Chapter 27
Elenie
Elenie resisted the urge to tug at the hem of her dress. She felt ridiculous, out of place, her pulse skipping wildly in her throat. Craig pushed a glass of wine she didn’t want into her hand and the conference room gradually filled up with people. His head whipped from side to side as he tried to spot anyone worthy of conversation. She wasn’t even a footnote on the list.
“Well, well, well.”
Amused and gleeful in equal measures, Craig chuckled and Elenie’s heart dropped like a stone.
She turned slowly to find Roman a few paces away, Milo by his side. Both had their hands full with a selection of drinks from the bar. Both wore careful expressions of indifference. Despite willing her game face to hold fast, all the feeling went from Elenie’s fingers and she fumbled her wineglass. It dropped to the carpet, snapping at the stem and showering lukewarm liquid over her feet.
Idiot.
She crouched to scoop up the pieces, only remembering as she did so that her dress could not be relied upon to stay in place. Elenie dropped the broken glass, her hand flying to the lace neckline to make sure she hadn’t just flashed the entire bar. Her cheeks blazed.
“For fuck’s sake, Elenie, leave it for someone else.”
Craig dragged her upright.
“Great to finally meet you properly, Chief Martinez. I’ve heard so much about you from Ellie. I’m Craig Perry.”
The Englishman offered his hand to Roman, who looked pointedly at the drinks he was holding and shrugged a dismissive shoulder. His face was cold. Such a different Roman to the one who teased his sisters and held her hand in the dark.
“Excuse my girlfriend—she’s extremely clumsy. Easy on the eye though, aren’t you, babe?”
Craig’s shit-eating smile was calculated to cause maximum offence as he smirked at Roman. Elenie burned with mortification. She opened her mouth to say something, anything, and Craig’s fingers clamped painfully on her hip.
“A powerful man needs a way to let off steam at home. Am I right, Chief?”
Made brave by the throng of people surrounding them, he was baiting Roman and humiliating Elenie at the same time. It was Craig at his obnoxious worst; she could tell he was loving it.
“In my experience, the most powerful men usually downplay the self-promotion.”
Roman’s voice dripped with boredom, his eyes shuttered.
“If you’ll excuse us.”
He made to move around them, giving a clipped nod to Nathan Reyes from the liquor store who was on his way to the bar.
“I know your date went sour the other night. I was there. It was quite the spectacle.”
Craig wasn’t done.
“Hopefully no hard feelings, though? Easier for me to have lower standards than you, I guess. People might expect you to keep better company but I prefer something sparkly and simple. Makes me look smarter.”
Typically, Craig seemed to have mistaken his own misogynistic shit for cocky banter. Elenie wanted to be sick.
Roman’s eyes were chilled with disgust.
“I’m happy for you both, Perry. But now I’d like to get back to my date.”
She recoiled but refused to show her shock on her face. Oh God, he’s brought someone with him!
Craig just grinned and grabbed Elenie’s wrist, fingers closing tightly enough to bruise her bones. Roman’s nostrils flared imperceptibly at her wince.
“I believe we’re sharing a table tonight, so we’ll come too and you can introduce us.”
Craig looked delighted to deliver the news.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. Let’s find our places and get the booze flowing!”
Tugging her along behind him, he strode away, pausing to slap a couple of men on the back and greet others with a gleaming smile as he crossed the room. Elenie concentrated on walking steadily in her heels. She could feel Roman’s eyes burning a hole between her shoulder blades and it was all she could do not to turn.
His group had yet to take their seats. Every face was familiar to her, bar one. Elenie flicked a polite smile at Thea and Luke, avoiding eye contact with Caitlyn until she was sure she could keep her face blank. Her friend glowed with health, rounded stomach encased comfortably inside a stunning satin wrap dress in olive green.
Craig waved a general greeting but zeroed in on the woman who stepped forward to link her arm through Roman’s.
“You must be here with the chief,”
he said, extending his hand.
“He was just telling us about his date but he forgot to say how beautiful you are. I’m Craig. This is Elenie.”
“Fiancée.”
The blonde extended her hand and the engagement ring on her finger burned Elenie’s retinas like a thousand suns.
“I’m Zena and I’m Roman’s fiancée, not just his date.”
Craig’s reply was lost to Elenie as she gave thanks for a lifetime of disguising her feelings. That Zena was there with Roman hurt her heart in ways she didn’t have time to examine. Hearing the woman introduce herself as his fiancée was a spear straight to the abdomen.
It was little comfort that Caitlyn, Thea, Milo, and Luke appeared just as blindsided.
Side by side, Zena and Roman made the perfect couple, her pale hair and skin a glorious contrast to his tanned darkness. She matched his easy grace in spades, her poise and self-confidence as instinctive as his air of authority. Just being near her made Elenie feel so much less in so many ways.
Her eyes locked on Roman’s. His lips were clamped. A muscle jumped in his cheek. Did she imagine that tiny shake of his head because she wanted so much to see it?
Elenie turned away.
The group drifted over in ones and twos to take their seats. And the evening began in earnest.
Picking at the unimaginative melon and prosciutto appetizer, she wrapped the remains of her dignity around her like a shawl and ran her eyes around the table of ten. It was possibly the most awkward scenario Elenie could have pictured.
Howard, a baby-faced but belligerent colleague of Craig’s, sat on Elenie’s left with his wife, Ruby, on his other side. Ruby was both shrill and dull; Howard possessed a habitual sniff which started to grate within the first five minutes. She hadn’t met either of them before and was in no hurry to ever see them again. The conversation was forced and sticky around the table.
What a farcical situation. Torn between despair and hysteria, Elenie had no idea which, if either, would win out. And all the time, her skin bristled with awareness of the tall man with a face like stone who sat three seats away on her right-hand side. She could swear she felt the rumble of his low voice in her breastbone every time Roman spoke. So damn gorgeous in the navy suit that fitted his lean, muscular frame to perfection, he’d already shed his jacket, too warm in the overfilled room. He wore no tie, his midnight blue shirt unbuttoned at the neck.
She wanted to stare and stare; she was so thirsty for the sight of him. Even the presence of his fiancée couldn’t keep her thoughts in line. Elenie’s eyes flicked to the bare skin under his collar once, then twice. She imagined running her tongue along the groove at the base of his neck and had to stifle a moan. His skin would be warm against her mouth. Their fake date in the Barrel had taught her how hot Roman’s body temperature ran. She could almost feel the burn on her lips.
Thank God that Zena was mainly blocked from her sight, sitting as she was on the other side of Craig. Her flawless appearance wasn’t something Elenie needed in her eyeline. The glossy hair, immaculate makeup and elegant dress screamed high-class. Elenie knew what her own look screamed and it had nothing to do with good breeding. Used to being judged and found wanting, she was well aware that Zena had taken one look and found nothing to concern her at all.
Craig’s bark of laughter rang in her ears and Elenie pulled herself together enough to smile. At what, she didn’t know. The background noise made it hard to hear conversations around the table. She could only focus on the nearest ones. The ones she was least interested in. Being lonely in a crowd was so much worse than being lonely on her own. She wished for just one person to talk to. Or failing that, a book.
“There’s no point in remodeling and renovating crappy buildings like this one. It’s throwing good money after bad. My plans for the new business center will blow this kind of venue out of the water.”
Luke looked less than thrilled to be at the end of Craig’s cocky boasts or his jabbing finger.
“Small outfits like yours are better off sticking with home renos and decking. Leave the bigger jobs to those with a larger workforce and the experience to project-manage a proper commercial site. It’s all about the contacts, mate. You might have a copper in the family but when I choose to mingle, I make a point of rubbing shoulders with the guys who dish out the money that matters. Businessmen, local councilors who have the casting votes, and people with influence, like the mayor.”
“And yet still we find ourselves blessed with your company tonight.”
Caitlyn’s words were sweetly delivered as she refilled her glass with water and offered the bottle to the rest of the table.
Trust Cait to provide the light relief. Elenie wiped away a smile that fought to surface against her will. Finding no ready answer to the putdown, Craig leaned back in his chair and began a loud conversation over his shoulder with someone on another table as they waited for their entrées.
Zena delicately buttered a wholewheat roll.
“What do you do for a living, Melanie?”
“Elenie,”
said Caitlyn and Roman together.
“I’m a waitress.”
“Interesting,”
Zena said in a voice that could not have been less interested.
“Are you looking for a real job?”
Elenie’s fingers tightened around the stem of her glass.
“Zena.”
Roman’s use of his fiancée’s name was glacial.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude. I’m happy for you if you like what you do.”
She wrinkled her perfect nose the perfect, adorable amount.
“But I couldn’t work in that kind of sweaty, steamy atmosphere day after day. I can feel my pores weeping in sympathy just thinking about it.”
Across the table, Thea rolled her eyes.
Elenie took a sip of wine.
“Did you know your skin loses its elasticity as you get older? That causes it to sag, making your pores seem larger. If you can feel them doing anything, they’re probably drooping rather than weeping.”
She flashed Zena a careful smile.
“Not that you’re old. Just older than me.”
Roman’s fiancée gave a tight laugh.
“It’s so interesting to have you and your boyfriend here. Your attendance fills a much-needed gap in the guest list.”
She laid her napkin with deliberate care on the table and rose to her feet.
“Excuse me for a moment. I need to use the bathroom.”
“Wow,”
Caitlyn murmured sarcastically to Milo.
“Roman’s fiancée is kind of an ass. Who knew.”
Thea glared at Roman.
“No wonder you only brought her home once.”
Elenie hoped the tips of her ears weren’t as hot as they felt. “Sorry,”
she mouthed at Roman. The air crackled between them as their eyes caught and held. For a searing, molten moment in time, nothing else existed. Roman’s pupils flared.
Craig chose that minute to swing back to the table, slamming Elenie’s shoulder as he did. She jolted forward, catching her glass with her hand and sending white wine spilling across the tablecloth.
“Bloody hell, babe,”
he groused.
“It’s a good job the wine’s included in the ticket. You threw the last one I bought you on the fucking floor!”
A waitress appeared at her shoulder with a plate of food and Elenie had to fight to find her voice. A sideways flick of her eyes caught unguarded fury on Roman’s face for just a second. He looked one small step away from a table-flipping rampage. Was it so wrong to hope he was fighting an overwhelming urge to grab Craig by the collar and smash his head into the table? Just the thought of Roman breaking Craig’s nose into a plate of mediocre beef tenderloin and gravy gave her a sense of grim satisfaction.
Zena slid back into her seat.
Howard speared a carrot and eyed Elenie.
“You’re related to Frank Dax?”
“He’s married to my mother.”
He gave a sniff, his eyes flat like pebbles behind round glasses, and turned his shoulder to her. She was doing well with the small talk this evening.
Elenie focused on her meal; the food smelled better than it looked. It was warm and tasty but she could barely eat a thing. The lemon and blueberry cheesecake dessert, both sharp and sweet on her tongue, should have been delicious. Instead, it stuck to the roof of her mouth and she struggled to swallow it.
Zena held court while coffee was poured, recounting legal battles she’d fought and won. She was enviably self-possessed. Over the rim of her cup, Caitlyn caught Elenie’s eye, rolling her own in an arc so huge she nearly sprained them.
Eventually, Craig pushed back his chair.
“We’re going to love you and leave you. It’s been a pleasure but I need to socialize.”
He winked at Zena and circled an impatient hand in Elenie’s direction.
“Come on, Ellie. Chop, chop!”
Then he whistled at her. Like a dog.
Caitlyn’s eyes went wide and then narrowed. Milo let out a strangled cough which sounded suspiciously lik.
“what a dick.”
Elenie appreciated their support even as a flush of embarrassment climbed her neck.
“Excuse me,”
she murmured quietly, tucking her chair under the table.
“It appears I have to chop. Twice.”
Thea snorted. Caitlyn grinned. Elenie gave Roman a sideways glance and then she followed Craig across the room.
The evening dragged painfully on.
Craig drank more and laughed louder. He either ignored her or grabbed her ass, depending on whether he was talking shop or trying to impress his buddies. Less and less networking was conducted as his alcohol consumption increased. Two of Craig’s friends hit on Elenie with him standing right beside them. He roared with laughter and took it as a direct compliment to his manliness, rather than the insult to his date their lewd comments implied.
She forced herself not to seek Roman out. For the most part she couldn’t even see him and assumed he was still sitting at the table, chatting with the others. Craig dragged her onto the dance floor, where Elenie propped him up as best she could while he danced with drunken enthusiasm.
“Did you know the police chief was hiding a fiancée?”
His voice was loud above the music.
“Can’t say I blame him for dumping you when he had her on speed dial. She’s proper classy.”
Elenie refused to let him provoke her.
“Maybe he just wanted a quick fuck while she was out of town.” Jerking her closer, Craig clamped her tightly against his groin. “Did he discover you’re just a tease who doesn’t put out?” He started to laugh. “Jesus, given the choice, I’d give the hot lawyer one, too!”
Elenie leaned away when he tried to stick his tongue in her ear.
“Martinez was a mistake. I should have known better.”
She suspected Craig was too hammered to pay any attention but it was worth making the defense. There was no doubt in her mind he would report anything she said straight back to Frank. If he remembered it.
As the song came to an end, Elenie fought her way out of his grasp.
“I need to go to the restroom.”
“Be my guest!”
With a mocking incline of his head, Craig slapped her on the ass and headed back to the bar.
Elenie pushed through the double doors leading out from the conference room, desperate for a little air, craving some space. The lobby was deserted. She considered heading outside but it was late, the night was a cool one, and her dress was ridiculously tiny.
“This way.”
Roman’s voice, as tight and deep as a bass chord, raised instant goosebumps on her skin. He took her elbow and swept her swiftly through another door. In front of them, a flight of stairs stretched upward but he ignored them and turned right into a short corridor. After checking inside, he guided her into a tiny, darkened room and closed the door behind them. It looked as if they’d found themselves in a small office space. Maybe one also used for storage, she wasn’t sure.
All of Elenie’s focus was on the man in front of her anyway.
Neither of them spoke.
Roman pushed at the shirtsleeves cuffed at his wrists and closed the gap between them. Her breath hitched at the firestorm blazing in his eyes. He was so close she could have run a finger along that narrow scar beneath his jaw. He smelled delicious. Oak and pepper combined with the scent of his skin to send her senses tumbling like dominoes.
“Zena is not my fiancée.”
Each word was a stone dropped into the puddle of tension.
Elenie wet her lips with her tongue.
“She seems to think differently.”
Roman dragged a long, ragged breath in and pushed frustrated fingers through his hair.
“I didn’t plan to bring her. She turned up in my office this afternoon and it seemed like a good idea at the time. I made it clear we’re not back together. She just chose not to listen.”
Elenie examined his face for a lie. She wanted so much to believe him.
“She’s everything I’m not.”
“Yes, she is.”
Wow, that hurt. Elenie closed her eyes for the briefest of moments. When she tried to turn away, Roman reached out to grip her wrist.
“She’s judgmental and ruthlessly ambitious. She’s not very kind, has zero sense of humor, and she doesn’t make my heart beat out of my fucking chest.”
He pulled her a step closer with the lightest of pressure. Elenie’s knees turned liquid in relief. A gasp caught in her throat at the need etched on his serious face.
“Can I kiss you?”
he asked. A battle raged in his eyes.
He was leaving. This was dangerous. It couldn’t work. And she didn’t care.
All the logical, sensible reasons why he shouldn’t disappeared like wisps of smoke on a strong breeze. In this moment, none of them mattered.
Unable to summon proper words, Elenie nodded.
The air quivered around them and a lifetime passed before Roman finally lowered his head, so very slowly, watching her with fierce intensity until the second his mouth met hers. He pressed a gentle kiss to the center of her lips, a low rumble rising from his chest. His touch was warm, the contact feather-light. His fingers trembled. Elenie gave a shuddering sigh, every nerve pathway flooded with a rip current so strong she couldn’t fight it. As her mouth parted, his tongue dipped between her teeth. It tangled, smooth and insistent, with her own, and she curled her fingers around his forearms, tighter and tighter. Hands pushing into her hair, he kissed her again and again.
“Finally.”
Roman growled against her lips.
“Fucking finally.”
A wave broke over them both and they surged together.
His body slammed into hers, backing her against the door, and she moaned. Sandwiched between the unforgiving wooden surface and Roman’s solid muscles, Elenie grabbed a handful of his shirt to keep her afloat. He tasted of lemon and Malbec, the hot sweep of his tongue driving her insane. He was a rigid wall of unstoppable need, trapping her like a car crusher. And Elenie felt herself falling apart. Pieces here, pieces there, breaking off and spinning into the air.
Roman’s hands moved from her hair to her neck, sparking lightning shivers over the surface of her skin as they brushed her bare shoulders. His rough fingers skimmed lower, tracing the curves of her body, his mouth an addictive obsession. Reaching her hips, he pulled her even closer, his hardness grinding against her stomach, a groan wrenched from his throat, tendons tight beneath his jawline.
Warmth flooded through her; her skin was on fire. Her fingers gripped the soft strands of hair at the back of his neck and she arched into him, demanding with her hands, offering with her mouth. Roman grasped her thighs, lifting her against him in a fluid, powerful motion, muscles bunching. Elenie fought against the stupid dress. Its body-hugging shape restricted her movements, sequins catching on his clothing. Shoving the hem up and out of the way with a raw curse, Roman wrapped her legs around him.
There was nothing gentle about this kiss. It seized and blazed and feasted and looted. Their need was desperate. The desire explosive.
Elenie had never felt so wanted. The ridge of his cock, pressing against her panties, flooded her with heat. The ache at her center was unbearable. She pulled him even closer with her legs and a growl rumbled deep in his chest. His huge hands, like brands on her bare thighs, lifted her roughly, rubbing her up and down against his erection. He caught her gasp on his lips.
“Oh God—”
Roman pulled his mouth away, his chest heaving against her breasts. His face so close to hers that Elenie felt each rasping breath on her lips. Her eyes were unfocused. He held her, still trapped between his heavenly body and the door, and searched her face, his hair wild and tousled by her hands.
“I have wanted to do that for so long.”
The confession was a whisper in her ear.
“I’ve been going quietly out of my mind all night.”