Loving A Romano (23 page)

He turned from what he had been doing and stared at her intently. “What do you mean?”

Ashley moved towards where he stood in the middle of the floor.

“Apparently your parents have known about us for some time now and they have just been waiting for us or me more specifically to tell them. Maura told me tonight when I got here.”

“Well that’s great for you isn’t it?”

His mood was confusing her. She would have thought he would have been ecstatic. He would now be able to tell Antonio where he could go with his list of things to do.

“Nicki what’s wrong? I would’ve thought you’d be as happy about this as I am.”

The fire blazing in his blue gaze caught her off guard.

“I am can’t you tell. I’m absolutely thrilled you no longer have any concerns about us. I only wish I could say the same thing.”

Her smile faded.

“I’m sorry Ashley. I didn’t mean to yell at you like that. I am happy Mom and Dad are okay with us.”

He made a move to pass her and leave the room but she caught his arm.

“I want to know what you mean by that. Don’t try and lie to me Wade. There’s something bothering you and it’s past time you told me what it is.”

He heaved a deep breath. “I’m tired of working a job I hate just so I can have a little more time with you. I’m tired of getting up at the crack of dawn six days a week so I can bake in the sun for twelve hours supervising people who are twice my age and have way more experience than I do at doing their jobs.”

Her jaw dropped and the first thing she realized once her brain began functioning again was that Maura had been right. She quickly tried to think of anything she may have said or done to give him the impression she was not happy with who he was.

“You want to know what would make me happy really happy? For you to promise me that the next guy who comes your way earning six figures with some high profile career won’t have you wishing you were still single.”

Was he serious? Did he honestly think that’s all it took to win her over?

“Can you do that Ashley? I’m not living off of my trust fund anymore. I make a good salary working for my dad and I will stay there as long as it takes.
“

Wade flopped down on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands.

“Why would you think any of this mattered to me?” she asked looking down at him.

“Because I’ve seen the guys you’ve gone out with. They’ve all been successful, well educated. Not living with their parents. You always seemed so proud when you brought them over to introduce them. Heather would always talk about how you always got the good ones. I wanted to be one of the good ones. How could I be that person if I didn’t have a job? I just wanted to be the guy you wanted to be with above all the others.” He got up from the bed and walked away from her.

Hot tears burned the backs of her eyes as she stared at his turned back. No other guy she’d ever dated would have ever made so many life altering changes for her she was certain.

“Wade
…” she began and stopped. “Don’t you see you are that guy? That man.”

When he didn’t turn around she walked to where he stood, turned him to face her and spoke the words that had been in her heart since the day she’d looked up to find the biggest and brightest blue eyes she’d ever seen staring at her.

“Wade Nicholas Romano I love you.”

Hot tears freely rolled down her cheeks.

“If you love me then why are you crying,” he asked brushing away her tears with his thumb.

Ashley smiled through her tears.

“Because I just realized how much I love you and that it was the old you I fell in love with. The trust fund brat who wore ninety dollar jeans with five dollar flip flops. The guy who would rather work on his tan than work on a construction job site. I don’t want you any other way than the way you are.”

“What if some guy in an expensive suit walks up to you and flashes his card announcing he’s the CEO of some company or other and he wants to take you out. What then?” he asked placing his arms loosely around her waist.

She flashed him a mischievous grin.

“That depends. Are you with me when he asks?” she asked laughing.

He pinched her and her laughter quickly died.

“Hey,” she said reaching her hand to rub the spot until he pushed it away and began rubbing it himself.

“I’m serious. What if it happens? What if another David Wright walks up to you, flashes that million dollar endorsement deal smile and wants you?”

She caressed the side of his face, allowing all the love she had been holding back to show in her brown eyes.

“I simply let him know that I’ve got a Romano man and there’s no better love in the world.”

“Good answer,” he said leaning down to kiss her briefly on the lips.

“Now let me grab a quick shower and get changed and then we can go back up to the main house. I want to be there when you tell Antonio that the Romano man you're in love with is me. I want to see him choke on that damn list of his.”

He headed off towards the bathroom before he stopping and turning back in her direction
. “You do know I love you right?”

Her insides melted. “Yeah I think I’ve always known.”

Wade nodded and continued into the bathroom. She would tell him about Torrie’s offer later when they were alone. Maybe after they were cooling down from their second or third round of love making. It was bound to be extra hot tonight. She sat down on the side of his bed to wait for him. The joy she felt on the inside refused to be contained and broke free in a fit of laughter. Antonio had been right after all. There was definitely nothing like loving a Romano man.

Chapter Twenty-seven

“Man my feet hurt like hell,” Ashley said sitting down for what felt like the first time all night.

She glanced around her at the crowd of people who had packed the ballroom at the upscale Austin hotel and couldn't help but smile. It had seemed at times tonight would not get here but it had and the last few months of planning had gone off without a hitch. As she rubbed the soreness from her aching feet she thought back on how fast it seemed time had flown.

She and Wade had finally announced to Joey and Maura as well as Antonio they were officially dating and had been for a while. Maura had shed tears of joy and she could have sworn Joey had looked a little misty eyed. Antonio had actually sat with a smug look on his face and had the audacity to ask “What took so long?”

That following Monday Wade had met with Torrie and signed an exclusive contract for the rights to his designs—all three of them. As expected when she’d first told him about it he’d been all for just giving them to her. It was something they’d discussed repeatedly over the weekend before his meeting. She’d even called up Torrie and offered the designs to her, at Wade's insistence. Luckily Torrie wouldn't hear of it. She’d instead advised him to contact his attorney and discuss the matter with him and be prepared to quote her a price when they met. Ashley hadn’t been privy to the conversation between Wade and his attorney but when he’d returned from speaking with him he’d looked stunned. To date she still didn’t know the exact figure but according to Torrie it had been staggering but well worth it.

“I’ll say,” Ashley mumbled to herself as she glanced at the souvenir napkins.

The new face of blaze was everywhere and they’d made it just in time to get everything back for a proofing before the final print. It was as if things had just fallen into place after that for Wade as well.

He had finally sat down with his parents and explained to them why he’d gone back to work for Joey and that he didn’t really like what he was doing. Joey being the consummate business man told Wade he’d been thinking of getting into the design portion of the construction business. Not only did he want people to come to him to have it built he wanted them to come to him for the design as well. He realized he’d been missing out on a large piece of the pie all these years. Joey had informed Wade it would take about as long for him to get that part of the business up and running as it would take for him to garner his degree in architecture. He was set to begin classes in the spring. He’d said that would allow him time so he could actually enjoy being her boyfriend before he got bogged down with studies. It was one of the sweetest things anyone had ever done to be with her. Outside of taking a job you hated, she thought laughing quietly to herself.

“Hello Ashley.”

Her spine stiffened at the sound of that voice. She wouldn't say she’d been avoiding David all night but neither would she say she’d been putting herself in his path either.

“Hello David.”

“Mind if I join you?”

Her first instinct was to say no but manners prevailed. Regardless of how she felt about him she could not be openly rude.

“It’s a free country.”

“How’ve you been?”

Small talk. Great.

“Fine and yourself?”

“I can’t really complain. I see you brought your new boyfriend. He seems to be quite the social butterfly tonight.”

Could it be he hadn’t heard? A wicked smile titled up one corner of her mouth.

“Yeah well Torrie wanted to introduce him to the board members since he played an integral part in making this event happen.”

“Yeah right. What did he do? Give them all tips on how to acquire that sun kissed tan without looking orange?”

She suddenly didn’t feel so bad about being rude.

“No, he came up with the new face of Blaze and Torrie wanted them to put a face to the six figure check they’d written to him for it.”

The smile died on his face as he looked around the room. The new emblems were everywhere and people were talking about them. Torrie had been correct in her initial thought that the three designs worked together but they also worked independently of each other. Wade had explained it to them at the meeting. She’d sat there mesmerized at how he saw things and couldn't recall half of what he’d said. Not that she understood the parts she’d heard. There were several owners from other teams who had approached him with offers of redesigning their current emblem. She didn’t know what he’d decided to do but was sure they’d discuss it later.

“All by himself. That kid?”

All she did was nod her head.

“Hmph go figure.”

“Yeah go figure,” she said and went back to massaging her feet. She hoped he got the message and left.

“I guess since he’s bringing in a big payday you’ll stay with him huh. I won’t even ask for another chance.”

Anger shot through her at the implication. She told herself to calm down and just consider the source. She slowly uncrossed her legs and slid her feet back into her shoes.

“You should’ve worked harder to keep me while you had me.”

She stood and was about to walk away when he grabbed her wrist.

“He’s the reason you broke up with me isn’t he? If it weren’t for him you and me, we’d still be together.”

Ashley thought on this for a minute. It had been that one night which had started it all. And this was the one question that remained to be answered and she doubted it ever would be. Besides it really didn’t matter. The fact was if it hadn't been for David ignoring her that night she never would have gone down the hall to Wade's room and he never would have discovered her there. On impulse she leaned down and kissed him softly on the cheek and whispered in his ear.

Her step was light as she walked away from him for the last time and right into Wade's open arms. She breathed deep the scent that was her man.

“I saw you talking to David. You okay?” he asked his lips brushing a soft kiss against her temple.

“Couldn’t be better.”

“Yeah what did he want?”

Ashley pulled away from him slightly and stared up into his sparkling blue gaze. Love for the man in front of her warmed her insides. So much time she’d wasted.

“He wanted to know if you were the reason we broke up.”

A smirk appeared on his handsome face.

“What did you tell him?”

“I told him the truth. Not to take it personal because there’s nothing sweeter than loving a Romano man.”

“I might be able to think of something,” he said, a secretive smile on his face as he moved away from her slightly.

“What’s that?” Ashley asked in a tone of disbelief.

Wade kneeled. Staring down at him she became vaguely aware they were the center of attention. Out of her peripheral she saw Heather and Jake along with Wade's parents along with Torrie and Antonio. All were surrounding them. When he reached into the inside pocket of his tuxedo jacket her eyes glazed over with tears. Through her watery gaze she saw the small black velvet box in his hands.

“Perhaps marrying one,” he said gazing up at her.

No words came to mind as she stood staring down at him. She was too choked up to speak but managed nod. As he slid the ring on her finger, Ashley closed her eyes and sent a prayer up of thanks to God for sending her the perfect man. A Romano man.