Roman’s family was a wild card. She had no idea what to expect from the Locketts. On the few occasions she’d come into contact with Josiah Lockett, he’d been larger than life, and Shantel had kept her distance. Roman’s mother had been warm and friendly. She hoped she would be the same once she heard their news.
“Which would you like to tackle first?” Roman said. “If I had my pick, I’d say your family. I could ask your father for your hand in marriage.”
Shantel saw what he was doing. Avoidance. It was something she saw her patients do often. He would rather deal with the unknown than face his own demons with his family. She didn’t let her patients take the easy way out and she wasn’t about to let her fiancé do it either.
“No, we’ll meet with your parents first. How about this weekend?”
Roman rolled his eyes upward. “I see who I’m dealing with now. You prefer to tackle the hardest issue head on. All right, we’ll do it your way. I’ll make the arrangements.” He glanced down at his watch again. “I’m sorry, Shantel, but I really have to get going.”
He rose to his feet. He came toward her, and unlike before, she didn’t try to ignore the attraction they felt for each other. She welcomed the kiss he brushed across her lips, but it was over quickly.
He moved toward the kitchen doorway. “I’ll call you later?”
“Yes. That’s fine. I have patients until lunchtime and usually have my phone off, but I’ll reply then.”
“Okay, I look forward to it.” He turned to leave, but then spun around to face her. “Shantel?”
“Yes.”
“Last night was great and I can’t wait for a repeat performance.”
Shantel hadn’t intended for their relationship to become intimate. She’d been certain keeping their relationship platonic was best, but her wayward body had other ideas. Now she’d gone and completely confused the arrangement and gotten more than she bargained for. Roman would probably expect that their marriage would include sex because she’d given him mixed messages. She’d never been able to separate love and sex. Would she be able to in this marriage?
Thirteen
Roman didn’t tell his parents why he was calling a family meeting over dinner the next Saturday, only that everyone’s attendance was required. His parents had been curious about his request, but agreed to host. Julian and Giana both knew what it was about and agreed to support him.
Roman even managed to reach his baby brother, Xavier, after several tries. Xavier indicated he was taking some much-needed time away to get his head on straight, but Roman wasn’t buying it for a second.
This time of year was tough on Xavier, ever since the knee injury that had abruptly ended his career as an up-and-coming quarterback two years ago. No amount of therapy would heal him; he’d always walk with a slight limp and it crushed his spirit. When he’d learned the future he’d worked so hard for his entire life was over, the entire family thought he might be suicidal. He’d gotten better since then but it was still tough on him.
Roman shared his thoughts about Xavier with Shantel over dinner that evening when she invited him to her place. After opening a bottle of wine for him and sparkling cider for her, Shantel began making dinner. He watched her cut up vegetables for a salad while working on the main course, a rump roast.
He’d never had a woman cook him a meal before. Usually he took his women out or grabbed to-go from his favorite restaurant. He was enjoying the down-home approach Shantel brought to his life. He felt grounded despite the fact his whole life was about to change.
He was going to be a father and although he was scared at the thought of screwing up, with Shantel by his side, Roman felt like he could do anything. That was the positive effect she’d had on him.
“How did you get Xavier through it?” Shantel asked, breaking into his thoughts. Roman realized his brother was still the topic of conversation although he’d moved on in his head.
“At first he pushed us away. That’s when my father stepped in and told Xavier he either had to go to therapy or get the hell out of the family.”
Shantel frowned. “That was some tough love.”
“It’s the only kind Josiah Lockett knows how to give.”
“And you? What did you do?” Shantel asked, getting glasses, plates and cutlery from the cupboard.
Roman sipped his wine. “I flew with him to this great clinic in Denver. They specialized in sports injuries as well as the mental health issues professional athletes face. Sure, Xavier ultimately recovered and was able to walk again, but every year around this time, he goes off like this and cuts himself off from the family.”
“It’s perfectly natural, Roman,” Shantel said as she left the kitchen to set the dining room table for dinner. He followed her and leaned against the doorway. “He’s grieving the life he once had. How long has it been?”
“Two years.”
“Although he may have accepted what happened to him here,” Shantel said, pointing to her temple, “he’s struggling to accept it here.” She patted her heart. “Give him time. He’ll come around.” She returned to the kitchen and took the roast out of the oven. Once it had rested properly, she sliced it against the grain, laid it out on a platter and garnished it with parsley. Then she scooped the roasted potatoes into a bowl. “Can you take these in for me?”
“Of course.” He couldn’t believe the spread she’d made for him without even breaking a sweat. She followed behind him with a large green salad and placed it on the table with the roast and potatoes.
“Hope you don’t mind. I already tossed it with a balsamic vinaigrette in the kitchen.”
“Not at all.” He walked over and pulled out her chair. Once she was seated, he returned to sit across from her. “Shantel, thank you for all this.” He glanced around the table. “Other than my mother, no one’s ever really gone through the trouble to cook for me.”
“You have to be willing to allow it, Roman.”
He stared at her for several moments. Shantel was not only a good listener, but insightful. She forced Roman to delve deeper into the motivations behind his actions. He hadn’t realized he was keeping women at arm’s length. Am I afraid of them getting too close? Maybe because they may not like the real me if they got to know me?
“Let’s eat, shall we?” he said, changing the subject. “This looks delicious.” He reached for the platter of roast and loaded his plate along with helpings of potatoes and salad.
“Clearly this line of conversation makes you uncomfortable,” Shantel replied, eyeing him knowingly. “So we’ll drop it. I won’t push.”
He was uncomfortable.
And that scared him most of all.
“There’s something else I’ve been meaning to discuss with you and could really use your help,” Roman said, glad to be off the hook on more serious topics.
“Sure, whatever it is I’ll do my best,” she said, cutting a piece of roast and taking a bite.
“I have a rather important client, Tim Jackson, who I’m trying to woo in the hopes his son Curtis will sign with the Atlanta Cougars. He’s going to be coming to town next month from LA and I would love it if you could maybe do that thing you do and make him feel more comfortable.”
Shantel chuckled. “I’m not a miracle worker, Roman. If he’s dead set on his son not coming to Atlanta, I’m not sure what else I can do.”
“Trust me, you have a way with people. Of easing their minds. I mean, look at what you’ve done to me.”
“Done to you?”
“Yeah, you have me, me of all people, talking about feelings. Trust me, your presence could go a long way in assuring Tim his son is in good hands with the Locketts.”
She shook her head. “I’m not a Lockett.”
“Not yet, but you will be. And I know meeting you will be a game changer.”
“I suppose. I’ll do what I can.”
“Thank you, Shantel. Your support means a lot to me.”
And it did. This woman was making him lose h
is famous self-control. In business, he was hard, cold steel, but Shantel had him opening up like the flower blossom ring she wore on her finger. What more does she have in store for me?
*
After finishing dinner, they retired to the living room, where they spent the rest of the evening going over their schedules. The real estate agent Roman had lined up already had houses for them to look at tomorrow. Thankfully, Shantel didn’t have any weekend appointments. Then of course there was the pesky issue of setting a wedding date.
Shantel wanted something simple and quick, but Roman refused to shortchange her. By the end of the night, he had her agreeing to marry him in a month. She didn’t see how it was possible to plan a wedding that fast, but Roman was determined, and told her to hire the wedding planner on Monday, price no object. Their families had just enough time to adjust their schedules while giving Shantel a wedding to remember.
She appreciated his attempts to romanticize the event, but Shantel didn’t want to get confused. She knew why they were marrying. She was pregnant and there was no other reason. Yes, she found herself quickly becoming infatuated with the man who was her fiancé, but she needed to be careful not to lose sight of reality.
“Roman, I’ve changed my mind. I need to tell my father first,” Shantel said.
Roman sat up straight. “If you think it’s the right thing to do,” he responded. “Can you call him?”
“Now? It’s late.”
“There’s no time like the present.”
Reluctantly, Shantel reached for her phone and dialed her father. He answered almost immediately. “Shantel, is everything okay?”
“Yes, of course. Why?”
“You usually don’t call so late.”
“Well…” She paused several beats. It wasn’t every day you told your father you were knocked up and having a shotgun wedding.
“What is it, baby girl? You’re making me nervous.”
“I—” Shantel didn’t get another word out because Roman took the phone from her. Shantel heard their one-sided conversation.
“Mr. Wilson. My name is Roman Lockett and I’ve been seeing your daughter.” He glanced at Shantel. “Yes, sir, she’s a wonderful woman, which is why I’ve asked Shantel to marry me.” Another pause. “I recognize I should have spoken with you sooner and that I’ve done this backwards, but…”
Shantel placed her hand over Roman’s. She shook her head and mouthed, “Don’t tell him about the baby. I want to do that in person.” He nodded his understanding and handed the phone back to Shantel.
“Hi, Daddy.”
“I’m surprised by your sudden engagement, baby girl, but if this is what you want…” His voice trailed off.
“It is.”
“Then I’d like to get to know Roman. Can you bring him to meet the family next weekend?”
“Of course.”
“It’s settled. I’ll see you then. And Shantel?”
“Yes, Daddy?”
“I love you.”
Shantel ended the call and found Roman staring at her.
“How did it go?”
“Better than expected. My father is shocked, but can’t wait to meet you.”
“I’m glad, but you’re still tense,” Roman stated. “Come here. Let me help ease your stress.” He patted the sofa by him and began treating her to a foot rub, which eventually led to his hands skating up her thighs and bunching her dress at her hips. She no longer found it shameful to part her legs for him. Instead she allowed his hand greater access. When he tugged the material aside so his fingers could work magic, her eyes fluttered closed.
Instantly she moaned as his fingers stroked and his mouth teased. He always set her on fire. She felt consumed by it. Need washed over her as he made her wetter and way more vocal than she’d ever been.
“Ready?”
“Yes…” I am beyond ready.
Suddenly he rose, edging up so he could press his body close to hers. A shudder of delight ran through her as their bodies crushed against each other. Roman feasted on her lips, exploring them with such thoroughness she felt he knew them better than she did. And she let him, opening herself up, so he could slide his tongue inside her mouth. She was so caught up in the moment, she didn’t realize he’d lowered his pants and put on protection until he was sliding inside her, filling her completely. He moved slowly, keeping her on the edge for a long time, until eventually she wrapped her legs around him and held him close.
Tension quickly began building inside her. Shantel let out a series of gasps and sighs as he increased the pace, bringing her closer and closer to an oblivion she couldn’t contend with. Eventually she gave herself over to it, screwed her eyes tightly shut and screamed just as his body became rigid above her and he thrust one last time into her.
Her last thought was…she was still fully clothed.
*
The next morning, Roman took Shantel out for breakfast at a small diner specializing in biscuits and gravy. By the end of the meal, their bellies were full and they were ready to walk it off looking at houses. They took Roman’s Maserati Levante to meet their real estate agent. John Summers had found a few listings that met both their criteria. It had to be close enough to the Atlanta Cougars corporate headquarters for Roman’s work and close to Shantel’s office. It should be in Buckhead but homey enough for Shantel.
When they pulled up to the first house, Roman was suitably impressed. It was a newly built five-bedroom, five-and-a-half-bath home with a light-filled open concept main level with twelve-foot ceilings and beautiful beams. It had a chef’s kitchen, quartz waterfall counters and a huge master bedroom with his and hers closets. There were also laundry and flex rooms and oversize bedrooms with en suite bathrooms. In addition to a screened-in porch, there was a covered outdoor space with a motorized retractable roof. It was everything they would ever need. The price wasn’t bad either.
“I don’t know,” Shantel said as they stood in the easy maintenance backyard. “It seems like so much space for three people.”
“Once you have more children, you can fill it up,” John replied.
Immediately Shantel’s eyes shot to Roman’s and he could see her concern in their depths. “Give us a minute, John, will you?”
“Of course. When you’re ready, meet me in the driveway and we’ll head to the next house.” The real estate agent walked away to give them some privacy, checking his phone as he went.
“More children?”
“Do you want our baby to be an only child?” Roman asked, looking down at her. As soon as he said the words, he knew want he wanted. More children to fill up the house as the agent suggested. He’d always enjoyed having siblings and he wanted the same for his child.
“I guess I never really thought beyond this pregnancy.”
He stared at her. “Perhaps you should.”
She swallowed and turned away. He could see she was struggling with something, but she wasn’t talking to him about it, which was more and more unusual. As they got to know each other better, Shantel had become an open book and didn’t mind sharing her feelings. He supposed that’s why he didn’t like the distance he felt now. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” But her voice sounded strained.
“There’s definitely something,” Roman replied, grasping her forearm and turning her to face him. “What is it? You can tell me. Don’t you want more children with me?”
“I—I…” Her voice trailed off and it gutted him. He’d never thought about having another baby until it appeared Shantel was taking it off the table.
“All right, well, we should get back to it.” Roman refused to show his disappointment. They would talk about it later when Shantel was ready to share her feelings. “We don’t have much time to find a place. We have a million and one things to do to prepare for the wedding.”
“Okay.” She allowed him to lead her to the car and remained silent in her thoughts for much of the drive to the next location. Roman didn’t know why
he was so upset. It wasn’t like they’d discussed more children; he’d sprung it on her with no preamble. She obviously needed time to adjust to the fact that their lives were changing and expanding to include more than just themselves. But it wasn’t easy for him either. He was scared to death, but he was doing his best to make life as stress-free for her as possible.
Ten minutes later, he drove them to a private cul-de-sac in a much-sought-after area in Buckhead. Shantel was practically beaming at the two-story home with its brick facade and porch. “Can’t you picture having two rocking chairs out here?” she said.
After John led them through the double doors with glass inserts, Roman knew it was a wrap. The house had a large welcoming foyer, crown molding, wood floors, a sunny eat-in white kitchen and a paneled family room with a stone fireplace. The master suite with its large walk-in shower and soaking tub really seemed to speak to Shantel.
“This is wonderful,” she said, touching the porcelain tub. “I can picture myself taking a bubble bath.”
So could Roman. He imagined Shantel covered up in bubbles and felt his groin tighten. “John, show us the downstairs.”
Roman’s favorite feature was the terrace level. It would be great for entertaining with a large in-law suite, tile flooring, built-in wet bar and an extra-large family room with a fireplace that opened to the deck with a screened porch overlooking a heated pool.
Once they made it to the pool deck, Roman glanced at Shantel, and it was clear her decision was made. “We’ll take it, John. Make an offer.”
Fourteen
“Stop fidgeting, you look great!” Roman told Shantel after he’d helped her out of his car Saturday night and led her into the foyer of Lockett manor to the great room, where his family typically gathered. She looked sexy to him in her simple belted polka-dot dress. Roman wore all black. “You’re not being led to slaughter.”
“Are you sure about that? You already have a strained relationship with your father. And you want to tell him the news straightaway. Is it any wonder I’m nervous?”
Consequences of Passion--A sensual pregnancy romance Page 10