Roman nodded. “Sounds easy enough.”
She snapped. It was an automatic response when dealing with him. “Let me clue you in on a couple of things. One, this is not easy. And, two, determining if someone is telling you the truth is often harder.”
He could tell by her clipped tone that she was referring to him. “I’m not a successful businessman because I am overly trusting, Nicole. May I call you that? Nicole?” Roman said her name like a soft caress.
What was she supposed to say? Hell no? He had already been calling her Nicole. Why was he asking now? Technically, he hadn’t done anything wrong. Still, she narrowed her eyes. “Mr. Abboud, what we are about to embark on is serious business. It is not fun and games. The quality of these children’s lives just might depend on us. And I . . .” She stressed the word. “I am not a game and won’t take too kindly to being played with.”
“Rome. Is that so hard for you to say?”
“You said your friends call you Rome, correct?”
“Yes. So, please—”
“We are not friends. I prefer to keep our relationship professional, and that means I will call you, Mr. Abboud. Understood?”
He saluted her. “Understood.”
Claire watched the back and forth between them with heightened amusement. There was a tension there that was undeniable. It was apparent that Nicole was going to have her hands full with Mr. Abboud.
“Great. Now that you have set the rules and established the boundaries . . .” He checked the time on his wrist as Nicole stared through him. “We should probably get going. I wouldn’t want to make you late.”
He was mocking her from her earlier statements. Nicole brushed past him toward the elevators. “I wish someone had told you that an Italian suit might not be the best attire for this field trip.”
******
Nicole and Roman spent the entire morning at two Children and Family Service offices and then made two wellness care visits. They were riding in her car and hadn’t spoken very much after their last stop. Each of them was lost in their own thoughts.
Roman was pensive. He stared ahead as he spoke. “I had no idea this could happen here in America. This country is rich. Some of the conditions these children live in are deplorable.”
Nicole glanced at him, and her gaze softened. He cared. “Today was actually a good day—things can be and are often a lot worse. I’m just happy that the children we placed appear to have been matched with decent homes. It’s temporary, but, who knows, maybe it will even lead to adoption.”
Roman finally turned to her. “Is that what you hoped for? To be adopted?”
She shrugged. “I s’pose. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of a family?”
“Me.” Roman let out a hearty laugh. “I have thirteen brothers and sisters. No one ever had an opportunity to get lonely.”
Nicole stopped at a red light. “Thirteen? I would have loved that.” She smiled at him.
It was the first genuine smile she had given him all day. Hell, since he’d met her. It was like a ray of sunshine. He returned it with one of his own. “Did you like the flowers I sent?”
Her smile faded. “I thought I told you. They were nice, too expensive, and very inappropriate.”
“I’m rich. How were they inappropriate?”
“I have a husband who didn’t take too kindly that some strange man that he has never met would send his wife such an expensive gift.”
“I should meet him.”
Two alpha’s circling each other both trying to prove who was manlier? She was not up for that. “No. I don’t think that would be a good idea.”
“Hmm . . . would he be jealous?”
“He has no reason to be jealous.”
That didn’t answer his question exactly. “What did he do with them?”
“Do? With what?” Nicole pretended not to understand his question.
“The flowers. What did he do with them?”
A smile threatened the corners of her lips. “Truth?”
“Nothing but.”
“He had a bonfire with our kids in the backyard.”
Roman laughed out loud. A big hearty laugh. “I probably would have done the exact same damn thing.” When his laughter died down, he noticed Nicole’s guard had come down with it. Now was a good time to make his move. “I’m hungry. Do we have time to grab a quick bite to eat before our next visit?”
Nicole stuttered. “L-lunch? Um . . . I’m not sure . . .” They weren’t supposed to be sharing personal space, and it threw her off. So much so, that she didn’t notice the traffic light had changed.
“It’s just food. You said we’re not friends. Maybe we should work on that. Again, it’s just lunch.” Roman pointed. “The light . . . it’s green.”
She tore her eyes away from him. “Right.” Nicole pulled off. Roman made her nervous. Her palms were damp as she held on to the steering wheel. “Alright. How about we stop by a drive-thru and pick something up?”
Roman was enjoying the fact that Nicole was off balance—that was a good sign. “As in fast food? Surely, you can do better than that. I’ve been more than respectful. I would say, I’ve been on my best behavior. You’ve made it perfectly clear that you are happily married. I’ll respect that.” He wouldn’t, but she didn’t know that. “Haven’t I earned a decent American meal?”
Nicole
