Finding Mrs. Right

by Kalani Zoldyck

  "Goodness, that was fantastic." Romero's muttered into the pillow. "Arrrggghhh" Romero lifted his head when he felt the light touch of Natalie's hands on his damp skin. He gave her a quick kiss on her nose before urging her to open her eyes to look at him. When she did, he gave her a knowing grin and watched as she rolled her eyes at him. "What?"

  "Stop looking like that?" she laughed.

  "Like what?" he raised his eyebrows as he shifted his body above hers until he disconnected their bodies. Natalie grunted and raised her arms until they were secure around his neck.

  "Like you're the man."

  "I am the man!" he teased, causing her to giggle at his silliness. "I'm your man, actually." he wiggled his eyebrows. "Natalie?" he called to her when she closed her eyes again.

  "Romero..." she answered.

  "I love you." he said against her cheek.

  "I love you too." Natalie tightened her hold on him as they continued to lay there, both not wanting to let go of the other. Romero moved off of her and pulled her into his arms until she was settled ontop of him. He looked up at her as she leaned her chin on his chest.

  "Just so you know, Nat, I'm a closet freak. I got toys, videos, you name it...I'm a regular at the sex shop." he teased. Natalie squeaked and looked at him strangely. "I'm kidding, baby. But, I am a closet freak." he chuckled before whispering in her ear about a food condiment, his mouth, and a part of her body he had yet to explore in a more intimate nature. Natalie sighed heavily at the image that popped in her head before heat filled her again.

  "What have I done!" she cried in mock horror.

  "That before, well, it was just me being subtle." he smiled, showing her his biggest grin.

  "Really? I'm afraid, almost, to see what the opposite of "Romero being subtle" is." They both laughed before he rolled her back over and started to make love to her again.

  xxxx

  "Where are you going?" Romero whispered as he came out of a semi-sedate slumber a few hours later. After making love to her and messing up the sheets with his favorite sweetener, they'd laid exhausted before showering. Now, Natalie was sneaking out of his snug embrace and he wanted her back in it.

  "I'm hungry." she said wrapping Romero's robe around her snuggly.

  "Oh, I'm not." he stated in a matter of fact tone.

  "Well, that's because you're greedy and a glutton."

  "Well, you shouldn't taste so good." he replied back with a crooked smile on his lips as he licked his lips slowly. Natalie stiffened at the by play and hurried out the room before she found herself with her legs over her head...again.

  Natalie's body still thrummed as she went about fixing leftovers from the dinner they'd shared earlier in the evening. She had no idea things would change so quickly between her and Romero, but she welcomed it. Making her way back up the staircase she paused at the barren walls and wondered what would photos of their family look like. Romero's deep brown puppy eyes, her full lips, silky hair that curled tightly upon their heads. Laughter filling the big home seemed to ring in her head and an blurred image of her grandmother, smiling and proud of the outcome. Happy did not even begin to describe the feeling that washed over her. She just wanted it to last forever.

  17

  Natalie pressed the button on her cellular as she walked into the bedroom with a basket of laundry. The day had ended for her and catching up on house work was something she hated, but had to get done. Saying a quick hello, she smiled when Romero's voice came through the other end.

  "How was your day, love?" he asked.

  "Good. How about you?"

  "Yeah..." he started and Natalie didn't need to hear the rest. "About that. I have a meeting to wait for so I might be late getting home tonight."

  "That's okay. Do you want me to bring you something to eat?" she asked, trying to hide the disappointment in her voice.

  "No, thanks. I'll order something delivered. I'm sorry, I really wanted to be home early." he whispered.

  "It's okay, Rome." Natalie told him. Romero apologized again before they ended the phone call. Natalie closed her phone as she looked at it. Twisting her lips, she let out a deep sigh before putting away their clothing.

  After the night she and Romero consummated not only their relationship, but their marriage, she'd never left his house. He'd had movers come to her apartment and placed her things for her decide where she wanted. Over the ensuing weeks, they melded into a comfortable routine that continued to grow through actual interest in one another. Everything was perfect, so she thought. She remembered their last conversation where she wanted to go on a romantic night out. Just the two of them. Romero agreed, but his cellular didn't know that he was having dinner with his wife and whatever their plans were had been pushed to the side when he apologized and left to his office. She'd made plans for them to have a nice evening or day out but it was always something and eventually, Natalie stopped making plans and stopped asking.

  As she stepped back and looked at the neatly designed space. A walk in closet where his clothing was on one side and hers was on another--he'd made space for her in the large area--their shoes neatly displayed on the built in shoe rack. It was such a small part of her that was visible, but it would be simply remedied if she and Romero went shopping, except he never had time. She began noticing how much he worked as the days continued on. Before, she wasn't invested in their relationship because it was one of "convenience" now; it was a real one, which included both of them taking time out to strengthen their bond. Natalie was seeing the reason Rosario was worried about him getting an opportunity to have a family. She didn't doubt Romero's need, want, desire, and love for her, it just seemed the "honeymoon" was over and they'd never gotten to it really.

  Natalie took a deep breathe and stepped out of the closet, closing the door behind her. She looked around the huge bedroom, the black bed and matching armoire, the color scheme seemed, "depressing". Checking her watch, Natalie decided to brighten up their home.

  xxxxxx

  Romero yawned and stretched as he stood from behind his desk. It had been a long day. Not only that, he missed the smell of Natalie and it still made him start that his first thought in the morning was her and his last thought at night was of her. The problem now was that he awoke and was gone before her and when he got home she was asleep. He could count on one hand how many times they'd made love this week alone. She'd stayed up just to be close to him and Romero, although tired, was all to happy to oblige. He had to thank her for thinking of keeping their bond tight, but he definitely knew the honeymoon was over. Life was starting to get in the way and juggling a wife, for real, and his businesses, well, that was starting to make him wonder if he was cut out for this. Romero packed his belongings and locked his office door before heading to his mothers. He hadn't seen her in a couple of days and besides a phone call, he wanted to see if she was alright.

  When he arrived it was to find Natalie's vehicle also there and wondered if everything was okay. Walking into the bright home, a sense of familiarity washing over him, he heard the women's voices in the kitchen. The smell of fresh tortilla's being made and Romero's stomach let him know that it had been a long while since he'd eaten. The food he'd promised to order had not been ordered. He stood leaning in the doorway of the kitchen watching the two women as Rosario picked up the tortilla's that Natalie had pressed and walked it over to the pan to cook. She turned to see him and a wide smile formed on her lips.

  "I thought you had to work late." Natalie grinned as she walked over to him. Romero looked down at her as he embraced her and gave her a lingering kiss.

  "The conference call was held earlier, thankfully." He chuckled and entered the room to give his mother a kiss and hug. "Mami, how are you feeling?"

  "Wonderful, Rome, Natalie and I have occupied ourselves for a few hours." She eyed him before she continued. "Rome, I think we should talk." She murmured.

  "What's wrong?" he asked, his brow wrinkling in concern.

  "I'm okay, but I do have s
omething to say." She told Natalie that they'd be back and reminded her how to cook the fresh tortillas before taking her son's arm and leading him to the living room.

  xxxxxx

  Rosario cleared her throat lightly before she began. Romero thought it strange that she was still unsatisfied with his life. He had set out to give her what she wanted and now she was still unhappy with the outcome.

  "It's not that, Rome." she explained. "It's that I can see where this is headed and I don't like it. Natalie loves you."

  "I know, I love her too."

  "Then show her. You have slipped back into your routine as if nothing has happened the past few months." she pointed out. "Why do I have to tell you these things, Romero? You should want to figure out how to keep your relationship flowing smoothly."

  "Mami..." Romero ran a hand over his head at the verbal spanking. "There is nothing wrong with Natalie and I!" he began.

  "What? What makes you say there is nothing wrong?" she whispered vehemently, fighting the urge to hit him.

  "We both have jobs, Mami. We both run our own businesses."

  "You know what, Rome. I thought I raised a child with sense, but it's obvious that you don't have any. Think about what I said." she whispered and left him to comtemplate her words. Romero rolled his neck around and followed her to the kitchen where he silently ate a salad as his eyes followed the two women in his life. One he'd married a stranger to just make her happy and heal faster, the other, he'd found something much greater than what he'd had before. Now his mother was telling him that Natalie wouldn't be there all the time for him and he didn't understand why she wouldn't. They were doing fine.

  He drove in silence, checking the rear-view mirror he could see Natalie's car following him. He didn't know what to do basically. He wanted to spend everyday with her, but he couldn't. He wanted to make love to her all day long--if it were possible, he would. He wanted to start the family his mother longed him to do and he wanted that also.

  Romero pulled into the drive slowly and shut off the car. He stepped out as Natalie met him at his car door and wrapped her hands into his. the touch alone sent a thrill through him and he took her off guard when he kissed her patiently. She automatically wrapped her arms around his neck and he picked her up sitting her on the warm hood of his sedan. The kiss was slow and a built up of the desire he had burning inside of him. Natalie pulled away slowly, allowing her eyes to focus on his.

  "What was that for?" she whispered.

  "Just because." Natalie smiled and Romero allowed her to slide down as she held his hand tightly pulling him into the house.

  Romero was surprised by what presented him when they got to their bedroom. Although not much had changed in the majority of the home, he could see the slight touches that pointed out to those that a woman lived here and she was very much apart of his life. She couldn't even resist putting a brightly colored quilt that bounced off the dark color of the rooms furniture. Her robe, her slippers, her cat that sat in his bed at the foot of theirs.

  "You've been busy, I see." He smiled and allowed Natalie to undress him.

  "Yeah, just because it felt like a single man lived here and Romero, you're not single anymore." She glanced up at him before putting his clothes away. Romero didn't miss the hidden message in the words.

  "Natalie…" he began, gently pulling her towards him by her hands, he kissed the back of them lightly. He took a deep breath. "What can I do?" he decided to ask. Slipping her hands out of his, she looked over her shoulders and began to undress also.

  "Come on, let's take a bath." Romero inhaled deeply, even the way his house used to smell had changed. She was everywhere and the lingering thought of what would he do without her now that he had her sat in the back of his mind.

  Romero headed downstairs in the kitchen later that evening. Orange purred around his bare feet and he picked him up, scratching behind the cats ears. He held Orange in one arm as he prepared himself a glass of juice and took the drink in the blue room. Romero thoughtfully sipped the drink as he went through several scenarios at how to make this work with Natalie.

  "Orange what are we supposed to do, huh?" Orange meowed, as he stretched and hopped off of Romero's lap. With a light chuckle, Romero finished off his drink and went to bed also.

  xxxxxx

  Natalie awoke the next morning alone in bed and prepared for work. The day went by as they all did, but she felt melancholy at how routine it was becoming. The excitement of falling in love with Romero, then admitting it, making love to him for the first time, and so much more. It was supposed to be "happily ever after", right? It was her "happily ever after", but she didn't know how to keep it that way. Natalie shook her head and looked at the phone, she wanted to call Romero, but was afraid to. She was scared of many things right now. Her insecurity of their relationship was getting the best of her and they hadn't even been together for a full month yet. Shaking her head in frustration, she finished her needle work for the day and placed the unfinished quilts away before beginning to close down the shop.

  Natalie arrived home twenty minutes later to the quiet and feeling more alone than she did when Grandma Lyn was alive. Romero's presence was here, yet it wasn't and she wondered if this was what their life would be like. Would he constantly be engrossed with work and unable to plan a vacation? Would the constant ring of his cellular make it hard to keep a conversation without interruption? So many scenarios that had happened already, yet she hadn't minded before.

  Natalie picked up the house phone that sat in the blue room of Romero's study and called him. His personal line continued to ring until the answering service picked up. She placed the phone back on the cradle and feeling blue herself, she left the room. Orange followed her as she entered their bedroom and undressed. Taking a quick shower, Natalie laid between the cool sheets of the huge bed and stroked Orange's fur. The sound of quiet seemed unnatural, but it eventually lulled her to sleep.

  xxxxx

  Romero woke up with a start at his desk and checked the time. It was late and he debated whether to bother to go home or not. In the end, he didn't want to make the drive and undoing his tie and taking off his jacket, he got comfortable on the sofa.

  18

  Natalie woke up the following morning in the same position as she fell asleep. She looked around only to see that Romero hadn't slept on his side of the bed. Huddling under the blanket, the anger slowly began bubbling inside of her. This was really not fair. To finally have someone and yet she obviously didn't have all of him. She picked up the cordless that sat on the nightstand on Romero's side of the bed and dialed his personal line once more. It rang several times before she decided to call the main one. His secretary, Marcie, answered in her sweet natured tone. Natalie felt she like the woman more than her own husband at the moment.

  "Hi, Marcie, it's me, Natalie. Is Mr. Jones available?" she asked. Marcie gave a small laugh.

  "You know he has time for you, Natalie, so please." Natalie rolled her eyes at the thought.

  "Time my ass..." she mumbled to herself as Marcie placed her on hold to connect her. Ten minutes later he picked up.

  "Good Morning, love." Romero's deep voice filtered over the headset and Natalie closed her eyes at the wave of feelings that seemed to rush over her. Goodness every angry nerve seemed to have melted by just that. She shook herself, remembering that she had to call his main line just to talk to him.

  "You didn't come home last night?" she accused.

  "I know, I debated coming home, but I was just too tired." he took a deep breathe and let it out.

  "You could have called, Romero. I waited up for you and tried to call."

  "I forgot. I'm sorry, babe, I didn't even think..."

  "Obviously." Natalie twisted her lips in frustration. "Are you going to be home tonight?"

  "I don't know."

  "You don't know?" she repeated in a low tone. "It's seven o'clock in the morning, you can't make it "happen"?" Romero heard the impatience in her voice and
looked at his schedule for the day.

  "I really don't know, Natalie. I mean, I can try."

  "You know what, Romero." she growled. "Stop trying!" she hung up the phone abruptly and got out the bed angrier than she was before. "Asshole!" she screamed in the empty house and began getting ready for her own work morning.

  xxxxxx

  Deann watched her friend from the corner of her eye. Over the past two weeks she could tell that Natalie was not as happy as she should be. A month ago her friend could not stop grinning, now all she did was work long hours and she looked like she wasn't sleeping well. Deann couldn't even get her to go out with her on the weekends like they used to and she wondered if her relationship with Romero was the reason behind it.

  "Hey, Nat, I know you don't want me to ask, but I can't help it after watching you these past couple of weeks." Deann stood beside Natalie who sat at the sewing table putting the trim on a quilt. The sewing machine stopped and Natalie continued without answering. "What's wrong, Natalie?" Deann asked.

  "Nothing." Natalie's curt answer was far from convincing. Deann took a deep breath and stood with her hands on her hips while she waited. Natalie seeing that she didn't have a choice put her project down and sat back in the chair.

  "I don't know."

  "Is it Romero?" Natalie glanced up at Deann who decided to sit on the table when she saw the look. "Okay, baby, this will pass. You always have a little rough patch in relationships." she said. "Just talk to him. You know how men are."

  "I shouldn't have to Deann."