Beyond These Walls (The Walls Duet #2)(15)

She nodded and took a quick sip of wine before answering, “Yes, it’s quite lovely. Returning to the city does sometimes make me miss our place here, but I do love the quiet of the country.”

When my father had died over a year ago, my mother had made the painful decision to sell their city home. It had been years since they lived there, but it’d held special memories, having been the primary residence where Roman and I had been raised. Now that we were grown though and it was just her, she hadn’t really seen the value in keeping it. Now, when she visited, she’d either stay in a hotel or with Lailah and me in our apartment. Since we were leaving for our honeymoon the morning after the wedding, Mom had chosen to stay in a hotel near the reception location, like most of the other guests who were from out of town.

“I love the country home,” I replied, remembering the many adventures Roman and I had journeyed through as young boys in that great big house over the years.

“It looks marvelous this time of year,” she remarked, smirking.

“I know, I know. We’ll be back in three weeks, Mom.”

She shook her head in mocked disdain, obviously trying to cover the small smile spreading across her face. “Your first Christmas as husband and wife, and you won’t even be here.”

“It’s called a honeymoon. I believe yours lasted a month.”

She grinned. “Five weeks actually, and it was divine. You know I’m just goading you. We’ll be here to celebrate the holidays when you return. Enjoy every minute, sweetheart.”

“We will.”

A flash of red caught my eye, and I turned just in time to see Lailah walking through the entrance with her parents a few steps behind. I watched her shrug off her thick red coat and scarf, and what lay hidden underneath was simply magnificent. She was a vision, covered in crimson and lace. The dress she wore hugged her waist before flaring into a flirty skirt down to her knees. Her hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders, and her eyes glimmered with excitement.

So beautiful.

I was up on my feet, moving toward her, before my brain even registered the fact. She was a force that drew me in, and I never wanted to be anywhere else but surrounded by her dazzling light.

“You’re here!” Lailah exclaimed.

I reached her side and took her hand. “You look stunning,” I said, leaning forward to brush a lingering kiss against her lips.

The corner of her mouth curved as she stepped back. “Just wait until tomorrow.”

“Oh, I can’t wait.”

She glanced around, seeing my mother as she rose from her spot at the bar. They waved to one another, and then Lailah tried to spot the other few remaining members of our dinner party.

“Has Roman arrived yet?” she asked.

“No,” I answered bluntly.

“There’s still time,” she soothed, stroking the sleeves of my shirt in a comforting manner.

“I know. But would it really kill him to care about someone else for once?”

Her fingers found mine, curling and locking us together. “He did, remember? That’s why we’re here tonight. Because Roman cared about you enough to fly all the way across the country to tell me what an amazing man I’d managed to let slip through my fingers. If it wasn’t for him, none of this would be happening right now, Jude.”

I sighed in frustration—mostly because I knew she was right and partially because I couldn’t figure Roman out.

Why would a man do something so selfless yet manage to pull a complete one-eighty and return to being a full-time * the second he returned back home?

What was I missing?

The hostess took us back to our private table that had been reserved for this special evening, and I gave her instructions to send any late stragglers straight back.

Of course, the only late straggler was my brother, but I was trying to be polite.

Sitting next to Lailah among our family and friends, everything suddenly started to become very real, and the tardiness of my brother was soon forgotten.

My hand fell to her knee under the table and squeezed. She turned to me as everyone was busy chitchatting. As our eyes locked, I knew she felt it, too—that amazing feeling that anything was possible because we’d found each other.

Moisture pooled at the corners of her eyes, and as I raised my thumb to brush it away, she mouthed the words, I love you.

Just as I began to repeat them back to her, I was promptly interrupted.

“So sorry we’re late!”

I turned to see Roman walking toward the table with a buxom brunette dressed in a napkin that she was trying to pass off as a dress. Every head turned as the two passed by, and as they drew closer, I couldn’t decide if the attention was due to the napkin-sized dress or the smell of alcohol that seemed to be seeping out of their pores.

I rose quickly from my chair as Roman tried to head toward the single empty seat just to the left of Lailah.

“I wasn’t aware you were bringing a date, brother.”

His darkening eyes met mine, and his mouth curled up into a menacing smile. “Wasn’t aware I had to tell you, brother,” he replied.

“Well, it is common courtesy so that we know how many place settings to have the restaurant prepare for. As you can see, we are a seat short,” I said, gesturing to the empty chair.

“I guess Ginger will just have to sit on my lap then. Huh, sugar?”