LOGINNina’s POV My throat felt completely tight. My mind was screaming at me to lie, to look Roman in the eye and tell him that I hated him, that last night meant nothing. But looking into his dark, intense eyes, the lie got stuck in my throat."I... I can't do this, Roman," I whispered, tears welling up in my eyes. "Please. If you care about me even a little bit, just unlock the door."Roman stared at me, his thumb gently resting against my jawline. "You didn't answer my question, Nina. Say the words. Tell me you don't love me.""It doesn't matter how I feel!" I cried out, my voice breaking as I pulled my face away from his hand. "Amelia loves Damien! Julianna is your fiancé! I won't ruin my sister's family! I won't be the reason everything breaks apart!"A long, heavy silence stretched between us inside the dark SUV. Roman didn't move. He just watched me as a tear finally spilled over my eyelashes and rolled down my cheek.Slowly, Roman pulled his hand back. He reached over and pressed
Nina’s POV Roman kept coughing into his napkin, his chest heaving as his face turned a dark shade of red."Roman! Oh my goodness, take a breath!" Julianna cried out, rushing to hand him a glass of water. "Are you alright?"Damien burst out laughing, clapping his brother hard on the back. "Man, you looked like you saw a ghost! Did the idea of a wedding really hit you that hard?"Roman took the glass with a shaking hand, taking a long, slow sip. He cleared his throat, his raspy voice cutting through the panic as he wiped his lips with the white linen napkin."I'm fine," Roman said smoothly, his voice dropping back into its normal, deep control. "The wine just went down the wrong pipe.""You scared me to death," Julianna breathed, smoothing down her cream silk dress as she sat back down. She turned her bright eyes back to me, smiling again. "So, what do you think, Nina? About being my Best Lady?"My stomach did a violent flip. My mouth opened, but no words came out. I felt like I was dr
Nina’s POVI ran all the way back to my apartment with my lungs burning and my hands shaking so badly I could barely insert my key into the lock.As soon as the door slammed shut behind me, I stripped off my clothes and threw them into the laundry hamper like they were radioactive. I jumped straight into the shower, turning the water up until it was almost scalding hot, scrubbing my skin again and again.What did I do? What on earth did I just do again?I squeezed my eyes shut as memories of last night rushed back into my brain—Roman's dark eyes, his hot breath on my skin, the way he held me, the way I had begged him not to stop. I had betrayed my sister. I had slept with her rich brother-in-law, the man engaged to another woman, the man who had broken my heart three years ago."You are an idiot, Nina," I sobbed silently into the streaming water, pressing my forehead against the damp tiles. "A complete, utter idiot."I had exactly forty-five minutes to pull myself together. Amelia and
Nina’s POVThe room felt like it was holding its breath.Roman hovered over me, his dark eyes locked on mine, his chest rising and falling in sharp, uneven bursts. The golden light from the street outside cut across his face, making him look almost unreal—like something my drunk, aching heart had conjured out of thin air."Tell me to stop right now, Nina," he repeated, his voice so low and rough it scraped against my skin. "Or give me permission."My lips parted, but no sound came out.My whole body was trembling. Not from cold. Not from fear. From three years of running, three years of pretending I didn't still dream about his hands on my waist, his mouth on my neck, the weight of him pressing me into a mattress just like this.I looked up at him—really looked.His jaw was tight, the muscles in his neck corded with restraint. His fingers were curled into the sheets on either side of my head, knuckles white. He was holding himself back, waiting for me to decide.That was the thing abo
Nina’s POVThe moment the screen went black and Amelia’s face vanished, my smile fell like a stone.I set my phone face down on the laminate kitchen counter and stared at my reflection in the dark glass. Amelia’s sweet, bright voice was still echoing in my ears."How was work at Aura last night?"My stomach twisted into a tight, uncomfortable knot. Images from last night flashed through my brain like a bad movie—Roman standing over me in the dimly lit service hallway, the heavy scent of his wood-and-amber cologne, the raw heat in his dark eyes, and Julianna smiling sweetly at Table 4, completely clueless."It was a mistake," I had whispered to him. "It meant nothing.""It did mean nothing," I said aloud to my empty apartment, rubbing my throbbing temples. "He's just an arrogant jerk trying to mess with my head."I took a deep breath, swallowed the lump in my throat, and forced myself to walk over to my bed. I wasn't going to let Roman Blake ruin my life again. I had survived three yea
Amelia's POVI woke up to the soft sound of waves crashing against the rocks far below our cliffside villa in Amalfi.The morning sun was pouring through the huge glass doors, bathing our king-sized canopy bed in warm, golden light. Crisp white linen sheets were tangled around my legs, but the best part was the heavy, warm arm wrapped firmly around my waist.I turned my head slowly on the pillow. Damien was sleeping beside me, his dark eyelashes resting against his cheekbones, his handsome face completely relaxed. Without his sharp suits and corporate tie, he looked so young, so peaceful, and so wildly attractive that my heart did a little flutter.I reached out and softly ran my fingers through his dark, messy hair."If you keep doing that, Mrs. Blake," Damien muttered, his deep voice thick with sleep, "we're never going to get out of this bed."I giggled as his dark eyes blinked open, a lazy, gorgeous smile spreading across his lips."Good morning, handsome," I whispered, leaning in







