Page 55 of Taking What Was His

“Yes, I do, for a few reasons. One, I want to spend every minute I can with you, and two, I want them to know about us. I’m not going to hide our relationship.”

“I don’t want to either. I can’t imagine anyone besides Evan having a problem with it.”

“Well, it’s too damn bad if they did.”

She snorted.

He curved an arm around her waist and led her through the main room and out. He didn’t detect any hostility, but he did get some surprised expressions from a few of the guys. They’d get used to it.

He opened her car door and then squatted by her after she sat. “I’ll call you later.”

“Okay.”

“When am I going to get to see you?”

“I’m not sure. I have that competition coming up this Saturday that we’re trying to get ready for.”

“I was going to ask you if it’s okay if some of the family came to watch you?”

She looked surprised and then very pleased. “I don’t mind at all.”

“Jayden was telling Tristian about it. I guess they’ve been talking on the phone. And he told his mom, and that was it. I’m not sure how many. Are there going to be enough seats for us?”

“I’ll have them put up another group of bleachers and put ‘Reserved’ on it.”

“Oh, wow, that would be awesome. I hate to say this, but I guess we’ll see you Saturday, but I’ll call you tonight.”

“I’ll miss you.”

He leaned over and kissed her. “I’m going to more than miss you. We’re going to have to figure something out. I don’t want to go a whole day without you.”

“I don’t know if it’s a good idea to have you move in. It sets a bad example for Jayden.”

He nodded. “I understand that. I’m not talking about just moving in. I want you to consider marriage.”

She gasped. “Marriage? Roman, we haven’t known each other that long.”

“I know, but I also know we’d be damn good together. Listen, I’ve been married once and in a few serious relationships, and they never made me feel the way you do. I’m not saying next week, but I also don’t want to wait for a year. Hell, I think six months is going to drive me crazy. I want you and Jayden to be mine.”

She sat there, stunned but with a smile on her face. “I can see a future with you. I just don’t want to do anything that will jeopardize that.”

“We won’t. I promise.”

“Okay. I’ll see you soon.”

He pressed his lips to hers and stood. “Yes. I’ll try to get some work done.”

She laughed and pulled away.

He watched her until she turned and wondered if he hadn’t just scared the shit out of her. Oh, well. She’d have to get over it because he wasn’t letting her go.

Chapter Eighteen

Saturday morning finally came. The rest of the week had dragged by and just about drove him nuts.

At that moment, he was going to pick up several family members. The ones going were going to pile into a huge van and his car. At last count, he had fifteen relatives going. All the sisters-in-law, sister, a few brothers, his mom, and about nine nieces and nephews. He wasn’t positive, but there could be more coming. His family loved to do things as a family. It didn’t matter what.

It was a positive on his side because he was giving Beth and Jayden the family they’d always wanted.