We lie that way for hours after, and I love every second of the experience, even knowing that she’s not about to relent anytime soon.
What we just shared may not be hearts and flowers and all romance, sex never truly is if we’re all being honest, but now I’m sure that we do belong together, no matter how hard life will be at times.
Chapter Twelve
Melissa
I am so sex drunk the next morning that when I wake, I don’t immediately dash to the bathroom to brush my teeth the way I always did. I have a few phobias about what I look and smell like first thing after waking, but not this morning.
No, this time I just lie quietly beside Roman and listen to his even breathing as I let the euphoric afterglow of the night’s events wash over me like a cool rainstorm in the desert.
I feel whole again, as if just the physical union and the shared pleasure have put back the puzzle pieces that have been missing all these weeks.
Lon was right after all. I only ended things with Roman because I’m afraid and a coward and too broken still to deal with the fear that will come along with being his. I know that he’ll go off to work and leave me, and all I’ll do till he comes back is worry and wonder if today’s the day I’ll lose the man I love because he’s reckless and fearless and too driven to see the dangers around him.
“You okay, baby girl?” he mumbles sleepily, looking down at me with sated, lazy eyes.
“Yeah. I’m good,” I lie, giving him a weak smile I know isn’t half as convincing as it needs it to be.
Roman sees it and he rears up over me, stroking my cheek softly as he gazes down at me with steady eyes.
“I should have given you more time. I fucked this all up again, didn’t I?”
“What? No! You were perfect, babe, I swear. I just…I’m just feeling a little sad today is all. It’s part of the whole pregnancy. Sometimes I wake up feeling great, and then other days…”
“You miss the chief,” he guesses.
“I do miss Daddy today, but I guess that goes with the territory since it’s—”
“His birthday. Yeah I know, baby girl.” He sighs, leaning down to kiss me tenderly. “You want to play hooky with me today and do something special for your old man?”
I have no idea how to respond to that since I had every intention of locking myself up inside the cottage and just lying on the sofa like a dead lump of grief.
Roman shrugs and I see the pain I feel at the memory of Daddy’s last birthday reflected in his eyes.
“We could go down to the old pond at Farmer’s and fish the day away like he used to do? He took me with him once. It was good. We could just be lazy and quiet all day, baby girl, and remember someone we both loved and lost.”
Just like that I feel some of my melancholy fade and the joy I felt earlier return.
“Sure. You get the poles and I’ll pack a basket?”
Roman smiles softly and I get another soft kiss before he’s up and walking naked to the bathroom.
“Come on, the day ain’t waiting on us and I want to get there before the sun’s out. Don’t forget your hat and sunscreen.”
How do I not love the damn man?
I get up because I have to and go to the guest bath to shower while I plan the food with an eye for what he likes and what I can stomach myself. I won’t think of another negative thing right now.
Today is for Daddy.
***
Roman
She’s overthinking things again, I can feel it as I bump the truck over the little dirt road and start winding my way down to the track that leads to the pond and some of the best fishing water in the area.
Today is about more than trying to win her back. It’s about keeping her distracted and out of the doldrums while also thinking of my next move and whether or not I can really go into retirement when all it makes me feel is miserable and unsettled.
I see Miah’s SUV already parked to the side with him and Jace leaning back and waiting on us. I would never bring my woman out here without at least an hour’s worth of recon to ensure there aren’t any undesirables lurking around. I also still have Lynn to consider, and seeing as my dear old pain in the ass aunt is nuttier than trail mix, I’m not taking any chances.
So I decided to call my brothers and drag them out for the day, no matter how much Miah hates fishing and Jace complained he was missing a good opportunity to knock up his wife.
Once I told them that it’s the chief’s birthday and let on that Mel was feeling a bit down, they were ready to roll. I think they may actually like her more than me at this point.
“Is that Miah and Jace?” she asks, sitting forward with a frown.
“Yea. They’re coming with us.”