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The sound of a phone ringing interrupts us. I look to Sabrina, but she points at Matt. “It must be you.”
He tugs a phone from his suit jacket. “It’s Rome.”
My heart skips a beat at the mention of his name.
With a perk of his brow, and his eyes pinned on me, Matt answers the call. “Hey, you’re never going to guess who I’m standing next to right now.”
I glance at Sabrina, but she’s staring at a blond-haired guy sitting at the end of the bar.
“It’s Bianca.” Matt chuckles. “She threw a drink at me meant for you, so the next time I see you I’m passing that along. Be prepared to get a bucket of ice water in the…”
His voice trails.
“I was with a woman.” He smiles. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning. Spread some goodnight kisses around for me.”
Sabrina and I glance at each other as he ends the call.
“Rome got a good chuckle out of that.” He pats his chest. “The last time someone mistook me for him, they bombarded me with legal talk about heirs and annuities. This was a hell of a lot more interesting than that.”
Sabrina and I laugh in unison.
His gaze drops to his phone when it starts ringing again. He answers it immediately. “Dr. Hawthorne.”
I turn to the side when I feel my phone vibrate in the pocket of my jeans. I slide it out and read the text message that just arrived.
Roman: So you met my double tonight? It sounds like it was memorable.
Smiling, I text him back as Matt continues speaking to someone about an eye injury.
Bianca: You’re much more handsome than he is.
“Did you know he had a twin?” Sabrina shakes her head. “Of course, you didn’t know. I saw how angry you were when you tossed that drink at him.”
I glance at her. “I thought it was Roman.”
“Me too,” she admits. “I’m glad it wasn’t.”
“Me too,” I repeat her words. “I think I might skip the drink and call it a night.”
She reaches down to squeeze my hand. “An old friend is sitting at the bar. I’m going to join him and catch up.”
I look at the handsome man who can’t stop staring at my cousin. “Old friend or old more than a friend?”
“Old college friend,” she clarifies. “I haven’t seen him in years. Make time to catch up with me next week.”
“I will,” I say just as my phone starts ringing.
I glance down to see Roman’s name on the screen. I answer immediately. “Hey.”
“Hey you,” he says in his sexy-as-hell voice. “I’m sorry I’m not there.”
“Me too,” I admit. “Your brother is a dead ringer for you.”
“That’s what I’ve heard,” he jokes.
“I’m going to head home,” I say softly as I glance to where Matt is standing near the bar, still talking on the phone. “I heard your brother tell you to spread some goodnight kisses around.”
He lets out a low chuckle. “That started when we were kids. My mom spread a lot of goodnight kisses around with her brood. There are four of us in total.”
“I hope you’ll save a few of those kisses for me for tomorrow.”
“You know I will,” he growls. “I’ll plant them wherever you want them.”
A shiver runs through me. “I’ll hold you to that.”
“You better.” He lets out a low groan. “Get home safely, Bianca.”
“I will,” I say before I end the call.
I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn to find Matt.
I may not have noticed it at first, but I can tell that he’s not Roman. The way he looks at me is different. The left side of his mouth isn’t quite the same shape as Roman’s when he smiles, as he is now.
“Roman wanted us to meet soon.” He shoves his phone back into his pocket. “You’re incredibly important to him.”
That surprises me. I’m sure it shows in my expression. “Really?”
“He talks about you all the time.”
“All good things, I hope,” I mumble nervously.
He steps closer to me. “I’m glad he found you, Bianca. You’re good to him. He needs that.”
“I need it too,” I admit.
“I’m on call tonight, and there’s a poodle emergency, so I need to run.” He moves to step around me. “I’m sure I’ll be seeing a lot more of you.”
I watch him sprint away, relieved that I didn’t actually see the man I’m falling in love with in another woman’s arms tonight.
Chapter 37
Roman
I toss the keys in my hand on the foyer table and stalk across the open concept apartment until I reach the granite kitchen counter. I drop the tray holding two coffees on it, along with the box containing six cupcakes.
I’m on my way home from Sweet Bluebells, a bakery I’ve been frequenting for years. I’m making this short pit stop because I do so almost every Saturday morning.
“Matthew!” I yell toward the hallway that leads to his bedroom. “Time to rise and shine.”
