“And you—” she stepped toward him to cradle his face in her palms “—are going to make a great father. I’m so happy to see I was wrong. You also have a foundation to build on. It may not be love just yet.” She stroked his wayward bushy eyebrows down. “But it’ll get there.”
His mother’s words stayed with Roman after he’d left the house. Love. There it was. That word he couldn’t seem to escape. He’d never been in love. He’d never even been close. At one time, he’d thought he was incapable of it other than the love he felt for his family, but maybe he’d shortchanged himself. Perhaps love was in the cards for him, after all.
*
“So tell me, what kind of wedding do you want?” the wedding planner asked Shantel when she came to her cottage later that afternoon. Erica Shelton was a petite blonde in a killer designer pantsuit who got right to the point. “Big or small and intimate?”
“Definitely small and intimate,” Shantel responded. “I’d like it to be family and close friends.”
“Okay, great.” Erica wrote in her notebook. “That tells me what we’re working with, but we have a lot of decisions to make in a short time.” She reached for her suitcase and opened it, showing her color swatches, catering menus, and photos of flowers and wedding dresses. “All right, I know all of this might seem overwhelming, but let me worry about the details. I need you to be high-level.” She raised her hand above her head. “I’ve got the small stuff,” she finished, bringing her hand lower, past her face.
Shantel let out a sigh of relief. “Okay, I can do that.”
Over the next couple of hours, they narrowed down the overall color scheme, invitation design and flowers. Shantel opted for a spring look with a palette of bright blues, oranges and pinks. Their wedding cake would be an elegant tiered buttercream with orange and pink flowers. Erica had a location in mind near a lake with an attention-grabbing rotunda. When she showed Shantel the picture, Shantel knew it was the perfect location and hoped Roman would agree.
Erica left Shantel with homework—to find out if Roman wanted a religious or nondenominational ceremony, look over some of her favorite caterers’ menus and select what type of music they wanted—and set up an appointment for her with a wedding dress designer for tomorrow evening. Erica would do the rest.
Shantel’s mind was reeling as she walked Erica to the door. “Thank you for everything. You’ve given me a lot to think about and I’ll get back to you.”
“Excellent. We’ll speak soon.” Erica waved and walked down the cottage steps to her car parked at the curb.
Shantel was closing the door when her cell phone rang. It was Roman. Her heart lurched at seeing his name on her display. “Hello?”
“Hello, beautiful. How did your afternoon with Erica go?”
“It went great. She really knows her stuff.” Shantel leaned against the door.
“Told you you had nothing to worry about. Erica planned a friend of mine’s wedding and they raved about her.”
“She gave us both some homework to do.”
“Oh, really?”
“If you’re free later, I need you to come over and have a look.” Shantel wasn’t going to be only one whose mind would spin. They were in this together.
“I’ll be right over.”
*
Roman didn’t know the first thing about planning a wedding, but wanted whatever made Shantel happy. When he arrived, she had a plethora of pictures and menus for him to look at. “You’ve been busy.”
She grinned mischievously. “Oh, you have no idea, but you will soon.” She rubbed her hands together in glee.
It didn’t take long for Roman to be deluged with decision-making. They had to decide whether they wanted a buffet or plated dinner? Open bar or beer and wine? Meat or fish? Eventually, they settled on hors d’oeuvres and a plated dinner with a top-of-the-line menu his mother would be proud of and a full open bar.
After calling Erica with their selections and making arrangements for a menu tasting, Roman and Shantel rewarded themselves with a bubble bath in Shantel’s claw-foot tub. With his six-foot frame, it was a tight squeeze, but that made it even more enjoyable because there was nowhere for Shantel to go. He had his wicked way with her, kissing and touching every part of her he could reach. Afterwards, they retired to the bedroom, where he made love to her until they’d both worked up a sweat.
He rolled off her, panting as he stared at the ceiling. “What are you doing to me, woman?”
“I could ask you the same thing.” Shantel turned on her side to face him. “You’ve made me into a sex addict.” She wasn’t even trying to reach for a cover anymore because she was comfortable being naked beside him.
He grinned. “Have I?” He was glad to hear he wasn’t the only one feeling the maelstrom of emotions.
“I’ve never experienced anything like what we share,” she revealed. “Before, I didn’t know what I was missing so I could take it or leave it, but with you…” Her voice trailed off.
He flashed her a smile. He felt the same way. His appetite for her was huge and hard to satisfy. The fact that they shared this hunger for each other was immensely gratifying, but it wasn’t easy for him to verbalize his feelings the way Shantel had.
Leaning over, he kissed her with a soft brush of his lips. Her gasp was soft and he kissed her again, his hands framing her face. He was lost in sensation and in the knowledge that he just might be in love with this woman.
He was surprised and a bit nervous at the prospect. He’d never been in love before, and had even thought himself incapable of loving another person. But in a short span of time Shantel was making him wish for a happily ever after.
Sixteen
The rest of the week sped by for Shantel. The purchase of the Buckhead home was in the works, plus there were tastings with the caterer and appointments with the wedding dress designer. By Friday, Shantel was happy with the progress being made considering the wedding was only two weeks away.
She thought about how her family would react when she told them her big news. Her father had asked that she bring Roman with her to the farm and promised a big Wilson family barbecue. Shantel told him not to go to any trouble, but he refused to listen. He knew this was monumental because Shantel hadn’t been involved with anyone seriously since Bobby and now she was suddenly marrying Roman out of the blue. She hoped his reaction would be better than Mr. Lockett’s when she revealed she was also having a baby.
Speaking of babies, hers wasn’t settling down any time soon. She still had bouts of uncontrollable nausea. The meds her ob-gyn had prescribed had certainly helped, but they weren’t a cure-all.
She’d been reading everything she could, including What to Expect When You’re Expecting. She was surprised when she’d found a copy at Roman’s place one evening earlier this week.
“You’re not the only one going through this,” he informed her. “I want to know what’s coming next.”
They spent most evenings together except tonight. Roman had a dinner with a sports agent and Shantel had begged off because she’d found herself more exhausted than usual.
It was nearly 10:00 p.m. when Roman called her. “How’s my lady?”
The strong baritone of his voice wasn’t the only reason warmth spread through her. He’d called her his lady. Surely that meant he was seeing her in terms other than the mother of his child, didn’t it? “Sleepy,” she responded.
“I’m sorry it’s so late. The agent refused to give an inch so there was a lot of bartering going on. He wasn’t happy we were trading his client for a younger athlete, but he’s also representing another player we have our eye on, so he was lobbying hard on that deal.”
“Sounds taxing.”
“It was. I would come over, but I don’t want to keep you up. Tomorrow is a big day.”
“Are you worried?” Shantel asked.
“About meeting your father and three brothers? Hell yeah I am,” Roman answered. “I’m sure they don’t want to lose the baby gir
l in the family.”
“You’ll do fine.” Shantel knew for certain her father might be stern, but he was always fair.
“From your lips to God’s ears,” Roman said. He signed off several minutes later and Shantel sank back down into her plush comforter and fell asleep.
Once her family saw her with Roman, there was no doubt in her mind they would welcome him with open arms. Just as she had.
*
It was a two-hour drive from Atlanta to the small town of McDonough in the middle of the state. After they’d left the interstate, the roads had turned narrower and they’d passed by some small towns until eventually a sign read McDonough.
Along the way, Shantel told Roman about her family, all her brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews. Roman hoped they would like him. He hadn’t gone to meet a woman’s family and ask for her hand, so this was a big deal. He’d dressed with care in a silver shirt and pressed black slacks. “How do you think your father will react to meeting me after hearing about our engagement over the phone?” he asked. “Not to mention the baby.”
Shantel wasn’t showing yet. He was the only person who’d noticed how full her breasts had become.
She glanced at him. “My family is going to love you.”
As soon as his Maserati Levante pulled up to the ranch-style farmhouse, Shantel’s entire family piled out of the house to greet them. They plucked Shantel out of the car and into their outstretched arms while Roman retrieved several bags filled with gifts for Shantel’s nieces and nephews.
Roman watched as Shantel was gathered into the warm embrace of her family. It hit him how different their families were. Although his mother showed affection, Josiah was the exact opposite.
Everyone began speaking at once. Small children and a baby were being passed around so Shantel could hug and kiss each and every one of them. It was such a strange and foreign experience to be surrounded by such happiness and laughter. And love.
Her father stood back from the fray. He wasn’t tall and athletic like his sons—he was short and somewhat portly—but he had Shantel’s caramel coloring, brown eyes and broad smile. Shantel squealed with joy when she saw him and bounded into his arms.
“Baby girl,” he said. “It’s so good to have you home.”
“Daddy.” Shantel tilted her head to look at Roman. “I’d like you to meet Roman. My fiancé.”
“Fiancé!” There was lots of whooping and hollering and back-slapping the likes of which Roman had never seen. But just like that, he was welcomed into the Wilson family because he was with Shantel. He could see they trusted her judgment implicitly. Roman was struck with how this meeting was nothing like his family’s reception of Shantel.
“C’mon over here, son.” George Wilson’s hand was outstretched and Roman pumped it.
“Great to meet you, sir.”
“Same here,” Mr. Wilson replied. “You must have made quite the impression on my Shantel if she’s willing to marry.”
“Why is that?”
“After the way Bobby handled the news that we’d lost Shantel’s mama, I thought she’d never marry.” He walked towards the house, leaving Roman to follow and wonder exactly what her father meant and what Shantel hadn’t revealed to him.
*
“He’s the baby’s father, isn’t he?” Charlene asked, cornering Shantel in the kitchen when she went in search of a ginger ale to settle her quivering stomach. She kept crackers in her purse for moments like this when she felt a bit nauseated.
“Charlene…” she whispered, pulling her into the pantry. “Lower your voice. We haven’t told the rest of the family yet.”
“But he is the father?”
“Yes.”
“I’m so glad he’s doing the right thing by you, Shantel.”
“I could have raised this baby by myself,” Shantel stated, even though as the weeks passed she realized she wouldn’t have wanted to. Having Roman by her side was much easier than going it alone.
“I know, Miss Independent. But two is always better than one,” Charlene replied. “When are you going to tell everyone?”
“I was thinking after dinner,” Shantel replied. She didn’t want Roman to be grilled as she’d been by his family. Better everyone be in good spirits after having one of her sister-in-law’s peach pies and homemade ice cream.
“All right, well, if you need anything let me know. Christopher has already grown out of newborn outfits and is in clothes for one-to-three-month-olds now, so I’ve got plenty to spare.”
Shantel smiled. It was hard to believe that in seven months, she too would be looking at baby clothes. “Thanks, Charlene. I might take you up on that.”
*
The entire family sat down under a pergola decorated with twinkle lights in the backyard at a table filled with barbecue chicken, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, green beans with fatback, potato salad and huge jugs of sweet tea.
Roman couldn’t ever remember feeling so comfortable and welcomed. Once everyone loaded their plates up with delicious goodness, her older brother Terrance asked Roman about the family business. “Tell us about the Atlanta Cougars,” Terrance said as he dug into his plate of chicken. “Must be something, running a big football franchise.”
Roman found himself talking about the history of the organization and how his father had purchased the team. He told them how each of his siblings played a major role in the franchise’s success, but as the oldest he was groomed to take over. The Wilsons listened with rapt attention while they ate and drank sweet tea. Roman had never seen Shantel’s eyes so bright. She looked happy. Content. He reached across the distance between them and squeezed her hand. She smiled, squeezing his back.
“I like it,” Frank said. “As the oldest, you’re heir apparent, yet you see it as a family business.”
“Oh, most definitely,” Roman said. “There’s no I, only we.”
The sound of a baby crying came from inside the house. “Excuse me.” Her sister-in-law Charlene left them to tend to the child. She was back a few minutes later with a tiny bundle in her arms.
“Oh, may I?” Shantel asked, eagerly jumping to her feet.
“Of course.” Charlene placed the boy in Shantel’s arms. “Say hello to your Auntie Shantel.”
Shantel’s eyes lit up when she looked at Christopher. She offered her finger, which the baby latched on to immediately. The sight of Shantel holding a baby who was practically a newborn was the most beautiful thing Roman had ever seen.
It made him think of how Shantel would look cradling their own child one day, and something inside him shifted. It was the tiniest of changes, but his throat closed up. Shantel was going to be an amazing mother, which made marrying her one of the easiest and best decisions he’d ever made.
*
Later, Shantel’s father came to Roman while the women were setting up dessert. “We need to have a talk, man to man.”
He glanced around for Shantel, but she was holding her nephew in her arms and paid Roman no mind. Although Roman was nervous, as any man would be asking a father for his daughter’s hand, he wasn’t afraid. Shantel said her father was a fair man.
They left everyone underneath the pergola, and George led him inside to the kitchen, where he pulled out a bottle of dark liquid and two shot glasses from the cupboard.
Both men sat down at the kitchen table. George poured them a hefty measure in each glass and handed one to Roman. “To Shantel,” he said and they clinked glasses.
Roman threw his back easily and the fire of the whiskey burned all the way down. “Mr. Wilson…”
“Call me George.”
“George, I’m sorry for not speaking to you first before asking Shantel to marry me, but Shantel’s and my relationship isn’t a normal one.”
George sat up straighter.
“I only mean that it’s unconventional,” Roman amended at George’s frown. “You see, Shantel is carrying my child.”
George’s eyes grew wide. “My baby is
having a baby?”
Roman nodded. “Although I admit it’s the reason I’m here asking for your blessing of this marriage, I have come to care a great deal for Shantel and I want the best for our baby.”
“I can see that,” George said. “It takes a brave man to stand in front of a father after the fact. I appreciate your honesty. Shantel’s always had a good head on her shoulders, and if she agreed to this marriage, then you have my blessing.”
“We do?” Roman couldn’t hide his surprise. He’d thought George would be a lot harder on him.
“Yes,” George said with a wide smile that smacked of his approval. “And we should drink to it.” He leaned forward, removed the top from the bottle and poured two more hefty measures. “Here’s to your marriage, my boy. May you and Shantel have a long life filled with love and happiness.”
As he downed the shot, Roman thought about her father’s words on their union. He didn’t just want a marriage of convenience. He wanted what Mr. Wilson wished for them, and he would do everything in his power to ensure that it happened.
Seventeen
The rest of the evening went swimmingly in Shantel’s opinion. After disappearing with her father, Roman returned to the backyard pergola in good spirits. She walked toward him and he greeted her with a kiss. “I take it everything went well with my father?”
He grinned. “It went great! I told him about the baby too.”
“You did?”
“Yes he did, Buttercup,” her father said from behind Shantel.
She turned to face her father, one arm still wrapped around Roman. “So you’re not mad at me?”
“How can I be mad at you, sweetheart? You’re giving me another grandchild.” He held out his arms to her and Shantel rushed into his waiting embrace.
“Thank you, Daddy. Your blessing means everything to me.”
“I know it does, Buttercup, so let’s tell everyone else.” Her father clapped loudly and everyone stopped talking at once.
“Shantel and Roman have another announcement to make.” He motioned the two of them towards the middle of the group.
Consequences of Passion--A sensual pregnancy romance Page 12