Page 130 of Lease to Love

But the gesture felt strangely formal.

Almost... friendly.

Like I was a woman who had done him a favor instead of the woman who had spent the last week wondering if she was about to lose him.

I smiled anyway.

"Thank you, Roman. They're beautiful."

I turned toward the kitchen cabinet and bent to find a vase.

His hand landed on my ass.

I glanced over my shoulder.

He gestured to my ass with both hands. "It's right there, Summer."

I rolled my eyes, fighting a smile as I pulled out the vase.

"You're lucky you're pretty."

I filled the vase with water and arranged the roses while he watched me from the kitchen island.

"So..." I said carefully. "Are you going to tell me what happened?"

"No."

I stopped arranging flowers and turned around.

He was smiling.

"Not now," he clarified. "You deserve a proper thank-you."

He lifted the garment bag.

"We're going out to celebrate."

I groaned.

"Roman, I really don't feel like going out right now. If I have to be around people for more than ten minutes today, I might slap somebody."

What I didn't say was that the thought of sitting across from strangers while my stomach twisted itself into knots sounded like torture.

He just smiled.

"What if I tell you there won't be any people?"

I raised an eyebrow.

"Explain."

"A private celebration." He held out the garment bag. "You. Me. And whatever's in this dress bag."

Damn it.

The man knew exactly how to bribe me.

I took the bag.