Page 29 of Sinful Promises

Now that was a revelation I hadn’t seen coming.

We said goodbye at the front reception with a hug and kiss on each cheek. I just about burst with excitement when they asked me to do it all again when I returned next month. After we exchanged phone numbers, I felt an instant pang of loss as they walked along that bamboo-lined path toward the exit.

When I’d first met Rebecca and the two of them had shared that kiss, I’d thought they were a couple—or at least she’d wanted them to be. But as the night had rolled on, I’d revised that assessment. They were just really good friends. They were funny together and laughed with and at each other. Their incredible friendship allowed them to step out of their comfort zones. It wasn’t hard to be jealous of what they had.

It was the kind of relationship I’d like to have one day.

Oh my god.

I already have that.

With Roman.

Chapter Six

My early morning started with me bounding out of bed. Maybe last night’s spa treatments had reinvigorated my body. My mind too seemed sharper. It was like I was seeing things clearer, or at least with more clarity. I showered, and still smelling the lovely coconut shampoo from last night, I opted out of my regular morning ritual of washing my unruly curls.

Hopefully I won’t regret that decision later.

Down in the restaurant, I sweet-talked Gunta into making a cappuccino for me and an espresso for Roman in takeaway cups. Despite his usual scowl and never-ending complaints of being too busy and too tired, Gunta agreed. Maybe it was my dazzling smile that impressed him. I ate a slice of toast on the run as I hustled my group out the door to the bus that I assumed Roman would already have parked down the street.

With everyone I could find in the restaurant and lobby moved on, I grabbed the two takeaway coffees and headed for the bus to do a body count. Roman was hauling a suitcase the size of a Mini into the luggage hold, and I had a quick peek at his butt as he did it. Okay, so maybe not so quick. But there was no harm in that. Based on the expressions on Paula and Carla’s faces, who were standing nearby, they were enjoying the early morning show too. It seemed even lesbians got a buzz out of checking out Roman’s butt.

I didn’t blame them. It was a mighty fine European attraction to start the day with.

I chuckled at my own tour-guide joke. With a smile on my face and a spring in my step, today was going to be a great day. “Hey, ladies, how are you both this morning?”

They flashed their cheeky smiles. “Great, thanks.”

“And you?” Carla asked, twirling her hair around her finger.

“I’m great too. Can you head on up and grab a seat? We’ll get going soon.”

“Okay.” As she bounded toward the bus door, Paula’s high ponytail swung from side to side like she was twelve years old.

Roman re-emerged from the luggage hold, and I offered him his coffee. “Morning. Espresso with one sugar for the worker.”

“Grazie.” Grinning, he reached for the cup. “You read my mind.” When he ran his tongue over his lip, my morning got even better. “You seem happy.”

He noticed! I smiled. “Thank you.”

He leaned with his back against the bus. “Why?”

“Why?” I cocked my head. Oh, there were so many reasons why. Watching Roman drink his coffee with the sun shining on his face was just one of them. I could watch him do that every single day and not get bored. “Why not?”

He ran his hand through his hair. “No reason. It’s just . . . you’re not normally a morning person.”

I frowned at that. “I’m not?”

“No.”

Huh. Nobody had ever told me that before. “Well, this is the new me.”

“I like the new Daisy.”

I turned and slapped my own ass. “Me too.” As I walked away, I could picture the stunning grin on his face.

“Hey, come back here and do that.”