I wake with a jolt, my eyes flying open as memories of what happened last night flood my brain.Jackknifing up, I glance at the other side of the bed.It's empty.For a confused moment, I sift through my memories, trying to decide if it was nothing more than an erotic dream or if Roman and I actually ended up in bed together.An ache between my thighs flares to life as I shift against the sheets.Definitely not a dream.I exhale, disappointed yet unsurprised that Roman is no longer warming my bed.Roman lost the battle against his attraction to me last night. His absence this morning indicates he's still struggling with the idea of us.Flopping back against the pillows, I rehash everything that occurred. How he took me in the kitchen (note to self: scrub counter with anti-bacterial cleanser), then carried me to the bedroom where we made love and fell asleep in each other's arms.I have no idea when Roman got out of bed or where he went, but he couldn't have gone far. He wouldn't lea

A bell trills overhead as I push through the door of a high-end bridal boutique on Michigan Avenue.Grace officially begins her search for the perfect wedding gown today, and my head swims with the reality that her relationship with Matteo has progressed at breakneck speed.A year ago, my brother hit the town every night of the week with a different beautiful woman hanging off his arm. He wasn't the least bit interested in settling down with one specific female.He avoided intimate relationships altogether. That changed the moment Grace became a part of his life. I guess what they say is true-when you meet the right person, you just know. Love has the power to change your entire world.It saddens me that even though I have those same emotions for Roman, there doesn't seem to be a way for us to make our relationship work. I've tried breaking down his resistance, but he continues to hold steady. There's nothing more for me to do but accept the cold, hard reality that the relationsh

I raise my brows at Roman, who studiously avoids my gaze.MaryAnn, who must be his sister or sister-in-law, turns and faces me again. "Oh, I'm sorry!" She gives Roman an expectant look. When he says nothing, she huffs out a breath and smiles, thrusting her hand toward me. "Apparently Roman isn't going to bother introducing us. I'm MaryAnn, his sister-in-law, and the two hellions that ran past are my boys. The taller one is Jacob, and the other is Logan.""Sofia." I take hold of her hand. "It's nice to meet you."Dozens of questions swirl through my head. I glance at Roman and find his eyes already on me. A strange guardedness I've seen countless times before lurks in them.The boys run back down the aisle and hurtle their small bodies at their uncle.Roman scoops them up into his arms with practiced ease, shaking them until they shriek with uncontrollable laughter. His discomfort dissolves, and his guard drops as he focuses on his nephews with a joyful smile that makes my he

Instead of moving toward the bedroom, I gravitate to the unadorned window overlooking the street. I watch traffic zip and whizz past for a few minutes. It may be one in the morning, but the streets teem with energy and movement.I turn away and glance around the apartment with more scrutiny. Moonlight filters in, illuminating the living room and adjoining kitchen. I can't put my finger on it, but the blankness of this place bothers me.Every surface is sparkling and fingerprint-free. The typical pile of mail most people have laying around is nowhere to be found. No personal items, such as a pair of shoes or a single photograph are strewn about.The niggle of unease in my belly quadruples in size and grows into a painful gnaw as I look for something, anything that proves Roman really lives here.I've been in hotel rooms with more personality.That thought reverberates through me as my eyes land on the desk in the corner. Without thinking, I move in its direction.Because I need a

I keep my eyes averted and use my only bargaining chip. "If I listen, will you release me?""After you hear me out, then yes, I'll let you go." He sighs. "If that's what you still want."I turn my head to look at him with the most vicious glare I can summon. "It will be," I say calmly. After a moment of silence, I snap, "Can we get on with it? I want to get this over with."Disappointment seeps into his eyes.Good.Roman needs to understand that there's nothing he can say to thaw my frigid heart. "From the time I was a kid, there was nothing I wanted to be other than a cop. Both my father and uncle were on the Chicago police force for about thirty-five years, just like their old man was before them. It was like the family occupation. After I finished college, I applied to CPD and was accepted. I never bothered to put in an application with any other department because I wanted to work in Chicago. Once I completed my training at the academy, I worked the streets for two yea