It had felt that way to him. He had to consider the fact that they could click, could have an amazing connection, and yet want such different things that they couldn’t work.
“I think this is about more than liking a woman. I know you’ve changed a lot in the last year. Was it because of her?”
He sighed. “I like her. That’s all. And maybe I’m finally growing up. Maybe watching my sister and brother get married and settle down made me think.”
“Oh, honey, Remy’s right. You do have a thing for her.”
He sighed in frustration. “I just told you I didn’t.”
“Yes, but I know you lie to me a lot. You don’t talk to me about a lot of the things you want because you don’t think you honestly deserve them,” she said quietly. “Sweetie, you should talk to me. I can tell you what an amazing man you’ve become. Maybe if I talk to your deputy, she’ll see it, too.”
That nearly made his heart stop. “Absolutely not. That is the last thing I need. Like I said, it’s a favor for a friend, and we’ll go back to normal at the end of the week. I’m asking you not to get involved.”
“How uninvolved do you want me to be?” she asked. “Because I might know things. But if you don’t want me involved, I can keep it all to myself.”
His mother was tuned in to the gossip mill that flowed through Papillon. If she knew something, he might as well know it, too. “What have you got?”
“Well, I happen to know that Roxie’s parents aren’t merely here for her birthday. You should know that Seraphi-na heard her parents talking and she thinks they’ve got some plans up their sleeves. They might be smiling, but they don’t like the fact that Roxanne isn’t in New York anymore.”
“Sera’s been eavesdropping?” He hadn’t even thought about the fact that Sera was literally Roxie’s parents’ landlord for the week. She would have seen a bunch of things no one else would. They’d rented out all five rooms at the B and B despite the fact that they should only need two. Or perhaps three, since he’d been told the previous night that Shawna required extra closet space and apparently Brian snored, so she liked to sleep by herself. All of which would change after they got married, according to Pamela.
“Of course not. She would never do that, but she had been almost ready to serve breakfast when she heard something that made her stop. Just out of sight. And wait there until they were done talking. That’s nothing more than proper hospitality.”
Sera could be nosy, but this time it might work to his advantage. “She heard anything else? Anything I should know?”
“Her parents are planning a surprise for her. I don’t know what it is, but they’re flying it in from New York,” his mother confided. “According to Sera, they talk a lot about the upcoming wedding and how they want Roxie back home before it happens.”
She wanted to go home. He wasn’t going to be able to keep her.
The only question was how to distance himself.
Or if he should take whatever time he had with her.
The bedroom door came open and she was standing there. She was in pajama bottoms and a tank top, her hair piled on the top of her head, and all he wanted to do was sink his fingers into all that soft stuff and see her the way no one else got to.
Wasn’t he the guy who lived day to day? Hadn’t he learned that was all the universe had for him? Why was he even hesitating? She wanted him for the week? Well, she could have him.
And he could have her.
“Mom, I need to go.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to talk about—”
He hung up and turned the phone off before putting it on the nightstand. He stared at her for a moment, taking her in. She was so gorgeous, and he loved seeing her out of uniform. “Good morning, Roxanne.”
A slight pink stained her cheeks, letting him know she wasn’t unaffected by his presence. “I made some breakfast. Don’t be too impressed. It’s bacon and frozen waffles. I haven’t toasted them yet. Are you hungry?”
Such a silly question. He was always hungry around her. So damn hungry. “Come here.”
She took a deep breath and her gaze held his. “I thought you were mad at me.”
“There’s nothing to be mad about, baby. You don’t want the same things I do. That doesn’t mean we can’t find a short-term compromise. I believe you said something about being together for the week.”
She moved to him. Her bare feet crossed the carpet until they were between his. Such small feet, and he loved the pink polish on her toes. “I don’t know, Zep. We should talk about this. I don’t want to hurt you.”