Chapter 27
Iris
Six Weeks Later
“Does that feel good, sweet boy? You’re such a big, beautiful baby. Yes, you are.”
I’m cooing these words to a quarter horse named Butterscotch, a calm gelding for beginners, while brushing him in his stall after a riding lesson.
His stall is one of ten lining the north side of the largest stable on Harper’s family’s horse ranch.
During my stay in Orchard Blossom, I’ve helped out around here, the same way I did in high school.
What else am I going to do? My job search thus far has been woefully ineffective, so at least being here and helping out is something productive to do.
“Iris.”
I straighten up from brushing Butterscotch’s front leg and discover the source of the deep, sexy voice. Roman. He’s here. In Orchard Blossom, looking effortlessly cool and scrumptious in a tight-fitting T-shirt, jeans, and a baseball cap imprinted with a thunderbolt.
“Hey,” I gasp out. I blink rapidly, not believing my eyes. He’s standing on the other side of Butterscotch in a wide dirt walkway just outside the stall, but he might as well be licking my naked skin, based on the way my nervous system is reacting to the sight of him.
“Look at you, country girl,” Roman says, a crooked grin on his face. “You’re in your element.”
I feel dizzy. Disoriented. This feels like two worlds colliding—my fantasy world and real life.
Should I come out from around Butterscotch to hug him in greeting?
If so, I’m not sure my wobbly legs will safely make the journey.
Why is he here? To see me, specifically?
If so, did he come to pursue me romantically, or to ask me to sign an NDA about our fling in Kauai?
During a recent FaceTime call with Kaylee and Tatiana, Kaylee said she was surprised Roman never asked me to sign an NDA, since it’s well-known that high-profile people often require them of the people in their orbits. Is that why Roman is here?
My racing mind is making it difficult to form words. But somehow, I manage to choke out, “H-how’d you find me?”
Roman’s crooked smile returns. “You said you were going home to Orchard Blossom after Denver.”
“No, here. At the ranch.”
He shrugs. “I asked about you in town, and a bartender told me to look for you here. Sorry I didn’t call before showing up. The number I have for you didn’t work.”
“I had to change it. Crazies kept calling and telling me to kill myself for being a slut.”
Roman looks stricken. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“It’s okay. The new number did the trick. For now, anyway.” My feet still frozen in place, I lay a palm on Butterscotch’s back. “So, uh, w-what, brings you to Orchard Blossom?”
Roman’s dark eyes feel like they’re boring into my soul.
“You talked about how ‘magical’ your hometown is, so I figured I’d check out the magic for myself.
Mandatory minicamp is over, and I’ve got a couple weeks till training camp, so now is the perfect time.
” He takes a tentative step forward. “I still owe you a day of horseback riding, remember? I know we were supposed to do it on a Hawaiian beach at sunset, but I’m hoping you’ll say yes to doing it here instead. ”
What’s happening? Why is he really here? Roman couldn’t possibly have squeezed in a visit to my small hometown simply to fulfill his plan to ride horses with me.
“W-when?” I ask lamely, even though I’ve got zero plans for the next eighty years.
“Whenever you’ve got some free time over the next week. That’s how long I’ve got my Airbnb.”
He’s staying in Orchard Blossom for a full week?
“Oh, wow. Are you staying at the Claxton farmhouse?” It’s the best Airbnb in the area—a large, recently renovated farmhouse on fifty acres that looks delightfully quaint but actually features tons of luxurious modern amenities and upgrades, thanks to the family’s overhaul of the place after Old Man Claxton passed away.
If I were a rich person staying in Orchard Blossom, that’s where I’d stay, hands down.
Although, if I were a rich person, I can’t imagine I’d choose to stay in Orchard Blossom for a full week, when I could go anywhere in the world.
Which makes me wonder, yet again, what the heck he’s really doing here.
“Yeah, I think that’s what it’s called. It’s a big, green farmhouse on the outskirts of town.”
“That’s the Claxton place. Good choice. It’s our version of the Four Seasons.” I shift my weight and run my palm down Butterscotch’s back. “Have you gone down to the stream on the property?”
“Not yet. I just got in late last night.”
My heart is pounding against my sternum. “You should check it out. It’s teeming with rainbow trout. Some other fish, too, but mostly trout.”
Roman takes two slow steps forward, but he stops when he gets just inside the small stall. “Do you know how to fish?”
I nod. “Mr. Claxton was friends with my grandpa—my mom’s dad—so he used to let my brother and me go fishing on his property when we were little.
” I press my lips together and tell myself not to babble about fishing when all I want to know is why the heck he’s here.
What he wants. Why he’s bothered. But when Roman doesn’t speak, I can’t help filling the awkward silence with, “I mean, I’m in no danger of being featured on the Fishing Channel, but I can usually catch enough fish for a nice dinner. ”
With a panty-melting smile on his face, Roman takes another step forward. “Maybe you can show me how to fish, while I’m here.”
My breathing has turned shallow. My head is spinning. “Trout fishing is easy. All you need is the right lure and bait, and you’ll be Long John Silver in no time.” Long John Silver? What the heck, Iris?
Roman takes two more steps forward, until he’s looking at me with blazing eyes from across Butterscotch’s back. “Maybe you could help me pick out the right lure and bait.”
It suddenly feels intolerably hot in this stable.
Also, like my heart might physically burst at his sheer proximity.
“I-I could certainly do that. Or y-you could go to Peterson’s Bait and Tackle in town and ask for advice.
Mr. P-Peterson makes these cool handmade lures that work like a charm.
They’re more expensive than the prepackaged cheapies, but they’re totally worth it. ”
Roman’s dark eyes twinkle and one side of his perfect mouth hitches up. “That’s good to know. Thanks for the intel.”
“Are there any fishing rods at the rental? If not, I’m sure my dad has one you could borrow.”
Roman places his large palm onto Butterscotch’s back, and the horse swishes his blond tail in reply. Not to mention, my body electrifies at the sight of Roman’s big hand, resting mere inches from my chest.
“Actually,” he says, his eyes locked with mine, “I think there were two rods in a closet at the Airbnb, so you’d only have to bring one for yourself if you come teach us how to fish.”
My racing heart feels like it’s stopped. “Us?” For the life of me, I can’t fathom what that word means in this context.
Roman’s lopsided grin returns. “I brought Maverick with me.”
My jaw hangs open. “Oh. Wow.” It’s all my overwhelmed brain can manage.
“You said I didn’t show you the real me in Kauai, so I came to show him to you here—and I realized I can’t do that without introducing you to my son.
He’s my heart and soul, Iris. As real as I get.
” Roman noticeably flushes a bit. He takes a deep breath and clears his throat.
“My parents are here with me, too. They came along to help with Mav this week, in case I happen to get lucky and get a date with a pretty girl while I’m here. ”
Date.
With me?
Am I the pretty girl?
My brain searches for a different meaning.
A more logical one. But it can’t come up with anything else.
My chest heaving, I blurt, “I watched the press conference, Roman. In a sports bar. Everyone went nuts, exactly like you said.” My breathing feels erratic, so I take a deep, steadying breath.
“After the press conference, I heard your new Thunderbolts jersey sold out within hours of the announcement, and it’s now the best-selling NFL jersey. ”
Roman smiles ruefully. “Yeah, we’ll see how long the honeymoon phase lasts once the season starts. If I don’t start racking up wins out of the gate, those same fans will start burning my jersey in effigy.”
I swat at the air above Butterscotch’s back to shoo a fly. “Don’t worry about that. You’re gonna come out of the gate winning. I know it in my bones.”
He raps his knuckles to the side of his head, playfully knocking on wood. “Let’s hope your bones are psychic.” As he drops his hand to his side, his Adam’s apple bobs. “Hey, would you be willing to come out from behind the horse so I can give you a hug?”
My knees buckle, so I grip Butterscotch to steady myself. “Yes. Of course.”
“Only if you’re comfortable.”
“No, I am. Yes. Of course.”
I inhale deeply before beginning my short journey toward Roman’s opened arms, during which my knees feel rubbery and my heart feels like it’s exploding in my chest. And the minute Roman embraces me and I smell the familiar, musky spice of his aftershave, I’m hurtled straight back to our magical kiss at the waterfall.
“I’ve missed you,” Roman whispers into my ear, and my heart leaps with excitement. They’re the words I’ve been dying to hear for over a month.
“I’ve missed you, too,” I confess. I’m telling the truth.
And yet, as soon as I say the words, another truth slams into me: I’m wary.
Skeptical. Worried about getting my heart broken again.
Obviously, it’s exciting to realize Roman came here to Orchard Blossom to visit me—for a full week, no less, and with his family in tow.
But a week isn’t a long time. Not nearly long enough, anyway, for me to hope for any kind of future with Roman after he leaves and goes back to his new life in LA.
Roman leans back from our embrace to look into my eyes. “Was Denver okay? I was worried about you running into your ex.”
“I didn’t see him.” I cock my head. “By any chance, did you send someone to watch over me in Denver? There was a dark SUV that seemed like it kept popping up, especially when I was at Brandon’s house to get another load of stuff.”
Roman looks sheepish. “Yeah, that was my guy. A bodyguard.”
I bat his shoulder. “You should have told me! I thought human traffickers were after me.”
“Your number was disconnected. Plus, you told me to rip off the Band-Aid, remember? I didn’t think you’d want to hear from me.”
“So you let me think human traffickers were after me?”
Roman laughs. “I didn’t think you’d notice him.”
“I did.”
“Sorry.” He bites his lower lip. “God, it’s good to see you again, Iris.”
“You, too.”
He touches my cheek, sending shivers skating every which way across my skin. “Do you have time to meet my son?”
“When?”
“Now.”
“Where?”
“Here.”
“Maverick’s here—at the ranch?”
Roman nods. “My parents, too. I left them chatting with a young woman with dark hair.”
“Was her hair in braids?”
“That’s the one.”
“That’s Harper. She’s been my best friend since grade school. Her family owns the place.”
Roman grins. “The minute she told me where to find you, Harper became my best friend, too.”
Even as my stomach flutters with butterflies, it’s also tight with anxiety. For weeks, I’ve been fantasizing about getting to see Roman again. In person. Just one more time. But now that he’s here, I’m equal parts elated and wary.
“So, do you have a few minutes, or . . . ?” Roman asks.
“Oh. Yes.” I clear my throat. As wary and nervous as I am, there’s no way in hell I’d say no to meeting Roman’s son and parents. “Just give me a minute to finish up here, and we’ll go.”
“Great.” Roman steps back while I finish brushing Butterscotch. While I work, he asks, “Do you think you might have some time to put Maverick on a horse this week? He saw all the horses as we drove up and begged to ride one for his first time.”
“I can saddle up a pony for him right now. Is he wearing close-toed shoes and long pants?”
Roman nods. “Sneakers and jeans.”
“Perfect. We’ll do it now, then. I’ve got the perfect pony for him. A gentle cutie named Tornado.”
“Oh, man, Mav’s gonna love the sound of that. Put him on a ‘stallion’ named Tornado, and he’s gonna think you’ve lived up to your billing.”
My heart stops. My billing? “Does that mean you’ve told Maverick about me?”
He bites back a smile. “My parents, too.”
My shallow breathing is back. “W-what’d you tell them?”
He takes a step forward and his chest heaves.
“That I met a special woman with a heart of gold in Hawaii. A trustworthy, kind, hilarious, sweet woman who never once failed to show me her true self.” His smile drops.
“But, unfortunately, I was too stupid—or maybe too scared—to let my guard down and return the favor.”
Oh my God. Seriously now, what’s happening?
“Oh,” I say vaguely, as my mind races and swirls.
This feels momentous. Like Roman’s come here for more than a simple, weeklong visit with me.
In fact, I can’t help feeling like I’m Cinderella, and Roman’s come to my house with a glass slipper on a pillow.
But that’s a crazy thought, right? The kind of thought that could get a girl’s heart shattered, only even more so than last time with Brandon.
Roman sighs at whatever he’s seeing on my face. “I’ve come to correct my mistake, Iris. Or at least try. If you’ll let me.”
“I . . .” I blush and clear my throat. “Honestly, I’m not sure what that means. How I’m supposed to ‘let’ you do anything. But you can certainly try to do whatever you came here to do, and I won’t try to stop you.”