Page 51 of Does He Know?

“His health declined, and I got older. Life just has a way of changing like that, I guess.”

“It’s so peaceful.”

“I wanted to share this place with you.”

I turn on my side and slide my hand up under his shirt. “Thank you.”

He sits up and tears his shirt off, tossing it next to us. I lie down on his chest and relish the feel of his skin against my cheek.

“Thank you for this too.”

“I know you like it when there is nothing between us.” I feel him press a kiss on the top of my head, and the moment is so surreal it brings tears to my eyes.

I’m here with Roman.

We’re together in a way I thought would always just be a fantasy of mine, and it kills me I have to leave. Lifting my head, I study him. He holds my gaze, and when it gets to be too much, I look away. I run my fingers over the ink on his chest. “You have an open spot here,” I say, placing my hand over his heart.

“Yeah, it will probably always stay that way.”

“Why?”

He shrugs. I don’t pry, but it turns out I don’t have to. “This is going to sound crazy, but I want that spot reserved for something or someone that I love.”

I feel a pinch of sadness in my chest because I know I could fall in love with him. Hell, I’m already halfway there. More than halfway if I’m being honest with myself. I have to remind myself that we’re new, and it took us months to get to where we are now. I can’t help but wonder if maybe one day that spot might be mine?

Instead of giving him words, I place a tender kiss on his chest over his heart and lie back down, staring up at the night sky. “It’s beautiful,” I whisper.

“Yeah, you are,” he says, holding me tighter against him.

We spend the next hour just gazing up at the moon and the stars. We don’t talk much, and we keep our hands to ourselves for the most part. We do decide that since we both have to work the next day, to pack up everything and go back to his place. By the time we get there, we fall into bed, exhausted. When I close my eyes, I can still see the starlit sky. His arms are still wrapped around me, and his even breathing tickles my ear.

I hope I never forget the way I feel right now.

Happy.

Loved.

Safe.

ChapterThirteen

Roman

“You two are coming tonight, right?” I hear Emerson ask Lyra and Drake. The three of them have been laughing and cutting up all week. She definitely chose well when it came to picking applicants for the position. They’re both trained well enough that they’ll be fine on their own.

“Forrest mentioned it, but I don’t want to intrude,” Lyra replies.

“The more the merrier. Besides, you’re both a part of the Everlasting Ink family. And, Drake, you need to bring your girlfriend so we can all meet her.”

“Lisa and I will be there,” Drake tells her.

“Perfect. Why don’t you two head out early? I’ll stay and close up with Rome.”

I smile. Her voice is full of innocence and sincerity, but I’m certain she’s hoping to be able to steal a kiss or ten. My girl has been missing me as much as I missed her. Two nights without her lying next to me, and I feel as though I might lose my mind. How I’m going to handle her being away at school is beyond me. I’ve gone twenty-nine years sleeping alone, and a little over a week with Emerson, and I’m ruined.

“Are you sure? It’s your birthday,” Lyra points out.

“Positive. I’ll see you all at the house tonight at seven. You have the address?”

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