Chapter Four

Chapter Four

The night had moved on.

What started as awkward introductions and a friendly drink had somehow turned into hours of easy conversation.

The drinks Roman bought had arrived.

Harper and Claire had eventually returned from their suspiciously long trip to the bathroom, both looking far too pleased with themselves.

And Daisy had spent most of the evening pretending she wasn't enjoying Roman's company.

Failing miserably.

The bar buzzed around them with laughter and music while the group slowly grew smaller as the night went on.

One by one, their friends headed home.

Some had babysitters waiting. Others had husbands expecting them. A few simply admitted they were too old to stay out until two in the morning.

Daisy laughed more that night than she had in months.

Maybe longer.

Roman made it easy.

Conversation never felt forced.

There were no awkward questions.

No interviews disguised as small talk.

No discussions about careers.

In fact, they never spoke about work at all.

Daisy didn't know what Roman did for a living.

Roman didn't know Daisy was a doctor.

For once, she wasn't Dr. Daisy Miller.

She was simply Daisy.

And she liked that.

A lot.

Across the table, Harper noticed everything.

The smiles. The laughter. The way Daisy's eyes searched for Roman whenever he stepped away.

Her sister looked unbearably smug.

Daisy ignored her.

By midnight only a handful of them remained.

By one o'clock, even fewer.

Eventually Harper checked her phone and sighed dramatically.

"I should go."

Daisy looked surprised.

"So soon?"

Harper pointed at her.

"You're having fun."

Daisy immediately looked offended.

"I always have fun."

"No."

Roman laughed quietly into his drink.

Traitor.

Harper stood and grabbed her bag.

"Play date tomorrow morning."

"With the kids?"

"Unfortunately."

Roman smiled.

"Nice meeting you."

"You too."

Harper looked between Roman and Daisy.

Then smiled knowingly.

A smile Daisy deeply distrusted.

"Behave yourselves."

"Harper."

"I'm leaving."

And then she was gone.

Just like that.

Leaving Daisy alone with Roman.

Again.

The city outside had grown quieter by then.

The crowd inside the bar thinner.

The atmosphere softer somehow.

Roman looked toward her.

"You want another drink?"

Daisy smiled.

"Probably not."

"Smart."

"Rare, I know."

Roman laughed.

God, she liked that laugh.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Eventually they left together.

The warm Manhattan night wrapped around them as they stepped onto the street.

For a while they simply walked.

Talking.

Laughing.

Neither of them ready for the evening to end.

Roman offered to take her home.

Daisy should have said yes.

She should have gone back to her apartment.

Gone to bed.

Forgotten about him.

Instead...

She didn't.

One conversation became another.

One smile became another.

And somehow they ended up back at Roman's penthouse overlooking Manhattan.

The view was breathtaking.

Floor-to-ceiling windows. City lights stretching endlessly into the distance.

Everything about the apartment suggested success.

But Roman never once tried to impress her with it.

There was no arrogance.

No showing off.

Just him.

And Daisy.

The attraction they'd both been fighting all evening finally became impossible to ignore.

One kiss became another.

Then another.

And before either of them could think better of it—

they stopped trying.

The night that followed was passionate.

Intense.

Unexpected.

For the first time in years, Daisy allowed herself to simply exist in the moment.

No work.

No responsibilities.

No future.

Just Roman.

Just the feeling of being wanted.

Hours later, sometime before sunrise, Daisy woke first.

The apartment was silent.

Roman slept peacefully beside her.

For a long moment she simply looked at him.

The strong jaw.

The dark hair falling slightly across his forehead.

The peaceful expression she hadn't seen all evening.

He looked younger asleep.

Softer.

And somehow that made leaving even harder.

Because somewhere between the drinks, the laughter, and the hours they'd spent talking, Daisy had started to like him.

More than she should.

More than was sensible.

Reality slowly crept back in.

The complications.

The possibilities.

The fact she knew almost nothing about him.

Fear settled quietly in her chest.

Staying suddenly felt far more frightening than leaving.

So carefully, she slipped from the bed.

Gathered her clothes.

Dressed quietly.

One last glance toward Roman.

Then she walked out.

The elevator ride down felt surreal.

The cool morning air hit her face as she stepped onto the street.

New York was just beginning to wake.

The city unaware that something inside Daisy felt different.

She climbed into a taxi.

And by the time Roman Moretti woke later that morning—

Daisy Miller was gone. ❤️