He settled a glare on his friend. “You were going to try to big-brother me. And there can only be one big brother figure.”
Monk laughed harder and turned the SUV toward the base entrance.
Rome settled back in the seat and told himself not to react. Unfortunately, his mind had already returned to the breakfast table, to Stina sitting too quietly beside Jolie and picking at food like she was saving the rest for later.
He could handle threats.
He could handle missions.
He could even handle a mountain full of idiots on skis.
What he didn’t know how to handle was the woman who’d reached for him when she needed comfort and left him feeling like pulling away was the stupidest thing he’d ever done.
* * * * *
Stina caught herself looking toward the hallway for the third time, and annoyance washed over her.
She wasn’t waiting for Rome.
She wasn’t.
But she was fidgeting in her chair, trying to focus on what Jolie was talking about—her sister, her brothers, the college classes she was taking. All important to Stina, but that didn’t stop her gaze from stealing to the kitchen entrance the minute she heard footsteps.
As Rome came into view with Archer right behind him, she jerked her stare away and fixed it on the empty coffee mug in front of her.
Jolie spotted Archer and jumped up, all soft smiles and twinkling eyes as she met him halfway across the kitchen.
Then there was Rome.
He brought cold air inside with him. His dark hair was windblown like he’d wrestled the mountains and won.
He avoided Stina’s gaze, just crossed to the coffeepot and poured a mug. While he was turned away, she took the moment to study the carved lines of his back beneath the black thermal shirt he wore, every move he made controlled.
He looked dark.
Mysterious.
Annoyed.
Which brought her own irritation floating to the surface.
He twisted from the coffeepot and his gaze landed on her. The scar carved through his cheek only made her fingers tingle to touch it.
Heart thudding, she tried to make sense of the emotions spilling into her system. She didn’t drop her gaze, and neither did he.
Rome looked at her like he was waiting for an explosion.
But just like the moment he was finished questioning her, a mask slid over his face, shutting her out. He muttered something to Archer and walked away.
Stina watched him go, her mind whirling over what his problem was and trying to follow the rules she set for herself with her ex-boyfriends—she wouldnottry to fix a man.
Suddenly she realized Jolie was talking to her.
“I need to talk to him.” Before her friend could say more, Stina pushed away from the table and rushed after Rome.
She had to confront him about what happened in that room when she told her story. About how she’d reached for him, seeking a human touch to ground her. And how he’d allowed it—until he didn’t.
She ran into the hall and saw Rome at the end. He turned a corner and disappeared toward their rooms. By the time he reached his door, she caught up to him.
