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Willa

I’m so nervous I feel sick in my stomach.  I’m not sure if I need to vomit or not.  My hands feel clammy and my heart is racing erratically.   Trepidation swims through my veins.

“Calm down, babe,” Roman says gently, placing a hand on my thigh to stop the uncontrollable bouncing it is doing.  “You’re shaking the car with that bouncing,” he jokes.

“Sorry.  I’m just so nervous.”  I wring my hands together in my lap.

It has been two months since I took the plunge and knocked on Roman’s door.  Since that day, we have tried to spend as much time together as possible.  Since I work shifts most weekdays, it usually involves one of us making the two hour trip to the other, and spending the weekend.  It’s okay, but I wish we had more time to spend together.  Mondays are always a melancholy day for me, because I seem to miss him the most as soon as he leaves.  I guess it’s also because I know I have to wait five whole days before I get to see him again. 

Roman pulls the car in to a drive and turns off the ignition.  I look through the windshield at the quaint weatherboard home in front of us.  The garden is immaculate, and even though the house is old, it’s well maintained and looks in good condition.

“I’m going to be sick.”

Just then, the front door of the house opens and a woman appears. 

“Who’s that?” I squeak.

“Baby?” Roman says, trying to gain my attention, but my focus is on the woman, standing on the porch, waving wildly with a huge-ass smile on her face.

“Babe,” he repeats, firmer this time.  He takes my chin between his thumb and forefinger and guides me until I’m looking at him.  “Just relax.  It’s going to be fine. They know you’re coming. I’ve told them all about you.  Stop panicking, okay?  They’re going to love you.”  He touches his lips to mine and I calm a little.

“Now, let’s go. Mom’s waiting.” He nods his head in the direction of the woman on the porch.

“That’s your Mom?”  I’m stunned.  Where Roman is massive – tall and muscular – this woman is the opposite, she’s short and plump.  Roman must be at least an entire foot taller than her!

“I take after my dad.” He grins.  Exiting the car, he comes around to my side and takes my hand, leading me up the path to his waiting mother.

“Roman, my sweet boy! It’s so good to see you,” she singsongs.

I stand back, watching as he leans down to give her a hug and kiss.

“Mom, this is Willa.  Willa, this is my mother, Cynthia.”

“Sweet child, look at you!  She’s a pretty one, Roman.  Nothing but the best for my boy.  Oooh-eeee, I’m excited,” she hoots.  She bustles over to me and pulls me straight into her warm embrace.  She smells like rose fragrance mixed with a hint of cinnamon.

I don’t know why, but in that moment, all the nervous energy I had dissipates. 
Poof!
  Just like that.  Gone.  My arms go around her middle and I hug her back.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Drake.”

“Oh now, none of that.  You call me Mom or Cynthia, whichever you prefer.  Now come on inside.  I just know Raymond is gonna jump out of his socks when he lays eyes on what our boy’s brought home.”

She leads the way inside, while Roman and I follow, his arm slung loosely over my shoulder, but still holding me close.

“I may have failed to divulge, my mom’s a bit of a whacko,” he whispers in my ear.

I stifle a giggle.  “I like her.”

He smiles warmly down at me.  “Good, baby.” He touches his lips to mine as we’re still walking.  In front of us, Cynthia is hollering through the house to Raymond.

“What’s all the racket, woman?” a male voice yells back.

“Here he comes,” she says excitedly to Roman and me.  “Raymond, looks who’s home!  And, he brought a girl.”  I can tell she’s trying to curb her enthusiasm, but she’s failing miserably.  I don’t care, though.  It makes me love her all the more.

“Son, good to see ya.”  They hug and give  each other a slap on the back.

“Good to be here, old man.  This is Willa.  Willa, my dad, Raymond.”

“Nice to meet you, sir.”  I smile.  Roman was right, he does take after his father.  Mr. Drake is about the same height as Roman, but not as wide.   He gets his eyes and his lips from his mom, though.

“Willa, welcome.  It’s a pleasure to meet you.”  He ignores my outstretched hand and gives me a hug instead.

“Right now, you all go on into the living room, and I’ll serve the drinks.  Supper won’t be too far away.”

Okay, so meeting the parents wasn’t as bad as I expected.  It was actually really fun, and I enjoyed myself.  The food was delicious, and the company was even better. 

My good mood takes a nosedive, though, when I check my phone as Roman drives us back to Denver. I read the text message again and sigh. 
Fuck my life!
  It’s a message from my boss, letting me know that she’s letting me go.  According to the message, because I was the last person hired, it also means I’m the first person to be fired due to their restructuring of the company.

Apparently, I don’t even deserve a phone call.
 

As if sensing my mood change, Roman glances over at me quizzically from the driver’s seat.

“What’s wrong, babe?”

“Nothing.” I wrinkle my nose.  “I’m fine.” I try to plaster on a smile, but it’s a weak one, and I know he’ll see right through it. 

“Willa,” he warns.

“It’s nothing I can’t handle myself.  I’m just pissed that now a good night has ended sucky for me.”

“Woman, what are you going on about?  Just spit it out already.”

“Just drive, Roman,” I sigh, leaning back and closing my eyes.  What the hell am I going to do now? 

Hollow Springs is only a small town, and jobs aren’t aplenty.  It was pure luck that I got the job when I did.  I quickly run through the handful of businesses in town that might be hiring, but I come up with zero. 

Shit, shit, shit.

The next few miles pass silently, with me lost in my thoughts about my new predicament.  I’m startled from my thoughts when Roman jerks the car to the side of the road and comes to an abrupt stop.

“What’s going on?” 
Do we have a flat?

“Tell me what’s got your mind ticking so loudly, Willa,” he demands, turning to face me.

“Rom-,” I start, but he cuts me off with a sharp jerk of his head.

I sigh.  He isn’t going to let up until he knows.

“I got a text message from my boss to tell me I just lost my job.”

“You lost your job?” he repeats, his eyebrows rising to his hairline.  “By text message?”

I nod.

“Jesus, fuck, babe. I’m sorry.”  He scrubs his hands over his face.

“It’s okay. I’m sure I’ll find something,” I murmur.

He pulls me in for a long hug, comforting me in the best way possible.  Then, he pulls back out onto the road and continues driving.

“Did you like your job?” he asks.

“The work, yes.  My boss, no.”

He nods.  “You know, there are lots cafes in Denver.  Lots of available jobs, too,” he states casually.

I didn’t even think of that!

“That’s a great idea.  Rad already offered me his spare bedroom,” I tell him, hoping my brother’s offer still stands.  “It would be nice to live closer to you,” I muse.

“What if you were even closer than that?”

“Huh?” 
Maybe there’s a job in the FBI café.  Do they even have those?

“Move in with me.”  It’s not a question.  It’s a statement.  A declaration of the love and commitment he feels for me.

“Willa?” he prompts, when I don’t reply.  My mouth is gaping. I can’t believe it.

Move in with him?

Oh, my god!

“It’s too soon,” I try.

“Too soon my ass.  It’s sensible,” he retorts.  “You can either stay in Hollow Springs and look for work fuck-knows-where, while spending your weekends either travelling to me, or waiting for me to arrive.  Or, you can move to Denver, into my place, find a job, and spend your nights with me either inside you or beside you.”

What a sales pitch!

“Well, when you put it like that.” I laugh.

“Is that a yes?” he questions.

I look over at him. 
Really
look at him.  His smooth skin, his soulful brown eyes, his plump lips, his strong jawline, and the scattering of hair covering it.  Just above his left eyebrow is a small scar he got when a friend accidentally whacked him with a golf club when they were kids.  My eyes travel down his body to his hands, which are gripping the steering wheel forcefully while he waits for my answer.  Despite his cool demeanor, I can tell he is nervous for my response.

His strong thighs fill out his jeans and lead to a pair of massive feet. 
You know what they say about guys with big feet, right?
  I stifle a giggle.  Roman Drake has big
everything.

But, all that beauty on the outside pales in comparison to the beauty he holds on the inside.

The tender man I’ve come to love is fiercely passionate toward me, in
and
out of the bedroom.  He’s loyal, caring, compassionate, funny, charming, and sincere.  He’s also a loving son, a committed colleague, and a wonderful friend.

He’s perfect. 

He’s all mine.

“Yes, that’s a yes,” I finally answer, putting him out of his misery.  Once again, he swerves to the shoulder and skids to a stop.  My seatbelt is gone and suddenly I’m being pulled into his lap.  My ass hits the horn and it honks, causing me to laugh.  Roman doesn’t laugh, though.  He slides my skirt up my body, tugs my panties to the side and pulls his cock free from his jeans.  Then his pulsing cock is sliding inside me, filling me.

Completing me.

I rock my hips above him, savoring the fullness he provides.  My lips meet with his and we kiss passionately.  Our moans intermingle with the heady scent of sex filling the cab, and I’m delirious.  Deliriously happy and in love with this man who gave me everything, took it all away, and then gave it back to me even better than before.

He is my everything.

“I love you, Willa,” he groans, sucking my bottom lip into his mouth.

“Roman,” I cry out as the first flutters of my release shudder through my body.  “I love you.  I love you so much.”

His hands find my hips and he slams my body down on to his as he empties himself inside me, groaning his release down my throat.

After I’ve cleaned myself up, we drive the rest of the way back his apartment.

Our
apartment.

I’ve never felt so happy, so full, so content, in my entire life.

Willa

“Oh, my god!  Look at you!” I squeal, hugging Carly and then standing back to take another look at her.  She looks amazing.  Her once-blonde hair now is chocolate brown and it’s grown a few inches in length in the year since I have seen her.  Her face is glowing, and she just looks really happy.

“How have you been? Gosh, Willa, I’ve missed you!”

“I’ve missed you, too. I’m such a slack friend.”  The past few months have flown by since I moved to Denver.  I got a job working in a boutique bakery in Lower Downtown and I’m really enjoying working there. 

“Tell me what’s new?” she says, taking a sip of her coffee.

“Well, Roman and I moved in together a few months ago, and things are going really well.”

“Look at you, lighting up when you talk about him.  Wow, Willa! That’s really beautiful to see.”

I blush.  “Stop it,” I say through a laugh.  “I’m working in an awesome little bakery in LoDo.  Umm, that’s about all that’s new with me.  What about you?  Rad told me you were getting married?”  I glance over to her hand but I don’t see any rings.

“Yeah, about that,” she grimaces.  “My sister, Chloe, didn’t really like Wayne – my ex – so she had her boyfriend Linc – he’s a private investigator at Steele Investigations here in Denver – look into him.  Linc found out that Wayne had been cheating on me and wasting all his money – and some of mine – at strip joints.  Needless to say, I kicked his ass out, and didn’t look back.”

“What a jackass.”

“You can say that again,” she agrees.

I take a bite of my red velvet muffin and moan.  “So good,” I mumble around the mouthful.

We chat for another hour or so, catching up on the time we have lost.  Carly is currently living with her sister and Linc, but she is looking for a place of her own.  She got a job cleaning at the Steele Investigations office and apparently her bosses are gorgeous.

“I tell no lies, Willa.  Oh, my god, these guys are hot, as in
hawt!
”

I laugh as she fans herself.

“It’s a serious health and safety issue,” she says seriously.  “The other day, I was checking out Travis, he’s one of my bosses, and I almost stepped in the mop bucket!”

I burst out laughing.  “Maybe you shouldn’t be checking him out then.”

“Trust me, something that fine demands to be looked at, at every given opportunity.  He’s married though,” she sighs.  “His wife, Jemma, is really lovely, too.”

“There are plenty more fish in the sea,” I assure her.  “Rad’s single,” I throw out, shrugging like it’s no big deal.

“I’ve given up on your brother.” Her eyes turn sad.  “It took me a while, but I finally came to realize, you can’t make someone want you.”

She looks so sad, and it clicks then, that she has genuine feelings for my brother.  She never wanted him for a one night stand.  She wanted him for forever.

“Well, fuck him,” I announce, attempting to cheer her up.  It works.  She smiles.

“Yep.  Fuck him.”  She clinks her mug with mine and we giggle.

By the time we leave the coffee shop, it’s almost dark. 

“Holy crap, we spent three hours in there? No wonder the waitresses kept giving us filthy looks.” I laugh.

“They’ll get over it.  Let’s go.”  She links her arm with mine and we head off down the path.

“Where are we going?” I ask.

“To your apartment! I want to see this place you keep gushing about.  Plus, I want to say hi to Roman. I haven’t seen him since…well, since that day.” She looks away awkwardly.

“Let’s go then.”

Twenty minutes later, we exit the elevator and stumble into the hallway like two drunken idiots, even though we haven’t had a drink. 

“You tripped me!” I laugh.

“You tripped me,” Carly retorts.

We’re still laughing when I open the door and step inside, discarding my handbag on the side table.  Carly follows suit and places hers next to mine, all while trying to regain her composure.

She steps up beside me and glances around.  Then the smile falls from her face when she sees Rad sitting beside Roman on the couch.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know he was here,” I whisper.

“It’s fine.”  She tries to play it off, but I can hear the choked sound in her voice.

“Hey, baby,” Roman says, wrapping his arms around me and kissing me gently.  “Have a good day?”

“I did.  Did you?” I can’t help but smile.  God, I love the man.

He nods.  Releasing me, he gives Carly a quick hug and they catch up while I give Rad a smile wave.  He gives me a chin lift in reply, but his eyes go right back to where Carly is standing.

Hmm.  My brother isn’t fooling me.

“What do you think?  It’s gorgeous, right?” I smile, turning to face Carly.

“It’s stunning. So much bigger than I imagined.  The view from here is insane, too.”

“Roman mentioned the other day one of the apartments on this floor is coming up for rent.  You want us to look into it for you?”

“Yes! That would be awesome. Thank you.”

“Do you want to stay for dinner?  We could order Chinese food,” I suggest.

Carly’s eyes dart to the back of Rad’s head, where he’s sitting playing video games with Roman.

“Uh, no.  I might just head out.  I’ll catch up with you later?”

“Definitely.”

I hug her goodbye and walk her to the door.  After a low wave to Rad and Roman, she closes the door behind her and leaves. 

“You guys hungry?”

“Yeah, babe.  Heard you mention Chinese, so I’m starving.” Roman laughs.

“What’s Carly story?” Rad asks, rather than reply.

“That, my dear brother, is something you’ll have to ask her yourself.  But if you want to dick around, I’m more than happy to give you a verbal ass kicking, if you so wish.  Or, a physical one, of course.  It’s up to you.” I shrug and laugh.

Roman grins broadly.  Rad mutters something about difficult sisters and turns his head.

“Chinese is good for me,” he mumbles.

“Excellent,” I chirp, just to piss him off a little more. 
That’s what sisters are for.

***

After we’ve finished our food, and after Rad has left, Roman runs me a bath.  I sink down into the bubbles and relish the way the hot water soothes my skin and washes the day away.

“Are you going to get in with me?” I ask Roman.  He is sitting at the end of the tub, watching me.

“Not today, darlin’.  I want to talk to you about something.”

“Um, okay.”  I suddenly feel extremely nervous and vulnerable.  I’m naked, in a tub, after all.

“I work with the FBI,” he states, strangely.

My brow furrows.  “I know,” I reply slowly.

Shit, what if he has to go undercover again.  Shit!

“One could say I have innate sense of perception and a strong gut instinct that is yet to steer me wrong.”

“Okay,” I reply, drawing the word out.

He promised he wouldn’t have to do undercover work again. He wouldn’t go back on a promise, would he?

“Is there something you want to tell me?”

“Babe, you’re kinda treating me like I’m one of your perps…or whatever you call them.”

“So, you’re not going to come out and say it?” His eyes narrow and he looks kind of angry.

“I’m not sure what you want me to say, Roman. To be perfectly honest, you’re kind of scaring me,” I admit.

His features soften a little when I mention being scared.

“Your breasts have gotten bigger and your nipples have gotten slightly darker.  They also must be tender, because you winced when bit down on them last night.  That’s something you normally enjoy.  You’re clearly tired; you’ve gone to bed at least an hour earlier than usual every night for the past two weeks.  Your days off have been spent sleeping in, something you never do.  You suddenly dislike the taste of coffee, and prefer chamomile tea.

“You’re pregnant,” he states.

I bark out a laugh.  “Uh, no, I’m not.”

He reaches into his back pocket and pulls out an oblong box.  He sets it on the bathroom counter.  “When you get out of the bath, I want you take that test.  You’re pregnant, Willa.  My instincts have never let me down.”

“Roman,” I breathe, petrified. 
Oh shit, what if I am?

He kneels down beside the tub and takes my face in his hands.  “Baby, it will be fine.  Relax.  Then, take the test when you’re done here.”

“Relax?  I can’t relax now.” 
He can’t be serious.

When he sees me stand, he immediately grabs a towel from the warming rack behind him and opens it wide for me to step into.  He wraps it around my body and holds me close.  I bury my face into his chest.  I suddenly feel ill.  We’ve spoken about children, albeit briefly.  We have never said when the ideal time would be to have a child.  We’re not in that stage of our relationship yet.  People usually wait years before they have those conversations, don’t they. 
Don’t they?

“Jesus, babe, I can hear the wheels turning in your mind.  Stop worrying, okay?  It will all work out.  Take the test.”  He hands me the box and crosses his arms over his chest while leaning against the wall.

I walk over to the toilet and turn around.

“You can leave now.”

“No.”

“Roman, you can’t be serious! You are
not
watching me pee on a stick.  No way!”

“I’ll turn around,” he states simply.

“You’ll still be able to hear it,” I cry, throwing my hands up in exasperation, and losing the towel in the process.  His eyes drift over my body and he waggles his eyebrows.

“Take the test, Willa.”

“Turn around, Roman,” I snark back.

He gives me his back, slowly, but not before cocking an eyebrow at me.

I pull the test from the box, quickly scan the instructions and, after a little bit of stage fright, I finally pee on the damn stick.

I set it down flat, and wrap the towel back around me.

“Done.”

He immediately spins around.

“It says we have to wait three minutes,” I share.

“I know. I read the box earlier.”

Of course he did.

The longest three minutes of my life finally passes and Roman reaches down to pick up the stick.  He looks at it, then looks at me.  A smirk appears on his face.

“Told you I’m never wrong.”

He flips the stick so it’s facing me, and there, right in front of me, are two blue lines.

Positive.

Holy shit.

Holy fucking shit.

I think I start to hyperventilate.

“Omigod, omigod, omigod,” I chant repeatedly.  

“It’s going to be okay,” he says, holding me.

“Are you….you’re…you’re okay with this?”

“Of course I am, baby. I love you.  I want this more than anything in the world.  I happen to think we’ll make pretty good parents.”  He smiles, trying to lighten the mood.

“We’re going to be parents.”

“Yep.” He grins so broadly, and looks so happy, I can’t help but smile in return.

We’re going to be parents.