“What personal life?” she asked aloud as she let herself back into her apartment, the night over at last.
The joke seemed to be on her. Even her mother had a private life, whereas right now Charlotte had none. But once she saw Rick and got information on Roman, she’d be on her way—to what, she didn’t know, but at least she’d be taking positive steps forward.
* * *
Charlotte dropped her keys on the kitchen table and listened to her cell phone message. “Hi, Charlotte. It’s me, Rick. I got hung up in Albany and then was called out on a case as soon as I hit town again. We have to talk, so sit tight.”
As if she had anywhere else to go. Not tired and still wound up from the game, she headed into the kitchen and dug through the freezer for the pint of vanilla butterscotch ice cream she kept stashed in the back. Spoon in hand, she decided she’d hang out in her bedroom. Ever since splurging on a television for nights in bed, she found she enjoyed lounging in her room better than hanging out alone in the living area of the small apartment. With luck, she’d find something on television to kill more time until Rick finally arrived.
She approached her room, scarfing spoonfuls of ice cream on the way. The dim lighting from the doorway took her by surprise. She didn’t remember leaving her bedside lamp on when she’d left for work this morning. She shrugged, then entered her private sanctuary at the same time she licked sticky butterscotch off her lips.
“I could help you do that. If you’re willing to talk to me.”
Charlotte halted in her tracks. Her heart stopped beating for a second before beginning again, more erratic and quickly than before. “Roman?” Stupid question. Of course that deep, husky voice belonged to Roman.
And it was Roman, sexily lounging in gray sweats, a navy T-shirt, and bare feet on her frilly white bedspread and assorted pillows. Only a man of his stature and build could look even more masculine when leaning into feminine frills and eyelets. Only a woman in love could want to toss caution out the window and run into his arms.
She let out a frustrated puff of air. She’d missed him and was desperately glad to see him, but they had issues that remained unsettled. And until they’d discussed those problems and came to an understanding that fulfilled them both, too much remained uncertain between them. Though at this moment Charlotte felt like she could live solely on love and the air he breathed, she was smarter than that.
At least she hoped she was. Because her resolve to wait was crumbling quickly.
Roman forced himself to remain calm and relaxed. Hard to do when cushioned in Charlotte’s soft bed and surrounded by her feminine scent, a scent he’d missed while he’d been gone. And even harder to do with her staring at him, a mixture of longing and wariness in her gorgeous green eyes.
He’d gotten into town, and with everyone at dinner or the Little League game, he’d remained undetected, which was good, since he’d counted on the element of surprise.
Wanting her alone, and the sooner the better, he’d planned to grab her and run—back to his house, her apartment, he didn’t care. He had much to share about his trip to Washington, D.C., and a future that he hoped included her.
But no matter how anxious he was to bridge the physical distance between them, he wouldn’t rush things. She had to trust him first.
“Did you miss me?” he asked.
“Did you miss me?” she retorted.
He grinned. Well, at least she hadn’t lost her spunk, and besides, he hadn’t expected her to jump into his arms. “Of course I missed you.”
Instead of finding Charlotte at home or in her shop, he’d discovered her on the field, throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. Then she was embraced by her father. Her father. Seeing her forgiving heart, Roman had fallen in love all over again.
He’d watched her smile at Russell, and Roman instantly knew she’d made peace with that part of her life. He hoped it would allow her to make peace with him.
He patted the seat beside him. “Join me.”
“How’d you get in?” she asked instead.
“The fire escape. I knew you’d go back to leaving your window unlocked without me around to look after you.” And she had. So he’d climbed in through the fire escape and settled himself in her bed to wait. “You need a keeper, Charlotte.” He recalled her telling him that on the day of their first reunion in Norman’s back hall. He’d never envisioned they’d end up at this juncture, his heart and future hinging on this beautiful woman’s choices.
“Are you applying for the job?” she asked.
He shrugged, trying not to let his emotions show. Not yet. “I thought I already did.”
“Because you called heads when Chase chose tails?” she asked a little too casually.
Her lightly tossed barb stung, because it meant she was still hurting and he was the cause. “Actually, Chase was never involved.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Let me guess. Because he already paid his dues.”
“Rick did say you were smart.”
She rolled her eyes.
“And you are. Smart enough to come after me?” He asked her, taking in the open suitcase across the room that had been taunting him with that exact possibility since he’d let himself in. Just the fact that she was brave enough to make the trip told him what he already knew. She was more her father’s daughter than she’d ever realized, and he realized now that that wasn’t a bad thing. He had a hunch she knew it too.
She was Roman’s perfect soul mate. And for a man who’d never thought in such terms before, the admission was
