ROME “Oh. Glad that you showed your ass up here tonight.” Sax stood up to give me a hug. Linden and Kye offered fist-bumps. “So you all are free, huh?” Well, it was Sunday, and I had just sent Carly to her apartment. I joined them at the table at the local restobar a few blocks from the security firm. “Just a beer for me. Thanks,” I told the waitress. “You had dinner? Well, that’s first.” I had the feeling that I was going to be the subject of their joke tonight. “Just a beer, eh,” Kye said. Linden snorted. “I’m full.” “Full, full?” Sax asked in disbelief. I eyed them all, and my gut told me that they knew something more than I did. “What’s with the look and interrogation?” “Guys, he thinks we are questioning him? For someone who can’t or won’t, whatever, don’t wanna tell us that he’s been dating a pretty brunette.” Kye munched on a piece of asparagus louder to piss me off. “What are we? High school? That we should kiss and tell.” “That’s what brothers do, man,” Sax agree

ROME“So, this is your idea of a first romantic date?”“We both know we passed that first, second, third, and so on dates.” I let her fall to the mattress. She wasn’t even settled yet. I followed her and tumbled on top of her. I anchored my elbows on either side of her head. “I took you here. I thought you hadn’t gone fishing.”“You’re right. It was fun.” I took Carly to our lake house. The Langston had it for decades, and it was one of my father’s favorite places.Something lit in her eyes earlier that I knew I’d done something right in my life. She was totally happy, besides the tree I saved and seeing the flowers I planted myself. She was easy to please. Carly was different from any woman I’d ever met. Luxury didn’t seem to impress her. Just simple things made her smile. Because maybe she was used to luxury, and she only wanted a simple life.She met my kiss halfway. She’d been teasing me earlier in the dock, touching me somewhere that we should only be doing that in private. It

ROME It was at the tip of my tongue. But something was holding me. Maybe it was Carly. She wasn’t ready to hear me confessing my professed love to her. Yes. I fell in love with her. I may not have told her yet, but I was more of an action-speaks-louder-than-words kind of guy. I acted it than saying it out loud. I checked the time. It had been more than an hour since she left, and she was supposed to be here by now. I couldn’t wait as I watched her walk into my office door and throw herself into me, saying she enjoyed her time with her aunt. I blew a deep breath. I considered breaking our weekend agreement and inviting Carly to my house after work. My wondering as I stared at the skyline was cut off short by a knock. I knew it was Zee judging by its distinctive tap. “Come in, Zee.” I didn’t even bother looking at him. “Mr. Langston.” Mr. Langston? That caught my attention. I turned to him. “Zee, what is it?” “You have a visitor, sir.” “I’m not expecting anyone at this mome

ROME It wasn’t the dinner that made me anxious. It was after the dinner—the possibility of not seeing Carly again. It was what I wanted for her—to live out there, doing the job she loved. I couldn’t hold that against her. I knew she missed her family and seeing them might change her perspective. Her feelings for me might change, too. There was no guarantee what we had would pan out, considering what kind of people they were and my family business was here. I would never blame Carly if she decided to be with her family and picked up what she had left off. It was who she was, and I would always support her all the way from a thousand miles away. “What’s on your mind?” She squeezed my hand as we rode toward the address of the house her brother had rented. “That I might punch your ex again,” I cracked a joke. She smiled. “You don’t have to waste your strength for him.” “Oh, that was for you,” I proudly said as I arched a brow. “I think I can defend my honor, Langston.” “I have no

CARLY “Come with me. You can take a few days off.” I didn’t want to let him go. I was not ready yet. “Please?” “You have to go and sort things out. And I’m not going anywhere.” He cupped my face and pressed his lips into mine. But it wasn’t enough. I needed him by my side. “But I need you.” I felt like I want to cry again. “I need you too, but you have things that need to be settled and done with your family. This is your chance.” I looked away, tears welling in my eyes. “I can’t convince you, can I?” “You don’t need to convince me. When things get better, the dust has settled, and you don’t have time to come and see me, I will visit you.” “Visit me, huh?” My tears finally fell. “Why do I feel this is a goodbye?” “No, sweetheart. This is just the beginning. I will be waiting for you. None of us is giving up. Do you understand me?” “Yes.” I nodded even if my heart disagreed. “Good. Now go. Call me whenever you can. I’m going to miss you.” He kissed me again, the kind of kiss