Much Ado About You(71)

Roane’s reply was low and gruff. “That doesn’t sound like a bad thing to me.” He brushed his mouth against mine and I leaned in to deepen it.

“What. The. Fuck?”

The high-pitched question halted us, and we drew apart, amusement dancing in our eyes before we turned to Viola. She was half grinning, half gaping.

“No way!” She gestured excitedly to us. “You’re together?”

I giggled at her exuberant response. “Yeah, we’re together.”

Viola turned toward the bar. “Mam!” she yelled, drawing every eye in the place, including her mother’s.

“Jesus Christ, what is it, lass?” Milly lifted the bar to exit it, her eyes wide with concern.

“Roane and Evie are together! Together together!”

A rumble of response slowly built among the locals until we started to hear, “Well, who wins the pot then?”

“Is it Dex?”

“It’s not Dex.” Milly shook her head. “It might be Jed.”

“Who’s got the list?”

“It’s on Vi’s phone. Where’s your phone, lass?”

“What the hell are you talking about?” I cut in.

Viola grinned mischievously. “I started a pot for everyone to guess how long it would take for you and Roane to get together. There’s nearly a thousand quid up for grabs.”

Full of disbelief, I turned to Roane, but he was struggling to contain his laughter.

“You’re okay about them betting on us?”

His answering grin turned into a chuckle. “Evie . . . they were betting on the eventuality of you in my bed. I can’t be mad about that kind of support.”

I smacked his arm as those in our vicinity laughed. “You’re lucky I liked what you did there, Roane Robson.”

That caused a round of wolf whistles and that adorable flush across the crests of Roane’s cheeks. It wasn’t embarrassment that caused it, I knew. I knew it in the dark look of want he sent my way. The flush was arousal.

It felt heady, I discovered, to be so openly lusted after by a man you wanted desperately in return.

Unfortunately, there was no way I was having sex with Roane while Caro slept in the bedroom down the hall. I whispered this in his ear, and he immediately buried his head in my throat with a groan.

I laughed, trying to ignore the feel of his lips and beard against my skin, and failing. When he lifted his head, I kissed him. Roane clasped my face in his hand and deepened the kiss as another round of wolf whistles met our ears.

I broke the kiss with a chuckle and shook my head. “Please tell me that will stop once they get used to us?”

Roane grinned. “It’s hard to say with these people. This could happen every time they see us until the day we die.”

Although I laughed, as I turned to Viola to answer her question of “when did this happen?” inside I was thinking, Until the day we die?

Had Roane just implied forever?

First those three little words were implied and now “forever”?

I tried not to get too excited about it and failed.

“I’m so happy for you, Evie, but I have to admit I’m jealous too.” Viola gave me a sheepish smile. “I’d love a little romance in my life.”

“Well, look no further than the Romeo across the street,” I replied quietly so no one else but our table would hear.

Roane groaned. “Ah, angel, you just can’t help yourself.”

I really couldn’t. I shot him an unrepentant smile and turned back to Viola.

Viola’s eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?”

“Across the street,” I repeated. “A certain someone who uses antagonism to cover how he really feels.”

“Oh, fuck,” Roane muttered.

Viola’s frown cleared and turned to something between confusion and, dare I say, hope. In fact, it was a very similar look to the one on Lucas’s face this morning. “You cannot be serious. Did he say something to you?”

“He didn’t need to.”

She scowled. “What does that mean?”

“It was written all over his face. And he’s way too interested in you. When a guy is indifferent, you know he’s not interested. When a guy goes out of his way to bother you, he’s interested.” I raised an eyebrow at Roane. “Am I wrong?”

He glowered at me, his answer gruff. “No.”

I tried not to be too smug. “See.”

Rolling her eyes, Viola pushed her chair back and stood. “That’s hardly evidence, Evie. Come on, Caro. I’ve got my laptop upstairs. You can show me the house you’re going to look at.”

As soon as the girls had left, Roane leaned into me. “You’re right. She likes him.”

“Told you.”

“Don’t push this.” He curled his hand around my arm, his expression serious. “Just because she likes him doesn’t mean something should happen between them. There’s too much history there. I don’t want Viola hurt.”

His protectiveness was something I adored about him. I kissed the tip of his nose and promised, “I won’t push it. I’m not going to do anything more. I was just . . . planting a seed.”

“Well, let’s hope that seed doesn’t take root under two houses and cause the earth to shift beneath them.”