Chapter 23

23

ALAINA

T he rest of the day, I couldn't stop thinking about Roan. The way he winked at me when he left the school lingered in my mind, causing an unexpected flutter in my chest. I tried to focus on my work, on my students, but Roan's image kept sneaking in, disrupting my thoughts. The man was like a bad rash. But a good rash.

I could still feel his touch on my body. I could taste him. I had committed every detail of our brief interlude to memory. I played it over and over in my head. The man knew his way around a woman's body.

That should be a clue. He was a player. Cate had warned me to stay away from men like him—rich, powerful, used to getting what they wanted. She said they loved to play games, that they couldn't be trusted. She specifically called Roan out. But Roan seemed different.

She called him a player, but from what I knew of him, I had not seen or heard of him dating anyone. Then again, he did just go to New York. Maybe he had a lady friend there. He might be sneaking women into his house after Rafe was asleep.

The man was hot. It made sense he would have a long line of women that wanted to be in his bed. I had gotten a glimpse of his body, and I was ready to throw myself at him. His body was like a sculpture, all hard and chiseled. And if what I had managed to get my hand on proved to be as big and hard, he was every woman's dream.

It all felt genuine to me. There was also the matter of my car, which was such a sweet gesture. I had mentioned offhandedly that I couldn't afford the repairs, and before I knew it, Roan had taken matters into his own hands. I was supposed to be picking the car up today after school. I still couldn't believe he told them to fix it. I was going to pay him back, though. No way could I let him pay for my car repairs.

After school, I took an Uber to the mechanic shop. My mini cooper was sitting in the parking lot, freshly washed. It made my heart happy. I knew it was silly, but I really loved my car, rusty bolts and all. When I walked in, it was confirmed the bill had been paid. It was more than just fixing a few issues. He had practically restored the entire thing.

While it was a kind gesture, it also made me uncomfortable. I wasn't used to being pampered. I couldn't help but wonder about his motivations. Did he feel guilty for kissing me? Or did he actually like me? That seemed impossible.

When I got in the car, it started right up. "Wow," I murmured.

I couldn't remember the last time the car actually started on the first try. And it was so quiet. I turned on the radio, which hadn't worked in months. I drove to the grocery store to pick up some boxes to start packing my things. Not that I had a lot, but I didn't want to try and do it all in one day. I was so happy to have wheels again.

I was packing up my room at Cate's apartment when she came in. "Did I see your shit-heap in the parking garage?"

"If you mean my car, yes." I laughed.

"Did you have it towed here? You know the garage has rules about broken-down cars. They're going to tow it out of here if it sits in one spot leaking oil all over the place."

"I drove it here and it does not leak oil," I replied.

"Since when?"

"Since the mechanic fixed it. All of it."

"Is that even possible?" she teased.

"Apparently, because it runs like a dream. The radio even works."

She laughed. "Did you win the lottery?"

"No."

"How much did that cost?"

"A lot," I murmured.

"Did you get a second job?" she questioned.

"No."

"Are you working the night shift?" she joked.

"No."

"Well, how did you afford to fix your car?" she asked seriously. "Stop being evasive."

I took a deep breath. "Roan."

"Roan?"

"Roan paid for it," I said.

Her mouth dropped open. "Alaina, we need to talk," she said, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

I sighed, knowing this conversation was inevitable. "What's up?"

Cate looked at me. "What's going on with you and Roan?"

I hesitated for a moment before deciding to come clean. "We've kissed. Twice. And he helped me with my car. That's it."

Cate's eyes widened in disbelief. "Alaina, he's Rafe's father! This is exactly the kind of situation I warned you about."

I shook my head. "Cate, I don't think it's a big deal. My boss, Trudy, is actually trying to encourage me to befriend him."

Cate leaned forward, her voice firm. "Roan is a no-good billionaire playboy who thinks he can have whatever he wants, including you. He's not serious. You're just a fun distraction for him."

"I'm not a distraction," I shot back. "I'm not sleeping with him."

"Did you stay the night at his house?"

"No, I got home late," I said. "I was there taking care of his son. He wasn't even home."

"But you kissed him?"

I could feel my cheeks burning. We did a lot more than kiss. "Yes."

"He's going to break your heart," she sighed. "That man is using you for a piece of ass."

I felt a pang of irritation. "Who hurt you, Cate? Why do you assume to know Roan? Did you get screwed over by someone like him? And am I such a huge loser that he couldn't possibly like me?"

She glared at me, her tone icy. "This isn't about me. I'm just trying to protect you. I've seen Roan at clubs with his friends, surrounded by women. He's not the kind of guy who settles down. You're not going to be the woman that comes in and saves him."

"I'm not trying to save him," I sighed.

"You think because he's smiled at you and fixed your car, he's interested in something long-term. Don't try to deny it. I know you. You are not a serial dater. You get attached. You have a big heart, and you believe people are good. You aren't seeing who he really is under that charming smile. You like his son. It's blinding you to who he is."

"I don't care what he's done before. We can't judge people based on their past. We have to see them for who they are now."

Cate looked at me skeptically. "And how do you know he's a good man? You've spent a little time with him. He's swept you off your feet and made you feel special. Guys like him have an uncanny ability to do that. It isn't fair, but it's just how they operate."

I shook my head. "I don't think he's like that, but I'm willing to give him a chance to show me he isn't. I don't want to live in fear of falling in love or finding someone who might be able to make me happy. I'm tired of being afraid. Besides, I don't think it's anything like that. We've agreed to be friends. I can be friends with him, right?"

"I know you," she said again. "You're more than friends with him. You like him. I'm worried he's going to hurt you. You see the good in people, which is admirable, but I think you might have blinders on when it comes to Roan. You adore his little boy, and I can admit Roan is pretty easy on the eyes. He's charming and wealthy. He makes you feel like a princess right now, but when something new catches his eye, he's going to toss you to the side."

Her words stung. I wanted to believe Roan was different, but Cate's warning gnawed at me. "Maybe you're right," I admitted, feeling deflated. "Maybe I am just easy pickings for him."

Cate's expression softened slightly. "I just don't want to see you get hurt, Alaina. You're better than what a man like him deserves. You deserve to be seen as a serious girlfriend and not just a side piece or a free babysitter when he needs it."

I stood in silence for a moment, contemplating Cate's words. It was true that Roan was wealthy and charming, but I had always had a soft spot for people who needed help. Plus, I genuinely enjoyed being around Roan and his son. He made me feel special and appreciated. I couldn't deny that I felt a connection with him that went beyond friendship.

But Cate was right. I had to be careful. I didn't want to be someone's distraction or someone they only cared about when it was convenient for them. I needed to find a way to balance my feelings for Roan with the need to protect my own heart. The other night proved that.

He got me to the point I would have willingly given myself to him and then stopped it. Was it a test? A game to him? I went through high school and remembered the way the guys would talk about the girls. How far they could get and what the girls were willing to do. Had I fallen victim to that same high school drama?

Cate must have seen the wheels turning in my head because she placed a comforting hand on my arm. "Alaina, if you decide to pursue something with Roan, take it slow and don't let him rush you into anything. If he can't respect you, then he's not worth your time."

"I understand," I said, nodding. "I'll be more cautious and make sure my feelings don't cloud my judgment. Thank you for being honest with me."

Cate sighed, but I could see she was relieved that I had heard her out. "I just want you to be happy, Alaina. But I also want you to be smart and protect your heart."

"I will," I promised. "And if things don't work out with Roan, I won't be devastated. In fact, it's probably for the best. I don't want him to think he has to pull his son out of my classroom or anything like that."

"So, you're already packing?" she said with a sad smile.

"Yes. My goal is to be organized. If I'm not rushing, that might just happen."

We both laughed.

"Moving is never organized," she said, smiling.

"I know, but I'm going to try."

"I'm going to order dinner," she said. "Anything you're craving?"

"Anything sounds good to me," I told her.

"I would help you, but I have a report I need to get done," she said.

I laughed. "I can tell you're very broken up about that."

She wrinkled her nose. "Moving sucks. That's why I hire movers."

"Well, some of us don't have the money to hire movers and I don't have all that much stuff."

Cate shook her head, amused. "You're a glutton for punishment, Alaina. I'll order dinner."

Smiling, I nodded. "Thank you."

She left the room, leaving me with her opinion and advice. I felt the weight of her words as I continued packing. Was Roan really just playing games with me? Was I just another notch on his belt? The doubts Cate had sown in my mind took root. I couldn't shake the feeling that I might be making a huge mistake. I did not want to get my heart broken. But playing it safe was boring. I had played it safe for so long. Roan was exciting. He brought something into my life I couldn't quite explain.