for you every day.”
Deep down he knew that. Maybe that was why he still felt such a strong bond to her. “Gracie, that means more to me than you could ever know.”
* * *
Gracie had helped plan more charity functions than she could count, and she had to admit that the Welcome Home decorating committee had seriously outdone themselves this time. Red, white and blue tulle swirled tastefully overhead, garnished with American flag balloons and crepe streamers. The tables had been draped in white linen with blue cloth napkins and red rose centerpieces. The decor screamed patriotism and valor. And in the center of it all against the back wall a slideshow of the wounded warriors and their families the foundation had assisted played on a huge screen.
The crowd was a who’s who of Chicago, with a handful of Hollywood personalities mixed in. From where she stood she could see Roman mingling with the other guests. He looked damned fine in a tux, and the slightly rumpled hair coupled with the battle scars made him look rugged and a little dangerous. Yet somehow he fit right in.
One of the tallest and biggest men there, Roman had turned heads the minute they walked through the door. She felt an odd sense of pride to be there with a man whom she considered to be by far the sexiest, most gorgeous in the room. Only they weren’t there together, she reminded herself. Not in a romantic way. She had no claim to him, nor did she want one. Though she couldn’t deny that a tiny part of her, deep down inside, wished she did.
Okay, maybe it wasn’t so tiny. And she hated herself for it. For being so weak. And irrational. For wanting a man who did her and her family so wrong. But her body kept betraying her.
Roman glanced her way, saw her watching him, and a sly grin curled his lips. He said something to the man he’d been speaking with then headed her way, and her heart shifted wildly in her chest.
When he took her hand in the limo she’d just about melted into a puddle on the leather seat. She’d wanted to pull away, and scold him for being so personal, but she just couldn’t make herself do it. It was hard enough to fight the desire to launch herself into his arms and hold him.
But he wasn’t hers to hold.
Though as he came up next to her, sliding her hand back into his would have felt as natural as breathing.
Damn him.
“See something you like?” he asked, a suggestive lilt in his tone. One that she was sure was meant to rattle her cage. And it worked.
She gestured randomly in the direction he’d come from, sighed wistfully and said, “Yes, but I think he’s married.”
Roman threw his head back and laughed. “You’re a terrible liar.”
Yes, she was, and he knew her too well. She had to fight the irrational urge to lean in close, so that their arms touched.
Back in the old days Roman had never been shy about physical affection in public. He’d always held her hand, no matter where they were.
When she started college she hadn’t had a whole lot of sexual experience. Too many times she’d been deceived by men who were only interested in her money and family name. Trust had been a difficult concept to grasp back then. And though she had sacrificed her innocence to one of the men before Roman, she had never surrendered her heart. Sex had been something fun to do, but not emotionally satisfying. She had never come close to connecting emotionally to anyone the way she had with Roman. When they’d finally crossed the line from friends to lovers, she’d been so ready, and so desperately in love with him, making love had been truly magical.
And she had the sneaking suspicion that it still would be, not that she would ever find out.
“Are you having a good time?” she asked him.
“Better than I thought I would. I’m not big on large crowds.”
“Then why did you come?”
“I couldn’t let the most beautiful woman here show up without a date.”
She glared at him, though a smile hovered just below the surface. “This is not a date.”
He shrugged. “So you keep saying.”
She heard someone call her name and looked away from Roman to see Dax Caufield, the newest addition to the state senate, making a beeline for them, flashing that renowned campaign smile. Dax was a typical politician, but a decent guy. She had no doubt that with his good looks and charm he would eventually work his way up the Washington food chain. Though she didn’t agree with all of his politics, in a world where lies and half-truths were almost expected, he seemed to be a genuinely good and honest man who believed in his positions. He could be a little overbearing, and a touch arrogant, but that usually went along with the territory. He always struck her as honest and morally sound, so much so that for a short time, for his current state senate seat, she had been an assistant campaign manager. Working behind the scenes, using her experience as an event planner, she’d arranged most of his local speaking engagements and fund-raising events, though it had been the volunteers who did the majority of the work. If there was one thing she excelled at, it was delegation. And because Dax was so popular and well liked, finding people to help had never been an issue.
Still, though he was very attractive and charismatic, he couldn’t hold a candle to Roman.
“Grace!” he said, beaming as he gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “I’m so glad you could be here!”
“I wouldn’t have missed it,” she said, and turned to Roman. “Roman, this is State Senator Dax Caufield. He sponsored this event.”
“Roman Slater,” Dax said, vigorously shaking Roman’s hand. “It’s an honor to meet you. I’ve heard good things about you. And let me say thank you for your service.”
Roman nodded, but didn’t smile. He was typically rather gregarious but something in his eyes said Dax had rubbed him the wrong way. She was curious to know why, since Roman didn’t even know him.
Dax hooked an arm around Gracie’s shoulders and told Roman, “This woman is a godsend. She was indispensable during my campaign and she helped to plan this event. I don’t know what I would have done without her.”
“I think you may be exaggerating a little,” Grace said with a smile. “But I did what I could to help.”
“It’s a privilege to have a true war hero with us tonight,” Dax told Roman.
“Every soldier is a hero,” Roman said sharply. “And deserves the same honor.”
His tone took Gracie aback, but before the situation could get awkward, or escalate, someone called to Dax and he turned his attention to Gracie, his smile never wavering. “I’d like to speak with you later about a few ideas I had for the foundation. In the meantime work your magic.”
Gracie smiled. “You know I will.”
He winked, then said to Roman, “Have a good time.”
When he was gone, Roman said, “I don’t like that guy.”
Puzzled, Gracie asked, “Why?”
Frowning, he shrugged. “Just a feeling.
