Jess’slips parted in a silent gasp. “Oh, shit. You and …” She didn’t dare say hisname. Not evenThorwas appropriate for the moment. “I, um … I don’tknow. Are you seriously asking this question right now?”
Isimply nodded, having no other words to add.
“Well,the Beckhams make it work,” she offered weakly. “I mean, look at David, right?He’s covered in ink and Victoria is classy, and—”
“I’mnot saying there aren’t exceptions to the rule,” I interjected, looking back toher with a heated sigh. “But I’m saying,realistically, how would itlook for me if I’m trying to make connections with people, and my date is blurtingout in the middle of a dinner party that he—I don’t know!—doesn’t like the guyI’m talking to because heleanedinto me.”
Shetipped her head curiously. “Did that—”
Thedoor to the agency opened and I shooed her from the office to see who it was.
“Hi,Jessica,” came Roman’s smooth as silk voice. “Is Tabitha in today?”
Oh,fate. You cruel son of a bitch.
“Goodmorning, Mr. Dolecki. Yeah, she’s right in her office. You can go in.”
Iimagined wiping my entire existence clean in the few seconds it took for Romanto walk from the door to my office, starting from my toes, to the braid drapedover my shoulder. I crossed my legs, straightened my skirt, smoothed my shirtand its ruffled collar, and squared my shoulders. Lastly, I propped my chin onan invisible pedestal, holding my head up high and tensing my features. To lookproper. To look appropriate.
Heappeared in my doorway, crisp tailored suit and perfectly positioned silk tiebetween the lapels of his jacket. It was hot, too hot for a suit, but heappeared cool and collected as though he walked around in a separate world fromthe rest of us. One where the sun shone but it was never too hot. Never too hotfor suits.
“Tabitha.”He said my name the way you would order a dessert. Something that should makeyou feel guilty, but the desire is too big for shame. “Good morning.”
“Roman,”I nodded my chin and extended a hand. “How are you?”
Wenever shook. He simply took my hand and squeezed, holding us together in theair as he said, “I’m great, actually. I have had the pleasure of roaming aroundtown, and I have to be honest—do you mind if I sit?” He gestured toward thechair in front of my desk.
“Oh!Yes, of course. Please,” I urged him, releasing his hand.
Romanwasn’t a big man, but his power radiated from every pore and puffed him up to thepoint of being too large for this office. I wondered about his own office,where I had yet to go. How big must it be, to contain a man like this?
“Thankyou,” he said, finally settled in the seat and crossing an ankle over a knee. “AsI was saying, I’ve found that I absolutely love this town. It’s quaint, with apersonality the city lacks in greatly.”
“Oh,I think Manhattan has plenty of personality,” I disagreed diplomatically.
“Itdoes, if you prefer the raucous type,” he tipped his chin, a sly grin tuggingat the corners of his mouth, “like thatfriendof yours I met on Friday.What was his name?”
Theinsinuation lodged somewhere in my throat. “Ah, you mean Sebastian.”
“Yes.Sebastian.” He nodded, interlacing his fingers and hooking his palms around hisknee. “If I may be so blunt, I was surprised to see someone like you with a manlike him.”
Themoment was fated. It was no coincidence that this would be happening rightafter my emotional night with Sebastian and after my conversation with Jess. Itwas also no coincidence that I would be talking about this with Sebastian’sdirect opposite. The Yin to his Yang. My past and my present, without any clueof which would be my future.
“Well,heismy nephew’s father,” I reasoned, edging my voice with a warning totread lightly.
“Right,”Roman nodded thoughtfully before waving a dismissive hand. “When I was ayounger man, Manhattan was the goal. If I could make it there, I could make itanywhere, as the saying goes, and I did. But I feel …” Tipping his head to theside, he pinched his lips as though considering what to say next, beforedropping his eyes back to mine. “I feel too old for that lifestyle now. Thepartying, the rush-rush-rush, the stress … I know you’re a little younger thanI am, but do you know what I mean?”
Itwas eerie, to say the least. “If I’m being honest, Roman, I’m not entirely surewhat lifestyle is best for me at this point,” I spoke frankly.
Hesmiled with an understanding. “It’s difficult to make a decision that couldeasily have an effect on your entire life, which is why I think I’ve hesitatedfor so long to get out of the city. But then, the Worthington house popped upin my search, and I didn’t even allow myself to overanalyze it, in the way Imight’ve at one point. I just accepted it, you know? It just was.”
Ishuddered, not meaning to, as I blinked several times and struggled to processwhat he just said. The synapses in my brain weren’t clicking. It felt likethese two men from separate worlds were both having the same conversation withme at once. A metaphorical tug of war that I wasn’t sure anybody was trulymeant to win.
“Wasthere a reason you came in here today?” I asked, not intending to sound soagitated and impatient.
“Well,actually, I wanted to ask you to dinner, before I head back to the city.”
“Dinner?”I repeated. “To discuss business?”
