“I don’t need to be set up on a damn date.”
Roman Grant came to Mimosa Key to work, not get set up on a blind date by his extremely eccentric cousin. Jasper Vonderleith had good intentions…Roman just wished he’d take his cupid arrow and point it somewhere else.
Jasper waved his hand in the air with more flourish than necessary. Everything about Jasper was more than necessary, including and especially his rainbow painted nails and sparkling red leotard with matching shorts. And the yellow hair. Not blond…full-blown, sunshiny yellow. He’d always been a unique character, but Roman never knew what his cousin was going to look like from one visit to the next.
“You’re working entirely too hard,” Jasper complained. “Besides, my new part-time dance instructor is the sweetest girl and it’s time you found a sweet girl.”
Roman had found a sweet girl once. He’d even married her. That had lasted all of four months until they realized their heated affair and unexpected pregnancy were not reasons to marry. Still, that didn’t mean he’d stopped thinking about her from time to time.
No matter the eight years that had passed, he always wondered where she’d ended up. Had she married again? Had she ultimately had children? He’d wanted children and he’d wanted them with her once the initial shock of the unplanned pregnancy happened. He’d been all set to try again, but she’d pushed him away and out of her life.
Each time those questions of her current status moved to the forefront of his mind, Roman hated the sliver of jealousy that slithered through him. She’d wanted the divorce, he’d fought, but a one-sided relationship would’ve never grown into what he wanted and he couldn’t make her love him.
“I’m just here to work,” Roman stated, pushing his past to the back of his mind where he wished it would stay.
Roman had thrown himself into construction right out of high school and hadn’t looked back. He loved the job, loved the way he could build new and redesign old. He’d come to Mimosa Key, a small island near Naples off the coast of Florida to revamp a couple of the old homes in Pleasure Point, the southern most part of Mimosa Key.
The island had nearly been destroyed after Hurricane Damien swept through, but Lacey Armstrong had a vision for the property she owned on the northern part of the island. She’d brought to life Casa Blanca Resort and Spa. The adult playground had flourished since opening and people came from all over to have a one of a kind experience from unique spa treatments to hot air balloon rides.
And with all the press surrounding the high-end area, he was all too eager to renovate two of the homes in Pleasure Pointe. His business was continued to grow, but he’d always take on more recognition and being tied in with Mimosa Key would definitely only help in the long run.
“When do you actually start with the saw and the hammer?” Jasper asked.
Roman crossed his arms and leaned against the wall of mirrors of Jasper’s dance studio. Jasper probably never held a hammer or saw in his life. Despite their drastic differences, they were cousins and friends. Though they’d just grown closer in the last five years or so when they’d attended their grandmother’s funeral. They’d vowed not to let so much time slip between them again.
“I’m starting on one of the homes tomorrow,” Roman informed him. “From then on I’ll be swamped and no time for dating. So your plan won’t work.”
Roman could’ve given his men the job on Mimosa Key, but as the owner of the company, he decided to be the lead on both homes. He’d been overseeing too much from the office lately and needed to get his hands dirty and get back to his roots. The invoices and dealing with a few whiney employees lately, which he’d fired, only left him restless and ready to get back on the site.
Roman had already spoken with Talula Ross and had made a few trips to her home for quotes and measuring and getting everything lined up.
Talula, or Tilly as she’d insisted on, seemed larger than life and had informed him she’d be off on a cruise and her niece was in charge in her absence. She’d had bright colors everywhere, her walls, her furniture, her clothing…everything. Her makeup had been so bold, he’d been mesmerized at how she could possibly apply it without a putty knife.
Roman had come to Mimosa Key a day early to visit his cousin. Now he was wishing he’d just called instead of stopping by Allegro Dance Studio. Had he known Jasper had plans to fix him up on a blind date, he sure as hell would’ve just called.
“Come back tonight.” Jasper flipped through a rack of miniscule clothing which were way too much spandex and glitter for Roman’s taste. His wardrobe consisted of tees and denim. “Kat will be here at six, but she’s not teaching. I told her I needed help with some costumes.”
“You mean she has no clue you’re plotting something?” Roman shook his head. “You can’t just go around setting people up on a blind date without telling them.”
Jasper looked up from a green tutu and flashed a smile, showcasing his gold tooth. “I’m telling you, aren’t I? You get the heads up because we’re related. She’ll find out when she gets here.” He dropped the tutu and blew out a sigh. “Listen, Kat is a fabulous girl and she’s been single since she came here. She’s sweet—”
“You’ve said that already. Next you’ll tell me about her personality.”
Roman shoved his hands in the pocket of his jeans. It’s not like he had anything else to do tonight. Besides, what would one drink hurt? He hadn’t been out in so long. He’d just be upfront about his meddling, well-meaning cousin. As long as this woman knew the date wasn’t actually a date or anything else, maybe things would be fine. Roman didn’t intend to lead anybody on.
“I’ll come by,” he conceded. “But only because you gave me the heads up on the homeowners looking for a contractor and it’s because of you I was able to get my bids in.”
Jasper’s smile widened. “I knew you’d do it.”
“Wait,” Roman added, holding up his hands. “I only said I’d come by. I may take her for a drink, but I make no promises. I wasn’t kidding when I said I was here to work and not date. I don’t have time for both.”
Nor did he want both. He was fine married to his business. He’d had his party days, his good times…then life had smacked him in the face and he’d decided throwing himself into a career he loved was his best option. Work wouldn’t break his heart and leave him feeling like his whole world had just crumbled beneath his feet.
But one day, when he found the right woman, he still wanted that family. He wasn’t in a hurry and he wasn’t pressured. When she came into his life, he’d know it.
Or maybe not because he thought he’d “known it” when Katie had come into his life.
Jasper tsk’d and went back to sorting costumes. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. I hear you, all work and no play. But I’m telling you, I really think the two of you will hit it off. She really is adorable.”
Roman doubted they’d hit it off, but he owed his cousin a favor and this was him cashing it in. He’d swing by, see whoever this Kat was and maybe they’d end up taking a walk down at the beach or getting a drink…or hell, he didn’t know. All he knew was that Jasper had finagled Roman into meeting someone he had no interest in. It was just a few hours, right? No big deal.
Tomorrow Roman would start his job revamping one of two homes in Pleasure Point. So tonight didn’t actually interfere with his work. Just because he was meeting this woman didn’t mean he was obligated for anything else.
He couldn’t help but wonder why Jasper felt the need to hook his employee up, but Roman wasn’t about to ask. Jasper seemed too enthralled with spandex, rhinestones, and ruffles to even pay attention at this point.
Roman let himself out of the studio and stepped into the sunshine. He absolutely loved Florida, wouldn’t live anywhere else. He had a job he excelled at and a pretty nice bank account. What more could a single guy ask for?