It was still early, but the day was misty and gray. Drizzle and fog seemed to be the order for the morning. On days like today, it made for shitty riding, so he kept his bike covered and borrowed Elise’s new sport utility vehicle, which he’d been using to chauffeur her around town.
He’d driven her out to her studio earlier that morning—along with Beth Ann, since he was heading into town anyhow, and Colt would want his wife taken care of. Rome hopped into the car and texted Elise before he pulled out of the parking lot. Coffee run. Brenna broke the Keurig. You want one?
Yes, she sent back. Latte, extra shot of espresso! Thx! XOXO
XO, he sent back, then felt like a bit of a puss for doing so. Then didn’t care.
Rome mused at how things had changed in the last two weeks. He’d returned to his job easily, and it hadn’t been weird at all. Not even with Grant. Okay, it had been a little strange at first, waking up and crawling out of bed with Elise and then having to look her overprotective brother in the eye, but they were both moving past that. Dane and Colt had both been thrilled that Rome had returned, and Pop had taken him aside and hugged him. Pop, it seemed, had a son in prison and understood what Rome was going through.
He’d hugged the old man back, and tried not to cry like a f**king sissy.
Since coming back, life had been pretty much, well, perfect. His days were filled with work—good, honest work on the paintball course and helping Pop with odd jobs. He was more or less in charge of the paintball side of things, which meant making sure that everyone had paid before showing up on the course, checking safety equipment and waivers, fixing jammed guns in the middle of gameplay, refereeing battles when players wanted an arbitrator, and, of course, selling additional ammo on the spot when people ran out.
His nights were filled with Elise. Gorgeous, giving, smart, funny Elise. How he f**king loved that woman. He couldn’t get enough of her. She was passionate in bed, and growing bolder every day. Out of bed she was just fun to be around, and incredibly thoughtful. There wasn’t a moment when she didn’t make him feel like the world’s luckiest man, and now that they had declared to the world they were a couple, Elise was busy introducing him to everyone as her boyfriend. She’d dragged him over to have dinner with Emily—and Jericho, to his surprise. It seemed that his vagabond brother was also forming roots in Bluebonnet, and had his eye on the cheery divorcée who ran the bed-and-breakfast.
It was weird to have his brother around, but he was kinda getting used to it. They’d gone out for beers once after that. He’d gone out with Grant and the boys one night, too, and he’d felt like part of the crew.
He’d even met Elise’s family. To his surprise, both Reggie and Justine Markham had met him with welcoming, open arms, and had doted on both him and Elise. They’d taken him out on the family boat and dragged them out for dinner at a white tablecloth kind of place once, which he’d endured only for Elise. But overall, they were pretty good people, and they hadn’t made him feel like a filthy ex-con for touching their daughter. They seemed genuinely happy that Elise was happy.
Rome picked up a tray of coffees—and added an extra for Beth Ann, since he’d promised Colt to check up on her while he was out on a three-day survival run. He parked the car in front of the salon, dropped Beth Ann’s coffee off, then headed down the street to bring Elise hers.
His steps slowed at the sight of two shiny, tricked-out Harleys parked in front of Elise’s new studio. A tight sense of foreboding swept over him. Oh no.
His goddamn parents.
Rome peered into the storefront window, but he could see no one. God damn it. What were they saying to Elise? Were they trying to poison her mind against him? She wouldn’t believe it, but she’d be distressed that they’d try. How had they found out he was seeing her?
Or worse, was this a shakedown? Were they demanding money from her? Rome never mentioned her money. He never wanted her to think he was with her because of it. He wouldn’t care if she worked at a hot dog stand, as far as he was concerned. And he wanted to make his own money for a change. With the new wages that Grant was paying him, he had dreams of saving up. Maybe getting his own car in a year or so, and then they could start putting away and planning for the future.
Their future, together.
His parents weren’t in his plans. Coffee in one hand, Rome carefully eased the door of Elise’s shop open and stepped inside silently. No one had noticed him come in. He could hear voices talking in the back room that she’d converted to her office, and he edged closer so he could make out what they were saying.
“You must be doing really well for yourself,” Rome heard his mother say in that disgusting, wheedling tone of hers.
He heard Elise murmur something polite, and he could picture her shy expression, hanging her head and letting her hair spill in front of her cheek like she did when she was nervous.
“Like we said,” his father chimed in, “we’re not trying to impose, but, well, times are hard. I’m sure if you talked to Rome, he’d agree to send us a bit of cash just to help out through the dry spell. Just a few thousand would really help get his mother back on her feet with her medical bills.”
Rome stifled a groan. The “medical bills” excuse was one they’d trotted out to every relative who could be fleeced until they’d wised up to the Lozadas. He was pretty sure that between his parents, they’d “miraculously” recovered from cancer half a dozen times and pocketed every single dollar. He wanted to barge in before Elise could agree to anything. She had a soft heart where he was concerned.
“Yes,” his mother was saying. “Rome would be terribly upset if anything were to happen to us. Just a few grand would go so far.”
“I’m afraid I’d have to discuss it with Rome,” Elise said in a kind, sweet voice. “We don’t share finances.”
“You don’t?” His mother sounded surprised. “I’d have thought he’d want to share bank accounts with a lovely, well-to-do young thing like you.”
As in, it was clear he was with her because she had money. Rage simmering, Rome nearly crushed the coffee cup in his hand.
“Actually,” Elise said, and he heard a note of amusement in her voice. “I offered but he’s very independent. He likes having his own money and I don’t blame him.”
“Perhaps you don’t know about Rome’s terrible, terrible past,” his father said, and there was a hard note in his voice. “Be a shame if it got around in this town that there was an ex-con living here.”