Read Online Last Play: Book 1 The Last Play Series by Taylor Hart - Free Book Online Page A

much she was talking about Lou, he decided on a ham and cheese omelet with waffles. His nutritionist could ream him later. “That’s nice.”
    A server came and introduced herself. “Well, hello there.” She stopped as she studied Roman. “Can I just say that television makes you look exactly as good as I’d always pictured you would?”
    Roman could feel the red creeping up his cheeks. He blinked. “Well, you look good, too.” It came out woodenly, but, Roman realized the girl with the nametag that said ‘Tiffany’—who was blond and probably in her early twenties with a lean figure—did look good.
    At his compliment, Tiffany’s grin widened. She lightly smacked Roman’s shoulder. “Heaven’s, Roman Young, you do know how to give a girl a compliment.”
    He grinned back at her, suddenly feeling comfortable.
    “Hmm.” Katie cleared her throat. “I’m at the table too, Tiffany.”
    Immediately, Tiffany jerked her gaze away from Roman. A frown touched her lips. “Katie Winters, how come I’m not surprised that you’re sitting here—with the man I claimed a long time ago.” She cocked a hand on her hip. “A long, long time ago.” She shook her finger at Katie. “His uncle used to come in here and tell me all about Roman, and I told his uncle that if he ever came to town, he had to hook me up. I’ve been the first in line since the divorce.”
    If Roman could have known this would happen, he definitely would have avoided coming here and this little soap opera he’d just been made some kind of star in.
    Katie pinched her lips and narrowed her eyes. “I’m. Not. Interested. In Roman.”
    The words ricocheted inside Roman’s head.
    Tiffany eased a smile back into place and put a pen to a pad of paper. “Good.” She gave her a meaningful look, and Roman knew that whatever small town rivalry had gone on between them would probably be an interesting story. “Well,” Tiffany said, recovering, “now that all the unpleasantness is out of the way, what will you have for breakfast?”
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    T hey’d spent the next few minutes ignoring Tiffany’s little outburst. Katie seemed bugged and Roman didn’t know what to say.
    Roman watched people get on the lift. Most of them looked like locals or seasoned skiers. He could tell this by the wear and tear of their equipment. It felt like he could spot a newbie a mile away. He let out a sigh, unable to keep up with the silence. “I guess getting trapped at a ski resort for a couple of days could only improve skiing for people, right?”
    Katie pretended that she didn’t hear him. Or, if she had, she didn’t acknowledge him.
    If there was anything that Roman didn’t like, it was being ignored. “Look, if you’d rather not talk to me because you fear angering your high school nemesis, then that’s fine—say that. But don’t just ignore me. It’s rude.”
    Her eyes flashed anger as she flicked her head, and their eyes met. The emotion made her eyes an intense green. The kind of green that looked almost blue. Ocean green. The kind he’d seen on several trips to Hawaii when he’d gone snorkeling and scuba diving with Sheena. At the memory, he yanked his gaze away.
    She still didn’t say anything.
    He turned back to her. “And, by the way, I don’t appreciate you announcing to the whole town that I’m Jim’s nephew everywhere we go.” He didn’t turn to look at her. It did bother him that she felt like she had to tell everyone, to explain the only reason she would be seen with him or something.
    “But you are Jim’s nephew.” Her voice was low.
    His leg bounced with nervous energy. He put his hand on it to stop it. “Well, they’ll find out soon enough, you don’t need to tell everyone like…like that’s the only reason you’re with me…because you’re stuck with me.” It was exactly how he felt, but it sounded ridiculous, the vulnerability tripping out of his lips.
    For a second she didn’t say anything. Then she let out a dramatic