Love Found Me (A City Love Novel, Book 1) (13 page)

But could she and would she be able to resist him and the tenderness of his touch. Could she resist the possibility in knowing that maybe he was the one? But she'd never find out keeping it--
strictly business
.

Should I?
Before she could acknowledge the question surfacing her subconscious, she was too entranced in his spicy deliciousness teasing her in and out, as he dove deep into the hollows of her collarbone. She couldn't possibly form any well-rounded opinion or judgment upon herself, squirming and mashing the bench cushion.

As she stilled, cradled in his arms, his heart was already soaring to heights unmentionable, his eyes were steady on hers. And then the next second, Roman's lips tightened against hers, spiraling an insatiate meltdown.

Right then and there, that mess of broken china from Sunday's chaos laid no comparable invasion to the taste he trailed from the warmth of his mouth. Any woman could've fallen apart in his arms, but all she did was sink her teeth in as long as she could before he lunged back, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to--" Roman uttered as he brushed her hair away from her face.

His eyes lifted from her curves to her soft expression, "I said I was a nice guy, and that's what I meant." Despite the fast car giving an impressionable desire for-- fast women, his expression was genuine.

Suddenly that soft pressure around her waist was relieved a split second before she could recall the squeeze that left nothing but sensuality's pulse afloat.

How did he manage to keep juggling her heartstrings and taking her breath away just at the point of surrender?

It wasn't enough that his bachelor lifestyle was more like a revolving door when it came to the opposite sex, or better yet a rather blatant excuse for camaraderie of nothing serious. His whole life was just an even bigger revolving door when it came to any woman getting close to him.

"Was that the kiss you wanted to give Mindy? Were you kissing me, but thinking about her? It was wond-"

Her words were interrupted by his tender touch. His hands cupped hers as she swept his stubble with fern and lavender. The moment she nudged and feathered his cheek with her lips, he said, "We can't."

His lips were a sweet indication, that there was so much more warmth behind such a grimacing expression.

Once she'd played that kiss in her mind a hundred times, she'd know there was a man so beautiful beyond words. That was absolutely so much more than a gentleman.

As nightfall descended the loft, she'd fought to focus on a beam of light streaming his hair a chestnut glow, haloing his presence a savior. For some reason, she couldn't get that image out of her mind. But for the moment, she was just too puzzled to do anything but stare off into the lofty space that by now veiled only a scant scent of cocoa bean.

When suddenly she'd felt the presence of his strong warmth gone. His hands slipped from hers, as he pulled away and twisted back toward the screen all of a sudden.

The screen snapped to a bright gleam the moment his hand swiped the keyboard. Staring so intensely at a flurry of motionless figures, the names were all a blur-- the numbers could've skyrocketed billions since obviously his mind was elsewhere.

Surprised at his momentary silence, Danielle's eyes blazed into his profile as his focus was still woodened on the obvious-- sustaining his tenacity. He was hell bent on pacifying his heart in denial.

She paused, waiting until he drifted his eyes to hers, as she ladled her hand to his forearm. Then suddenly, Roman wrenched out of her grip, saying, "You should rest up. We'll talk tomorrow."

Danielle was confused, bemused... she couldn't find the words for how he'd suddenly turned on a dime. She knew the peril present at the beginning. She knew what she was getting herself into. And considering her fickle attitude from this morning, she couldn't blame him.

The more involved she'd become with him, the more he negated her initial
‘lunatic’
suspicions and caution. Still, her mind teetered the ideal of his insidiously playing the utmost gentleman.

Yet even still, she wondered why all the holding back, when it was clear he wanted her as much as she wanted him. That was the only relief in it all. Knowing that he was having feelings for her, although to what degree and was he willing to let it all completely-- vanish.

Any other woman would've ignored his crap in desperation, but somehow, she knew there was more to the man than he'd led on in appearance. But just as she'd thought, she'd known better than to trust him. She still hadn't told him about her newly formed theories, including the "Confidential" letter, and god only knows what else. Or what other pieces of the puzzle were hiding? Now, who was the one keeping secrets?

Danielle raised her eyebrows, and gave a quiet sigh. "So, listen..." she bumped his arm, "Is this all about what's her name?" This time she'd had a damn good reason to confront him... after that sultry kiss, how could she not?

"Mindy?" he asked.

"Yeah.
Mindy
. Do you ah—
like
Mindy? Are you in
love
with her or is she your little playmate when you're bored and feel like having a little fun?" Danielle asked, with an eagerness that would have been insulting under other circumstances.

Danielle murmured...
of which I can imagine, kinky is only the half of it.

Roman looked at her quizzically, while she started to second-guess her earlier suspicions, assuming Mindy had something to do with his fickle behavior.

"Is she why you're acting so freaking strange?" Danielle looked at him strangely. "Is she the reason you're trying to get rid of me at freaking nine 'o clock."

"What are you saying?" He stared at her, mouth open, eyes wide, "That's ridiculous."   

"Or is it someone else?" She slightly bit the corner of her lip, while she watched him click the desk lamp on. She didn’t ease up, as she rambled on, curling her lip into her mouth. Roman's expression didn't change as he looked at her puzzled.

He tried to convince himself that he was a one-woman man ready for love, but there was something still heavy on his heart he had yet to confront.

Roman whisked back toward the computer and silenced his decision to answer.

At that moment, Danielle recalled how his hand slipped from hers. Moonlight climbed the horizon as she realized their relationship was strictly professional-- and nothing more.

Tuesday night

I'm starting to wonder if it really is hopeless. But then again, I try to tell myself it's not. Time will tell. I don't know what else to say about it. Except maybe someday, I'll find Mr. Right or better yet-- he'll find me.

Chapter Eleven

Wednesday morning

I couldn't sleep. I couldn't stop thinking about him all night, especially after the kiss. I'm glad I met him... we've become closer, more like a team-- but I'm not interested in another business relationship. Although I just don't get him sometimes. I don't want to fight. I just want him to love me. I just want him to be honest about his feelings.

How do I get this guy to well, stop being such a gentleman--

“Danielle, I got us tickets to London. Can you be ready in a couple hours?" She felt the shock of his words radiating her already tense muscles. She could hardly believe that she and Roman would finally have a chance to get closer. And yet, while she recognized that opportunity, her heart was already pounding and she didn’t know what in the world to expect.

"I know we have to get to work, but it's so beautiful here Roman." She flung her arms around his shoulders and nestled her head in his chest. Danielle whispered, "Let's just hang out a little while."

He slipped his arm around her waist in gesture. "We really should get going… head to the hotel…" Roman insisted, as a cabbie stalled at the curb waiting.

Roman let go of her just long enough to grab her valise, when he flung it onto his shoulder.

"The perpetrators will still be here," she said. Danielle looked straight into his eyes, "
Don't worry
. Isn't that what you'd been telling me?"

Roman creased a smile and ladled his overnight tote off the luggage cart and wrenched it in his hand. His muscles bulged as he tightened the grip on the shoulder strap already groping his arm.

Danielle cupped Roman's hand and pulled him toward the stalled cab.

Trafalgar Square, Westminster, Kensington, whizzed  by in an imperial crowning flurry. Rolling hills of lush green valley along the Thames scintillated the way to a sweet interval where they could share a peaceful moment.

As she shadowed her glittery stilettos behind him, every mired step was still slightly wet from early morning's drizzle, while a nearby fountain spurted another veil of mist onto the precision-cut lawn soaking up the sun by the minute.

The airiness felt like they were in a world all their own. Blissful. Quiet. Breathtaking. It was the perfect place for Danielle to speak the words of her heart.

As they trekked along the edge of the valley, her heels pierced his heavy trail that stamped huge footprints in every gushing step. But once they'd stopped, suddenly the view took their breath away. It was the most beautiful garden. Not the snowy, grimy, foggy London.

"It sure feels good to get away from the chill back home," she said.

"Despite the reason we're here?" he asked softly.

"Yeah. We should enjoy this amazing weather. Let's just soak up the sun... Hang out here a bit." She took one deep breath and then another as she whisked her arms around herself.

Danielle glanced around, and then she glanced back at Roman. His eyes flittered between sincere and suspicious. Who was this man, and how was it he could have her heart flip-flopping and falling hard for him so quickly? She absolutely couldn't believe it.

She watched his expression shift to indecision as he rubbed the nape of his neck muttering,
Lucky break for February
.

The two of them strolled into the gardens, as an elaborate pattern of carefully cropped shrubs jammed their focus. Danielle halted and studied the ornate precision with narrowed eyes. "It's like a work of art isn't it?" she said, swaying her hand in midair over the course silvery evergreen, "This is amazing."

The garden was formal and symmetrical with ornate carpets of floral designs and walls of hedges decorated with statues and fountains. It was vastly grandeur. Symbolic of the Impressionist paintings anchoring the walls of Roman's SoHo apartment.

Every hedge sheared to perfection. Tree-lined cobblestone and arching arbors crawling with spiny vines angling ornate precision. Pops of violet and pale yellow dotted a sea of green. Bright blue skies burst gleams of golden sunshine on the nearby pond-- On every wave cresting foamy bubbles, and every feathered fowl swimming, dipping and shuddering a string of ripples across the watery calm.

Sprawling acres held the main gardens. But, this quaint garden off the beaten path wasn't a big place. It still housed a couple weathered deck chairs stained with last season's coat of optic white recently shellacked, while few blossoms drew themselves out of season.

Danielle sandwiched his huge grassy footprints with her Barbie-sized heels, as she bounced from one immaculate scene to another shadowing his angora wool that peeked beneath his leather cuff.

Suddenly, she stopped short of the deck chairs. Roman turned around when he hadn't felt her shadow trailing his, or the scent of lavender whisking his shoulders.

He flung his jacket over his arm, bursts of sun sizzled the creases in the leather like melting licorice, as he straddled toward her. She automatically glanced around to see if anyone was within earshot. "I can feel nature tugging my soul," she sighed, as she shrugged her motorcycle jacket off her shoulders.

Her heart was in her throat and she could feel her pulse booming in her ears as she slipped one hand into his, tightening to hers. Doing his best not to take hold of her with a passion of shooting stars, he mulled over his thoughts and towered intensely into her eyes that sparkled more like emerald outside.

The intoxicating scent of lavender and sandalwood surrounded her, and the heat radiating off his masterful body caressed her like a sultry breeze. It took every ounce of self-discipline to restrain. But that moment of weakness wouldn't last long.

She pulled him toward the deck chairs as he stumbled over her anklet heel, landing on top of her. The overnight bags slid off his arms, as their jackets pillowed the fall onto slatted wood. Instantly, Danielle soaked up his manliness and pulled him closer, as his chest muscles pressed into her. And then the next second, she was smiling a star-crossed lovers smile.

"T...There's something I want to tell you," she stammered, as he levered over her. She pulled his arms around her, and settled deeper into his warmth as she brushed her cheek across his lips. A soft sigh overcame her akin to the blush that swathed her complexion light crimson. And, at that moment, she knew there was clearly no turning back.

Either she was crazy in love or crazy for believing he felt the same way about her.

She looked straight at him, with eyes smoldering a dark intensity as she pressed the words against his mouth, "I love you Roman." His skin was velvety everywhere she brushed it. And then she paused, waiting for him to lift his eyes from her perky bosom surfing her glinted hem-- waiting... watching his expression.

"Danielle, I--" She pressed a finger over his lips.

Danielle looked up into his eyes as she slipped her arms around his. She pressed her lips to the curve of his neck and shoulder-- his wool threads began to tickle her nose amidst the airy breeze. In between kisses she said softly, "I'm in love with you," as she pressed another kiss to his neck, drawing her mouth upwards.

Roman's eyes were wide open, as she slowly pressed her mouth against his, suckling every moment that was cut short before. His eyes could've melted an iceberg, judging by the way her lip quivered the moment she'd kissed him. This time she was going to savor each and every delicious moment-- in slow motion.

A groan wafted through her, long and theatrical, arousing the breath within her.

Then, she pressed a slow kiss to his forehead, a moment before he turned his profile. Her arms slowly released his, as he looked back impassively. Danielle relaxed on the deck chair sensually poised in a shaft of sunlight that sparked the gold metallic threads of her stretchy strapless bustier and set her gold earrings sizzling.

She couldn't keep from shaking, waiting for him to take her in his arms-- or maybe it was just the gentle breeze of the season, raging an all out war with her thoughts.

Still, she waited for him to say it.
Love
was the one word she'd waited to hear cross his lips and warm her skin aside from the sun blaring its dome of unseasonable warmth. She'd hadn't braced herself for the worse, not when she'd found so much pleasure with a man that had yet to play by her rules.

At that point, he'd obviously had no choice but to yield to that tantalizing tingle quivering his flesh. Finally caressing all that velvety bronze skin hidden under her golden knit. Yet, she was starting to sense-- something wasn't quite right about the situation.

And at that precise moment, silence fell upon the gardens. Except for the bird scavenging for its young-- echoing patchy whistles of song perched atop rows of heady oaks. While a wistful fountain spurted radial fizz several yards away, nothing could prepare her for what he would say seconds later.

Roman pulled back and eased out from her, "When did you decide to love me so much?" His offhand manner didn't preclude her earlier qualms.

Surprised at his question, she glanced up, and was caught by his eyes again. The strong brown, warm and rather intense, now glinted hazel.

The breeze felt like a cool brush of winter against her shoulder, sweeping across her back with an idle chill, and a patchy slap of wind. And suddenly, that was when the chill had grown air apparent.    

He raised himself on his elbow, and looked down into the face of a woman he'd become attracted to. Her bronze was all aglow; lush lashes and sparkling emerald electrified his soul.

But fickle, temperamental differences made him submit his heart to suffer.

He'd started the question lightly, as if he was teasing, but by the end of it he wasn't kidding at all. As she gazed into his eyes with an intense focus, she was stunned to see that his expression was fairly serious, rather than playful like he always seemed to be when they met a few days ago.

Danielle had been honest. Rather than coax an admission of his feelings for her, considering he was bound by-- god knows what kind of secret peril. In her eyes she'd only known his actions were a confession of his soul that was simply saying, he hadn't felt the same way about her.

Despite how deep their feelings ran, he could deny the warmth that inched up his spine. He'd rather fight this feeling rather than having to face her.

Roman was a realist like Danielle was, but his admission came at a time when he feared she wouldn't be able to accept it.

Instead of acknowledging his prompting, she gave him a playful shrug. Roman was pierced with the knowledge of how far their relationship drifted. He didn't want commitment. He only wanted love when he was ready to give and receive it.

She'd caught him totally off guard, especially when they'd have to work closer than ever. At the climax to everything, she springs this on him.

Optic white slatted a glossy backdrop against her long dark hair when she said, "I know I sprung all this on you when we're supposed to be--" Danielle pulled forward, gliding him toward the edge of the slotted wood.

He looked down at the manicured lawn, "The truth is--" She shifted uncomfortably on the chair when she interrupted him. "You don't have to say a word. Your face says it all." Suddenly, what had felt so good and warm fell faster than heat melting the ice that had become his heart.

The way he'd just blown her off let loose a heated spark. Roman's eyes narrowed, a muscle jumping in his jaw at her comment.