Intense (Dark Hearts)

“We can talk or video chat once a day.”

My phone rings with my favorite ringtone because I know it’s my guy calling. “Good afternoon, Roman.”

“Hello, Princess. I miss you.” I love how sweet he can be. It shows a side of him that I crave.

“I miss you too. How’s your day?”

“I’m busy, but time has never gone by so slowly before.”

“Are you booked with meetings?”

“Yes. Unfortunately. I’ll be in New Jersey tomorrow, but I promise to be ready for us to go to lunch on Thursday.”

A sigh escapes my lips. I want more than lunch. I want him to sweep me off my feet in the middle of the night when he gets back into town. “Amelia, is something wrong?”

“No. Why?”

“You sighed.” Shit, he heard me.

“I just hoped you wanted to see me sooner. Never mind. I sound needy as hell.”

“I want to hold you in my arms right now. I’m just as needy. There’s just so much bullshit from the fire and I’m doing my best to get everything together. I didn’t want to tell you because I didn’t want you to worry, but they didn’t just start a fire in one of my company office spaces, but also in my apartment. It’s being repaired as we speak, but I want to make it safe before I take you there.”

“Oh my goodness. You should have told me. I can’t believe someone’s after you. No wonder you have a guard.”

“More than one, Princess. I can’t let anything happen to you. I’m not going to be back in town until late, and there’s a strict rule for the dorms. I know because I looked it up, but I promise to call often. I’ve got to go, but I’ll call you tonight.”

“So what’s going on?” my mother asks, folding my clothes to keep herself busy.

“Someone’s after him.”

“I know. Your father told me that there’s security outside the house and will also be meeting you at the airport for protection.”

“I wish it wasn’t that way. I don’t know who’s after him, but I get it. He’s rich, and he’s a jerk for the most part.”

“I know Roman will make sure you’re safe, but please don’t talk to strangers.”

“I’m not. Really. I am moving into my dorm and then meeting with Roman the next morning.”

“Why not sooner?”

“He has a meeting in New Jersey and from his conversation, his apartment needs work, so he’s probably at a hotel.” A sick feeling in me is making me wonder if he’s staying with his former mistress. He told me that there’s only me. Maybe he got rid of her after things got serious.

I know that if Roman’s a changed man, then he wouldn’t do that to her. My phone rings as soon as I’m finished packing. It’s Roman again. “Hey, handsome.”

“Amelia, I just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

“Yes. Why?”

“You were upset before.”

“I’m fine, Roman. My mom and I are packing, so it’s been a little busy around here.”

“Oh. Okay. Well, I better get back into the meeting. I really can’t wait to see you.”

“Me either.” I end the call and smile. Yep, he’s not keeping his mistress. I go back to getting ready to leave, feeling great.

Chapter Eleven

Roman

I’m in the middle of the New Jersey Turnpike itching to get back to New York so I can see Amelia. After their constant flipping and flopping on the asking price, I left the table. My life isn’t only about making money. It’s about that pretty woman who lives in my head and heart.

My phone rings, and it’s the woman herself. I answer it as my driver pulls up the partition.

“How’s it going, beautiful?”

“It’s going good. I’ve just unpacked everything in my dorm room.”

“Well, you shouldn’t have done that. It’s a lot of work.” I haven’t asked her to move in with me just yet. As soon as the place is cleared to go into and completely repaired, we will be living together. She can keep the stupid dorm because that’s what the school requires, but she’ll be living with me.

“I know, but I need something to do to keep busy.”

“What are you doing for dinner? I don’t want you to be hungry.”

“I’m going out for some New York pizza to see if it lives up to the hype.”

“I still prefer Chicago pizza.”

“What are you doing about dinner?”

“I don’t know. I’m still in New Jersey and won’t be back until midnight, so I’ll just have my driver stop through a drive-thru or something.”

“Okay. Well, my mom’s calling me.”

“Okay. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow.”

“Me too.” She ends the call, and I’m fucking curious what that is all about. Does she have second thoughts about us?

The drive and the lousy food I picked up put me in a sour mood for the rest of the night. I didn’t hear from Amelia again, which worried me, but her security said she went into her dorm and has stayed there.