, but refrain. We’re taking things slow, not just the sex but everything, which definitely includes not asking her to move in with me just yet.
Chapter Seventeen
Charlotte
Roman was gone before I woke up this morning; and without him there to wake me up, I slept longer than I meant too. He doesn’t usually sneak out without saying goodbye or leaving a note, although I do vaguely remember him saying something about having to be somewhere early this morning before I fell asleep last night. It’s crazy, but I miss him when he’s gone, even though I know I’ll see him later in the day. The man is a machine. He’s been working his ass off all day, every day trying to find the men who hurt Tessa while still handling all of his normal business workload. Roman is amazing, unlike anyone I’ve ever met before. He’s constantly trying to help others, and the protector vibe he puts off is incredibly hot.
After I catch up with some emails from work on my laptop, I get a shower and drive over to see Tessa.
I can tell something is off with my best friend as soon as I find her in the sunroom. She’s staring out the window too intently, not like she’s looking at something out there, but as though she’s lost in her own head. Something is wrong, because she never looks so distraught. Even through the trauma she’s experienced, she’s been incredibly upbeat and optimistic during our visits.
“Hey girl,” I say as I approach, causing her to jump half out of her seat.
“Oh! Hey,” Tessa replies with a forced smile before she settles down, her fingers clutching the armrests of the chair tightly.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m fine,” Tessa replies, which I know is a lie. She’s not fine. Weeks here with the best psychiatrist money can buy won’t make her fine. Time won’t make her fine. She’ll never be fine again, and I hate that so much it makes me nauseous.
“Having a rough day?” I ask.
“No. Why do you say that?” she says when she retakes her seat.
“You seem a little on edge is all,” I tell her.
“Oh, well, I didn’t expect you today since you didn’t come with Roman.”
“Roman?” I repeat.
“Yeah, you just missed him.”
“Roman was here?” I ask in confusion. “Visiting you?”
“Yeah. Well, not really ‘visiting.’ He and Verek came with a sketch artist.”
“They did what?” I exclaim.
“A sketch artist. You know, like the guy who draws someone based on their description…”
“I know what a sketch artist is. I’m just so sorry that he brought one to see you and asked you… I told him it wasn’t a good idea!”
“It’s fine, Charlotte. No need to get upset.”
“You’re obviously upset now, jumping when I walked up and staring off into space, and that’s Roman’s fault!”
“He said all of us could give the description to finally catch the bastards,” Tessa explains. “Although, I should probably check on the other girls…see how they’re holding up after…”
“After reliving a nightmare?” I offer.
“It wasn’t that bad,” she huffs.
“Tessa, I’m so sorry he had you talk about all that. I know you don’t like to, and I never wanted you to have to try and remember details.”
“Hopefully, something I remembered will help find one of the men, and that’ll lead to the others,” she says with a shrug of her shoulders that are leaner than ever before. I bet she’s lost ten pounds or more over the past two weeks. She was already trying to get thin as a rail for the wedding.
“Roman is going to get an earful from me tonight!” I assure her.
“Go easy on him, Charlotte. The man is trying to help.”
“He went too far, though.”
“Maybe. Maybe he hasn’t gone far enough,” she replies as she gets to her feet. “I hate to cut our time short, but I really better go check on the other girls, see how they’re holding up.”
“Sure, of course,” I agree. “I’ll see you tomorrow. First thing.”
“Sounds good,” Tessa says as she wraps me up in a quick hug and then lets me go. “Bye, Charlotte.”
“Bye,” I reply as she hurries out of the room.
Roman
“What the hell were you thinking?” Charlotte bellows when she bursts into our Kings’ meeting and interrupts. I really should put a lock on that door to not only keep her out, but because lately this room has become the place where Charlotte and I fool around every night. Not at my house or in my bed, but here in the clubhouse in my chair. For a week now, we’ve been dry humping and giving hand jobs like high school kids. And while touching her and getting off is both fun, I want more.
No, I need more and so does Charlotte, if she wasn’t too stubborn to finally give in and stop acting like she’s cheating on her husband with me. Both of our emotions are running high, and I had a feeling that today might end in an argument.
No, I was certain this afternoon would be explosive, causing friction between Charlotte and me. Still, I felt it needed to be done, though, and I stand by that. None of the owners of the stolen vehicles could provide us with descriptions of the suspects. No, we had to get them from the only people who have seen their faces. Therefore, I will not have this hard-headed woman come into my meeting and chew me out.
“Get out,” I say through clenched teeth. Half of the nine men at the table automatically get to their feet, casting confused looks at each other. “I was talking to Charlotte,” I clarify.
She scoffs, and then her face turns bright red before she crosses her arms over her chest.
