Page 214 of Hate to Love You
“Foxy… just let me in,” he pleads. “Explain it to me.”
My fingers shakily reach out, grabbing hold of the bolt as I slide it across, my other hand grips the handle and I swing it open.
Roman stares at me, his face flushed with unreadable emotions churning in his eyes.
My arms drop to my sides as I sigh, stepping around the door as I bend down to pick up the pair of boots.Wordlessly, I tie the laces, securing them to my feet.
“I killed my husband first,” I say emotionlessly, staring straight into his eyes.
I’ve never said it out loud before.
“Why?” He questions, the tone of his voice lowered as he still blocks the doorway. Almost as if he’s worried, I might bolt before he gets his answers.
“He abused me, tormented me, and killed my unborn baby to name a few things,” I shrug, grabbing a cardigan from the coat rack.
Stepping backward, I silently gesture for Roman to come in as he eyes me with curiosity.
“He didn’t make me this way, Roman. He controlled aspects of my life, but when his life ended…he set me free.”
I smile, feeling the power of the words rush over me.
Roman is silent for a few seconds, and when he finally opens his mouth, I already know what he’s about to ask me.
“I should probably show you how.”
“Show me?” He replies, puzzled.
“Yeah…” I trail off as I walk through the kitchen to the back door.
As I pull open the handle, I find the same creepy man still grinning at me as before and licking his lips.
However, the moment he sees Roman materialize from the darkness of my house, looking absolutely murderous, his sleazy smile drops and he pales in the moonlight.
“Fuck. Off.” Roman growls darkly.
The man doesn’t need to be told twice, hightailing it quickly around the side of the house to the front yard.
My scary mafia CEO then follows me out into the garden, pausing to stare at me when the greenhouse lights flicker on, illuminating the bright flowers within. I can almost feel the heat of his body as he shadows me.
The tension in my shoulders releases as I take a large gulp of air, feeling it calm me as it releases through my nose.
I grab the handle, pressing it down to open the door. When I look back at Roman, I see that he’s still staring at me, waiting for me to make the first move.
I tilt my head.
“After you.”
His freshly polished shoes cross over the doorway, and I realize this is a first for me. I’ve never had another person in this greenhouse, my safe haven.
A part of me feels exposed… vulnerable.
Roman’s hands tuck into his pants pockets as he slowly takes in the length of the greenhouse, turning around slowly on the spot as I shut the door behind us, with a resounding click. I pick at the hem of my cardigan, twisting my hands in it until I feel it indenting the skin. My entire body is tingling all over, as I stare at him, the only thing I can hear is my pounding heart.
“Abby, this is very pretty…” He trails off, breaking the silence as he runs a hand through his hair.
He turns, strolling down one of the rows of flowers, running his hands over the pansies and marigolds as he goes.
“But how is this showing me?”