As soon as we got back to the house, he followed me inside and asked, “You want a hand with dinner?”
“Sure. That would be great.” After I took off my jacket, I went over to the fridge. As I pulled out the hamburger meat, I told him, “How about burgers?”
“Oh, okay. You planning on frying them in that skillet of yours, or do you want me to put them on the grill?”
“I figured I’d just do them in the skillet.”
“You sure? You remember what happened the last time you used the skillet.”
I’d found it very endearing that he’d volunteered to help me cook—right up until the moment I realized why he’d actually offered. Feeling mildly offended, I placed my hand on my hip as I asked, “Oh, so you’re worried I’ll burn them?”
“I’m just thinking the grill might be a better way to go.”
“Um-hmm. Sure.”
A playful smirk crossed his face as he said, “I’m just thinking of the boys here. I know how they feel about their burgers being burned, and I wouldn’t want them to be disappointed.”
“Ah!” I gasped. “You’re such an ass!”
“You know I’m just messing with ya.”
“Oh no, mister. I know how this thing goes.” I laughed as I told him, “There’s a grain of truth in every joke.”
He came over to me and slipped his arms around my waist, pulling me close. He looked down at me with a soulful expression, leaving no doubt there was something on his mind. “Let’s move in together.”
“What?”
“Let’s move in together,” he repeated.
“What are you talking about?” I could only imagine how I must’ve sounded. I was in utter shock. I couldn’t believe he’d want to make such a big move so fast. “We’ve only known each other for a few weeks.”
“So.” He shrugged. “My brothers only knew their ol’ ladies a couple of months, and they moved in together. Hell, they were all engaged and married in less than six months.”
“And what does that have to do with us?”
“I want to be with you, Frankie.”
“And I want to be with you, but there’s no reason to rush into anything.” I slipped my arms around his neck as I told him, “I think we’ve got a good thing here, and I don’t want to mess it up by doing something neither of us is ready for.”
He didn’t respond which made me worry that I’d said the wrong thing. Hoping to explain myself a little better, I told him, “I just think we should take things slow and really get to know each other before we do something like move in together. It will give the boys a chance to get to know you better, too.”
“I’m good with slow. I just want to be able to spend as much time as I can with you.”
“Well, that’s good, because I want to spend as much time as I can with you, too. I’m not going anywhere.” I brought my hand to his face as I whispered, “I love you, Roman.”
Emotion filled his eyes as he crashed his mouth down on mine. His rough hands slid across my skin with a reverence and possessiveness that ignited an ache deep inside me—an ache that was all for him. I felt his passion pouring into me as his fingertips twisted tightly in my hair, pulling me firmly to his lips. He slowed for a moment as he kissed me long and deep, taking my bottom lip between his teeth as he seduced me with his skillful mouth. The mixture of pleasure and pain that ran through me as his teeth bit into my lip shot straight to my core. I was lost in a delicious haze of hormones and lust when I heard a car door slam shut. I forced myself to break his embrace and took a step back as I told him, “The boys are home.”
“You go get them settled, and I’ll get the grill started.”
“Okay.”
I started towards the door, but I stopped and turned back around when Roman called out to me, “Frankie?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you, too.”
My heart swelled as I stood there staring back at the man I loved—the man who made me feel whole again. I couldn’t imagine feeling more content than I did at that moment. Unfortunately, the spell was broken when the boys came barreling through the back door. They each dropped their backpacks in the hall before dragging themselves into the kitchen. “Hey guys. How was it at your dad’s?”
“It sucked like always.” Corry opened the fridge and took out a Coke. “Where’s Widow?”
“He’s outside starting up the grill.”
“Cool.”
Without another word, he walked past me and out to the back yard to find Roman. When Sean started to follow him, I asked, “What about you? Did you have a good weekend?”
“Not really. Dad was in one of his moods, but it’s over now, and we don’t have to deal with him for a while.”