Love Found Me (A City Love Novel, Book 1) (27 page)

She liked the way the words rolled from his tongue, as if he'd already gotten used to the idea of working together. She knew he was thinking
marriage
but she had no idea this soon.

Danielle pointed her finger into his chest, "Now, you do realize that us working together means we'll be spending a lot of time side-by-side." He was smiling as she'd said, "Lots of sleeping late, breakfasts in bed..." Her finger slid down his chest, fanning out over his abs when she said, "All of those late hours having an excuse to, well, you know--"

She nestled her head in his chest, as she said, "You'll just have to get used to
all
of that."

Now isn't that a shame
. She muttered, a second later.

Danielle arched a brow at Roman's polished suave, taking in his sleek black attire tied in an accent of amethyst. Her eyes were on him. Steady and intense. And his eyes were on her as he held her in the comfort of his warmth, releasing a similar sentiment.

"And I'll just have to get used to falling asleep in your arms, every single night... nestling next to the love of my life," he said.

Her head was still nestled against his chest when she looked up at him and said, "You're the one for me Roman. You've made me so happy." Her green eyes lit a twinkle to his subtle dimple.

Smoothing up and down his shirt, she'd felt every tendon of his muscle inflate against her palm, while he caressed her cheek and she nestled deeper in his tenderness.

Danielle slid her hand over his, pressing her warmth into his flesh. But then, she felt his hand shift as if he was going to fold her completely in his arms. As her hand moved from his, he slid his wrist from his sleeve to expose his watch glimmering the nearing of the hour.

Drifting his gaze to the terrace, he found his focus preoccupied just before he'd jolted his attention back to her gleaming eyes. It had been nearly an hour now when he suddenly said, "Now's just about the perfect time."

Was it essentially spot on that his passion could drive him towards the truth he'd been hiding from-- And the same truth that once had a man thinking and reacting in a way other than he truly was?

Despite the romance of the afternoon bowing towards evening, there'd first be a small matter he'd have to address. A man could only go so far without clearing up a few things saddling his chest.

Roman lifted her from his lap and held out a hand to her. Danielle's expression quickly shifted towards quizzical, the moment her heels tipped to the floor. He'd just grabbed the bottle of bubbly still chilling on ice, when she said, "Oh my God... What are you doing Roman, where are you taking me?"

She was blushing, grinning from ear to ear, a smile of pure pleasure glowed her features. As if she hadn't known what was coming.

The intoxicating fragrance of a summer garden leapt from the portico in wafting spurts, as his hand glided her onward with the champagne and glasses sweeping against his thigh. Moving steadily toward the floral bouquet calling.

Standing at the entryway, they could already feel the breeze the instant it flew his tie up over his shoulder when he opened the door. He smoothed the silky amethyst back into place before he'd said, "I had to run across town to find something to brighten things up a bit," he gestured toward the patio, "I hope you like it." Just before he slid the door shut behind him.

Roman placed the bottle and glasses on a small wrought iron table, while Danielle stood, taking in every delightful, breathtaking inch of the terrace. And then he moved behind her, slowly folding his arms around her waist.

The beauty was mesmerizing-- blissfully majestic and serene. Pink peony, amethyst and ivory, laced silvery urns of oleander out of season, with every petal reaching its hand toward the sun by the minute. Winter might have dulled urban senses, but nature certainly felt the warmth up here.

Danielle pulled out of his arms and looked around. Circling the terrace she said, "This is absolutely amazing."

"This is so--" tears welled her eyes, the second her fingertips feathered the delicate layers of pink peony. Her blush deepened in surprise.

It seemed like less than twenty-four hours ago since the yacht had spun another angle of super luxury, but looking at this terrace, indeed proved to be quite its rival.

It was an ample space for a loft high above SoHo's chic center. Floor-to-ceiling windows were the eyes to an impressive panorama that brought indoor luxury to outdoor private living. Chaise lounges and container gardens made the outside feel like home. Premium comfort added to its special nature. It was absolutely stunning.

Even so, the terrace was blissfully private, except for Manhattan's lofty silhouette staring back at her, a horizon of golden amber streaked in bright rose. The setting was perfect for an unforgettable romantic evening.

"Where'd you, I mean how'd you ever--" Danielle was totally mesmerized and streamed a grin from ear to ear, barely parting the words of an ambience that had so clearly made her speechless.

The air smelled so fragrant, blooms of pink petals bursting large clusters alongside bright purple flowers and emerald vines that were a splitting image of her eyes.

She inhaled deeply, intoxicated by the rampant fragrance swirling a winter terrace veiled in summer. Danielle wouldn't have believed she was high atop a city terrace surrounded in the heart of winter so beautiful.

Still feathering the petals between her fingers, her eyes filled with breathtaking delight as she said, "Reminiscent of the day we first met." She'd quickly spun a vision of the rosy petals softening against pillowed silk.

Roman moved toward her slowly, watching her beauty mesmerized akin to the flower sweeping against her silken skin. His hand tapered her back as he pressed the words against her lips, "You're so beautiful."

Nearly a heartbeat later, his hand left her back for a moment as he angled his watch toward him. Clocking the seconds, Roman kept his eye on the dial ticking onward.
Three. Two. One...

"Danielle, this is the exact moment, nearly to the second that I first kissed you. Remember that day, " he gestured back inside, "That day on the bench at the computer. I was so in love with you. Danielle, you just don't know how badly I wanted to take you in my arms and never let you go." 

As his arms enfolded her again, he could feel her quiver when his warmth tightened against her flesh. Roman whispered against her ear, "I wanted to make this moment something special. A day we'd both never forget."

Such warmth made her feel like she could've stayed out there on the terrace for hours. Especially in his arms that she'd never wanted to leave hers.

Danielle pressed up on her peep toe sling backs, shifting slightly in his arms, "I love it. I absolutely love everything
and I love you
," she said softly.

"So tell me more about Jules and Jules. What'd you have in mind?" she asked.

"What I have in mind is... Us. Together. Forever. I don't ever want to spend another day without you my love." Every word he mouthed sounded like a sensual groan of power. Her eyes widened as he took her hand in his and kissed it once before he'd rubbed his thumb sensuously into her palm. And then he kissed into her hand again that had by now formed a layer of spiced clove.

As his taste pressed into her lips the same spicy clove, her soul ascended another height of intense awakening.

Roman gestured her to sit on the cushioned wrought iron lounge. Smoothing the skirt of her silken dress, she sat down. And then he sat beside her as they both relaxed on the soft textured cushion.

Danielle wasn't even close to realizing he'd shielded his love for her-- for far more than a commitment to covert missions. He never wore his heart on his sleeve within reason.

His head was bowed toward his lap for a quick second before he'd turned his gaze to the sunset fading across the skies. But just then, the sudden horn blaring fueled his words that instant. He could feel himself spinning off in another direction. "Danielle, I have to speak from my heart. Honey, just bare with me."

Roman took a deep breath as he'd turned to face her and said, "All these years, I'd been running away from love, worried about what I'd find. I kept trying to tell myself that I didn't need anyone... that it was best to avoid--
what I thought was agony
-- at all costs.“

“I kept my heart from loving. I kept my heart from getting close to
any woman
. That's really the reason I kept pulling back. My heart knew what was happening. But, I just-- I was still in shock, about my parents. After what happened with my dad, that whole thing about him getting screwed over financially caused he and my mom to split after forty years."

"They both just couldn't survive the ordeal. It was just chaos nonstop to the point where their marriage just fell apart," Roman said. Danielle grabbed his hand after she'd threaded her fingers through his hair in a tender caress. "You know, it's tough to see the people you love go through that kind of hurt and pain."

And then after a short pause, her hand tightened to his just before he'd continued, "I never could have imagined them separated. Especially after all those years. You know, it still seems unreal. I've lost enough sleep over it." He swallowed slowly as he glanced down at her hand tightened to his.

"Sometimes, I still just can't believe it," he added.

She threaded her fingers through his soft, dark hair for several intense moments.

Oh my god
, she murmured.
The photograph.
  Her whispered words reminded her of the unforgettable image that adorned her guestroom.

"The young man and woman in the photograph--from the desk in the guestroom--they're your parents," Danielle said. Roman simply nodded as Danielle extended her hand, enfolding her warmth over his again. "God, I should've known that all this time you were just... I mean... I'd been so wrapped up in everything..."

She swallowed, staring down at a coiled vine bouncing against the lip of a potted container. Her focus drifted up while she said, "I hadn't once thought about much of anything but my own feelings. I assumed too many things that led to a whole bunch of misunderstandings."

"But that's all over and done now," she added.

The innocence of her words radiated the light of her guileless eyes, as he'd shifted a glance to the coral sky streaming a different scene by the second.

"That was all I'd ever known--my parents
happy
--and
together
." He'd paused, realizing he'd bottled his emotions far too long. "That photograph's one of the last memories of that kind of happiness."

"I guess, my heart could get past it," he swallowed before he said, "All that time, I was worried about making the same mistakes they did. I want to get it right the
first time
."

Her hand roved down the nape of his neck to his shoulders, as he continued, "I used to shun the idea of having any serious relationship. I only wanted what I could easily walk away from-- no strings attached. I never wanted to get too deep, knowing my heart wasn't there... I mean, for the right woman." 

Roman swept her hand to his lips and kissed it before saying, "But this time, I've found the right woman who's made me a much better man."

Roman couldn't get over the beauty that enfolded Danielle inside and out. Unlike many of the woman he'd dated. Commitment played opposite having a good time, and she could've guess which side was winning. That was until later, the side that played for keeps touched his heart to want forever from now on.

But that's all it was. Just a lonely, lonely life of being afraid to love-- being afraid to take a chance-- Searching and continuing to come up with nothing-- and with no
real
love worth having.

As Roman held her hand to his chest, his gentleness didn't preclude his emotions. He was honest, despite the fact that he knew what she had to be thinking. Sunset was already on the cusp of another hour and there was still a matter of importance he had yet to get to.

"Ever since I saw you. Ever since that day in the garage I couldn't get you off my mind. I didn't know what I wanted then. But I know now. I want you. No one. Nothing else. But you, Danielle Prentiss." His vow welled a tear to her eyes.