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  He turned and looked at me, his expression hard to read.

  “I’m happy,” I said, not sure what else to say. “I’m really happy and it’s because of Roman.” He turned and faced me then, exhaling loud enough I could hear it.

  “He’s family, Kennedy.”

  I shook my head. “He’s family by marriage. Nothing more.”

  He rubbed the back of his neck, clearly not liking that I’d said that, but it was the truth.

  “He’s got a reputation, Kennedy.”

  “That’s all it is. A reputation. People talk, Dad.” He walked up to me and placed his hands on my shoulders, his look speaking loud and clear. “I love him, Dad,” I whispered. “Can’t you see that?”

  “I can see that,” he said after a few seconds, and pulled me in for a hug. “I just don’t want you getting hurt.”

  I was shaking my head before he finished

  We stood there in silence, the sound of the birds chirping filling the air and the color of the sky changing as dusk settled over the sky. But as the seconds moved by, I felt this peace and understanding surround us, felt it in the way he held me.

  He pulled back and smiled down at me. “I’m glad you’re happy. That’s all I really want, Kennedy, even if I can’t deny that it’s strange you’ve found that with Roman.”

  I smiled. “It can’t be as weird as you having another kid when I’m twenty,” I teased.

  He groaned but was smiling. “You’re okay with that, with the baby?”

  “Not like I have a choice.” I chuckled after I spoke. “But yes, I’m happy. I’m excited if I’m being honest.”

  “I’m glad. That makes me real glad, sweetheart.”

  The front door opened, and I looked over my shoulder to see Roman standing on the other side.

  No one said anything for long moments, and I felt the tension rise, squeezing me, causing beads of sweat to form between my breasts. I hated feeling this way, hated that we were in this position where our family was divided, where my father felt he couldn’t understand and be happy about this.

  “Victor,” Roman said and stepped outside fully. “I love your daughter.” The silence stretched for a moment. “And I have no plans on giving her up, not for anything or anyone, not even if you don’t approve.”

  My dad looked between the two of us and exhaled again. “You realize how insane this is, right?”

  I shook my head. “I don’t think it’s insane at all, Dad. I don’t think telling our loved ones that Roman and I care about each other is crazy at all.” I felt tears fill my eyes, hating that I couldn’t control my emotions, especially right now. I wanted to be strong, needed to be.

  And as my father stared at me, I could see this softening in his gaze, this acceptance that wasn’t said in words.

  “Dad, I love him. We love each other.”

  “Sweetheart,” he said softly and smiled at me. “You know I just want you to be happy, right?”

  I nodded.

  And then my heart seemed to stop when my dad walked up to Roman. I held my breath as I thought about what he would say, how this would play out. And then everything became surreal when my father pulled him in for a hug.

  “You make my daughter happy and that’s all that matters.” My dad pulled back and looked at Roman. “Just don’t hurt her so I don’t have to hurt you.” He grinned and Roman chuckled, but I could hear the seriousness in my father’s voice.

  “I’d never do anything to hurt Kennedy.” Roman looked at me. “I love her.”

  After a moment, my dad left us alone, and Roman immediately came up to me and pulled me in for an embrace.

  “This is so crazy, right?” I said softly as we looked off into the horizon.

  “Yeah, but then again I thought us being together would be seen as crazy.”

  I wrapped my arm around his waist and rested my head on his chest.

  A moment of silence stretched out, but it wasn’t uncomfortable or tense. It was perfect.

  “But I meant what I said, how I’d never do anything to hurt you.”

  I pulled back and stared up at him. “I know.” And I did; with every part of my being I knew that. “I love you.”

  He turned to face me, keeping me close. Roman cupped my cheek with one hand, smoothed his finger along my skin, and smiled softly.

  “God, I love you,” he whispered, looking at my lips. “I’ve never loved anything as hard as you, Kennedy.” He lifted his gaze to my eyes. “And I never will.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Kennedy

  One week later

  “Why does the girl always have to be so stupid in these movies?” Roman muttered.

  I snuggled in closer to him.

  “I mean, have them kick ass a little.”

  Just then the girl in the movie screamed as she ran, tripping over her own feet in the process.

  Roman snorted, as if he’d seen it coming.

  He had his feet kicked up on the coffee table, and I had mine curled beside me on the couch. My upper body was leaning against his, using him like a human pillow. My arm was around his waist, his six-pack evident under his shirt, the ridges and hills hard underneath my forearm.

  “So, you like kickass girls?” I felt a little inadequate, as I would have no doubt been cast as one of the stupid sidekicks in a movie.

  He chuckled. My head was on his pectoral muscle, and his laughter had his big, powerful body shaking slightly underneath mine. I could hear the steady beat of his heart under my ear. He had his arm around my shoulder, his fingers resting on the strip of skin that was exposed when my shirt rolled up. His thumb gently moved over my hipbone, and I knew tonight wouldn’t just be about watching movies.

  I was already getting turned on, and he probably didn’t even know it. All it took was that little brush of his fingers over my flesh to have me lit up like a firework.

  “Damn right I like a strong woman.” He shifted. The grin spreading across his face had my heart skip a beat. “Why do you think I fell in love with you? You’re the strongest woman I know.”

  God, if I didn’t love this man already, I would’ve fallen for him a hundred times by now.

  Roman kissed me, but it was quick and passing, not what I really wanted ... long and drawn out.

  But when he pulled back, I didn’t try and make the kiss longer. Spending time with Roman was my favorite thing to do, and even if he just held me, even if we did nothing but watch movies and not speak, I was happy with that.

  “What do you really think about my aunt and your father having a baby?”

  I thought about his question, which I’d been doing since we’d heard the news. “I really don’t have any kind of opinion, to be honest. I’m happy for them?”

  He chuckled. “You sound a little hesitant on that.”

  “It’s a little weird that my father is having another baby.” I straightened on the couch, so I could see him better. “But I guess it deflected from our news, so I think the shock was more for them. How do you feel about it?”

  He didn’t answer for long seconds, just staring at the TV, maybe thinking about how he wanted to word it. He leaned back on the couch, lifting his arms above his head and stretching. And then he dropped his arms to his sides and shrugged. When he looked over at me, he gave me a lopsided smile that had my heart skipping a beat.

  “Is it weird if I tell you that it makes me think about the family we’re gonna have some day?”

  I thought the world would drop out from under me, felt my face heat, a flush stealing over my entire body. We were still so young, had school to finish, then I needed to find a good paying job. I wanted to get married, have a career. But on top of all of that, I couldn’t help but think about having a family with Roman. Little boys that looked just like him, dark hair and equally dark eyes, being rowdy and keeping us on our toes.

  He faced me more fully, his leg bent on the couch, his body now turned all the way so his chest was parallel with mine. I felt my breath catch at h
is expression, his eyes becoming heavy-lidded, his gaze zeroing in on my lips. And then he lifted his hand and ran his thumb along my mouth, tracing the edge as if memorizing it.

  “I find myself thinking about that a lot, Kennedy.” His words were pitched low, deep. “I can’t help but picture you pregnant, your belly getting big with my baby.” He slowly lifted his gaze and looked me in the eyes. “That’s fucking crazy, isn’t it?”

  I found myself shaking my head. “If it’s crazy than I’m insane right along with you.” He made this deep sound in the back of his throat, one that always had my body lighting up.

  I clenched my inner muscles together, already wet, my panties becoming damp. And then Roman leaned in and kissed me, pressing his lips to mine, taking the breath out of my lungs. This wasn’t a passing kiss, but the long, drawn-out one I’d craved.

  “Take me to the bedroom,” I whispered against his lips and I felt his grin against my mouth.

  I loved this man more than life itself, and knew he felt the same way. Our future looked bright, and I couldn’t wait to experience each and every day with him.

  Epilogue

  Kennedy

  One year later

  Sweat covered my forehead as I painted the second coat on the kitchen wall. I rubbed my arm across my forehead and instantly cursed when I felt thick, wet and cold paint cover my skin.

  “Shit,” I heard Roman say and turned, looking at him through the arched entryway that led into the living room.

  “You okay?” I called out.

  “I’m fine, baby.”

  Here we were, a year later, Roman still working at the mechanic’s shop, still going to school. I’d graduated early after busting my ass and working through the summers. And here I was now, finished with my bachelor’s degree, looking for a job in my field … and fixing up Roman’s house since I’d just moved in with him.

  And by fixing it up, I meant fresh coats of paint, and adding a woman’s touch to the place since it screamed bachelor pad.

  Putting the paintbrush in the pan, I grabbed a rag and wiped my hands haphazardly before heading into the living room. Roman sat on the couch, his big body hunched over the chipped and faded coffee table, a math textbook in front of him.

  He hated math.

  “That bad?” I walked over to him and sat on the couch, looking over his notes. Math was my strong suit, so for the next ten minutes I explained the problem he was stuck on. I looked over at him when silence greeted me. “Listen, we can work on this later. If you’re stressed it’s going to be ten times more difficult to understand.” I closed the textbook and smiled at him.

  “How’s your dad doing with the baby?”

  I snorted and leaned back on the couch. “He’s realizing how old he is with a baby around.” I grinned and looked over at him. “But every time I see him with Maddie, I can see how much he enjoys it. I think in a way it makes him feel young at the same time.”

  “My mom says Catherine has never been happier, even with the dark circles under her eyes and the sleep deprivation.”

  I laughed softly. “Babies will do that to you.”

  “I guess she’s wanted to be a mother for a long time.”

  I looked at Roman, feeling happy and sad all at the same time. “I’m glad for them. And being a big sister isn’t so bad.” I nudged his shoulder with mine and smiled.

  He leaned back on the couch and just stared at me. Every time he watched me with that look I felt my toes curl and my heart race. It was an expression, a stare, that told me how much he loved me. How much he wanted me.

  He was shirtless, his big, muscular body taut. God, I was wet already for him.

  “Come here,” he said, his head resting on the back of the couch, the muscles in his chest showing off in stark clarity. I lowered my gaze to his abdomen, the six-pack clenched, his male prowess making my breath catch.

  I moved closer to him, feeling so small, so feminine.

  “You keep looking at me like that, baby, and I’m going to say fuck the rest of painting and take you to the bedroom.”

  “Don’t make threats you can’t keep.”

  I lifted an eyebrow in challenge.

  And before I knew what was happening, Roman had me pulled onto his lap. He had his hands on my waist, this shit-eating grin covering his mouth. But that teasing note left him the longer he stared at me.

  “I love you,” he said and stroked his hand down my back. “I love you more every day. It makes my heart hurt, makes me crazy with jealousy to even think about any other fucker looking at you.” He rested his forehead against mine for a second. When he pulled back and I saw paint smeared on his skin. I smiled, lifted my hand, and tried to wipe it away.

  “I kind of like your jealous streak. Makes me feel like I’m it for you.”

  His expression was serious. “You’re it for me, Kennedy. There isn’t anyone else that will ever compare to you.”

  I pulled back and looked at him. Cupping his stubble-covered cheek in my hands, I leaned in and kissed him.

  “It was always meant to be you and me, Roman. Didn’t you know that?”

  “I knew that from the moment I first saw you. That’s why you’re mine. That’s why you’ll be my wife, the mother of my children.”

  And just like I did every time Roman said that to me, I fell in love with him all over again.

  The End

  About the Author

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