Page 59 of Lease to Love

Damn it.

Roman excused himself from the conversation and crossed the room towards me. He moved quietly, without preamble, like he did everything else.

When he reached me, he ordered himself a drink and leaned against the bar.

"That was David McMillan," he said, leaning closer so I could hear him over the music. "I've been trying to get a meeting with him for a year and a half. Couldn't even get past his secretary."

I smiled. Roman looked at me.

"He just agreed to let me buy him lunch Monday."

I nodded. "Of course he did."

Roman's eyebrows lifted.

"To me, that’s Uncle Dave.” I shrugged. “He went to high school with my mama and my Aunt Sage. Used to give all the kids money for good report cards. A dollar for every B. Five for every A."

He smiled. "And how much did you make?"

"On my best report card, I walked away with a whole seven dollars. I was not an academic child. I was a creative one."

He laughed, and I smiled into my glass before he gave me that look again. The assessing one.

"They like you," he said.

"They love me." I corrected him without thinking as I finished my drink. "In case you haven't noticed, I'm extremely lovable."

I set the glass down.

Something shifted in his expression.

"Yeah," he said. "You are."

Flat. Simple. Completely without sarcasm or bite of any kind.

And there was something in his eyes that made my stomach turn over again… Respect. Maybe even admiration. And something else. Something I didn't want to name because naming things had a way of making them real.

The emcee stepped onto the stage and tapped the microphone, saving me from having to figure it out.

The room quieted, the final speech was made, and people applauded before the room dissolved back into hugs and goodbyes.

I was halfway through promising Miss Janice that I'd come by to see her garden next Saturday when Roman's arm slipped around my waist from behind.

His chest settled lightly against my back.

"Sunny, we gotta have you back out here more often," Miss Janice said, then she looked at Roman. "Try to make sure she doesn't work too hard, hm?"

I glanced over my shoulder. His chin was almost against my temple and his smile was warm as he said, “I’ll do my best.”

I was still trying to figure out what to do with the warmth of him when somebody lifted a phone.

"Y'all mind if I get a picture? This is going on the block association Instagram."

Roman answered before I could.

"Of course not." Then he looked down at me. "Do you, Sunshine?"

That tone. It was the same tone he'd used on the live with Ayo.