Ignited (Roman Holiday 5)

It occurred to him for the first time that maybe—just maybe—he wasn’t the same man he’d been yesterday morning. Maybe when he’d told Ashley his story, the telling had opened something up in him. Cut a knot loose. Freed him from his false belief that there was only one way, and he’d already found it.

There were other ways—of

course there were. There were countless paths through life, and Roman was starting to believe he’d taken the wrong one.

He couldn’t know where today’s journey would lead them. Ohio was all Ashley had said.

He couldn’t know whether, when they got to the end of this trip, Ashley would keep Sunnyvale or he would pursue his vision for Coral Cay. Whether he would have Ashley in his life. Whether he’d have anything at all.

But the sun was coming up over the green-carpeted Pennsylvania hills. The Escalade pulled a shining silver bullet down the road. The woman he wanted more than he wanted to be sensible sat in his backseat, chewing gum that smelled like synthetic cherries and lime, and Roman began to think that maybe—just maybe—they would both find what they needed in the nine days they had left.

Possibilities.

Moments alone, and the chance to make the most of them.

Time together that could resolve the impasse dividing them.

It could happen. Maybe he could even make it happen.

Roman smoothed his hands over the steering wheel. When he caught Ashley’s eye in the rearview, she quirked an eyebrow at him, and he winked.

Her eyes widened.

He smiled.

He lowered the window, breathed in the morning air, and followed the ribbon of road where it took him.

BY RUTHIE KNOX

Ride with Me

About Last Night

Along Came Trouble

Flirting with Disaster

Truly (Coming Spring 2014)

Novellas

Room at the Inn

How to Misbehave

Making It Last

Roman Holiday (Serialization)

PHOTO: MARK ANDERSON, STUN PHOTOGRAPHY

USA Today bestselling author RUTHIE KNOX writes contemporary romance that’s sexy, witty, and angsty—sometimes all three at once. After studying British history, she became an academic editor instead. Then she got really deep into knitting, as one does, followed by motherhood and romance novel writing.

Her debut novel, Ride with Me, is probably the only existing cross-country bicycling love story. She followed it up with About Last Night, a London-based romance whose hero has the unlikely name of Neville, and then Room at the Inn, a Christmas novella—both of which were finalists for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award. Her four-book series about the Clark family of Camelot, Ohio, has won accolades for its fresh, funny portrayal of small-town Midwestern life.

Ruthie moonlights as a mother, Tweets incessantly, and bakes a mean focaccia. She’d love to hear from you, so visit her website and drop her a line.

www.ruthieknox.com