Chapter 31 #2
Harper checked the mirror, ensuring there was no “boobage visibility,” as her sister liked to say.
She was nervous about tonight and based on the clock by the bed, dinner was to begin in one minute.
They were going to be late. Not good. She sure as hell hoped they were down to only twenty-four more hours until they were free of every clingy shadow haunting them.
She slowly turned at the realization Roman was back. She could feel that man from a mile away.
A small gasp may have left her lips at the sight of him in his suit as he clutched the jacket in his hands. The slim-fit cut screamed elegance and class.
He looked ridiculously hot in the fitted black pants with no belt, paired with a crisp, white shirt, top two buttons undone. A skinny black tie hung loosely around his neck.
“What?” A fleeting grin teased his lips as he shrugged on the jacket and rotated his shoulders as if trying to get comfortable.
“You know what.” She folded her arms. “Every woman is going to lose their mind when they see you.” Her eyes fell to his shoes as he fixed his cuffs.
She’d never thought she’d see the day Roman Riviera would wear Louboutins, and that was one brand she happened to recognize.
The black calfskin loafers were rich looking and sophisticated, a sharp contrast to Roman’s closet at home.
Eighty percent of his footwear consisted of different boots, and the other twenty percent split between beachy flip-flops and running shoes.
“Yeah, well, I’m looking forward to the fact I can finally wrap a hand around your waist in public tonight.
” He cut the space between them down to a foot, and she inhaled his masculine cologne.
His go-to was Paco Rabanne 1 Million Lucky, which he’d supposedly not chosen because of the name, even though the guys liked to give him shit about it.
But it worked for him. It was a heady combination of scents that hit the nose and made for an OMG factor, especially when worn by a man who looked like Roman.
“I’ve only waited forever for that, too.” She uncrossed her arms, and he reached for her hand.
“I really am sorry,” he said, his tone soft. “For everything.”
Her heart squeezed. “I had some walls and issues, too. Looks like both our barriers came crashing down because of a mission.”
He gave her a small smile and caressed her cheek with the back of his hand.
“We’re late,” she said, noticing he was giving her that bull-about-to-charge look. Hot, sexy, and ready to make love.
“Later.” His brows tightened as if concerned later was but a dream. “If it’s the men I dealt with earlier today who are downstairs, I’m going to have to act like someone you won’t recognize if we’re to keep up with the charade.”
Ohhh. That’s what was wrong right now. “You be who you need to be down there,” she said in a soft, reassuring tone, “because all that matters is I have the real you in here.”
It would’ve felt like a romantic evening if not for the devil at the head of the dinner table, surrounded by assholes.
The infinity-edge pool behind where Carmen and Antonio sat, across from Harper and Roman, overlooked the marina.
Wild date trees and African fan palms, their trunks wrapped with strings of tiny lights, surrounded the dining area, and small lanterns lined the closest side of the pool, as well.
And the mountains off in the distance made the perfect backdrop for the location.
So yeah, romantic if you removed Carmen’s leering gaze and the devil surrounded by three men in suits.
When introductions were made, Harper had mentally tucked away their names and committed their faces to memory, just in case they’d need to become part of an op down the road.
A lot of alcohol had been consumed by most at the table, but she and Finn had taken it easy on the cocktails. Luciano had practically pushed Roman to have more than he’d most likely prefer.
Chills blanketed her legs and arms just thinking about Roman as that kind of domineering, self-centered man. Roleplay in the bedroom was A-okay with her, but in reality, she’d never want to be with an asshole, and she knew it’d be hard for Roman to act like one in her presence.
“How was your meal?” Luciano stole Harper’s focus from where she’d set her eyes on one of the birds flying overhead in the gentle evening breeze. She was pretty sure it was one of the beautiful swallows inked on Roman’s body.
“Perfect, thank you.” Harper clenched her hand on her lap, feeling uncomfortable when the three men in all-black suits simultaneously turned their attention on her as well.
Roman discreetly reached for her hand beneath the table and clutched her palm, which served to settle her nerves.
It was bad enough Talon Fox might be on overwatch somewhere keeping an eye on them, but having to play nice while dining with criminals . . .
Roman didn’t have a chance to tell Harper what happened that morning or in the afternoon with his uncle, but as long as he hadn’t killed anyone, she didn’t want to know.
It was heads or tails as to whether she’d tell Roman about her not-so-friendly morning at the spa with Carmen, where she’d been two seconds away from slapping the woman on multiple occasions.
Either Carmen’s obsession with Roman was next-level crazy, or she was terrified at the idea of losing the life of luxury she’d become accustomed to.
But if Carmen had described her sexual encounters with Roman when they were eighteen one more flipping time down in that spa, her face would have either met Harper’s hand or maybe a wall before their bullshit spa time had ended.
Lucky for Carmen, Harper had demonstrated incredible self-control.
“And tell me, what do you do for work when you’re not looking so absolutely gorgeous?” one of the suits asked her in a thick South African accent.
Harper may have withheld her anger for Carmen, but she wasn’t so sure Roman would be able to do the same tonight if any of the guys openly flirted with her.
The sun had set an hour ago, causing the temperature to drop slightly. Harper had already been chilly, but Roman’s cool, steely attitude throughout dinner, as well as her skimpy dress, all combined to suddenly raise goose bumps on her skin.
She side-eyed Roman, checking his reaction to the man’s question and noticed his jaw clench as he sipped his drink.
“I work with computers. Create cyber defense for businesses and such.” Ten percent true. “And you?” she pressed, and Roman tightened his grip.
“We dabble in a little of this and a little of that,” the man said in a smooth voice, raising his glass to his mouth as he kept his eyes riveted to Harper.
Sure you do. The three men were probably around Roman’s age. And based on the tight draw of Antonio’s lips, either Roman finally managed to talk to him earlier, or he didn’t like their dinner guests either. She hoped for both.
One of the other suits joined in. “It’s hard for me to imagine that a woman with your looks and body, especially those tits, is also smart.” The asshole smirked. “Did you strip to pay your way through college? Shake your ass? I bet you give great lap dances.”
Oh, shit.
Roman released her hand and rose from the table, shoving his chair back violently in the process.
“Roman,” Luciano said, patting the air.
Harper was certain this was yet another one of his uncle’s tests. To push Roman’s buttons and gauge his reaction. She had no idea if Luciano wanted him to stay calm and resolute in the face of such comments or break the man’s arm to prove no one talked to a “Riviera’s woman” like that.
Please be option one. She spied Finn’s hand curling into a fist on the table off to her left as if uncertain what might happen next. Ditto.
Roman ignored his uncle and went to the asshole who kept his eyes on Roman with a smug, satisfied grin on his face.
“Maybe she’d be interested in working at one of our brothels here. Your uncle certainly enjoys our women.” The bastard winked Harper’s way.
Brothels. Because, of course, you’d say that.
“Or if you’d like your pick of one of our girls, I’ll trade you for yours,” another suit dared speak up, and did he have a death wish?
Roman’s profile was to her, but she wasn’t sure if she’d ever seen such an intense, visceral reaction from him before.
He’d already removed his jacket, providing her the chance to witness his chest rise and fall dramatically as his gaze journeyed back and forth between the two men who’d dared disrespect Harper.
Luciano circled a hand around Roman’s wrist, then tipped his head as if nodding his approval for—well, something.
Yes, this is a test. But did they give a damn about proving anything to his uncle? Her shoulders fell. Yes, they still needed him for the plan with Talon.
“Did I offend you?” One man slowly rose.
He had one or two inches on Roman, was broad-chested, and appeared to have a fairly ripped body beneath his black dress shirt.
But she had no doubt who’d win in a fight.
“Want me to apologize?” He laughed and dropped his focus to one of his friends, who took that as his cue to stand.
“No, I don’t need you to apologize.” Roman’s voice had been steady and calm.
No, because he was going to lay that guy down, wasn’t he?
Roman began to slowly remove his cufflinks, calm and controlled.
“Roman,” Antonio said, his tone clipped. “They’re not worth it.
Yes, listen to him, she thought silently, beginning to panic. Screw your uncle’s games. You know what he’s doing. Don’t give in.
As Roman rolled his sleeves to his elbows, exposing his corded forearms, he didn’t take his focus off of Asshole Number 1. “Stay at her side,” he directed Finn. “And don’t try to help.”
“Roman, please.” She hooked her finger at the waist of his tailored pants and yanked as if that’d stop him from taking pleasure out of causing Asshole Number 1, and maybe Number 2, pain.
“He must defend his honor.” Luciano smiled Harper’s way.
“Let’s see if you’re really man enough to take over for your uncle one day.” Asshole Number 1 lifted both hands in the air and sent Roman a come-hither motion.
Harper attempted to stand, but Roman extended his arm, a request that she stay seated. He glanced back at her, an apology in his eyes.
While she wasn’t completely certain these men weren’t acting at Luciano’s request, Harper knew Roman understood this was another test regardless.
She also knew he’d enjoy what was to come.
He hated his uncle with a passion, and beating the hell out of two of Luciano’s “colleagues” was second only to taking out his anger on the man himself.
For now. And despite the fact he’d been hit by a car at the beginning of the week, he would move and act like a man made of steel tonight.
She was sure of it but also terrified to watch the scene unfold.
The other two men were on their feet as Roman rounded the table and stalked toward the guy. Without breaking his stride, Roman reeled back his fist and connected with the man’s jaw, taking him by surprise.
Harper couldn’t help but pop up to her feet when the guy went down. One knockout punch and the dick was down. Okay, pun intended on that. But damn.
Roman turned to see the other two suits on his heels, and Finn gently squeezed Harper’s arm, reassuring her that Roman would be okay.
No, she wasn’t worried about her man. He had this. But she didn’t want him to kill some stranger for her, either.
Both men rushed Roman in a surprisingly fast move, and oh . . . their target was the pool.
Roman’s balance must’ve still been a little off, or the pricks wouldn’t have been able to shove him into the water, but tonight, luck was on their sides, and Roman went into the pool along with the two jerks.
Her pulse quickened, and her heart hammered against her rib cage. Finn stood, his hand reflexively going behind his jacket for his piece, but he stopped himself.
Roman erupted from the water and swiped the wet strands of hair back from his face to see his opponents wading toward him. It looked like they were at the five-foot mark, which meant they were all a foot above the water.
Harper hurried around to the other side of the table and watched breathlessly as they fought. Roman landing punches. Circling an arm around the back of one man’s neck and trying to fight off the other guy at the same time, all while in the water, which had to be difficult.
But most of Roman’s early training had been in the water, and these men weren’t former Navy SEALs. So, they were screwed.
It didn’t make it any less difficult to watch the viciousness of the fight. Blood slowly turning the water around them a light pink. Not Roman’s blood, thank God.
“Don’t go to him.” Luciano grabbed Harper’s arm when she neared his chair in her effort to get closer to the edge of the pool.
She nearly hissed at the man as she yanked free of him, unable to give a damn.
“He’s got this,” Luciano said before she retreated.
Finn joined her side, and she knew it shredded him to stand by and watch Roman in a fight without his wingman.
One guy, struggling to breathe, seemed to give up, escaping to the other side of the pool and flung his arms onto the tile edge.
But when she looked back toward Roman, he was out of sight. What was he doing?
Ohhh.
The second guy went under in one fast swoop, his arms stretching out in surprise as if he were pulled under by a shark. Harper inched closer to see Roman beneath the water, and he appeared to have wrapped his arms around the guy’s legs to force him down.
Roman could hold his breath a long damn time. How long would this asshole make it?
Don’t kill him. She brought a clenched fist to her lips as she watched. She’d had expectations as to how the night would go, but none had ended with Roman fighting off two men in a pool while one guy lay unconscious on the ground by Harper’s studded heels.
When Roman broke the surface alone, a small part of her thought he’d drowned the man. But then, with a vicious snarl, he reached into the water and hoisted the guy up.
The man sucked in a sharp gasp of air before Roman released him like he was garbage.
Roman moved easily through the pool to the long stretch of stairs, slowly climbing them one at a time, emerging from the water bit by bit like an angry Poseidon after battling an enemy. His wet dress shirt and pants clung to his powerful frame, and his black tie was hooked over his shoulder.
He was breathing hard as he climbed the steps but looked uninjured. He brought both hands to his head and pushed his wet locks from his face.
“Roman,” she mouthed, captivated by the sight before her as he forged his way toward her like he’d part the seas and destroy any forces that’d try and stop him.
As soon as he was within reach, he circled a hand around her waist and pulled her to his wet body before claiming her mouth, letting everyone know she was his.