Roman's Vow (Riley's Pride #4) - Sandra R Neeley Page 0,54

guessing you like Reese’s,” Sheryl said, as Talie took out at least a dozen packages of peanut butter cups.

“Yeah, I do. Here, have one,” Talie said, picking one up and tossing it to Sheryl, who tore the wrapper and popped one into her mouth.

“And stationery! Real, old fashioned, linen stationery,” Talie said, lifting the box of pale, sea-green tinted paper and matching envelopes out of the larger box everything was packed in. “And a book of stamps, too.”

“Didn’t even know you could still buy stationery sets,” Sheryl said. “I think they want you to write them some letters.”

Talie nodded. “I think so, too. And there are letters in here from them,” she said. She looked back inside the large box and smiled when she took out a package of multi-colored pens, some photos of Roman and Darcie, her favorite brand of deodorant, some tampons, and a new hairbrush.

“They took care of you,” Sheryl said.

“Yes, they did,” Talie answered. Then she laughed when she reached for a stack of magazines. They were the kind that most people called gossip rags, filled with gossip stories about movie stars and musicians. “I love these stupid gossip magazines. Darcie must have told Roman.”

“He’s a good man,” Sheryl said.

Talie looked up at Sheryl. “He really is. I don’t know why he’s the least bit interested in me, but I’m thankful anyway.”

“Because you’re a good woman. Good people are drawn to each other,” Sheryl said.

Talie sat back on her heels and smiled at Sheryl. “You’re a good woman, too, Sheryl. I don’t know how I’d make it through this if not for you.”

“Just doing what I can to make this shit easier on the ones that I believe shouldn’t be here,” Sheryl said. “If we all made a difference in any little way we could, do you have any idea how much nicer this world would be?”

“You’re right. I’m going to remember that,” Talie said. A colorful box caught her eye and she reached into the bottom of the box. “Crayons,” she said, lifting the box of crayons and the two coloring books beneath it. “And coloring books. Ooooo,” Talie said, “and romance novels!” she exclaimed while taking several paperback novels out of the box.

“He’s trying to make sure you have something to do while you wait to go home,” Sheryl said.

“I’m so ready to go home,” Talie said. “I want to hold my daughter. I want to get to know my husband better. I want to give him a kiss that isn’t witnessed by the justice of the peace that married us,” Talie said.

“How’d you two meet?” Sheryl asked, curious since it was apparent Talie didn’t know him as well as you’d think.

“I waited on his table when he and his friends came in for a meal one day. He said I was his and he’d protect me forever,” Talie said, smoothing her hands over the photo of Roman. “I was too afraid to believe it because it was so sudden and I’d been burned before. And I had Darcie, I couldn’t just expose her to a man I didn’t really know. But if I’d only listened to him, gone with him like I wanted to do, I wouldn’t be here now,” she confided.

“It’s gonna be okay, girl. You’re gonna get your happy ever after. Just be strong a few more weeks,” Sheryl said. She could easily tell when humans lied, and when they told the truth. Talie was truly innocent and that was the reason she’d watched over her since she’d been in custody, that and the fact that she liked Talie. And after hearing how they met, she realized why she’d had the impulse to roll down their window and allow Talie and her husband to see each other one last time as they were leaving court. Roman was like her, or she was like him. She’d immersed herself in a world of humans because it was just easier for her that way. Her animal wasn’t dominant among shifters, but among the humans she was as much alpha as any true alpha shifter. It appeared Roman was a shifter, and he’d obviously recognized Talie as his mate when he’d first seen her. It explained so much about their quick marriage and the almost obsessive way Roman had attuned himself to Talie. Sheryl had no idea what he was because she hadn’t been able to scent him in court because of all the perfumes and colognes, but she had no doubt now that he