Page 26 of Unstable

“Yep.” She beamed up at him. “I keep forgetting we’re married, myself.”

An itchy feeling started between Roman’s shoulder blades, and he shifted restlessly at the talk of marriage. He was worried that someone would call their bluff, and he didn’t want to draw more attention to themselves than necessary. Rina, thank God, had better acting skills than he did, because her eyes shined with glee as she grinned up at him. Pasting on a smile, he awkwardly looped an arm around her shoulders.

“Are you here on your honeymoon?”

“We are.” She stuck out her hand. “I’m Irina, by the way.”

Roman called Rina by her stage name so often that he’d almost forgotten it wasn’t her real name. Now that they were technically married, he supposed he needed to start addressing her by her actual name.

“Donald.” Their driver shook her hand. “That’s wonderful. Congratulations.” He turned to Roman. “You must both be so excited.”

If he only knew. Roman released Rina—Irina, he reminded himself—and held out a hand for the man to shake. “I’m Roman. Nice to meet you.”

He gestured towards their bags. “Do you have everything?”

Roman nodded. “This is it.”

“I’m parked in the upper lot,” Donald said. “It’ll take me just a few moments to get down here if you’d like to wait.”

“We can walk,” Roman immediately offered. Almost as an afterthought, he turned to Irina. “As long as you don’t mind?”

“Not at all.” Her eyes hadn’t stopped moving over the palm trees and tropical plants lining the building outside.

“Would you like me to carry anything?”

Roman waved off Donald’s question. “I’ve got it.”

The older man kept up an easy stream of conversation as he led them to the car, then stowed their bags in the back and climbed inside. “Have you been to Anna Maria Island before?”

Roman shared a quick look with Irina. “No, this is our first time.”

From his right, she piped up, “It’s actually my first time going to the beach.”

“Oh, that’s fantastic,” Donald said. “There are so many wonderful things to do here. Although…” the older man chuckled. “With it being your honeymoon and all, staying in is always good, too.”

Irina grinned. “I hope so.”

Roman rolled his lips together and slid a warning glance her way. She met his gaze with a look of challenge, then turned her attention out the window again, practically pressing her nose to the glass.

As they turned onto the freeway, Irina bombarded Donald with questions that he patiently answered, all the while pointing out local attractions and places of interest. Her head swiveled left and right as she took in every little detail, her lips parted slightly, and Roman couldn’t help but smile at her obvious joy.

“Oh! Look!” Irina placed one hand on Roman’s thigh as she leaned into him, pointing out the window as the Sunshine Skyway Bridge came into view.

“Longest cable-stayed bridge in the world,” Donald boasted from the driver seat.

The heat of Irina’s touch burned Roman’s skin through the fabric of his jeans, but he couldn’t bring himself to move. He lifted his gaze from her hand to the profile of her pretty face as she stared out the window in fascination. He was certain she had no idea what she was doing, and he didn’t want to embarrass her. Ripping his gaze away, he turned his attention outside.

The bridge itself was incredible. In the middle of the five-and-a-half-mile long bridge, the cables rose into two triangles pointing toward the sky, giving it the appearance of two giant sailboats. Irina sucked in a breath, and her fingers tightened on his leg as they started across the bridge. It was a strange sensation, suspended more than a hundred feet over the water with seemingly nothing beneath them for miles.

With nothing but ocean surrounding them, Irina sat back against the seat. Her gaze dropped to her hand in his lap and, finally realizing what she’d done, snatched it away, reaching to fiddle with her purse. Roman missed the feel of her touch as soon as it was gone, and he mentally berated himself for feeling that way.

God, he was such an idiot sometimes. This whole thing was a complete farce, yet here he was, horny as a teenager for a woman who wanted nothing to do with him.

They finished the ride mostly in silence until they finally crossed the bridge that led to the island. Roman watched through the window as they passed several plazas, churches, even a sign for a school, then turned down a side street.

A few blocks later, the white sand of the gulf came into view. From the front of the car, the GPS announced that they’d reached their destination, and Donald pulled into the driveway of a tiny house at the very end of the street.

Roman glanced around as he stepped from the car. The street was lined with palm trees, lending a feel of quiet solitude. Though it was only midafternoon, things seemed calm. He wondered how things would progress over the course of the afternoon and into the evening once kids were out of school and parents were home from work.