Touched By A Marine (Book 1)

Chapter Nine: Twin Brother

Why did I feel like I just feel through the looking glass? Because that is actually what happened when I first met Roman. His eyes struck me at first. They rested deep in their sockets, and he seemed unable to take them off me. Granted, everyone else in the dining room was staring at me more or less unabashedly, but he was the most brazen. As if I were some kind of an exotic creature he had never seen before in his life. I watched as his eyes scanned me from top to bottom before locking eyes with me again and giving me the same trademark grin as his brother, Brad. He took a swig from his Miller Light and rose from his seat as he made his way over to us. It was clear to me at this very moment that the man was a sex god.

His eyes were brown while his hair was black but cut short and spiked at the front. And his face was perfectly sculpted with a jawline that looked like it was cut from stone. But if he was anything like Brad, Roman definitely worked out and it showed. When he reached out to shake my hand I could see the muscles in his arm begin to tighten as they traveled down to reach his fingertips where they gave me a firm squeeze. Afterwards, I stepped to the side as he pulled Brad into a big bro hug and then patted his back telling him how great it was to see him again. They exchanged a few more words before laughing and then turning to face me with their arms around each other’s shoulders.

“So, you must be James. I hear my brother’s quite infatuated with you. At least, that’s what our mother told me upon my arrival.” Roman said with a grin.

“That’s me!” I replied. “So, Roman, what do you do?”

“Oh, I’m a Navy Seal. I provide sniper support for my teammates.”

“Roman!” Carmen scolded him. “You’re not supposed to tell him that.”

“Sorry ma’am.”

“It’s alright. Now let’s eat.”

Commotion could be seen all around me as the Cullen family sat down to dinner. Brad placed a hand on my side as he guided me over to the seat next to him while Roman sat across from me and Mr. and Mrs. Cullen sat at opposite ends of the table. The table was filled with food to feed an entire village consisting of the main course, a small plate of green beans, mixed vegetables and a large wooden bowl filled with fresh salad. I reached for my napkin when Carmen announced that I didn’t get anything to drink. I calmly told her that I was fine and that she needn’t worry about me. She shot a look at Brad who whispered to me that he would get me something. I went to speak again but I was silenced when Brad gave me a quick kiss on the lips and sauntered over to the fridge.

“What do you want, babe?” he asked me.

“Water.”

“Beer?”

“No, I want water.”

“So you do want a beer?”

“Brad. Stop playing around and get James his water.” Carmen said.

Roman laughed. “What are you trying to do my brother, get your boyfriend drunk?”

“I’m trying too. But he’s not making it easy.”

The refrigerator door slammed shut as Brad carried over my glass of water for me. But not before Carmen smacked him on the back of the head upon his return. I giggled and rubbed the spot where Carmen smacked him and whispered in his ear. “That’s what you get for smacking me on the ass earlier.” He turned his head to face me and tried desperately to give the sad puppy dog look. I shook my head telling him nice try and went back to eating my dinner. The small talk was kept to a minimum but I was most grateful that nobody spoke to me. Because I wouldn’t know what to talk about, let alone tell them about my personal and what it is I do for a living. Halfway through my dinner and I suddenly realized that I was full and couldn’t eat another bite.