Page 24 of Romero and Juliette

He looks at me then—really looks—and something in his eyes softens. “Juliette…” My name sounds like it hurts coming out of his mouth.

His fingers twitch at his sides before he lets them hover, just barely, at my waist. Not touching. Just there. The heat from his skin ghosts across the fabric of my dress, and every nerve I have lights up.

“Say it again,” I whisper.

He shakes his head once. “That’s the problem. Every time I say your name, it feels like a promise I can’t keep.”

I swallow hard. “Maybe stop thinking about what could go wrong and think about what could go right.”

He gives a low, disbelieving laugh, the sound rough as gravel. “Don’t mistake my reluctance for ignorance. I have zero doubts about how good things would be between us.”

Another ghost of a touch, this time the denim of his jeans as he closes the distance between our bodies.

For one impossible second, everything narrows to that—his breath against my cheek, the scent of his soap and the hotel shampoo, the heat between us. I could lean forward half an inch and end this standoff forever.

Then there’s a knock on the door. Sharp. Intrusive.

We both flinch.

He steps back first, runs a hand through his hair. The distance hits like cold air. “Room service,” a voice calls from the hall.

He doesn’t answer. I can’t seem to breathe.

Finally, he mutters, “I asked them to bring our orders up here.”

“I guess you’ve been saved by the bell or something,” I say, my voice sounding sharper than intended.

chapter

ten

Cruz

I let the room service guy in, and he rolls the cart over by the desk. Juliette is still standing where I left her. I sign the check, giving the guy a nice tip before locking the door behind him. I take a deep breath before turning back around.

She’s got her arms wrapped around herself as if she needs a hug, and that’s the only one available. Recognizing that makes my entire body ache with the need to fix everything in her life.

“What about other guys from the app?” I ask.

She frowns. “What other guys?” She tosses her arms up. “There are no other guys. You know, for being so old and mature, you’re a dumbass. There is only you. I mean, there was you and computer you, which I obviously didn’t know was the same person. But the only reason I even got on that stupid app was because you made it abundantly clear that you were not for me.”

“You just have a lot of life you haven’t lived. You might think you want me, but you could change your mind. Realize you want to explore the world, date around.”

I shake my head the entire time he’s talking because he clearly hasn’t been paying attention.

“Juliette—” I start, but she interrupts me.

“No.” She holds a hand up. “Now is my turn to talk. I don’t remember a lot about my parents, but I remember sitting in my mother’s lap and talking to her. She was so patient with any and all of my questions. She would smile and every time she would tell me, ‘Y ou have a beautiful old soul, my sweet Juliette, just like your father. Don’t let anyone steal that from you.’”

Juliette kicks off her shoes and paces the space between the bed and the window. “It took me a long time to realize what she meant. Since then, other people have said similar things to me. My sisters tease me for being a stodgy old lady. I guess some people would call it wisdom, but I think what people see in me, why people say that, is because there is a⁠—”

“A stillness about you,” I say. “You’re settled, comfortable in your skin the way some people never are. You have a quiet strength that I noticed immediately. Admittedly, after I noticed your hair and your ass.”

She smirks at me.

I close the distance between us. “You think I don’t see all of that in you?” I squeeze her biceps. “Of course, I see you. How could I not?”

“Then why do you question whether what I feel for you is real or lasting?” she asks. “If you truly saw me, you’d know.”