I smile wide, feeling all the emotions rushing in and overwhelming me. My heart is so full as I watch them completely loved up. She was never this mushy with Dad. I know she loved him on a deep level, but it was never the all-consuming, unbreakable connection that she clearly shares with Roman.
I meet Drix’s eye across the table and she gives me a warm, proud smile. I can’t help but return it. Setting Mom and Roman up was the best thing we’ll ever do. They look so happy, so over-the-moon in love, and solid.
I know I wanted to give it a few months to see where this was going, but seeing them here together, it's obvious. This is an ever-lasting kind of thing, and honestly, I don't even think Mom realizes it yet.
Roman raises his glass, and we all do the same, watching as he looks down at her with that love-crazed smile of his. My glass sits high in the air, and as I bring it to my lips, Colton's hand travels deeper between my legs, making me choke on my drink.
I feign innocence as everyone turns to look at me with concern, even Colton, the dick. "Sorry, it went down the wrong tube,” I say, desperately trying to regain control of myself as a large hand finds its way inside my underwear.
Mom reaches out and pats my back, trying to help, but there’s no helping me now. I’m in God’s hands. “Are you alright, love?” she questions, concern written all over her face.
“Yep,” I say quickly, taking another sip of my drink. “All good, thanks.”
Colton’s soft, rumbly laugh beside me has my elbow discreetly slamming back into his ribs and sending a wave of satisfaction over me. Take that fucker. But as his thick fingers slide into me, I can imagine him thinking the exact same thing.
My hand slams down on his thigh, desperately needing to do something, to somehow let him know just how badly he’s affecting me. All the while, trying to remain calm and pretend that I'm listening intently to Roman’s every word.
Colton’s fingers flinch inside of me, and a low groan rumbles through my chest. How lucky does a girl have to be to get dessert before dinner?
He really begins to move, and just as I feel that familiar pull deep inside of me, Roman drops to his knee in front of my mother, and my whole world freezes.
Colton’s hand stops.
My eyes widen.
Drix sucks in a gasp.
“What the hell?” I breathe, staring at the man who suddenly looks as though he’s about to be sick with nerves.
Colton thankfully slips his fingers out of me and allows me this moment to really take in what’s happening. Honestly, I think he’s just a little too shocked to keep himself moving.
Drix flashes her shocked stare to me, and a million messages pass between us when Roman clears his throat and brings all the attention back to him. “Maria,” he breathes, saying her name like a soft caress on his lips. He reaches out and brushes her hair off her face as she stares at him with wide eyes. “I know this has only been a short few weeks—which have flown by—but they’ve been amazing and have told me everything that I need to know about you. I don’t want to spend another day without you by my side.”
Mom glances back at me, unsure of what to say and hoping that I can somehow help her, but I can't. I can’t make this decision for her. She needs to figure this out on her own. “I … I … I don’t know what to say.”
Roman takes her hand in his. “I know, dear. I don’t expect you to say anything. Believe me, I know just how crazy I sound. Who proposes to a woman that he met only a few weeks ago? All I know is that I can’t stop thinking about you. I can’t breathe when you’re not with me. I can’t function without seeing your smile. Maria … I don’t even know what to say myself, but if I don’t ask for your hand in marriage, or let you know my purest intention is to stand by your side as your loving husband for all of our days, it might just kill me.”
Mom gapes at him, completely speechless when he pulls out a black velvet box and opens it up, holding it out to her and showing off the biggest rock I’ve ever seen.
Drix stares in shock, her mouth literally hanging open as I do the same.
Who is this amazing man?
Mom’s hand falls to her chest again as she sucks in a deep breath. “Oh, my word,” she whispers, her eyes filling with tears. “Do you realize that I come with a whole lot of baggage?”