Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Roman swiped his phone off the chaise lounge and answered it mid-ring, unable to read the screen in the blinding sunlight. “Incardona.”
“Busy?”
He immediately recognized Knox’s voice, and he swore under his breath. “Nope. Caught me in the middle of working out. Whatcha got for me?”
“Just touching base,” Knox replied. “I’m guessing no one has made her yet. No mention of any spottings on social media.”
That was good to hear and all, but it didn’t help Roman’s current situation. He glanced down at the hard-on pressing against the front of his shorts. All the blood in his body had flooded south, and it was taking his brain a while to catch up and come up with a suitable response.
“Ink?”
“Nope.” Throwing himself into the chair, he forced his attention back to Knox. “We’ve been out a couple times, but no one has recognized her, or, if they have, they haven’t said anything.”
“Keep it that way.” There was a long pause on Knox’s end, then— “Everything good?”
“Yeah, why?” Even he could hear the defensiveness in his voice, and Roman fought to dial it back.
He could practically hear the wheels turning in Knox’s head before he spoke, his tone both wary and curious. “This isn’t a typical situation. Just making sure you haven’t had any trouble.”
“No trouble here,” Roman said smoothly. Not the nefarious kind, anyway. Irina, though… The five-foot-five blonde bombshell in his care was the worst kind of trouble there was. She was the kind of woman a man would happily hand over his manhood to have.
He banged his head against the headrest of the chair. He couldn’t believe he’d let things get so out of hand, even if she was encouraging him. Another three seconds in the pool with her and he’d have kissed her. A minute more and they both probably would have been naked.
Knox hummed a little sound. “Police have a lead that they’re investigating. Phelps told me they’ve applied for the warrant and plan to bring him in for questioning today or tomorrow if everything goes well.”
Roman let out a measured breath. He had mixed feelings about the news Knox had just imparted.
On the one hand, he was glad that the threats against Irina would stop.
If the police had enough evidence to press for a warrant, they must be pretty certain the guy was responsible.
On the other hand, it meant his time with Irina was almost up.
“Is it solid?” he asked.
“From what I understand,” Knox said slowly, “they’re pretty certain they’ve got the right guy. Up until just a couple days ago, he worked as a janitor in Stargazer’s studio.”
A tingly sensation rushed over Roman’s nerve endings. That meant the man had been in close contact with Irina, possibly for months. “Any news on the lock from Irina’s house? Fingerprints, anything tying him to the car?”
“The techs analyzed the lock and determined that the damage was only superficial. I would guess he used a key, but we’ll find out more once they question him. The guy also has a prior record for assaulting his ex-girlfriend.”
Roman rolled his eyes. No surprise there.
Men like that usually started small, with assault or harassment, then escalated into something more sinister.
It was looking more and more like this guy was the one responsible.
If he’d worked practically beside her, it would have been easy for him to follow her home.
Knox continued, “He was caught stealing and was relieved of his position. When they searched his locker, they found a pair of sunglasses belonging to Ms. Sterling. Prints have been pulled from several of the letters she received, so they’ll cross-check those as soon as they have him in custody.
So far, it’s looking pretty open-and-shut. ”
“Right. Well, that’s… great.” Roman tried to hide the disappointment in his voice, but he knew he had failed when a long pause came from the other end of the line.
“How are things with you?” Knox asked warily.
“We’ve had our bumps,” Roman replied honestly. “She threw a fit a few days ago when he wouldn’t give her phone back so she could call you and bitch about me.”
A low chuckle filtered through the speaker. “If it helps at all, I think you can ease up on her a bit. Seems like these guys have a handle on the situation here. I’ll touch base tomorrow or the next day to let you know how everything panned out.”
“I appreciate it.”
“Hey, Ink?”
“Yeah?”
“The studio agreed to pay double for the assignment, so at least you’ll get something out of this when it’s all said and done.”
The thought made Roman see red. “I’m not with her for the money,” he snapped.
He knew those jerks from the studio didn’t care about her, especially not her slime-bag agent, Louis.
For all he cared, they could take that cash and shove it up their ass.
He refused to give them the satisfaction.
Whatever extra pay he got, he would split with Irina.
After everything she’d been through, she deserved it.
Knox hesitated. “Not many men in your position would say the same.”
Roman didn’t have a response for that. Knox had already read way more into the situation than he was comfortable with. “I’ve gotta go,” he said. “That girl’s attracted to trouble, so he better make sure she stays out of it.”
“You do that,” came Knox’s response. “Just remember…”
He trailed off, and Roman bristled. “What?”
“This ends when you come back.”
It was like a kick to the gut. But Knox was exactly right. This—all of it—was just an illusion, a fantasy that would end the moment they went home. It still pissed him off. “And?”
Knox sighed. “Just don’t do anything you’ll regret.”
“Call me when you know something.” With that, Roman hung up and tossed his phone on the chaise lounge. Closing his eyes, he scrubbed his hands over his face.
What was he doing? Things between him and Irina were getting out of control. Had Knox’s phone call not interrupted them, he probably would’ve taken her right there in the shallow end of the pool. How could he have been so stupid?
He’d almost crossed the line with her—with a client—something he swore he’d never do. It didn’t matter what he felt for her or that she seemed to want it, too. His first—and only—priority was to keep her safe. And he couldn’t do that if he was constantly distracted by her.
He let out a sigh, then turned his gaze toward the sliding doors that led into the bedroom.
Beneath the reflection from the sun, he could just barely make out Irina’s form moving around the bed.
A primal urge came over him, tempting him to pick her up and carry her to the bedroom, keep her there for hours. Days.
He prayed to God that the police would get everything figured out and fast, because he was going to lose his mind if he had to spend any more time with this woman without getting his hands on her—all over her—exactly the way they both wanted.