She reached out and squeezed his hand. “Text me tomorrow?”
“I will.” He gave her a brief smile and reached into the back seat, grabbing his backpack. Then he opened the car door, flashed her one last smile, and was gone.
• • •
Rome loped back to his cabin, half expecting to see his shit in a box on the porch. If Grant found out he’d stolen Elise away for the weekend, there’d be no saving his ass from the man’s wrath. But his bike was parked next to his cabin and when he opened the door, everything was as he’d left it. Not that he’d left much behind, just in case he’d been cleaned out when he came back. But there was a small box under the bed, and he tossed his few remaining items into it. Some toiletries. A book. His DVD of Lethal Weapon. He picked it up, thinking of Elise. He could still smell her on his hand, and for a moment, longing and bitterness filled him.
Life had just dealt him one shit hand after another, hadn’t it? The moment he found a girl he loved, he was being chased off all over again.
He tucked the DVD into the box and considered. He could go to Elise tonight. Tell her about his past. Confess that he’d done hard time and swear up and down that despite what the records said, he wasn’t the one who was dealing drugs. That despite his bad rap and awful credit, he really wasn’t using her for her money, and he loved her. That her brother was going to fire him from his stable job and he’d taken her away over the weekend despite her brother’s warnings to him.
And then it could go two ways.
If she didn’t believe him, he wouldn’t blame her. Most people didn’t. They took one look at his tattoos and piercings and his prison record and assumed he was guilty of whatever crime the paperwork said. She’d hate him for deceiving her and would assume he’d manipulated her and slept with her just to try and get to her money. Her self-esteem, always fragile, would be completely and utterly destroyed.
If she did believe him, no one else would. They’d assume that Elise was naive and with him because he was using her for her money. Grant would never believe otherwise, and he suspected Elise’s overprotective parents would be the same. Staying with him would create a schism in her family. The people she loved the most in the world, the people she trusted, would think she was stupid and being used.
He either destroyed his girl or destroyed her relationship with her family.
He didn’t want to do either. Family was important to him, oddly enough. Maybe it was because of how shitty his own was, but when he saw how much Grant cared for his sister, how much he looked out for her, he didn’t want to trash that for his own selfish needs. How would his life have turned out if his brother Jericho hadn’t up and left when he got old enough? How would Rome’s story have been different if Jericho had stayed and looked out for him?
He probably wouldn’t have gone to prison for his parents. J had always been able to see right through their lies, but Rome always fell for them. He’d always wanted to believe the best about family.
That had been beaten out of him in the four years in prison, though.
Rome shook his head and tucked the DVD into the box. Either way, if he stayed, he was f**king up Elise’s life. Better to just make a clean break. It would hurt, but over time, it would get easier.
He hoped.
He rubbed his chest, wondering at the ache there. He’d never been in love before. Never really thought about it. There’d been a few women in his life, but most were just diversions instead of people.
Elise, though . . . Elise was everything to him.
He picked through the cabin, looking for any personal items he might have missed. He was lingering, he knew it. Hell, he didn’t want to go. He wanted to turn around and call Elise and tell her to come back over. That he’d changed his mind. He picked up the small plastic plate she’d brought over when she’d showed up with the cookies and hit on him. He’d eaten the cookies, but he’d kept the plate. Stupid, really, but seeing it reminded him of her, and he packed it away carefully in his backpack, sandwiched between a few shirts. And suddenly, he wished that he had mementos from all of their get-togethers. That he’d stolen a candle from their sultry photo shoot, or taken a book of matches from their hotel this weekend.
That he’d pulled out his cell phone and snapped pictures of her gorgeous face and that shy smile so he could always carry them with him.
He put on his leather jacket, picked up his small box, and headed out of his cabin for the last time. He’d miss this place . . . but he’d miss one person in particular the most.
Rome texted her brother to let him know he was packing up and heading out, strapped the box on the back of his bike, and pulled out of the parking lot, heading onto the highway.
Heading for f**k knew where. He didn’t care.
• • •
Elise rolled over in bed, feeling delicious and well-rested. It was nice to get a full night’s rest after a weekend of too little sleep, she supposed, but it also felt weird to wake up in bed alone. She smiled into her pillows and reached for the nightstand to pick up her phone, hoping for a text from Rome.
The only texts on her phone were from family, though.
Having a good time in Bluebonnet, sweetie? When are you coming home? XOXO from her mother.
Your mother misses you. Expect her to start asking you to come home, but if you’re not ready, stay a bit longer. Love you, bunny, from her father.
And from Grant, Hey, bit of a snag today. Can we put off the engagement photos for a week or two? Kinda have my head down with work.
Even as she was checking messages, one came in from Brenna. Your brother’s being a dick and is all stressypants. If you come by, can you bring lunch or something? I’ll take some cash out of his wallet and pay you back. We are totally slammed. :) I like my burger with no onions!!
Wow. It sounded like a crazy day over at the ranch. She immediately texted Rome. Hope you’re hanging in there today. Want me to bring you lunch? :)
She hoped it wasn’t too forward, but heck, they’d had sex all weekend and he’d dragged her into his arms in the car because he didn’t want to leave her. She figured she could be a little needy in her texting.
But when there was no immediate response, she figured he was busy. Disappointed, she sat up in bed and started sending texts back.
Hi Mom, I am having a good time. Going to stay a bit longer.
Her mom immediately sent back How much longer? Be careful.
Not for the first time, Elise felt a little smothered by her mother’s attention. Be careful of what? Farmers driving tractors two miles above the speed limit? Armadillos crossing the road? She was a grown woman, graduated from college and in her twenties. She could take care of herself, especially in a sleepy little town like Bluebonnet. She knew her mother meant well, but still.