His muscles screamed as he hauled the last of the cabinets out to the back yard. He’d heaved quite a bit into the awaiting dumpster. The sun had started to inch closer to the horizon and he’d not seen or heard from Katie since this morning.
Probably for the best. He was here to do a job, not try to romance his ex. Though if she were anybody else, he would at least try to take her for a drink. Damn if she wasn’t even sexier than he’d ever remembered.
Katie had a confidence that hadn’t been there before. She had a woman’s body, a little fuller in the hips, the chest. Even though she had those lean dancer legs, she’d added subtle curves that had his hands itching to roam over every single luscious inch.
Roman jerked the worn gloves off and swiped his arm across his forehead. He’d put in extra hours today. He tended to do that once he got on a roll. Without Katie around and no other distractions, he’d gotten started on demo and kept right on going.
Smashing things to bits had always been a great stress reliever. He’d found that out right after the loss of their child and the divorce. Diving head first into anything else had been all that had kept him sane during those next few years. Then when the construction company had been going up for sale, he’d jumped at the chance. Since then he hadn’t looked back. All work, little play, just the way he liked his life for now.
Though playing with Katie again…
No, damn it. There could be no playing. He eventually wanted to settle down again and have a family.
The front door opened and closed, pulling Roman from his thoughts. He moved to the hallway in time to see Katie setting her purse and keys on the accent table in the foyer. She reached up, wrapping her fingers around the back of her neck and shifting her head from side to side. That familiar act had him curling his own fingers into fists at his sides. He wanted to relieve her of that pain, the knots she had.
She’d had a stressful day and now attempted to get the tension from her neck and shoulders. How could teaching dance make her so tense? This was her passion and she was damn good at it.
Still, something bothered her. Ignoring the voice in his head that told him to mind his own business, Roman moved down the hallway. He didn’t stop even when she glanced sideways, locking her eyes with his. He kept going until he stood behind her and slid his hands over that curve in her neck.
“Wh—”
“Relax,” he muttered as he worked his hands over the knots in her neck. “Let me do this.”
Yes, Katie, let me torture myself a bit further because I’ve thought all day of getting my hands on you.
Her head dropped down, her hands rested on the table in front of her. Every warning flag inside his mind waved around in a vain attempt to get his attention. Roman wasn’t focusing on anything but Katie.
When they’d first gotten together she’d get stressed over school and he’d rub her neck and shoulders. She’d always told him he had magical hands.
Common sense screamed at him to let go and get the hell out of here. He was done working for the day and she needed to unwind. Alone.
But he didn’t attempt to step away. No, he kept stroking his fingers over her skin, digging when he reached a knot. A slight moan escaped her, making him clench his teeth and ignore the way his body tightened. Okay, fine. He couldn’t ignore it, but that didn’t mean he’d do anything about it.
“This isn’t a good idea,” she whispered, but made no move to stop him.
He ignored her statement, basically because she was right—not that he was about to say so out loud. Having his hands on her felt too good, too right. He wanted to touch her, needed any excuse to do so.
“What happened today?”
“Nothing,” she sighed.
Slowly he pressed his thumbs on either side of her neck and stroked up. “You never could lie. Tell me.”
He worked his hands over her, the tightness eased as he moved from neck to shoulders. Silence surrounded them as he waited for her to let him in on her thoughts. Not that he had any place to ask such things, but he liked to think he was somewhat of a friend…wasn’t he?
Unable to stand the silence another second, Roman gripped her shoulders and hauled her back against his chest. Her eyes instantly found his in the reflection of the mirror above the table. Those vibrant baby blues held him captivated. The light radiating from the sunset flooded through the sidelights, casting a pink glow right onto her face.
“Roman,” she murmured, her head falling back onto his shoulder.
If there had been any heat in her tone, any hint of hesitancy, Roman would’ve pulled back. But all he saw was passion staring back at him as her eyes continued to hold his.
Roman slid his free hand around, flattening his palm against her abdomen. The hitch in her breath had him spreading his fingers, urging her body back farther into his.
Katie reached up and gripped his wrist, but she didn’t pull his hand away. Her head tipped to the side, her eyes fluttered closed.
Curling his fingers in, Roman gathered her shirt and gently tugged upward. The tips of his fingertips brushed against her silky skin, her stomach muscles clenched beneath his touch.
Unable to resist—not that he’d tried—Roman leaned down and slid his lips over the exposed column of her neck.
Katie’s fingers dug into his arm, her nails biting into his skin. A low, sultry moan escaped her. She smelled too good, felt even better, and the fine line of his control was about to snap. Roman didn’t know how much longer he could hold out before he jerked away the flowy tank and little shorts and hoisted her up onto this table.
Before he could delve too far into that particular fantasy, he spun her around. He needed to taste more of her.
Katie gripped his shoulders as his mouth came crashing onto hers. Whether she opened for him out of surprise or because she wanted him just as much, he wasn’t sure. But she wasn’t pushing him away. No, his sweet Katie had arched that luscious body against him and let out a moan that encouraged him even more.
Roman’s hands reached back, covering her backside and pulling her flush with his body. From lips to hips they connected and Roman was about to make his fantasy of the table and Katie a reality.
“Wait,” she murmured against his mouth. “Roman. Wait.”
Barely suppressing a groan, he pulled back, taking in her swollen lips, the worry lines between her brows. A shaky hand went to her mouth as she closed her eyes and seemed to be gathering her thoughts.
“I hope you don’t want me to apologize.”
“No.” She dropped her hand and eased from between him and the table to walk away. “But this is the problem.”
Problem? There hadn’t been a problem seconds ago. There had been desire, lust, a need he couldn’t describe, but definitely no problem.
“We can’t act on old feelings,” she explained.
Roman turned to see her standing at the base of the steps, gripping the post and completely avoiding looking directly at him.
No way was she running from this—he wasn’t about to let her. Did she honestly think she could deny the chemistry between them? This had nothing to do with the past and everything to do with their current attraction. The past just happened to be their bond. She’d wanted him just as much as he’d wanted her.
“Who said these were old feelings?” Roman countered. He crossed his arms and leaned back against the table, respecting her enough to give her space. “I’m attracted to you, Katie. The Katie right now in front of me.”
She shook her head. “No. You’re remembering and that’s dangerous.”
Dangerous? Yes this was dangerous because he didn’t want to get mixed up with his ex-wife again, but hell if he could stop the emotions or the desire. She’d run from him once before. Like hell if he let her do it again.
“Of course I remember.” No need to deny the truth. “I remember nearly every single day and that was before I saw you. You’re always there, Katie.”
Now her eyes did jerk to his. “Don’t say things like that.”
“What? That I thought of you over the years? Are you going to stand there and tell me you haven’t thought of me? Or that the kiss we just shared meant nothing?”
“Of course I’ve thought of you,” she retorted. “When our anniversary comes and goes, when your birthday rolls around. The day our baby was due.”
And there it was. The crux of their entire relationship had just been thrown down, settling heavy between them. The miscarriage had been the driving force that ultimately tore them apart. Though they’d married for entirely the wrong reasons and thought they could make the picture perfect life.
He’d been wrong. And by the time he realized he loved her more than anything or anyone, she was gone. No, he didn’t love her now, not like he had. Too much time had passed, life happened, feelings changed. But she still resided in his heart and he’d tried like hell to exorcise her out and save himself the pain and grief. The idea of what they could’ve been had he fought harder or…hell, he didn’t know.
Yes, they’d married fast, but there had been a kernel of love there between them. From his side, that kernel had grown. But once Katie had miscarried, she’d pushed him away, claiming he was free to go. When he attempted to fight for their marriage, she ultimately left.
Like a young, naïve fool, Roman had watched her walk away. He wasn’t that man anymore.
“I know I’m here to work and you’d rather anyone else in my place.” He took a step closer, then another, until he stood inches from her and her head tipped back to meet his gaze. “I’m not sorry that kiss happened. I’m not sorry I made you feel and you were clinging to me. And I’m sure as hell not sorry that we’re going to see each other every single day for the next month. You better get used to that because that kiss wasn’t a one-time thing.”
Before she could say anything, and before he lost his mind and kissed her again, Roman needed to remove himself from the situation. He headed down the hallway and out the back door, cursed himself for not holding onto that control a little tighter.