They were in the cafe well over two hours. Except for the occasional trips to the restroom, Roman and Imani showed no interest in wanting to leave when they finished lunch.
“Roman? May I ask you something?”
“Anything you want.”
“Will you answer?”
“Always.”
The response caused her heart to lurch straight to her throat. She didn’t know Roman Tesano well, but she’d already determined that he was direct and he was intense. The qualities should have disquieted her, but they beckoned.
“How old are you?”
“Eighteen. My brothers brought me here to celebrate. How old are you?” He asked, though he’d already overheard her telling her brother.
“Still a few months away from eighteen,” she chewed thoughtfully on a fry. “Excuse me for saying, but you don’t act eighteen.”
“That a compliment, princess?”
“Yes! I-I mean, you look-” Unbelievable. “Eighteen, but you just seem older. Have I...um, offended you? I apologize if I have.”
“You didn’t,” Roman said around the bite he’d taken of the monstrous burger. “Kids who grow up like I did always seem older.”
“What does that mean? Grow up like I did?”
Roman swallowed, nodding in understanding of her confusion. “I was a city kid. Me and my brothers went to school with kids who didn’t have nearly the money my dad did. When we moved someplace my mom thought was more suitable, my dad wanted us to stay in our same schools. That meant learning to get around in the city, traveling to and from home-a real headache. Dangerous even, but most of us made really good friends out of it. I’m glad our dad made us stay.”
“You wouldn’t be who you are otherwise, would you?”
“I hope you think that’s a good thing?”
“I do.” Her tone was quiet, her eyes holding his for a long time.
Roman was first to acknowledge the connection. “Imani,” her name on his tongue sounded like he was in some kind of exquisite torture.
Imani made herself look away, ending the potent tug at work between them.
“My turn to ask a question,” he took another bite of the burger and spoke around it. “What’d you mean about your mom and aunts to blame for you not wanting to marry Nassor?”
“You’re a very good listener, Mr. Tesano.”
“When I care about who’s speaking? Yes.”
She refused to be tugged back into the power of his unfathomable stare again. “My parents were promised,” she said. “They were married at thirteen, they’d never met each other until then. Love happened when they first saw each other. They were fast friends-all they could be until the marriage could be consummated when they were fifteen.”
“Wow,” Roman paused before taking another bite of his burger.
“Then there were my aunts- they’ve all known my uncles since forever,” she rested back on the booth, abandoning the rest of her food. “All of these people are happily married-my parents met the day they married, my aunts and uncles have a lifetime of knowing each other...I’ve been courted by boys I’ve never met and ones I’ve known all my life. Boys like Kapango Nassor. I’ve never felt anything that feels like the love they all talk about. When he kissed me last night, I didn’t even feel the desire they say can come long before love. What does that mean, Roman?”
“Nothing,” he captured her hands then and squeezed. “It means nothing, says nothing negative about you. If anything, it means those guys aren’t meant for you.”
She nodded, accepting his words as valid.
Roman steeled himself from saying more, saying things it was neither the time or place for. “Let’s get you back to your family, okay? The entire hotel is probably looking for you by now.”
“Yes,” Imani said, but made no effort to move. “Thank you Roman. I’m sure there were many other things you could have done today. I’m glad you spared me your time.”
He shook his head, studying his hands on hers. “No need to thank me for that.” He shook his head again as though he were trying to ward of whatever effect she had over him. He pushed off the seat. “Let’s get you back,” he grinned. “Can’t have you traipsing through this place unescorted after being gone all day. I don’t care what your brothers have to say about it, either.”
She laughed. “They won’t say a thing, since I won’t be traipsing through the hotel. Not exactly.”
Roman looked confused. Imani grabbed his hand.
“Come with me,” she said.
~~~
By the time they’d exited an emergency stairwell, Roman wore a scowl that was well and truly set.
“How often have you done this?” He asked once they’d been walking a back corridor for close to a minute.
Imani; feeling accomplished, sighed approvingly. “I had some of the housekeeping staff show me their routes. They come in handy when I need room to breathe. I can use the service elevator down here and take it wherever I want even back to the penthouse floor.”
“So needing room to breathe is more important than your safety?”
Imani’s head swiveled suddenly toward Roman and she stumbled to a stop. The disapproval had been clear on his voice. “I’ve been perfectly safe, Roman. The staff are nice people.”
“And why do you think that is?” He saw her bristle over his question and celebrated the reaction, as the anger made her dark eyes flare.
