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Not wanting to sit in the room alone until Roman gets back, I grab my phone which is almost dead, and my book I haven’t had time to read, then take both with me downstairs. I find the beverage cart Jacqueline mentioned, make myself a cup of tea, and carry it with me into a small room that is set up like a library with a few chairs for lounging. Getting comfortable near a window, I listen to the rain and start to read about a hero who isn’t so much a hero for anyone but the woman he’s falling in love with.
“Elora.”
Startled, I jump and drop my book, my eyes landing on Roman standing in the doorway.
“What happened?” I frown, taking in his hair and his T-shirt, which are soaked.
“I had to walk back.”
“You walked back?” I know it didn’t take us an hour to drive here from the mechanic shop or anything, but the walk had to be at least fifteen minutes, if not longer.
“I couldn’t get a car.” He walks toward me and picks my book up from the floor.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?” His eyes meet mine.
“That you had to walk in the rain after dealing with my van.”
“I’m glad it was me and not you.” He hands me my book, then leans over me, resting his hand on the arm of the chair. “After I shower and change, we can figure out dinner. Do you want to stay down here or come upstairs with me?”
“I’ll come with you.” He nods, unfolding from his bent position, and holds out his hand.
“Did they say anything about the van?” I ask as he pulls me up.
“Just that they’ll call in a few and give us an update after they get the dash off and check out the motor.”
“Hopefully, it will be an easy fix and won’t cost much.” I glance up at him as we walk up the wide stairs and see his jaw clench ever so slightly. Oh no. “Did they already tell you how much it’s going to cost?”
“No, but it shouldn’t be much.”
That’s doubtful since they have to remove the entire dash, and most places charge by the hour.
“You never told me how much this place is a night.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Roman, I want to know so I can pay you back, and I’m paying for my van when it’s time to pick it up.”
“Did you eat something?” he asks, ignoring my comment completely, which is beyond frustrating.
“You do realize I can just look up the price per night for this place online, right?”
“We’ll talk about it when you close on your land.”
“Fine.” I sigh as he opens the door to our room.
“I spoke to a friend of mine, Jace, who lives in San Francisco. He and his wife Penny live there, and they invited us to stay with them when we get into town.” He steps back to let me enter the room before him. “We don’t have to, but I figured it would be a better option than sleeping in the van.”
“Can I meet them first, then decide?” I walk across the room and place my book on the nightstand beside the bed.
“Sure,” he says, distracted, as he lifts his hands up over his head and takes off his wet shirt that was clinging to him.
“How do you know him?” I ask, trying and failing not to stare at his sculpted torso and the tattoos covering his arms when his shirt is off.
He’s beautiful, even the parts of him that are not visible from the outside.
“He’s bought a couple pieces of property in New Y—” His words cut off, and I look up, meeting his gaze and feeling my cheeks heat when I realize he caught me checking him out.
