Before she even realized what was happening, they’d been living together for over three months. The weeks just blended together.
Roman was there, always. There were a few occasions he left to go and take care of business. Whenever he came back, she knew when the work had been dangerous as he was dressed differently. He never brought it home.
The kids were demanding, but Roman was always there, helping. They had gone out together as a family to theme parks, and the beach.
The first couple of weekends of doing nothing, Roman had made it his mission to bring experiences.
They were a little stressful as Alex liked to keep a constant eye on them. Going to the beach, allowing some of the older kids to go off and do their own thing, was hard. She got through it, keeping the youngest entertained.
Little by little, Roman was fixing and changing the house, with Antonio, Marlo, and Cash’s help, along with a few skilled workers Roman vetted.
Alex stared across the lawn, watching Roman as he was going over the details for a tree house. He didn’t want one built out of his sight and insisted it be near the house. He had also brought in an architect to draft one.
Roman had gotten all the kids around the dining room table with a notepad, and he made them all, in an orderly fashion, talk about what they wanted their tree house to be like.
He’d listed every single item.
She smiled just thinking about it.
“Can you believe the lengths he’s willing to go to?” Antonio asked.
Over the past several months, Alex had learned to forgive his friends, and it had taken time, but she did believe they weren’t trying to seduce her anymore in some illicit plot to out her to his family.
Roman had already taken her virginity.
“He loves to make them happy,” Alex said.
“And you,” Antonio said. “All of this is for them and for you. You’re his family. I’m not saying that because he put me up to it or anything. I’m speaking the truth.”
“You don’t have to,” she said, holding her hand up.
“Yeah, I do. You think I don’t see this between the two of you? Months ago when he made up his mind not to give up and to find a way of winning you over, I thought he was wrong. I figured a clean break was what you both needed, but I was wrong. What you both need is each other. You love him, Alex. You know you do.”
Antonio left, and Alex turned to watch Roman. He was pointing at the design.
They slept in the same bed with each other. Every morning, she woke up in his arms, feeling the evidence of his … arousal against her hip. She was the one who always pulled away first.
Damn it.
This wasn’t supposed to happen.
Not to her.
Not to them.
Roman clapped the man on the back and then headed down toward her. He kissed her lips, which he always did, regardless of who was around them. “It’s a done deal. He can have it done in about four weeks.”
“Wow, okay.”
“He is going to source all the tools, and then we can move this baby on the road. Those kids are getting a tree house. Hate to brag, but it is going to be a little bigger than your one back home with your dad.”
Alex cupped his face and stepped toward him. She had no idea what she was doing as she pulled his face down and kissed his lips.
Roman’s hands didn’t touch her at first, but then he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in close. She released a moan, then a whimper. His hands went to her ass, then sank into her hair, before gliding back down to grab her ass.
They needed to be alone.
Alex pulled away. “I’ve got to … er…”