Page 25 of Loving Roman (The Summer Twins #3)

–roman–

Standing in Alice’s kitchen, wearing only boxer briefs, I reminisce about last night.

It meant everything to me. We lit each other’s world on fire, and I know I want her in my bed and beside me in my life from here on out.

It may seem fast, but I’m not a young, inexperienced man.

I’ve spent enough time on my own to know when I’ve found someone who’s perfect for me.

I’m reasonably certain she feels the same, but I doubt she’s prepared to move at my speed.

I also need to consider the kids and our living arrangements.

I know The Parkerville Project doesn’t have an issue with couples running a group home since I’m the only single counselor, but they do require couples to be legally married to do so.

It’s an antiquated idea, but it was put in place to ensure stability for the kids. Not that marriage guarantees stability.

I set about making coffee for my girl while she finishes up in the shower.

She wanted us to shower together, but her shower is the size of a matchbox.

There was no way in hell we were both going to fit.

I figured I’d let her have the first shower, then I’ll jump in after breakfast. As the coffee brews, I check her refrigerator.

She has it well stocked with everything I need to make omelets.

A knock rattles her front door as I crack the first egg.

Turning off the heat, I check to see if Alice can answer it since this is her place, but the water’s still running.

I doubt she can hear the knock, so I quickly grab my best pair of jeans, as another frantic knock sounds.

“Just a sec,” I call out as I slide my second leg into my pants.

Another sharp knock sounds before I get them done up. Man, talk about impatient. I quickly answer the door to find a young man and woman standing on the other side, holding a tiny pug. The guy’s eyes are comically wide as the woman looks me up and down.

“Damn. Mom’s been holding out on us. At least we know why she wasn’t answering her phone.” Fuck, this must be her son and his wife

“Uh, hi. You must be Noah and Heather.” I step back from the doorway, allowing them to enter. “This little guy must be Taco.” I scratch the little pup behind his ears, and he wriggles like crazy at the attention.

“Uh, yeah.” Noah looks at his wife with raised brows before looking back at me. “I’m sorry, you have us at a disadvantage. Who the hell are you?” he snaps.

I’m guessing she didn’t tell them about me during her visit last weekend, and last night was rather unexpected. We were supposed to enjoy a dinner date, not have an all-night love fest. Not that I’m complaining. I hold out my hand. “I’m Roman. I’m a … uh … friend of your mom.”

“I’m ready to go again!” Alice calls out playfully as she steps from her bathroom wrapped in a towel that barely covers her torso. And even though there’s nothing sexual in those five words, the meaning behind them is clear .

“Hi, Mom,” Heather calls out gleefully. Her eyes sparkle with delight while her lips tip up with a smirk as she finger waves at Alice. I’m guessing she’s enjoying catching her mother-in-law out.

Alice freezes in place. Sheer horror overtakes her face as she holds the towel tighter to her body, her eyes darting between the three of us.

I make a move to go to her, but she widens her eyes at me and shakes her head, telling me to stay put.

I lock my feet in place, so I can follow her request against my better judgment.

She jabs her thumb over her shoulder toward her bedroom. “Uh, I’m, uh … just gonna get dressed.”

“Oh, don’t get dressed on our account. We can come back later … when you’re not so busy.” Heather winks, causing Alice to blush a bright crimson. She nudges Noah with her elbow. “Right, honey?”

Noah’s too shocked to respond, his eyes flicking between me and his mom.

Alice shuffles out of the room, closing the bedroom door behind her, and Noah turns to Heather. “That’s my mom you’re talking to like that, not one of your girlfriends. Tone that shit down,” he snaps.

Heather snickers at him, patting him on the arm. “Oh, stop it. Mom’s a grown-ass woman and she deserves to have a bit of fun.”

Noah growls at her, “Stop fucking talking about my mom like that.” He jabs his finger in the direction of Alice’s bedroom. “That’s my mom.” He pouts like a child.

As awkward as this is, I feel sorry for the kid. It can’t be easy seeing your mom as anything other than your mom. Having the visual of her having sex thrown in your face … I shudder involuntarily.

Heather’s expression softens, and she moves into her husband’s body, wrapping him in her arms, squashing Taco between them.

She whispers something in his ear that makes his body relax into her.

He eventually pulls back and kisses her temple, then nods, almost to himself.

He turns back to me, and I realize I’m still half naked.

I know I wouldn’t like to find my mom’s lover half naked in her house.

Jabbing my thumb over my shoulder, much the same way Alice did, I excuse myself to find my shirt and finish dressing, telling the kids to make themselves at home.

I step into her bedroom, closing the door quietly behind me, to find Alice sitting on the edge of her bed, hiding her face in her hands. Kneeling on the floor at her feet, I rub my hands along the outside of her jean-clad thighs and kiss the top of her head.

“I’m sorry, Alice. When I opened the door, I didn’t consider that Noah and Heather would be the people on the other side.” Her tear-stained face tilts up to mine. “I can leave if that’s what you need.”

Not that I want to fucking leave, but it has to be her decision. Noah’s her son, and I imagine it was a shock for him to be greeted by a half-naked man in his mother’s home. And it’s obvious that Alice isn’t coping much better than Noah at being caught out.

“I should have told them about you when I visited last week. I was scared of Noah’s reaction to my seeing someone.

He’s never seen me with a man since his father, and he was only four when we lost him.

” This is the first time she’s mentioned Noah’s father, and I’m trying to make sense of her statement.

Lost him sounds like he died, and Noah’s twenty-four now, so that makes it twenty years.

She’s been alone for twenty fucking years!

How is that even possible? She’s gorgeous.

I’m struggling to wrap my head around it when she goes on .

“We were on a family ski trip. My parents, Dean’s parents, and our little family.

” She swallows hard, her hands shaking, so I secure them in mine.

“We had a helicopter tour booked to take us up the mountain, but Noah wasn’t feeling well.

I think he was suffering from altitude sickness.

Dean wanted to cancel the tour, but I insisted they all go ahead and I stay back to look after him.

” She looks down at me with grief swimming in her eyes.

Her pain radiates from her and slams into me like a tsunami.

“It grew really late, and they hadn’t returned. I was getting worried, so I asked the concierge to check everything was okay. As the hours kept ticking by, I knew in my gut something was terribly wrong.”

My heart breaks for the young mother and her son for what they were about to endure.

“There had been a sudden, unexpected snowstorm on the other side of the mountain. They didn’t stand a chance. The helicopter crashed. There were no survivors.” She sobs out the last sentence as a shudder racks her body.

That explains why she has nobody other than Noah. Fuck . Everything she’s endured on her own. I can’t imagine the pain and sadness that ensued after such a catastrophic tragedy. She’s so damn strong to have made it through all of that on her own and raise Noah.

I climb to my feet and sit on the bed next to her, pulling her onto my lap so I can wrap her up and keep her safe in her tragic memories.

“Noah and I were the only ones left. We had no one else. There were so many days and nights I didn’t want to go on.

I was angry with Dean and our parents for leaving us.

Angry at being left behind to deal with life on my own with a small child.

Angry at having to get out of bed every day because I still had to care for Noah. ”

She looks up at me, our eyes locked. “I felt so guilty. So alone. So hopeless.” She sighs, and a ghost of a smile touches her lips.

“If it weren’t for Noah, I’m not sure I would still be here today.

He was my purpose for waking up every single day; for putting one foot in front of the other.

That little boy never let me wallow. Even at such a young age, he was mature beyond his years.

He would sense I was having a tough day and give me the most extraordinary hugs, draw me pictures, and demand to go to the park.

His boyish ways eventually woke me up, and I realized I was missing out on him and he needed me more than Dean and our parents needed my grief. ”

I cup her face in my hands, touching my forehead to hers. I’m honored that she’s opened up to me about her past, but it’s heartbreaking at the same time. “I can’t imagine what you’ve been through, Tesoro. I’m so sorry you and Noah had to experience such a tragedy.” I kiss her lips.

A soft knock sounds on the door. “Mom.” A light thump sounds on the other side, and Alice stiffens in my arms. “I’m sorry we visited unannounced. We can leave if you want.”

Alice shuffles off of my lap and, wiping the tears from beneath her eyes, opens the bedroom door.

“No, Noah. Please don’t go. I’m sorry. You caught me by surprise, that’s all.

” She puts on a smile, which doesn’t quite meet her eyes.

I stand and locate my shirt, then put it on and quickly fasten the buttons.