The return trip was a rapid blur of cloudless blue sky, endless desert and a surprisingly companionable silence. Lana was slowly beginning to accept that, as far as Roman was concerned, she could not predict or control where the day would take them. Normally, that would frustrate her beyond words, but his mellow nature was apparently contagious. Her body was clearly feeling the effects, as it sank all the way down into the plush leather of the passenger seat. She admired the newfound glow on her arms, appreciating the sun's quick work. Her workout routine typically consisted of a few regimented hours in a soulless, air-conditioned gym on the strip, rather than breaking a sweat in the great outdoors. It had been a nice change of pace.

"You hungry?" Roman asked when they reached civilisation again.

"Hmm…?" Lana had been a million miles away, staring at nothing in particular.

Roman smiled at her dreamy-eyed gaze. "Do you wanna get food?"

"Yes. Yes, that would be good…"

"It's tough to transition back to this life," he commented, gesturing at the high rise buildings around them with his free hand. "Coming back is the worst part, but the escape is worth it."

"It's…coming down after the high," she sighed wistfully. "The calm after a wonderful storm. The morning after the night before."

"You had a lot of those? Mornings after the night before?" His teasing had infuriated her in the past, but Lana was now accustomed to it.

"More than you'd expect," she murmured dryly, pleased when she saw his eyes widen.

She was aware of her reputation as an ice maiden, a woman who never opened up, preferring to wrap herself in mystery. Lana didn't think herself to be so complex. She was pretty easy to read if one took the effort to get past all of her walls. Roman appeared to have the persistence required to do just that. But still, it was fun to surprise him every now and again too.

He gulped audibly and pulled into the staff parking lot without another word.

The backstage area was far less grandiose than she had expected. Compared to the lush couches and velvet drapes at the front of house, it was downright industrial. Lana followed Roman's massive frame through the hallways, taking in every little detail of his workplace with an intense curiosity. As if returning a favour, he was opening up to her as much as she had opened up to him that morning. She appreciated the gesture.

"Ro! My boy!" A pint-sized man approached Roman, pulling him into a heartfelt hug, followed by a fond slap on the back. "That was quick, you're a peach for saving our asses. Big client tonight - the mayor's daughter. You'll get double."

Roman nodded and waved away his gratitude, "It's not a problem. You know I wouldn't leave you hanging like that."

"Yeah, but you sounded a little…tense on the phone." The man finally noticed Lana standing off to one side, his eyes widening as he gave her the once over. "Did I interrupt something…?"

"Nope."

Roman's tone was unwavering, a fact that tugged at Lana's heart a little. She really had to let go of her secret desires - the truth was that he didn't feel anything for her beyond a platonic curiosity. She wasn't accustomed to that. Men were usually so eager to be her bedmate for a few hours. If he didn't want her for that, or to be a friend in the vein of Baron - then what did he want?

Regardless of his intentions, if he could refrain from so obviously creating distance between the two of them - while simultaneously inviting her to accompany him to work - her heart and brain would really appreciate it.

"I'm Lana," she ventured, offering her hand to the man. "Pleasure to meet you."

Accepting her hand with one of his own, he placed the other over his heart. "Enzo Amore. Trust me, the pleasure is all mine." With that, he leaned forward and kissed the back of her hand, winking at her when they were at eye-level again. "How do you two know each other?"

"Through mutual friends," Roman answered, idly flipping through the running order for the show.

Frowning, Lana decided to have a little fun. Isn't that what Roman had been encouraging her to do…?

"We share a hairstylist," she said casually, shooting a smile at the large Samoan when he turned to gape at her in surprise. "That hair doesn't just happen."

"Ro? You been holding out on me, man?" Enzo looked wounded. "I've asked you for the deets countless times. That's cold."

Keeping his eyes on her, he smiled wryly and patted Enzo on the shoulder. "I'm sorry, man. I didn't think you needed them - hair on fleek, remember?"

Enzo looked up at him, unable to stop himself from touching the wild platinum blond mop that sat atop his head, contrasting sharply with the rest of his close-shaved leopard-print tinted hair. "You're right. Save 'em for a less studly G."

Turning his attention back to her, he continued, "What brings you here tonight? Come to see Ro make the ladies swoon? Or maybe you're looking for some new opportunities? Because we could absolutely use a beautiful lady like yourself around here to keep the boys in chec-"

"Enzo!" Roman looked appalled. "Lana's here to relax. Let her chill."

"She can do both…" His protests trailed off when Roman shot him a dark look. "Alright, alright. I ain't here to kill your flow. Boss man wants you to do that new routine we've been working on. We're pulling out all the stops. Like I said, it's a big night."

"Cool, cool," Roman nodded, opening a locker and rifling through it, studying the contents thoughtfully. Snapping it shut, he turned to Lana, "Let's go, we've gotta get you fed."

"Nice to meet you, Enzo," she said sweetly, catching the kiss that he blew at her. "I hope to see you again soon."

"You and me both," he called out, clutching his heart and eyeing her wistfully as they walked away.

Roman led her to the front of house, giving their orders to the man at the bar after they perused the generous menu. Settling into a booth, Lana glanced around, very aware of her surroundings and the memories that this place held for her.

"You okay?"

She nodded stiffly and smiled, "Yes."

"I never got to ask you what you thought of the show that night," he noted, spreading his arms out over the back of the booth.

Lana immediately averted her gaze, taking her time before responding. It would be easy to resent him and delve into the feelings that he had invoked that night. She had tried to fit in, to enjoy girl time, and make the most of Natasha's party.

But it hadn't worked out that way.

Roman had lavished the other women with attention, openly flirting with them - doing his job, essentially. But he had singled her out for a different kind of attention, one that she still couldn't fathom. Why had he rejected her? She had pushed herself to let her guard down, to feel normal, even just for a few minutes. And yet he refused to dance for her. Her humiliation had been sharp and very real.

Her eyes wandered back up to meet his. There wasn't any malice there. He wasn't mocking her. On a few occasions, he had proven himself to be rather genuine and caring. He returned her phone. He saved her embarrassment by dancing with her at the wedding. He hadn't tried anything when they were in bed together, when her insecurity was at its peak as a result of Sergei's comments. Even this morning, he had been thoughtful and sweet, encouraging her to relax and enjoy herself. Yes, as much as it might pain her to admit, Roman was a good person.

She didn't get the sense that he was trying to bring up painful memories or remind her of his dismissal of her that night. It seemed that he was genuinely interested in hearing her opinion of his work. That realisation allowed her anxiety to recede, her frantic mind gradually slowing down.

"It was my first time at a show like this," she began. "It's a distinctly American thing, to openly ogle people. We do not do such things in my family. But…it's a professional set-up. A lot of thought and time has been put into it."

"The boys work hard," he agreed, thanking the barman when he arrived with their meals. "Anything else?"

She cocked her head to one side, biting her bottom lip as she searched for more measured thoughts. "…I have a question."

"Go ahead," he nodded, his gaze focused solely on her. It was quite the gift, making everyone he interacted with feel as if they were the centre of his universe…and also something that made her nervous.

"Is it common in the 850, to be so…comfortable…taking your clothes off?"

"Are you blushing, Ms. Lana…?" Roman rubbed his eyes and leaned forward, an adorable smile lighting up his whole face. "Can I get a picture of this? I didn't know you could blush."

Lana buried her face in a napkin, blindly swatting at him. "Forget it! Forget I said anything."

"No, no, no," he soothed, tugging the napkin down, revealing her to him again. "It's a legit question. I'm not shy about these things, I'm happy to answer any questions you have. Like I said, I grew up by the ocean. We were always in the water as kids, and it was just natural to wear very little because it was so damn hot. My family always encouraged us to be happy in ourselves, to be comfortable with who we are. I've never been shy about wearing minimal clothing as a result. I'm guessing it's not the same in Russia, huh?"

Lana shook her head resolutely. "Composure and self-possession are two highly valued traits," she explained, toying with her Caesar salad. "We don't reveal much. That's just the way it's always been."

"What were you like growing up?" He asked, biting into a sizable chunk of his steak, his eyes still focused on her entirely.

"A tomboy."

Roman's eyebrows soared, "Seriously? I never would have guessed."

"Seriously. I grew up with four older brothers. I didn't have much of a choice. It was survival instincts, I suppose. But I did more than that – I thrived."

Roman matched Lana's grin with one of his own. "That I would have guessed."

"Although I grew up in the city, we played in a local park, climbed trees, grazed our knees. It was only when I was around sixteen that I began to discover my femininity. And here I am."

Roman's light grey eyes thoughtfully wandered over her body, eventually landing on her face. "And here you are."

Lana wasn't sure what he meant by that, but decided to let it slide. "Femininity is expected of Russian women, we are taught to take great pride in our appearance. It is a reflection of the high regard in which we hold ourselves. Perhaps our cultures are alike in that respect. Plus, male clients are very willing to part with their money when they do business with a beautiful woman."

Although Roman obviously didn't agree, Lana believed herself to be an attractive person. She did exactly as she had been taught, maintaining her figure through intense sessions in the gym, and emphasising her best features. Some clients expected her to be an airhead because of her appearance - she particularly enjoyed forcing them to part with such idiotic assumptions.

"So we're both good at making our clients hand over their hard-earned cash," he commented wryly, leaning back and sipping on his water. "You got any other questions for me…?"

"No, more an observation."

"And what would that be?" He rested his elbows on the table, gauche behavior that Lana chose to ignore, and leaned in toward her.

"You're good at making people happy," she stated honestly.

Roman regarded her carefully for a moment. "Do I make you happy, Lana?"

The question caught her by surprise, her mouth dropping open slightly. Although she now felt somewhat more comfortable in his presence, she was not yet fully accustomed to his ability to throw her off. Although unexpected, the question made sense. He was probably interested in customer satisfaction. Granted, she hadn't been particularly satisfied that night, but swallowing her pride about it would benefit her in the long-term.

Just as she was about to offer a response, the barman returned. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but Enzo said they need you in the back, Roman. It's almost show time."

Roman ran a hand through his hair in agitation, blowing out a frustrated breath. "No, it's cool. I better get going."

"Can I get the lady anything else?"

"No, thank you," Lana replied, setting her napkin down on the table, purposefully avoiding Roman's eyes.

"I'd like it if you stuck around, Lana." Roman spoke softly, his words meant only for her. "Will you?"

"…Yes, I can do that."

"Good, I'll see you after the show. Keep the lady company while I'm gone?" Roman asked, standing up.

"Of course," the barman agreed, smiling at Lana.

She watched Roman walk away, puzzled by him. The man was a mystery wrapped up in an enigma – albeit, one with a very beautiful exterior. She had finally felt as if she was getting a grip on his identity, only to be thrown by more of his unpredictability.

Lana didn't pay much attention to the show, due to the barman providing her with such good company. Sami was originally from Canada, and reminded her of a ginger-haired teddy bear. He was friendly, courteous and made her feel completely at ease.

He insisted that she join him behind the bar, shaking cocktails and creating new concoctions with silly names in between serving the private party that sat in the front row, their eyes fixed on the hypnotic hips of the performers.

"How long have you known Roman?" He asked, sliding a martini glass containing a shimmering blue substance toward her.

She accepted it hesitantly, quirking an eyebrow at him before shrugging and taking a sip. "That's incredible. I will need the recipe…I haven't known him very long. We have mutual friends and just happened upon one another. How long have you known him?"

"Ever since he moved out here," he replied, scribbling down the method and passing it to her. "So, I guess that's what, two years? Well, minus the time he missed when he went back home."

That's right. Baron had mentioned something about Roman having been away the night that he returned Lana's phone. What had caused him to disappear for an extended period of time?

"He missed home?"

Sami suddenly grabbed a towel and started drying glasses, a frown of concentration marking his sweet face. "Uhhh….yeah. He's big into family."

No matter how hard he might try, Sami would never make a good liar. He was too open and honest to successfully deceive another. Lana should know, she made a living out of reading poker faces. Sami wouldn't last a minute at a table in any casino on the Strip.

"Oh, okay. He must have been missed here, was he away for long?"

"Too long," he replied, his eyes widening, wondering if he had given too much away. "I mean, he's a really great guy. We missed him. He's loved by everybody, not just the ladies."

The music changed, announcing the arrival of the headliner. Lana glanced toward the stage, wondering if Roman had sensed that they were talking about him. If she just had a few more minutes with Sami, she knew that she could uncover the reasons for his secrecy. Roman returning home wasn't suspicious in and of itself – it was the mystery that surrounded the trip that intrigued her.

Lana had to forget that mystery for the time being, swinging around on her barstool to take in his performance. He was dressed as a captain this time, the tight white shirt and pants leaving no doubt as to just how ripped he was. The stark white highlighted the deep caramel tone of his skin, his long black hair soaking wet and hanging around his face.

He grabbed a mic and ventured toward the party, "Cut the music for a second. I need to find the birthday girl. Where you at, Ms. Rae?"

"She's right here!" Another member of the party hollered, standing up and using both hands to point at her friend.

Roman winked at the woman, "Thanks for your help. It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Rae."

"Please, call me Summer," a syrupy voice replied, picked up by the mic in Roman's hand.

"Happy birthday, Summer," he said, offering her his hand and pulling her to her feet. "I've got a gift for you. Wanna take a look?"

Lana discreetly rolled her eyes when the woman nodded eagerly, following when he led her on to the stage and seated her in a chair placed in the spotlight.

A deep, booming bass filled the space, powerful vibrations thrumming through bodies. Lana reached for a cherry and sucked it into her mouth, biting down lightly on the stem, careful not to break it. This was it – the moment to face her fears. She felt her arousal ratchet up, as it had last time, but didn't fight it. Fighting it would only bring her backward, and cause her to wallow in self-pity and embarrassment. She was better than that. She had to be better than that.

As always, Roman looked breathtakingly perfect. This new routine had an additional intensity to it, something rawer than his previous performance at Natasha's bachelorette party. It resembled a routine from Magic Mike, the movie that Natasha had forced Lana to watch one lazy Sunday afternoon. Lana didn't do lazy Sunday afternoons, but had made an exception when Natasha pleaded with her. She couldn't say that she regretted it – that actor certainly had mastery over his entire body, as Roman obviously did too.

He was all sinewy muscle and erotic masculinity, displaying his strength and agility as he moved around Summer, slowly peeling the tight clothing from his body. Lana squeezed her thighs together, acknowledging that this man made her feel some kind of way. In a word: horny. She would normally cringe at such a statement, but it was true. If she was to relax and start to enjoy life more, then she had to be honest with herself. She found Roman attractive. He was gorgeous, funny and worked hard. All appealing traits. Even though she could never act on those feelings, she could join every other woman in the room and lust after him a little.

A frisson of jealousy suddenly ran through her, a nuisance she tried to swat aside. Yes, seeing Roman all over a leggy blonde who was openly eye-fucking him wasn't the most enjoyable experience, but this was his job. He dealt in fantasy, bringing his clients' deepest and sexiest dreams to life for a night.

Although she was embracing her new outlook, Lana still had to look away when he took Summer's hands and encouraged her to explore the ridges of his abs. Some things were too much to watch. Lana wanted to be in that position, touching every inch of him, feeling him move beneath her hands. The thought made her melancholic – she would never get to experience that because, for whatever reason, Roman had drawn a line and she wasn't prepared to disregard his boundaries. He was apparently happy for every other red-blooded woman in Vegas to touch him, but that wasn't meant for her.

Lana looked up in time to see Roman pick Summer up and carry her offstage. She wore his hat and a shit-eating grin the size of the Grand Canyon. He, on the other hand, wore only a pair of white briefs that framed his perfectly round ass.

That sight finally caused her to bite down on the stem, snapping it in half decisively and chewing sharply on the cherry, chasing it down with the rest of Sami's blue concoction.

"You okay, Lana?" He asked, watching her worriedly.

She took a deep breath and turned to face him, smiling sheepishly. "Yes, I am fine. Thank you for letting me invade your space tonight. It has been a pleasure."

"Nah, you didn't invade my space, you enhanced it. You made my night."

Sweet, earnest Sami. He truly was a gift. She leaned over and planted a kiss on his cheek, unable to convey her sincerest gratitude in any other meaningful way. "I hope to see you again."

"Absolutely," he agreed, nodding and smiling. "Drop by whenever you want!"

Lana retraced her steps backstage, carefully winding her way through the maze of hallways, unsure as to where Roman would be. She was considering returning to the bar when she heard that sickly sweet voice again.

"You're soooo hot. This is the best birthday ever, and it's all thanks to you, Roman."

"You're sweet to say that, I'm glad you had a good night."

Lana peeked around the corner, her stomach clenching when she saw Summer still in his arms, rubbing a hand back and forth across his pecs, resting her head on his shoulder.

"You know what would make it even better?"

"What's that?"

"A birthday kiss."

Summer didn't wait for a response, lifting her head to cover his mouth with her own, wrapping her arms around his neck. Lana remained frozen to the spot, wanting so very badly to look away, but unable to do so. For all that she had accomplished in letting go and coming back to the scene of past embarrassment, this was beyond her. She couldn't ignore the tight, empty feeling in her chest or her fingernails as they instinctively dug into the heels of her hands.

It wasn't enough for the universe to remind her that she couldn't have Roman, but now she was forced to watch another woman do all of the things that she would kill to. If it had to be another woman, why did it have to be someone like Summer Rae? Lana had seen her ignore Sami whenever he dropped drinks at her table, waving him away with a dismissive flick of her wrist. The look on his face had been heartbreaking. Sami deserved only the best. Lana was disappointed in Roman for even entertaining the affections of a woman like that.

She was just about to turn on her heel and get the hell out of there, when Roman pulled back, blinking dazedly. He shifted Summer in his arms, placing her on her feet and gently but firmly removing her hands from around his neck.

"Summer, I'm flattered, but nothing can happen between us."

"Why not? You're hot, I'm hot, we'd be perfect together."

"Although you are a very beautiful woman, I'm not in a position to follow through on anything with you."

"But why not? Do you have a girlfriend or something?"

Roman hesitated, thinking through his response.

"Oh my god, that's it. You do have a girlfriend! But you let me continue and make a fool of myself. What an ass!"

She stormed away, throwing Lana a cold look as she passed her, purposefully bumping her shoulder. Lana glared after her, feeling her dislike for the woman grow.

Roman ran his hands through his hair, sighing deeply.

"Are you okay?" Lana ventured quietly, moving toward him.

He turned his head, startled to see her there. "Lana. I didn't hear you come in."

"Are you okay?" She repeated, trying to ignore his nearly full nudity.

"Yeah, just a small misunderstanding," he admitted, looking world weary. "Happens more often than I'd like, but I suppose it's part of the gig."

"You did very well tonight," she said, hoping to distract him and put a smile back on his face. "I had a lot of fun, and have a newfound respect for your business. Also, Sami is a true gentleman."

"Isn't he? I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. And I'm sorry again for cutting our hike short."

She waved away his apology, "Don't. As I said, I have a deep understanding of duty. It's a necessary part of our lives. Thank you for today. It was…an eye-opener. Something completely out of the ordinary for me. As much fun as I've had, it's time for me to go home."

"Wait, I'll take you home," he insisted, making a move toward his dressing room.

"No, no, no," she cut him off, holding up her phone. "I'm perfectly capable of doing that myself. "Go and spend some time with the men here. They're very fond of you. Have a good night, Roman."

"You too, Lana," he called out, watching her walk away.

As she waited for her cab, she hugged herself and thought back to Roman's encounter with Summer. It offered her deeper insight into the man, while providing an equal measure of further confusion. So, he had a girlfriend. That made sense. Anyone who looked like that would have been snapped up long ago. Seeing him reject Summer had made her feel a bit better about her own rejection, even if it was selfish to feel that way. But it still didn't fully explain why he had refused to dance for her – a paying customer.

He was a puzzle. Maybe she would never find out the truth.

But one thing was clear: his girlfriend, whoever she was, was a very lucky woman.

A/N: At long last, I have managed to battle through a horrendous case of writer's block! I love these two, and will continue to fight on so as to see how their story enfolds (even if they're both knuckleheads at times).

What are your thoughts?

I put a lot of time and effort into my stories (4,500 words for this chapter!), I would really appreciate it if you took a moment to leave a review!

P.s. Dean finally won another title! I pray that this means he'll have meaningful storylines and feuds.