Page 16 of Possessed By Roman

Roman pours coffee into two mugs. “Yeah.”

“For how long?”

“Most of my adult life.” He looks at me. “I spent years as a Navy SEAL. There isn’t much else to it.”

“There has to be more than that.”

He says nothing. I lean against the counter. “Were you always this talkative?”

“No.”

“At least you’re self-aware.”

His mouth twitches again. I take the mug he offers me. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

I take a sip. “Did you always know you wanted to join the military?”

“No.”

“What did you want to be?”

Roman thinks about it. “I didn’t have some big dream.”

“That’s disappointing.”

“Sorry to ruin your image of me.”

“You assume I have an image of you?”

His gaze settles on mine. “I think you do.”

My face immediately heats. I look into my coffee. “You’re annoying.”

He grins. “I know.”

I take another sip, trying to recover before changing the subject. “What about your family?”

Roman leans against the counter across from me. “My parents are still alive. I have two younger siblings. A brother and a sister.”

“You’re close?”

“Yeah.” The answer comes easier this time.

“Always knew you’d be an older brother. You give that older brother energy,” I point out.

His eyebrows pull together. “What does that mean?”

I laugh while Roman stares at me. “You’re bossy.”

“I’m not. I’m practical.”

“No, you’re controlling.”

“Protective.”

“I disagree.”