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CARA’S APARTMENT FELT GRAY. EMPTY. Lifeless.
Nothing about the place had changed, so why did she feel like a stranger in her own place?
This apartment had been home for over a year, yet it felt nothing like home. She settled on the couch in the early afternoon light. She didn’t have to be at work for several hours, and she should maybe take a nap. Catch up on missed sleep from last night when she’d been restless, her mind on Roman and Mia.
Staying one more night in Prosper after they’d left had been a mistake. She’d thought she’d reconnected to some of her hometown roots while visiting, but after they’d left, she realized it was just Roman and Mia, not Prosper, that had her absolutely charmed.
She missed them. Both.
Cara sighed. She needed a distraction, so she opened her laptop and began to google kids’ cooking classes. It was an idea that had started when teaching Mia a few things in the kitchen back in Wyoming. Cara had been surprised at how fun it was to teach her, and her enthusiasm had been contagious.
Were there kids’ cooking classes already offered in her area? Or should she start something up? Several links came up, but when Cara clicked on them, they looked like summer programs. Older ones, of course. One was at a community center. Another was at a school. Another was at a grocery store—interesting. They were all too far away for Cara to consider if she wanted to apply to be a part of them.
Besides, she kind of wanted to do her own thing. Create her own menu. She glanced about her place. Her apartment kitchen would be too small. Cara released a sigh. Maybe it would be too much to take on. Her job was nearly full-time anyway.
Distracted again, she pulled out her phone even though it hadn’t chimed with a text.
Roman had texted her after they arrived back in Wyoming. She’d written that she was glad they’d landed safely. He’d thanked her again. And that was the last text from him. She’d said she was happy to chat anytime about planning a rendezvous. But he hadn’t replied to that.
Should she be worried? Should she reach out to him again? Not now, of course. He was probably working, and Mia was probably hanging out with Lila or Thayne. Cara smiled as she thought of the pair. They were good people.
Her mind returned to the day before. Talking to Roman. Kissing him.
How they’d worked things out with Mia with promises to get together again. But had that been too much in the moment? Would Roman change his mind now that he was back to his regular routine? Would he see any reason to change anything up?
Cara stood from the couch and walked to her balcony. Stepping out onto it, she breathed in the warm air. Her reality had shifted once again. Had what happened between her and Roman De Marco been genuine?
She hated this waiting . . . and that she felt like she had to wait for him to text or call her, since she’d been the last one to send a text. Would it really be so terrible to call him? Right now?
She pulled out her phone and scrolled through the texts. It would be better to know if she was just being insecure about all this. Was everything fine and she just needed to learn that she was crushing on a very busy man who was also a single dad?
Cara called his number, knowing it would go to voicemail. She hadn’t prepared what to say . . .
You’ve reached Roman De Marco. Leave a message, and I’ll return your call as soon as possible.
Just hearing the deep rumble of his voice brought back all the butterflies again. “Hey, Roman. I’m back in Newport. You’re probably swamped right now, but I’ll be heading into work around five, so maybe we can catch up before then. Or maybe not. Uh, I’ll try later.” She hung up before her message got weirder.
She should turn off her phone and try to take a nap.
Heading back inside, she changed into yoga pants and a T-shirt. She set Roman’s number on emergency bypass, then turned the phone on silent. She’d be alerted if he called or texted. Otherwise, she could sleep.
She closed her blinds in her bedroom, blocking out the afternoon sun, then climbed into bed. Again, she checked her phone. Made sure her contact for Roman was saved to emergency bypass. Finally, she could sleep.
Somehow she slept, and when she woke up almost three hours later, she couldn’t believe how long she’d been out. She grabbed her phone. Nothing from Roman. She tried not to feel disappointment, but it rushed through her like a high-speed train.
Finally, she stacked up her pillows and leaned against them, then called her brother.
Holt answered on the second ring. “Hey, how was your flight?”
“Fine,” Cara said. “Uneventful, in any case. I texted Mom about landing, and she told me to call her when I was settled. Is anything up? Or is she just digging for information?”
“I don’t know,” Holt said. “Lane’s been filling in at the ranch today. I’m still on a job out of town.”
“Oh, how’s that going?”
“Just have to get the horse cleared by the vet for travel before loading him up,” Holt said.
“The horse is that bad?”
