“I intend on telling them,” Shantel explained, “but I would like to clear the air with Roman first. Figure out what we want to do before bringing my family into the picture. I’m sure he feels the same way.”
“I wonder how his parents are going to take the news. They may have wanted him to marry someone from their social circle.”
Shantel shrugged. “I can’t worry about what they’re going to think about me because it won’t change anything. I’m having their grandchild and they can either get on board or get off the train.”
Vanessa smiled broadly. “You go, girl. I’m so happy to see you being smart about this. I just worry about your impromptu decision to marry Roman Lockett. He’s a known player and hasn’t been without his share of ladies while you…”
“I know how woefully different I am from the women Roman is used to dating,” Shantel replied.
“Really? You don’t seem like you’re nervous.”
“Because if I don’t keep face, Vanessa, I might fall apart. And I refuse to do that. I’m not my mother.”
Instantly Vanessa reached across the table. “Of course you’re not, sweetie, and I didn’t mean to indicate you were. You’re a strong woman, Shantel, and capable of handling whatever life throws at you. I’m playing devil’s advocate so you know what you’re getting yourself into.”
“And I appreciate it, but I don’t need any more insecurities going into this marriage. My eyes are wide open.”
Or at least Shantel hoped they were.
*
Roman sat back in his chair and took stock of his life. He was in such a pickle. Tim Jackson had called him this morning and wanted to come visit Atlanta and meet his family next month before the draft. The last twenty-four hours had Roman in such a state, he’d completely forgotten about clinching a deal with Curtis. Usually he was focused on the prize, but right now Roman couldn’t think about anyone other than himself.
He stared at the ceiling as Monday night’s events came roaring back. His brother Julian clocking him in the jaw. Shantel rushing in to stop him from beating him up. Her shocking confession that she was carrying his baby. It seemed like a bad movie, but no, it was his life.
His one night of passion with Julian’s friend would cost him his freedom. But what alternative was there? To be a single parent and be one of those see-you-on-the-weekend kind of dads? He wasn’t knocking them, but Roman always envisioned being a hands-on father, someone who would be there for his son or daughter, offering advice and guidance. Someone who would listen and be supportive. He’d never felt like he’d gotten that from his own dad, so it was important to Roman. He supposed that’s why he’d blurted out the marriage proposal to Shantel. It was instinctual.
And although he was nervous about the future, he didn’t regret his decision. Given the same circumstances, he’d do it all over again. But they did need to talk through some critical items. Thankfully, his attorney had been able to courier over the legal documents this afternoon and Roman planned on giving them to Shantel tonight.
Once the matter of their finances was settled, Roman could finally tell his parents they were becoming grandparents and he was getting married.
He thought back to how his proposal hadn’t exactly been romantic. He’d pretty much commanded Shantel to marry him and though she’d put up a valiant fight, in the end she’d known his solution was best.
They would become a family. The thought of Shantel’s belly swelling with his child gave him a heady feeling and made Roman proud that another generation of Locketts would be born. He would not be deterred from the goal of making Shantel his wife.
And once she was, he would slowly work on lowering her guard so they could enjoy the off-the-charts chemistry they shared in the bedroom. Roman had no intention of having an in-name-only marriage. Theirs might be a marriage of convenience, but underneath it all there was a deep connection. He’d known it the night they were together.
Shantel wasn’t like any other women. Was that why he was so willing to throw caution to the wind and marry her? He was still thinking about this when a knock sounded on his office door. His visitor didn’t bother waiting for his response and walked right in.
“Julian.”
He’d known they were due for a talk, but he wasn’t looking forward to it. He acknowledged his brother as he walked toward him, but Julian didn’t sit in one of the two chairs in front of Roman’s large executive desk. Instead, he went over to the floor-to-ceiling windows and looked out at the playing field.
He was silent for several moments, so Roman waited.
When Julian finally turned around, scorn and derision were plastered across his features. “How could you?”
Roman wasn’t going to play dumb like he didn’t understand what his brother was talking about. “The attraction between us was mutual. It wasn’t one-sided.”
“You couldn’t just walk away?” Julian asked. “Why did you have to go and knock up one of my very best friends?”
Roman didn’t have a quick comeback for that question. He hadn’t actively gone looking to seduce Shantel. “We were both in the right place—”
“At the wrong time,” Julian finished. “Shantel is a good girl. Is that what appealed to you? Her innocence?”
“Listen, Julian. I’m sorry you’re upset. I wasn’t intentionally keeping the night we spent together from you, but it was one night and I assumed—”
“She was like the other bimbos you date?”
Roman hated Julian finishing his sentences for him. It was a habit he’d had since they were boys. “Pot calling the kettle black,” Roman warned, wagging his finger. Julian was as much a womanizer as Roman, if not more. His reputation was notorious.
“That may be so,” Julian said, “but I’ve never crossed the line with one of your women.”
Roman rose to his feet and stepped toward his brother until he was inches away from Julian’s face. “Since when has Shantel been your woman? If I recall, your relationship has always been one of friendship. Or have you been keeping her in your back pocket in the hopes that one day when you were ready to settle down, you’d give her the time of day?”
“No.” Julian shook his head. “It’s not like that. I’ve never looked at her in that way.”
“But you thought about it. For God’s sake, if you can’t be honest with your own brother, who can you be honest with?”
“Maybe,” Julian said low under his breath. “Maybe.”
“Maybe what?” Roman said.
Julian sighed wearily as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. “Maybe I thought one day if we were both still single, which in my ignorance I assumed we would be, since Shantel has never been keen on the whole idea of marriage and children, we’d see what happened.”
“And now I’ve taken away your safety net,” Roman supplied.
Julian snorted and his eyes narrowed. “Something like that.”
“Well I’m sorry to tell you, Julian, that Shantel isn’t your or anyone else’s safety net. She’s a beautiful, smart, sexy woman and she deserves someone who wants her for her. Not because she’s their last resort.”
“That’s not fair,” Julian replied. “And it’s not like you’ve suddenly realized she was the woman you’d been waiting your whole life for.”
“No, you’re right.” Roman could admit when he was wrong. “But I do want her. I have from the moment I saw her at the bachelor auction.” When Julian began to speak, Roman put up his hand to halt him. “It’s true, I didn’t notice her before then, but I did at the event and we had an amazing time together. Our child is a result of that night and he or she is why I’ve asked Shantel to marry me.”
“You did what!”
“C’mon, Julian, don’t be selfish. You’re upset because you wanted Shantel as your backup plan. Well, guess what? Life isn’t all about you. I’m doing the right thing, what’s best for Shantel and my child.”
“Child?” a female voice said from behind them.
&n
bsp; Roman swiveled on his heels and found Giana standing in the doorway of his office with her mouth wide open. “Gigi…”
“Did you say child? You,” she pointed to Roman, “and Shantel? Are having a baby?” She shook her head. “Tell me I heard that wrong.”
Why doesn’t anyone around here knock? But when had the Locketts ever stood on ceremony?
Roman swiftly walked to the door, closing it and locking it. When he turned to Giana, both she and Julian were staring at him with perplexed expressions. “You didn’t hear wrong, Giana. I’m going to be a father.”
“I need to sit down for this.” Giana headed over to a chair near his desk and plopped down, her dark hair flouncing as she went. She smoothed down the navy sheath she was wearing. “Please help me to understand what’s happened.”
“I don’t intend on sharing the details of my love life with my siblings.” His and Shantel’s relationship was private.
“You sure as hell better be ready to answer our questions because once Daddy finds out, he’s going to hit the roof!” Giana replied. “And Mama, she’ll be happy as a lark. She’s been harping about some grandkids for a minute. I’m happy you’re the first to expect a stork delivery.”
“Enough with the snipes,” Roman said. “Both of you.” He glanced at his brother. “I have enough on my plate as it is. Although Shantel agreed to marry me, it’s far from a done deal.”
“Meaning she could see the error of her ways and run for the hills?” Julian supplied.
Roman glared and Julian stopped talking. “There’s some unfinished business we need to address, which is why I’ve asked her to dinner, so we can talk through some of the finer points.”
“Rome, this isn’t some football deal you can strike up,” Giana responded. “Surely you know that. You’ve asked this woman to marry you.”
“I don’t need my little sister to school me. I’ve got this.”
Or at least he hoped he did, because everything hinged on Shantel signing those papers tonight. Only then would he feel able to move forward with the marriage. He hoped she saw things his way.
Eleven
“You look lovely tonight,” Roman told Shantel once they’d arrived at Aria, a white-tablecloth restaurant serving American-style dishes in Buckhead. With its striking chandelier, modern art, metallic curtains and mirrored walls, the atmosphere was all glam. Of course Roman would take her someplace fancy. Shantel was surprised, however, when instead of being seated at one of the swanky tables, they were led downstairs to a cozy, candlelit wine cellar with a table set for two. This was definitely more her speed.
“Thank you,” Shantel said, accepting the compliment Roman had given as she glanced over the five-star menu.
Shantel had tried her best to look sophisticated and elegant for the occasion. She’d chosen an off-the-shoulder emerald sheath and paired it with some asymmetrical strappy heels and chandelier earrings.
The waitress came over and offered wine. Shantel shook her head and when Roman started to turn it down, Shantel told him to go ahead and indulge. At least one of them would be able to relax.
This was their first date, after all. They’d shared a meal after the bachelor auction, but truth be told, that was all foreplay for the main event.
“Are you nervous?” Roman asked, glancing at her over the rim of his wineglass.
“A bit.”
“You shouldn’t be. We’ve been intimate.”
“I know…” Shantel lowered her head.
“You really are a marvel.” Roman peered at her as if she were some exotic creature he’d never laid eyes on. “I can see why Julian hates to lose you.”
“Lose me?” Her brow furrowed. She had no idea what he meant.
“I… I only meant…” Roman stuttered, clearly at a loss for words, and put his wineglass down on the table.
“Julian never had me,” Shantel replied stonily. “At least not in the way you’re implying. We’ve always been friends.”
“Just friends?”
“Yes. I adore your brother, I do, but Julian is a bit too much, if you get my drift. He and I would never work.”
Roman smiled and she could see he liked her answer. She hadn’t said it to please him, though. If she was honest, Julian and Roman were equally attractive, but Roman had that special something. She didn’t know if it was his air of authority or his sexy swagger, but he spoke to Shantel on some elemental level.
“I’m glad to hear that,” Roman said. “So tell me something about yourself. I know you’re a psychiatrist who went to Spelman and came from a small town.”
Shantel couldn’t help but snicker because this really was rather awkward. They’d already put the cart before the horse, but hardly knew anything about each other.
The waitress returned to take their orders. Shantel went for the butter-braised lobster to start and scallops as her entrée while Roman opted for the Black Angus filet mignon.
“What do you want to know?” Shantel asked after the waitress departed.
“Tell me more about your family,” Roman said. “I’m sure I’ll be meeting them in the near future. Not to mention I need to have a conversation with your father.”
Her brows furrowed in consternation. “You would do that?” Her father would appreciate the gesture, though he might think it was a little too late once he heard of her condition.
“Of course. I am a Southern gentleman.” Roman’s mouth split in a grin. “I recall you mentioning your father is a farmer?”
“Yes, he owns a three-hundred-acre farm in McDonough, Georgia. The farm has been in my family for generations. Along with our cattle operation, my brothers have helped my father develop it into an educational and agritourism farm.”
“That’s impressive,” Roman said.
Shantel nodded. “It is. And my sisters-in-law have established a farmer’s market and bakery where we can sell our produce. The bakery uses our strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and peaches in the pastries.”
“So how did a farm girl like you end up in the big city?”
Shantel shrugged and gave Roman a whitewashed version of her life growing up. “I wanted more than the rural life had to offer,” she responded. “And after seeing my mother struggle with mental illness, I wanted to help others.”
“That’s admirable, but why do I feel as if what I do for a living can never measure up?” Roman asked. “You help people.”
“It’s not a competition.”
The waitress returned with their starters and Shantel dug into the delicious buttery lobster. She hadn’t had much of an appetite these days, but tonight she did.
“I’m happy to see you eat,” Roman said as she tucked into the dish.
Shantel glanced up from her meal. “I suppose most of the women you date probably have salads or move the food on their plate around without eating it.”
Roman chuckled. “Who cares about them? Has there ever been someone special in your life?”
She figured they’d come to this part in the conversation eventually, but that didn’t mean she was eager to revisit her past. “There was. His name was Bobby Winfield. We were teenage sweethearts.”
“Let me guess, you went off to college and drifted apart?”
A lot more was involved in their decision to break up, but if that’s what Roman wanted to believe, Shantel wasn’t about to disabuse him of the notion. “Pretty much. And you, Roman? You’re very eager to delve into my personal life but have avoided talking about yourself.”
“You know my family.”
“In passing, except for Julian,” she replied. “You could tell me more.”
“Okay.” He leaned back in his seat to look at her. “My father, Josiah, is the patriarch in the family. He rules the roost with an iron fist. My mother, Angelique, is the long-suffering wife with the patience of a saint. Somehow she manages to see through his bluster because they’ve been married forty years.”
“So you know what true love looks like, but yet at thirty-fo
ur you’re unmarried. Why is that?”
*
Roman felt like he was one of Shantel’s patients being interrogated on the sofa. “You sure don’t pull any punches, do you?”
“I believe in being direct.”
He was starting to like her even more. “I’ve never met a woman who intrigued me enough to take the leap. And before you interrupt me—” because he could see she was ready to barrage him with more questions “—there have been women whom I’ve dated, but I always managed to find something wrong with them.”
“Were you looking for someone like your mother?”
He wagged his finger. “Oh no. Don’t you go using your psychotherapy on me like I have some Oedipus complex. If I was opposed to marriage, I wouldn’t be marrying you.”
“Au contraire. You’re only marrying me because I’m with child.”
He laughed at the old-fashioned way she’d put it. “I’m marrying you because I want to. And because I want our child to have two full-time parents. I don’t want to miss out on a moment of his or her life. Speaking of marriage, I need your ring size.”
Shantel’s mouth curved into a smile and it did something to his insides. He couldn’t help it. He had a serious crush on this woman. If he had his way, they’d have forgone dinner and moved straight to dessert, but Shantel needed to be wooed. He suspected she wasn’t comfortable with the idea of a marriage of convenience. He needed her to see it was best for everyone.
The waitress returned with Shantel’s entrée of scallops, risotto and charred broccoli. His Angus filet was cooked perfectly and he enjoyed it and the crispy brussels sprouts and fingerling potatoes.
After she’d begun eating, Shantel took up the conversation where they’d left off. “I recognize the need for both parents in our child’s life, so I’ll tell you my ring size is a seven, but marriage is a big step. It’s the joining of two lives. How is this going to work? For starters, where are we going to live?”
“At Lockett Manor, naturally.”
“Naturally?” Shantel asked, dabbing her napkin on either side of her lips and placing it in her lap. “Why would we stay with your parents?”
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