lori king rough ride romeo (10 page)

drug store and I’d take my allowance in to buy candy and soda.”

“And later on, it was beer and girly magazines. Don’t think I don’t remember

that, Romeo.” Carly teased. “Now, Miss Franki, tell me how this lothario

managed to hornswoggle you into tying your lot to his?”

“Hornswoggle?” Franki asked, “Uh, well, he wrecked my bike—”

“No shit!” The voice came from one of the other three occupants of the bar,

and Franki turned to find an elderly man with stains on his shirt and a coffee cup

in his hand staring at her. “You’re the firecracker Bran was telling us about? He

said you about took a layer of skin off Roman’s hide you were so pissed off over

your motorcycle.”

“Yeah she was pretty worked up all right.” Roman said, “But she couldn’t

resist my charms.”

Carly and the other man rolled their eyes at each other and went back to

what they were doing before. “What can I get you to drink girlfriend?”

“Coffee would be great if you have it.

To Franki’s surprise, the blonde placed a cold beer in front of Roman even

though it was just past eight in the morning. He looked a little guilty as he took a

sip and then put it back on the bar. Carly poured Franki a cup of coffee and then

leaned on the counter again.

“So spill it. How did he manage to soothe your ruffed feathers? Did Vin fix

up your bike?”

“He’s still working on it. He had to order some parts.” Franki said, ignoring

Carly’s first question. “I was getting antsy being cooped up on the ranch, so

Roman brought me into town to show me around.”

“Show you around, eh?” Carly tipped her head as she looked at Roman

curiously. “Wel , there isn’t much to Montford, but it’s growing. Mick was just

saying last night that you hadn’t been in for a few days Roman. Figured you’d

died on us or something.”

“Nah, just been busy.” Roman said, sidestepping Franki’s questioning glance.

“Franki, baby, I’m going to go chat with Tim and John for a few minutes, so that

you and Carly can have some girl talk, okay?”

Franki didn’t know what the heck Roman was talking about but she nodded

in agreement. The other woman clearly had more questions than Franki had

answers, so why she’d want to have girl talk was beyond comprehension.

She watched as Roman walked across the room to the other end of the bar.

The long, lean muscles of his back rippled under his t-shirt, and she loved the

way his jeans covered his ass like a second skin. His long hair was tied at the nape

of his neck with some sort of leather tie, and he wore that same straw cowboy hat

perched on his head. He even walked like a cowboy. Or at least what she’d expect

from a cowboy. Damn it, she was in over her head with him.

“He’s a yummy one isn’t he?” Carly said softly drawing Franki’s attention.

“Of course, the good looking ones are the hardest to pin down, and that

man...well, Roman Freemont has had one of the worst cases of bacheloritis I’ve

ever seen.”

“Excuse me?” Franki asked.

“I think it has something to do with his folks. Came from a pair that was as

toxic to each other as they were to their boy. Didn’t form any attachments with

anyone until he hit puberty and found a permanent place with the Crawleys.”

Franki listened as Carly detailed Roman’s early childhood years in an

abusive home. Apparently he’d been brought to the Crawleys with cracked ribs

and a concussion, and that wasn’t even the first time he’d been removed from the

home. But once he’d landed at Crawley Creek, Abe and Sera had taken a shine

to him and pushed the courts to make it a permanent foster placement. After

hearing more from Carly, Franki figured it was by the grace of God alone that

Roman survived at all.

“Kids who don’t know how to bond have a hard time building relationships

later, you know. I’ve heard about a disorder called RAD. It’s actually an

attachment disorder. Until this spring I’d have said all of the Crawley Creek boys

had it.”

“Why is that?” Franki asked, intrigued despite herself.

“Well Drannon married young, but he took off for greener pastures pretty

quick. Wanted to make a name for himself or something. Vin joined up with the

military to escape his past, and Hawke just refused to grow up at al . Then there’s

Romeo.” Carly stopped and glanced across the room. “If you ask me, he’s one of

the good ones, but he’s never truly believed that about himself. Sure he’s gone

through every Sally and Jane in town, and consumed damn near his weight in

beer more times than I can count, but he’s smart. And he’s genuine. Cares about

the people around him. Damn near killed him when Abe died.”

“When was that?” Franki prodded.

“A year or so ago. That’s when everything went downhill for Romeo. I think

he just got all mucked up in his grief and couldn’t let go.”

“Are you telling tales, Carly?” Roman’s voice startled Franki, and she slopped

her coffee over her hand, hissing when the scalding liquid scorched her skin.

Roman reached for it immediately and drew the tender spot to his mouth,

pressing his lips to the pink skin. Franki could have sworn she felt his tongue

stroke over her wound before he smiled and lowered her hand. Everything about

the gesture was sweet and innately sensual, and her body lit up like fireworks

inside.

The connection between them seemed to sizzle in the air, and Franki

realized she was holding her breath as she stared up into his golden eyes. He

looked at her like he wanted to eat her alive, and damned if she didn’t want him

to try.

“Well I can see I’m the fifth wheel, so I’ll just mosey on to the back. Take

care of this one, Roman. Looks to me like you found the real thing. And

Franki...” Carly paused until Franki turned back to her, “Welcome to Montford. I

hope you stick around.”

With that she left them alone, and Franki’s eyes were pulled immediately

back to Roman’s. The feelings he stirred up inside of her were completely

irrational and unexplainable, but she was having a harder time ignoring them the

longer she was with him. As if understanding her thoughts, Roman gave her a

sweet smile. “Shall I show you around Montford, sweetheart?”

Taking his arm felt natural this time, and she even managed to pause so that

he could hold the door for her this time without delay. The approval on his face

burned through her, leaving her aching for something she’d never had from

anyone but her family before. A place to belong, and someone to belong to.

Chapter 10

The moment they were back outside Franki spun around and questioned

him. “What did you find out? Any clues?”

Roman wanted so badly to be able to ease the tension in her slight body, but

his questions hadn’t turned up anything. In fact, they’d left him feeling like a

pretty shitty person for missing out on over a year’s worth of happenings in the

town around him.

“Nothing, sorry. I might have better luck later tonight when the bar’s more

crowded.” They stopped beside his truck, but he wasn’t ready to give up his alone

time with her just yet. “Do you want to visit Amelia with me?”

Franki looked so dejected it actually hurt him physically. The last thing he

wanted was to break his promise, but he truly had no idea where her sister might

be at this point.

“Okay, yeah. We have to try everything.” He watched as she stiffened her

slumped shoulders and lifted her chin. The makeover from disappointment to

determination was masterfully done, and he couldn’t help but admire her pluck.

Holding out his arm, he smiled when she tentatively placed her hand

through it and let him lead her across the parking lot where they’d met to the

convenience store. The door chime rang as they entered, and Amelia was already

looking their way, her eyes taking in their physical connection.

“Morning Romeo,” she called out. “How ya doing today?”

“Wonderful Miss Amelia. This is Franki Scott a dear friend of mine.” He

said moving his hand to the small of Franki’s back. He liked the placement

because it kept her from pulling away, and he was able to feel the upper curve of

her ass under his palm.

“Nice to meetcha.” Amelia said, nodding politely. “Are you the one whose

motorcycle he tore up?”

“Yep, that’s me.”

“Is there anyone in town who doesn’t know about that?” Roman grumbled,

trying not to be irritated at his own mistake.

“Nope. I’m pretty sure Sheriff Bowers made sure everyone in the state

heard.” Amelia smiled at Franki, “I’m glad to see you’re okay, but I’m a bit

surprised to see you stil in Montford. Bran—er—Sheriff Bowers seemed to think

you were just passing through.”

“I am, or I was. Right now I’m waiting on Vin to fix my bike up before I go

anywhere.” Franki glanced up at him, and he smiled encouragingly. “I’ve been

thinking about sticking around for a bit, but I need to get the lay of the land.

Maybe find a place to stay for a while? You wouldn’t happen to know of anyone

trying to rent out a place would you?”

“Well, there’s some duplexes about a mile east down the highway, but those

don’t come furnished and they’re a bit pricey.” Amelia laughed. “Probably why

they’re still available.”

“I was kind of hoping to find a farm house with some property for privacy. I

um…” Franki hesitated, tripping over her made up story and Roman hurried to

rescue her.

“She telecommutes, so she works late hours and needs peace and quiet,” he

filled in. Pleasure rippled through him when Franki nodded and smiled

approvingly.

“Farm house for rent?” Amelia asked. “I don’t know that I’ve heard of any,

but I’ll keep my ears open. What do you do?”

“Private investigating.” Roman heard the words tumble off his lips just as

Franki responded with, “Accounting.”

Amelia was instantly suspicious. “An accountant who doubles as a PI? That’s

a new one.”

“What can I say? Accounting gets boring.” Franki said with a shrug, “So

you’ll let me know if you hear anything, right?”

“Will do.” Amelia agreed. “Oh, and Roman?”

“Yes ma’am?”

The older woman reached out and patted his hand gently. “I’m glad to see

you sober before noon, sugar. You’ve spent too long drowning your grief at the

bottom of a beer can.”

He felt his cheeks grow warm, and he hurried to say goodbye and get Franki

out of the store as quickly as possible. Before she even spoke he was anticipating

her questions, but he wasn’t prepared for her to stop him on the sidewalk just

outside of Amelia’s view and give him a big hug. The sweet scent of apricot filled

his nose, and he inhaled deeply.

“What was that for?” He asked, enjoying the way her breasts pillowed

against his abs.

“That’s twice now someone’s commented on your being sober early in the

day, and when I met you, you’d just been on a bender.”

“How’d you know?” he asked softly, pressing his cheek to the top of her

head. Her hair smelled like sunshine and summer breeze.

“My daddy drank himself into the grave when I was little. Cirrhosis of the

liver. I’ve never forgotten the smell of alcohol and sleep on a man.” She tipped

her head up and he could see the sorrow in her eyes as she remembered.

“I’m sorry. I’ve been in a dark place for a while now…”

She nodded, “Yeah, me too. We just handle it different, I suppose. But I

guess what I’m trying to say is, wel , thank you. For not drinking around me. You

haven’t gotten drunk since I’ve been here, and I have to say I’m relieved.”

The realization that she was right hit him like a ton of bricks. He’d stayed

out on the ranch to spend as much time as possible with her in the last couple of

days, so he’d neglected to drink his weight in beer at the bar like he usually did.

And even better, he hadn’t woken up in anyone’s bedroom trying to figure out

how to sneak out before a stranger woke up next to him.

“You’re welcome,” he murmured, squeezing her tighter. “I think you’re good

for me.”

She snorted, “I just hope you’re good for my sister. We have to find her,

Roman.” When she pul ed away he let her go even though every fiber of his

being was telling him to grip her tighter.

“Well then we’d better plant a few more seeds. Come on, I could use a cup

of coffee and I’m sure you could use some real breakfast.”

As they walked, he reached for her hand, sure that she’d pull away, but when

she didn’t, he felt like skipping. Maybe, just maybe, he’d found a reason to live

again.

~ ~ ~ ~

“Well I’ll be a monkey’s uncle. Roman Freemont, that’d better not be you

sitting there pretty as a picture and in one piece.”

Franki felt her mouth drop open as a buxom brunette stormed across the

small diner to stand at Roman’s side. Her hands planted on her rounded hips and

her dark eyes glared daggers at Roman who’d plastered an uncomfortable smile

on his face.

“Abby, sweetheart. It’s good to see you, uh, this is my…” His eyes widened as