“But?”
“But the sheriff just came in to let us know they closed the roads for the night and won’t be reopening them until tomorrow afternoon, if they can get them cleared in time.”
“Dina,” I snap, glaring at Roman when he appears and slides into the small square space, now suffocating me with his divine cologne, mixed with his natural, piney, spicy scent.
I close my eyes, so I don’t have to stare at him stare at me.
My cousin laughs lightly. “I’m standing by the elevator, see you in a sec.”
Frustrated, I sigh and shove my phone back into my clutch, flinching when warm palms touch my frozen cheeks.
My eyes fly to Roman’s.
“You stayed outside too long.” Worry settles over his forehead, his fingers spanning wider to offer more warmth.
“How did you know I was outside?”
“Why ask a question you know the answer to?”
Because he was watching me all night but didn’t impose.
Because he was worried.
Because he waited…
“Why did you wait?”
He turns our bodies so we’re facing each other, and his other hand rises to match his right on my cheek. “You know why, Noel.” His tone is too gentle, too broken, like it’s spoken from a throat healing from a thousand cuts.
A sob threatens to escape my own, but I’m saved by the ding of the door, and I wrench myself away from him, rushing out and coming to a quick halt at the sight of Dina.
Her eyes widen as she glances from me to the man beside me—he just keeps placing himself right there.
“Um—”
“What’s going on?” I rush.
Please distract me.
“So, we have a teeny, tiny problem that’s not really our problem, but knowing you, you will make it our problem, and really, you should because it’s—”
“Dina,” Roman calmly interrupts her rambling.
“So, like I told you on the phone, the roads are closed until tomorrow sometime.” She looks to me. “And tomorrow, um…” She chews her lip, eyes flashing to Roman briefly.
“The point,” I urge her to continue, aware dark eyes have sliced my way and fully intent on ignoring said eyes.
“Two families were on their way home from a holiday party and got stuck on the road…”
My face falls. “And we’re sold out.”
Dina nods. “I thought maybe they could just hang out in the lobby or lounge, and they said that was more than enough, but they have kids, and well, tomorrow is… anyway, I haven’t said anything to them yet, but I already had Maggie go pack my things. She’s taking my bags to her room. Housekeeping is in there getting it ready, so that covers one, but mine’s a single bed, so even if they wanted, they can’t all squeeze in there.”
“Okay.” I nod. “Okay, yeah, thank you for that. So, no-brainer. Give the others mine. I can share with you guys.”
“Absolutely not.”
I ignore the protest of the man at my side and begin backward steps to the elevator. “Send housekeeping, and I’ll go pack—”
“They have five kids,” Dina rushes.
My feet halt. “Shit.”
My room, while a suite, is a single-bed suite, the majority of the space taken up by its theme, drowning you in the memory of choice.
“No problem,” Roman quips, and we look at one another. “They can have my suite, and I will share yours.”
Panic prickles along my skin, my hackles rising. “Absolutely fucking not!”
His glare is sharp, head yanking back as hurt burns behind his deep, dark eyes.
“What… room do you have, Roman?” Dina cautiously asks.
My head snaps her way. “He is not… no.”
I expect him to say he picked Super Bowl or Campus Rush, utterly surprised when he says, “Christmas Day. It will be perfect for the children.”
It’s as if hands have wrapped tight around my throat, squeezing, harder and harder, until I’m turning blue, seconds from fainting, but I manage to cough through it, swiftly spinning and clamping my eyes closed. The hand still holding my wineglass is numb, but I manage to bring it to my lips, finishing the full glass in a single swallow.
“No.” My voice is thick with a rasp, so I clear my throat and try again, facing the pair. “No. Give them your room. You can store your things in bag check and lock up the library as your space for the evening. I doubt anyone will make their way over before you’re up tomorrow as it is. The couches in there are cozy and large, or we can bring a rollaway in.” I give a curt nod, settling the issue.
“Forget it then.”
I look to Roman. “What?”
“I’m with you, or I’m in my room.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
His stance widens, and he lifts his chin, speaking to Dina. “The library will be plenty of space for the family. I’m sure they will be more than happy with a large area to themselves.”
Dina nods, creases forming along her forehead.
“The library is warm and cozy, sure, has an espresso machine and large windows to look out at the snow, yes. A wood-burning fireplace, duh, but it’s the one space free of holiday décor outside of the pine cones and ribbon-bound mistletoe. Your room is the ideal space for a family, considering what day it is.”