Chapter 6

Six

Roman

Once they were outside and walking to the restaurant, Roman let his hand fall away from Sam's back. He watched her as she waved at a few people along the sidewalk. Her smile was warm and genuine, her body loose and carefree—the exact opposite of what he was used to.

He shook his head, angry with himself for comparing her to the women in his life. He and Cathryn had been divorced for over fifteen years; he had been with a few other women through the years, and he had never felt the need to draw comparisons. Then again, it had been a long time since he had taken a woman to dinner or kissed a woman goodnight or even strolled down a sidewalk with someone. Roman was looking for peace, and so far, Sam seemed easy to be around.

Cathryn had held him almost like a prisoner for so long, even after the divorce. Even now, he cared, but he had to make this break away from all of it for his own mental health. Alexander Koenig, friend and psychiatrist—though not Roman's shrink—had urged him to consider a change, a move. Intellectually speaking, Roman knew things would never change. If he hadn't left his home in Missouri, he would be dealing with some kind of mess for Cathryn or Luca right now.

"How long have you lived here?" he asked when she nodded and smiled at yet another couple who strolled by.

"Who says I didn't grow up here?" She quirked an eyebrow at him when she turned her head to look at him.

"Did you?" He shrugged. "Love Beach seems like more of a destination town. Either somewhere to visit or somewhere to move to."

"I've been here a few years," she answered with an easy smile. "I love it. I miss teaching sometimes, but not enough to actually go back to it."

"Never?"

"Maybe kindergarten." She narrowed her eyes in thought. "Then again, even the little kids learn to be sarcastic and mean these days."

"Mmm." He nodded. Luca had been an angel in kindergarten. Her halo had tarnished in first grade and rotted to ash by second grade when Cathryn was pregnant with Damian.

"Do you have kids?"

"Two." He nodded.

"This is the place." She gestured at the door to her left, but Roman would have guessed with the aroma of garlic wafting out the open door.

"You?"

"Have kids?" She laughed. "God, no."

"You don't want kids?"

"No." She led him inside, calling out greetings to patrons and workers alike. Roman felt like he was with someone famous as he followed her to the wait stand.

"But you wanted to teach?"

"I like kids." She shrugged. "Or I used to. But I never wanted my own. I don't want the responsibility. I saw my mom work full time besides raising my sister and me. She never seemed happy. My dad sure didn't make her happy. I don't know. I guess she liked me and Mia, but nothing about our relationship ever made me think I needed to grow up and have my own."

"Married?"

"No." She shook her head and then beamed a beautiful smile at a blond guy who looked like he had probably surfed in, dropped his board, and exchanged his wetsuit for the khaki pants and white shirt he wore. "Hi."

"Sam." The guy grinned. He looked like he might be half Roman's age. Suntanned like a Coppertone kid, eyes bluer than the ocean just outside. He also looked at Sam like he knew her well or wanted to.

"We have a pickup order."

The kid glanced at Roman and gave him a friendly nod.

"Ewing," Roman told him.

"Let me check for you."

"I would suggest a glass of wine while we wait, but." She shrugged. "Nothing you order on this beach will compare to what Vivian has."

"How about a cocktail?" he suggested. "Is that allowed? When you're on the job?"

Sam laughed softly and arched her eyebrows, like she wanted to say something. To Roman's disappointment, she didn't. She only nodded and then finally clarified and said she would drink a cocktail with him.

"What's your poison?"

With a glance at the bar in the back of the building, she dragged her teeth over her lower lip. Roman clenched his teeth together when his dick stirred. No, it didn't stir . It roared to life. He shifted on his feet, glad for the loose fit of his gray shorts. Nowhere to go to hide what he was feeling at the moment.

"What're you having?" She turned her focus back to him as the surfer guy returned to the wait stand with a brown paper bag in hand.

"An Old-Fashioned," he announced as he pulled his wallet from his pocket.

"I'll have the same."

He nodded and asked the surfer for two Old-Fashioneds as he handed his credit card over.

"Can you sit for a bit?" he asked her. "Or do you need to get back right away?"

"I can sit," she answered with a nod, "but let's go outside."