Roman's Choice (Saddles & Second Chances Book 1) (12 page)

“True, but we have a certain plan for our existence and when it takes an unexpected detour, sometimes it can send us way down a road we don’t want to be on. Enough about me. You never have spoken about your last relationship.”

“Because there isn’t much to talk about. We were two different people with different wants. To be perfectly honest, different down to the foods we liked to our sex drives. I was clocking in at sixty and he was in low gear at six. A woman realizes something isn’t right when she’s using her sex toy more than she’s having sex with her partner.”

He squinted and shifted, readjusting himself behind his zipper. “Sorry, sweetheart, but I got an image of you and that toy and it’s bittersweet.” His jaw tightened.

She laughed. “Then you should really get a kick out of knowing I brought it with me.” She wagged her brows.

Some of his tan faded and he swallowed loudly. “I hope you didn’t think you’d need it. My speedometer doesn’t go under fifty. Although, I think you’re going to have to show me how that little friend of yours works.”

“That can be arranged.” Her inner thighs throbbed with the idea of masturbating in front of Roman. Although she’d never done such a thing in front of any man, she felt comfortable enough with him that she wanted to explore new pleasures. For the first time in her life she’d found someone who had a matching libido. Things could get very interesting between them.

CHAPTER TWELVE

ROMAN PULLED THE ear buds from his ears and continued brushing the mare until she was shiny, then dropped the brush into the bucket. He felt a wrench in his chest. Pippa left last night for Chicago and he missed her—a lot more than he would have imagined.

After he’d dropped her off at the airport, he came home and sat in front of the TV until late. He’d started for the bed when he decided he didn’t want to sleep there alone. He wouldn’t have Pippa’s soft body to comfort him.

“I’ve got it bad, don’t I, Molly?”

The horse reared her head back as if in agreement.

“Can you blame me, girl? She’s come in and taken me by storm.”

Molly pawed the ground.

“Now don’t be jealous. You know you’ll always be my number one girl.” He patted her on the neck and dropped the brush into the bucket

Damn. When did he get so whipped? He was supposed to be a rough and tough cowboy who didn’t have deep, engrained emotions. When it came to Pippa, he was an overprotective, sappy son-of-a-gun. If he didn’t know any better, he was starting to believe he was falling in love.

But it wasn’t possible.

Not in less than a month. Who fell in love with someone that fast?

Who the hell married someone after six hours of meeting them?
I did
.

Their relationship wasn’t the traditional type, but they had a connection that couldn’t be ignored. He didn’t want to.

He stuck the mare back into the stall, then headed outside to the fenced area where mama sheep and her lamb were waiting. He laughed. “You didn’t think I would forget you, did you?” Roman reached into his pocket and took out a small, plastic baggie that was filled with lettuce. He took two wedges out and gave each of the animals one. They munched on the vegetable and he nuzzled the lamb behind the ear.

“I see you’re still treating those animals better than humans.”

Roman’s body stiffened—and not in a good way. He crushed the lettuce in his palm, slowly turning on his heel, hoping he was only imagining the sound of a voice from the past. But there she was, in flesh and blood.

“Hello, there, cowboy. Long time no see.” Uma tilted her hip and the hem of her shorts lifted high, exposing more tanned skin.

Roman wished he could deny her beauty—and her sex appeal. Tall, dark hair, dark eyes, and a body that could make a man sweat—but Roman had been there and done that, and the shine had dulled. Especially knowing how many men she’d allowed to polish her diamond. He gave his head a quick shake. “What are you doing here?”

“Oh now, Ro. Is that any way to greet somebody with our history?” she practically cooed the words.

“Yes, in fact, it is.”

She sashayed her way to him, her smile widening and those hips shifting like a pendulum. “I heard the news. I guess congratulations are in order.” She placed her hands on hips, the ring on her left hand glinting.

“You couldn’t have sent that by text? Social media? Carrier pigeon?”

“Not when you refused to give me your number and blocked me from Facebook,” she whined. “What a naughty boy you’ve been.”

“That should have told you something,” he growled. He brushed passed her, pulled off his gloves and tossed them onto the workbench. He turned and she was beside him again, so close that he got a whiff of vanilla.

“I can’t say that I expected any woman would sink her claws into you. Took me long enough.”

“And it took a lie.” He narrowed his gaze, old wounds being stripped of their scabs.

She squinted as if he’d hurt her feelings, but she recovered fast. “I didn’t lie,” she snapped.

“Come on, Uma, isn’t it time you stopped with the games?”

She blew out a long breath. “You still can’t be heartbroken over the past, honey. I was too young for kids. We should have enjoyed each other before we were strapped down.”

“Too young to keep your legs closed too, apparently.”

“I’m not here to argue, Ro.”

“Then why are you here?”

She stepped closer until they were toe-to-toe, and she played with the top button of his shirt. It came undone. “I’m not ashamed to admit that when I heard about your marriage, I was jealous.”

“What does your fiancé’ think of this revelation? Or maybe he doesn’t mind your extracurricular activities.”

“Donny understands that a bird needs to fly.” She slipped the tip of her fingers inside of his shirt, rubbing his chest, skimming her nails over his nipples.

He backed up and her hand dropped to her side. “Then Donny’s an idiot.”

She smirked. “No, the idiot was you, letting me go. I was the best thing that happened to you.”

He chuckled. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

“Oh and you think this Pippa Wilder is better for you?” She sniffed loudly. “She ain’t a country girl, love.”

“Is that why you’re here, to give me relationship advice?”

“No.” She stomped forward, wrapped her arms around his neck and before he could respond, she pressed her lips against his, rolling the tip of her tongue along the seam as she cupped his zipper. His cock jerked, but his brain overpowered any feeling and he stayed flaccid. Her large breasts pressed against his chest, firm and swollen, but nothing like Pippa’s soft body that seemed to mold with his palms. He reached up and grabbed Uma’s shoulders, giving her a gentle push as he stepped back, swiping the back of his hand across his lips as if he could wipe away the kiss.

“Damn it, Uma! What the fuck was that for?”

“Ro, admit the truth. You still love me.” She stamped a cowgirl boot, sending up a cloud of dust from the barn floor.

“But it’s not true. I was over you the second I watched you leave Second Chances.”

“I’ve changed though. Please.”

“Don’t lower yourself. It’s over. It’s been over.”

She came up behind him, sliding her arms around his waist, pressing her breasts into his back. “I still love you. I still want you. I can make you happy.”

He shook his head. “Come on, stop. I couldn’t make you happy, couldn’t satisfy you. And apparently that new fiancé can’t either. I’d say the defect is in you, sweetheart.”

She pulled away. He turned in time to see bitterness spread over her delicate features. “How dare you speak to me like this! Who the hell are you? A dried up rodeo star who was so desperate that he married a woman he met in Vegas.” She laughed. “Yeah, you two can tell the media anything you like, can make up a romantic story of love and soul mates, but I know the truth. I know she wasn’t in the picture until the day you met her.” Her nose wrinkled.

“Ah, there’s the Uma that I know. Good to see that she’s back.” He chuckled.

“Fuck you, Roman!”

“No, thank you. You’ve already done enough of that.”

She took a step back. “You’re going to regret this, I promise.”

“I did. The second I said ‘I do’ to you.” Cold fire raced through his veins. All of the hurt she’d caused, all of the betrayal, washed away. “You need to leave now,” he demanded.

Her face softened, desperation marred her lovely face, making her ugly. “Oh come on, Ro. Are you sure I can’t entertain you with a sample of the past?” She slid open her thighs slightly, walked her fingers slowly from one knee to the hem of her shorts, dipping her fingers inside one leg. What was meant as a power seduction only made him sick.

“I’m very sure. Now leave.”

With a groan, she crossed the hay strewn floor, stopping beside him. “The offer won’t stand for long.”

“Well, consider it null and void as of right now.”

With a huff, she marched out of the barn. A few seconds later, he heard the slamming of the door and the low hum of the engine of her car as she drove down the lane.

His balls ached, but not for a romp with his tall, sexy ex. He had a feeling he just landed himself in deep shit and even his best intentions wouldn’t provide a big enough shovel to dig himself out.

*****

Pippa sat in her apartment, sitting in her favorite comfortable chair by the window sipping a cup of herbal tea, attempting not to see the newspaper Sal had placed on the glass table between them.

“So, you’re just going to ignore this?” Her manager asked from where he sat.

She stared out of the window into the rainy morning of Chicago, a trip that was only supposed to be two days and turned into three. The rain drops pelted the window in musical harmony, but she could barely concentrate on anything but her inner turmoil. She didn’t want to show Sal any emotion. She wanted to remain strong, believe in her husband and the fact that there must be an explanation. “What would you like me to do, Sal? Cry? Scream?”

“Let’s see, the headline reads, “The relationship expert didn’t see this one coming.”

When Sal had brought the newspaper in and laid it down in front of her, she’d skimmed the headline and the interview that Roman’s ex-wife had given, but Pippa couldn’t seem to get passed the picture of Roman with Uma in his arms. They were standing in the barn, and although it was obvious a photographer had taken the picture unknowingly from a hiding spot, it was what it was…and it hurt her. The proof was in black and white. His ex-wife had stated that she and Roman were considering getting back together. Pippa didn’t believe it. Didn’t want to believe the lies.

Taking a sip of her tea, it went down like a box of rocks.

Who was she kidding? She barely knew Roman. He wouldn’t be the first man to want his cake and eat it too. Yet, this didn’t make sense.

Pippa was certain Miss Uma-Ex was paid a sizable fee for spilling her lies. It seemed the media was having a feast in disclaiming Pippa and making her look like a foolish woman.

“I knew this would happen,” Sal said in an annoyed tone.

Pippa turned her cheek, narrowing her gaze on him. “That ‘what would happen’?”

He shrugged a beefy shoulder. “You were tired, feeling down when you left for Vegas. I knew I should have tagged along. I would have helped you keep your logic in place.”

She shifted in the chair, placing her feet flat on the thick carpet. “Whether you want to believe it or not, marrying Roman wasn’t an irrational action.” She set her cup down with a crack. “Even now I would do it all over again.”

“Even knowing what it’s doing to your career?” He snapped one brow up.

She rubbed the bridge of her nose. “I’m human, Sal. I make mistakes, but as of this moment, I can’t say that Roman was or is a mistake. I make lousy choices when it comes to my own personal life, but it doesn’t change that I’ve saved marriages. I’ve helped people through rough times. The media is having a field day running me through the coals because they have nothing else to entertain their soiled magazines at the moment. Next week this will all be a faded memory, my book will release and it’ll be okay.”

He leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees. “I suggest you stay here in Chicago. We’ll set up interviews with papers that don’t wish to roast you. We’ll explain that you married the cowboy on a whim, but it was a mistake because he’s a cheater. We won’t have to make much of an effort to discredit him considering his history as a rodeo star. Do any of the Jerichos not have a label of being a player?” He shook his head.

“People change, Sal. Roman has given me no reason to believe that I can’t trust him.”

He darted his gaze to the paper. “Don’t be a fool.”

“Don’t forget who signs your check,” she snapped, rubbing her temples that were starting to ache.

“We have to take this bull by the horns before we go down, Pippa. Readers will feel sorry for you if we show that he mistreated you. That he’s whoring around.”

“My God, man. You’re talking about destroying Roman to get ahead. I don’t want people’s pity. I just want a little time to figure things out for myself.”

“You’re running out of time and options. Things are spiraling downhill fast.”

“This was your idea, remember? That I go to Texas and make my marriage work. Well, I did. And did you hear anything I just said? I’m not admitting that this marriage is a mistake or that my husband is a cheating bastard.” She blew out a long breath.

“So, you’re willing to get thrown to the wolves when it’s obvious where he stands?” Sal stabbed the paper with his forefinger. “He’s involved with his ex.”

“I get that this doesn’t look good, but those bottom dwellers will sink to any level to get the juiciest story. I also know that his ex is just the type to take this for a ride and lie. I’ll find out the truth when I get back to Second Chances.”

“You’re going back to Texas?”

“I need to give Roman a chance to explain. He deserves that opportunity and I want to hear what he has to say.”

Sal’s face softened and he dropped back into his seat. “Oh no, sweetheart. You didn’t.”

“Didn’t what?”

“You’ve fallen in love with the cowboy, haven’t you?” Sal’s words felt like an accusation more than a question.

“Of course not.” She laughed, but it fizzled. Sal continued to stare at her as if she’d sold her soul to the devil. “I’ve only known him a short time.”

Sal steepled his fingers, looking at her over the tips. “Are you trying to convince me or yourself?”