"Zara."

There was no answer to the call, just a warm spot on the bed. Cold meant a long absence from the spot. Warm, meant a much shorter absence; if his thoughts were correct then he owed gratitude to the fact that she'd not been gone for too long. A quick house check confirmed his thoughts. Roman called the doorman, acknowledging that Zara had left the building and caught a cab about twenty minutes ago. Taking a short sprint to the bathroom to freshen up and change, Roman made his way to the elevator. Riding to the level that housed his black convertible Mercedes.

There was no question in his mind about where the missing woman had gone. Before exiting the garage he sent a text to Zara.

Roman: Leave and I will follow

He immediately saw a text bubble but Zara didn't finish the sentence. There was no response.

Roman: What terminal

Zara: C

Roman: Meet me at passenger pickup

The car spiraled down the parking garage, then onto the crunchy rock salt on the streets. A nice snowstorm would have helped, Roman voiced his thoughts to God. He banged his hand on the steering wheel as the car weaved between mid-day traffic. The airport was less than ten minutes away, but with traffic, transport time doubled.

" I don't know what else to do, but I love her too much to give up. And I want her, God."

Thoughts flowed into his mind. The Zara that had run again was not the same woman that ran a million-dollar social media firm. 'Socially Soaring' was one of the top small businesses in the United States. Her company worked with large companies getting them connected to female demographics. They'd won national and international awards for excellence.

Roman longed to see her run his life like she ran her business. Socially Soaring succeeded because she ran a tight ship, was a strong leader and full of confidence. The thought she feared him had struck Roman hard. Out of everything that she could have revealed last night, that would not have been in the equation. Those words – 'that didn't hurt me, none of them can,' gave him more insight into Zara than he had his entire life. To risk losing his affection had kept them apart. He determined to break through her walls because he knew that she loved him. Zara just didn't know how to give in. She'd let those walls slip last night, resting in the comfort of arms that never wanted to let her go. Breaking through the internal monolog was the only chance that he had. How, God?

The embers of hope stilled burned – she'd come and she was still here. Focusing on that lifted his frustration. The holiday traffic at the airport terminal stretched for miles. Anxiety mounted – what was he to say? Part of Zara's actions frustrated him and the other parts he understood. As the car inched closer to passenger pick up he'd decided that the best path was love. Love forgets wrongs and disappointments. He spotted Zara a few car lengths ahead. Knots formed in his stomach, and his heart began to pound from sheer exhilaration that she had not gotten on the plane. I love you so much.

The hood on the parka almost covered Zara's face; he smiled seeing her spot the Mercedes. Within seconds the car rolled up and stopped, with a click, the trunk popped open. She'd placed the suitcase in the trunk before he could get out to help. As soon as she sat in the car, Roman's anxiety melted. The stress in her eyes reached his heart.

"You must think that I'm crazy."

"No. You're afraid." After all this time you've given me enough to figure this out. "You have nothing to fear. But to see that, I need your trust."

Stress deflated. "I do trust you, Roe."

"As your friend, but not as your lover. I want both."

Those few words made it difficult to breathe, fire swept through her blood. She didn't say a word, just gripped the seat until her knuckles turned white. While Roman turned on holiday music to drown out the silence between them.

The anticipation of becoming Roman's lover sent shockwaves down her spine. It stirred memories of times past, waking up a part of her heart that she'd buried. It happened on his 18th birthday. Zara and her best friend since her senior year in high school had thrown Roman a birthday party at Ava's beach house. It was the closest that she'd ever felt to him in her life, and the thought of capturing that moment again made her heart race...

***

"Zara, I've been looking everywhere for you."

Zara gasped. Roman was the hottest thing she'd ever seen. He stood dripping wet from swimming in the surf. He was drying himself with the blue towel that had been hanging on his broad shoulders. She'd never seen him this undone and it snatched her breath away. His eyes locked on her. Why would you leave this party looking for frump girl?

"Didn't you bring a bathing suit?" Roman was right up on her now. Enough to hear her breath hitch.

"The women's thing," she whispered, with a question mark in her tone hoping that he'd buy it.

"On my birthday of all days," he said, sucking his teeth. "Then come down to the beach and dance with me." Taking Zara's hand, they headed down the walkway and stepped down onto the sandy beach. Their clutched hands swung back and forth as they ambled to the party in the middle of the beach.

I can at least do that. She tussled Roman's hair. "Let's go, alcohol breath," she teased. "Are you drunk?"

"Not that drunk," he smiled. "What happened to your face?"

Zara's heart sank. She'd forgotten all about the makeup. Blood rushed up, turning her cheeks fire engine red. "Ava said every girl needs a little help, even her."

"But what do you say?" Roman tucked her elbow in his. They walked down the beach at a slow pace. And as nervous as she was about to enter a crowd fully dressed while everyone else wasn't, she cherished this moment with him. "What you think is all that matters, Zara."

They finally reached the center of the dance area. A lot of eyes were on them and she could hear people whispering. Her nerves rattled under her skin. Damn, if they had not just walked up to a slow song. Feeling Roman press her against his smoking hot body while wrapping his arms around her pudgy waist was her undoing. She jerked his hands higher not wanting him to feel the flab. He eased them back down.

"I'm not ashamed of you, Zara," he whispered in her ear, pulling her closer. Roman could feel the spasms in her body but didn't care. "You didn't answer my question about the makeup."

"What – what – do – you - think?"

Roman chuckled. "I knew sure as hell that you weren't going to answer me. I don't think you need a shred of it. But do you believe me?"

Zara groaned, pressing her head into his shoulder. They swayed together even after the music was over.

Women's eyes glared. They'd all tried to get a piece of the birthday boy's attention that night. There she was - a frizzy dandelion in the midst of red roses, pink orchids, and bright yellow lilies - soaking up all his hot-as-hell attention.

Neither of them heard the music stop playing. They held each other swaying slowly around. At that moment Roman was the only star in her universe; the only thing that she wanted. Zara had never held him that tight, nor wanted him more than that moment. The two were zoned in and everyone else was out.

"I feel like you are holding my heart," she whispered.

"That's because I am."

Roman did the most natural thing for that moment. The thing that he'd always longed to do. He slid his mouth over hers soft and easy. When she moaned, all the love he'd held back exploded, the kiss got so hot, deep, demanding. All he wanted for the rest of life was Zara. His raw intent spilled over, in head bending luscious kisses that set them both on fire.

"Would you look at that," one girl sneered. The few girls standing next to her laughed. Ava rushed across the sand, slapping the girl that sneered hard across the face. "Get off my property!" she yelled. The bunch of them howled with laughter. "Hump - with her," one of them yelled back as they made their way to the car.

Zara felt smaller than an ant. The words seared into her already fragile consciousness. She bolted. Roman pursued but she wouldn't let him get near her. She floundered against him when he tried to console her. Then those fateful words slipped from her mouth. "Please, don't do that again."

***

"That's when I knew," Zara whispered, connecting with the present moment.

Roman turned the radio down. "That's when you knew what?"

"Your 18th birthday – we kissed and those girls laughed at me for being with you. Do you remember?"

How could I ever forget? "Yes, it was the best day of my life and the worst."

"That's the moment that I lost all hope that we could be more than friends. They taunted me because I was a fat girl with a hot guy. I made you suffer for their cruelty. Forgive me."

"It was neither of our fault in what happened. There is nothing to forgive."

Stroking Roman's hand, she smiled up at him. "I felt consumed by that kiss. I wanted you so."

Zara's words were Roman's undoing. The memory was as fresh in his mind as it was hers. "All I need is one night with you. Give me just one - night."