“Did you study art in Europe?”
“I never studied anywhere. Formally, anyway.” He eased off the gas as he went around a curve. “I never did well in an environment where someone was telling me what to do or how to think.”
“Talia said you don’t follow rules. Maybe that’s why people like your work so much.”
“But not you.”
“I don’t matter.” She looked away and gasped. “Stop!”
Roman slammed on the brakes, sure he was about to hit something. The car fishtailed. He corrected and pulled onto the side of the road. He uttered a foul word. “What’d I hit?”
“Nothing. I’m sorry I startled you.” She opened the car door.
“Where are you going?”
“Roman, look around you!” She laughed, her face radiant.
The hillsides were covered in purple, yellow, and orange wildflowers. He gave them a cursory glance, and watched her picking her way into the field. She looked around in wonder and then back at him. “Veronica was right. Have you driven this way before?”
“Once.” He hadn’t chosen this route to see the color-splashed hillsides. “It’ll be over in a few weeks.”
“Then it’s perfect timing we’re here now.” She spread her arms. “Look what God can do with weeds.”
God again.
She kept walking farther into the field. She bent to pick something up and tucked it in her pocket. He took out his phone and snapped a picture of her standing among the lupines and poppies. Leaning against his car, he took several more. He pocketed the phone when she headed back.
She looked at him. “I guess you want to get going again.”
“We’re in no hurry.” She was showing him a world he’d never noticed. “Why don’t we stop in Fresno for the night? I can meet your aunt.”
The joy left her face. “Aunt Elizabeth doesn’t like surprises.”
“I take it you don’t get along.”
“We get along. I call her twice a month and visit whenever I can.”
Roman hadn’t noticed any older women showing up at the cottage, and Grace hadn’t mentioned going on any trips, short or long. “Give her a call. We can swing by on the way back.” He wanted to meet the woman. The aunt might also be more forthcoming with information.
Grace didn’t take her phone out of her purse.
After a couple more hours on the road, they stopped for a late lunch in Lemoore. The time passed pleasantly enough, even if Grace was less than open with personal details about her past. When they returned to the car, Roman sensed Grace’s tension. She barely talked as they approached Fresno. He had a dozen questions he wanted to ask, but knew better. He merged onto 99, heading north out of Fresno. Her body relaxed. She took a breath and let it out slowly. He glanced over, but she avoided eye contact.
Roman touched the car computer screen and did a search of Merced hotels with pools. After a day in the car, it’d be nice to swim some laps. “Did you bring a swimming suit?” The look she gave him was answer enough. Roman used the voice activation system to ask for directions to a sporting goods store. “I’ll buy you a suit.” When Grace protested, he cut her off. “You can pick it out or I will, and I’m paying for it. I’m hot, I’m tired, and I want to swim.”
“I’m your personal assistant, Roman, not your lifeguard.”
“You need to cool off as much as I do.” He pulled into a shopping mall and parked. “Come on.”
When they got into the store, Grace meandered until he looked pointedly at a neon-pink two-piece on a mannequin and grinned. She quickly found a functional black one-piece suit. He couldn’t resist needling. “Chicken.”
He paid for the suit before he realized she’d opened her purse and pulled out her wallet. She didn’t thank him or even look at him on the way to the car. Roman glanced at her when he got in and saw the hot blush that had climbed up her neck and filled her face. Why was she so embarrassed? “It’s not lingerie, Grace.”
Roman told the hotel clerk they needed two rooms, on separate floors. As soon as the clerk handed Grace a key card, she shouldered her backpack, lifted her suitcase and tote bag, and headed for the elevator. He stopped the door just before it closed. “I’ll see you at the pool in twenty minutes.”
“Yes, sir.” She glared at him. “Are you getting in?”
“I think I’d better wait.” He let go of the door and stepped back as she punched the button. What had he done wrong?
He thought he’d be alone with Grace in the pool and they could talk. Kids were everywhere! Muttering a curse under his breath, Roman opened the gate. He could forget about swimming laps. Three women sat on the pool steps. Grace wasn’t one of them. Pulling off his T-shirt, Roman tossed it with his towel on a vacant chaise lounge. The three women looked at him. The freestyle tribal tattoo he designed to be wrapped around his rib cage and chest usually drew attention. He’d suffered hours of pain and paid thousands of dollars to get inked. He wouldn’t be wasting time and money again.
Roman spotted Grace in the deep end, batting a beach ball back to a child in the shallow end. He found free space and dove in. Staying under, he headed for her. It was worth the chlorine burn to see Grace underwater. She had legs like a ballet dancer and more curves than he’d imagined. When he came up right in front of her, she pulled back, startled. Her dark hair was wet and slicked against her head; her pale shoulders glistened.
Raking his hair back, Roman grinned at her. “The water feels good, doesn’t it?”
“Yes.” She put a little more distance between them. “You were right.” She gave him an impish smile. “But you’re going to have a hard time doing laps.”
“I gave up on that idea when I came out the door.” He moved closer again. “How about a game of Marco Polo?”
“It’s against the rules.”
“Rules are made to be broken, Grace.”
Her eyes flickered. “Not by me, and certainly not with my boss.” She swam away.
He shouldn’t have flirted with her. She was going to be even more uptight with him now. She walked up the steps and sat near a woman holding a toddler on her lap. They fell into easy conversation. Children swarmed the deep end. One tossed a ball at him. He caught it in one hand and tossed it back. “Let the man do his laps,” the woman sitting with Grace called out to them. When they kept getting in the way, she called them to the shallows, gathered her brood, and headed for the gate.
Grace was back in the pool, but keeping her distance. When she lifted herself onto the side, he swam over. Crossing his arms on the edge of the pool, he smiled up at her. “You look cooled off.”
“I’m sorry I got mad.”
“I didn’t intend to embarrass you. It was my idea to swim, and right that I paid for the suit. It’s no big deal, Grace. I wasn’t expecting anything in return.” Shut up, you idiot. He raised himself and sat beside her. Unlike other women he’d met, she didn’t look at his body. She looked away, then straight ahead. “We’re going to Yosemite tomorrow.” That brought her head around.
“What about Golden?”
“It’s not going anywhere. Have you ever been to Yosemite?”
“No, but—”
“If you think wildflowers are something, wait until you see Half Dome.” He curved his hand over the edge of the pool, as close to hers as he could get without touching her. She moved her hand away. She looked uncomfortable. He stood and held out his hand. “Let’s get dressed and find a place to eat.” She hesitated before accepting his help. Her hand was cold, and she shivered. Roman grabbed his towel from the chaise lounge and swung it around her. “What time do you want to go out to dinner?” He took another towel from the pile by the gate.
“Whenever you want.”
He looked at her. “I’m starving right now.” And not just for food. “How soon can you be ready?”