9. LUNA
Luna
I ’m not sure where I am for a few seconds. Then I remember I slept curled up next to Rome on his couch in the back of his café. I jolt up to a sitting position, Rome letting out a strangled groan as he plops to the floor. In the next second, he’s sitting cross-legged and smiling up at me like I didn’t just kick him off the couch.
“Good morning, sweetheart.”
My gaze narrows at him, wondering how the hell he looks so beautiful even when he wakes up. It’s not fair. “I have to go,” I mutter. The classic line but this time it’s true. I’m here on business and as much as I don’t want to face Griffin after leaving him six years ago, I don’t have a choice. Slowly, I slide off the cushions, looking for my bra and panties. At this point, most of my one-night stands try to reach for me and plead for me to stay.
Rome just pushes to his feet, watching me as if I’m the most precious thing in the world. “Why don’t you get washed up and dressed while I make you some breakfast, alright?” He points to a small bathroom that’s hidden by a door in the corner.
“I don’t-”
He cuts off my protest. “Nothing else is open right now and you need the sustenance. Don’t fight me on this, Luna. Please.” He’s pleading with me and I don’t understand why he cares so much. I’m just a woman passing through and he’s done more for me in 12 hours than my mother did my entire life.
“You do still owe me a coffee,” I say, hoping that I’m not overstepping. My panties are clutched in my hand, pressed against my chest as I stand in front of Rome with only his shirt covering me. I’ve never felt more naked in my life. Rome steps closer and folds his hands behind his back before pressing a simple kiss to the corner of my lips and walking out the door.
The sting of his lips wakes me out of the sexual haze he’s left me in. Goodbye kisses are always raw and passionate, spewing fake promises of another date or a longer night. That was the kiss a man gives to their lover, a sweet and gentle embrace between two faces. And I have no fucking clue what to do with it.
I refuse to read into it, especially since he gave me like four orgasms and he’s now making me breakfast. Grabbing my things, I run to the bathroom and freshen up, smiling at the new toothbrush lying on the side. It’s still in the package. I don’t need it. I have my own but it’s the thought that counts. When I return to the couch, the blanket has been switched out and folded and any remnants of what happened last night have disappeared.
Rome is humming behind the counter as I emerge, perking up when he catches me trying to slip out. “I thought I told you that there would be breakfast.”
“You don’t have to-”
“I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to do, sweetheart. Sit your sweet little ass down and eat.” I don’t move and he tilts his head, his earrings falling to the side. “Luna, do I need to feed you again?” The words are said with a slight smile and I groan, shaking my head. Heat blooms in the pit of my belly, an image of him feeding me that gooey cinnamon roll again, his other hand between my legs giving me yet another orgasm.
Too sore for that.
Rome chuckles as if he knows what I’m thinking about. “Muffins are the name of the game today. What are you feeling—blueberry, lemon poppy, or chocolate?”
I frown. His father made everything fresh and yet Rome was beside me last night. “When did you make all this?”
“Prepped some yesterday and then put everything in the oven this morning.”
“There wasn’t enough time this morning.”
“Luna, I usually wake up at like three or four to start baking.”
“You left me?” I ask in horror and then slap my hands over my mouth. I hate showing my insecurities. Rome raises an eyebrow, facing me completely, once again trying to read me. “I didn’t mean that. I just…”
“You did and that’s okay. Luna, last night was great but I don’t expect anything from you. I’d love it if this happens again but I’m not expecting you to fall hopelessly in love with me in the next 12 hours.”
A smile splits across my face at the way he so easily diffuses the situation. “I’m sorry.”
“Apology not needed but accepted. Now, since I doubt you’ll choose – here’s a lemon poppy and a lavender latte. Don’t knock the combination till you try it.” He slides a plate and coffee mug across the counter, waiting for me to climb onto the stool and receive it. It’s odd having someone offer something but also demand that I take it without even saying much. Rome watches as I pick at the muffin and I relish the warmth between my fingers as I bring it to my mouth. “Good?”
“Just like your father’s.”
“And that’s what I like to hear. You eat. I have a few more things to put out in the display before all the college kids figure out I’m open.”
I remember those days, when some of the kids from Red Brook would trickle over to Spring Haven for delicacies. I never had the money but I watched them with envy as they entered the shops along this strip, buying and laughing like they didn’t have a care in the world.
Stuffing my mouth with more of the muffin, I have to take a swig of the coffee so I don’t choke. Lavender explodes in my mouth, tangling with the lemon. There's a hint of chocolate and it somehow works with the other flavors.
In fact, it’s a perfect combination and I know for a fact that this creation is Rome’s alone. As much as I loved his father, he was very straightforward in what he offered. The only coffee on the menu had been an espresso and a basic latte.
I do a little jig in my seat, enjoying my food, and start in on my day by opening my phone. It’s much earlier than I thought it was—only six am—so I’m surprised to see a missed call from Max until I realize it was from last night. Fuck. Quickly, I redial the number and he picks up on the second dial tone.
“Don’t scare me like that, Luna baby. I sent you out there and then you basically fell off the face of the Earth. You’ll give an old man a heart attack.”
“You’re not an old man.”
“True that but Yana makes me feel like one. She mentioned something about a new promotional thing for Griffin’s book and I’m not sure I want to know.”
“What do you mean?”
“When I know, I’ll tell you. But where she is concerned, it’s never a good thing. Now, I’ve sent you the address and he knows you’re coming.”
I fall silent for a few moments unsure what to say. “Did… he say anything?”
“Not really. I think he’s pretty scarred from the last few editors. Just show up on time, stay off his dick, and edit his book. Think you can do that?”
A nervous laugh falls from my lips and I nod, “Yeah.” I hang up a second later, not wanting to continue the conversation. In a few hours, I’ll be seeing Griffin, my first love, a man I never forgot and never wanted to leave. However, Max said there wasn’t any reaction to my name, which means Griffin truly has moved on. I’m not surprised. He’s a ball of sunshine and anyone who meets him would want to possess that kind of happiness. My gaze trails to the front door and I frown when I see the open sign facing me. “I thought it was empty. You’re losing business by not opening. Spring Haven was always an early town.”
“I can afford to lose a few dollars because I have a pretty lady to impress.”
I groan at the horrible line and stuff another clump of lemon poppy muffin into my mouth. “What do I owe you for the muffin?” I swear I’m not sure why there are stars in his eyes when I’m talking and chewing at the same time. It’s a miracle that I’m not spewing little bits on the counter.
Rome avoids my question. “What brought you to town?”
“An editing job.”
His brows raise as he leans against the back counter, his arms folding across his chest and showing off that colorful sleeve of tattoos. It reminds me of the way he held me last night, my cheeks heating at the memory. When Rome licks his lips, swallowing so that his Adam’s apple bobs up and down, I know he’s thinking of the same thing. “Wait, you must be my roommate’s new editor. Griffin? He’ll be pleasantly surprised.”
I don’t like the sound of that. “Why?”
“You’re nothing like the last few that have strolled in here and you have a good head on your shoulders. Besides, you’re way easier on the eyes than the last one.” Rome’s face scrunches up and he looks adorable despite all the piercings. I’m surprised though, since Casey is most everyone’s type.
“Thanks, I guess?”
“It was a compliment, Luna.”
I frown, glancing around the small café. Nothing has changed from when his father ran it, maybe some repairs but that’s it. And yet, there’s no way someone like Rome is this nice. Well, no way someone my age is this nice. “Do you have a secret family you’re hiding or something? You’re so… giving. ”
Pain flits through his expression and I almost miss it. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“Are you married?” I angrily push away from the table, searching his left hand for a ring. How I got to this conclusion I’ll never know but I’m not a homewrecker and I don’t need the extra attention. By the scrunched look on Rome’s face, I can tell that I’ve broached a topic he doesn’t want to dwell on.
“Luna, I was. It didn’t work out and we wanted different things.” His words end with a sigh and I feel that I’ve officially ruined the mood. What with my bad table manners and digging into his personal life, I can’t imagine we’ll be doing this again anyways. I’ll keep my head down when I walk past the café to get to Griffin’s office.
Silently, I down the rest of the coffee and wrap up the muffin in a napkin from the holder beside my seat. Rome watches until I’m halfway to the door and then he’s right beside me, gently pulling me into his arms.
“Luna, I didn’t expect someone to stumble into Spring Haven last night but I’m glad it was you. Don’t be a stranger.” Then he kisses me, sweet and sensual. He doesn’t push. He doesn’t demand. He just sups until he’s had enough and pulls back, that radiant smile resting on his lips once again. “Good luck, sweetheart.”
I’m not sure the last time I had someone in my corner and even if Rome doesn’t truly mean those words, they warm my heart anyway and stupidly promise me a future where there is none.