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“A woman? This is about a woman?” he asks, scrunching up his mouth in disbelief.
“And a house,” I say, shrugging. As if that makes it better.
“Of course it is. Spill.”
“You know the Bennett house, off Surfside?”
Roman nods. “Yeah, heard you were renovating it.”
“I am. Was. Still am, I think. Anyway, the new owner, Elise—”
“Oh shit. You got with her?”
I sigh. “Yes, but even more than that—I really care about her. But her ex came to town with her kids and she flipped out and now Jagger said she’s selling the house. To that scumbag, of all people.”
“Whoa, hang on—” Roman throws his hands up. “There’s a lot to unpack here. She has kids? An ex? What the fuck, Smitty? That’s deep stuff.”
“That’s what she keeps saying. But Rome—it’s different with her. I’m different with her. For the first time in my life, I don’t care about any of that stuff. It’s all details. I know we can make it work, but she doesn’t trust me. Or my judgement.” I huff out a sigh, sinking down into an empty Adirondack.
“Take it for what it’s worth—which probably isn’t much, considering I’m still single. But I’ve dated divorced women before, and it’s probably not what you’re thinking.”
I raise a brow at him. “What?”
“It’s not you she doesn’t trust, Smith. It’s herself. She’s been burned before. She’s gun shy, man. You have to go slow, ease into things.”
“I would if I had the chance. But she left town! What the hell am I supposed to do?”
“Go after her. If she’s worth a dog fight with Jagger Capelli, she’s definitely worth the gas money.”
I laugh at that. “Yeah, Elise is definitely worth gas money. And I need to stop that sale—she cannot sell to that snake. No matter what happens between us.”
“That I agree with, one hundred percent. Who’s the realtor?”
“Kayla. One of Parker’s many exes.”
Roman chuckles. “You worry about Elise. I’ll get Parker to handle Kayla and hold up the sale.”
“Thanks, Rome.”
“Anytime. We Montgomerys have to stick together.” He claps me on the back as I jog to my truck.
If I hurry, I might be able to catch Elise before she gets all the way back to Atlanta.
CHAPTER16
Elise
The drive back to Atlanta feels more like a slow crawl. The pain in Smith’s eyes, the disappointment etched on his face, haunts me.
It’s for the best. He’s better off without you.
Still, my chest aches at the loss, what could have been.
If things were different.
But they’re not. And now I feel more lost than ever.
“Shit!” I cry out, yanking the steering wheel hard and swerving back into my lane from the shoulder.
