“Were you looking for a wife all along?” Her question has me opening my eyes to stare into hers.
“No. I was trying to find a nanny at the time.”
“What changed then?”
“You. I saw you and wanted you. I knew I had to have you.”
“You do know that’s not how things actually work?” She tries to fight a smile, but I see it.
“But it worked,” I point out.
“You could have asked me out. Things could have been different for us.”
“I’m not a patient man, and I wasn't sure you’d say yes. Your focus was on other things. I don’t think you would have given yourself the opportunity to date.” She bites her lip, knowing I’m right. “I wanted you out of that house and here where I could take care of you. I do that, don’t I? I take care of you, Fawn?”
“You do.” I cup the back of her neck. I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure that every dream and every need she has is fulfilled.
“Do you enjoy being here?”
“Yes, things are better here,” she admits. She no longer has those dark circles under her eyes. Every time I saw her before she came here, she looked exhausted. “Can I ask you something else?” Her pink tongue comes out, wetting her bottom lip. I swear she’s trying to kill me.
“Fawn, you can always ask me anything you want.”
“You said that you want me to fall in love with you.” She pauses for a long moment. I wait her out, wondering where she might be going with this. “Do you love me?”
“Yes,” I say without hesitation. Her eyes widen. “At least, this is what I think love is. I can’t go thirty minutes without thinking about you. I always wonder what you are doing or if you are satisfied. Everything for me starts and ends with you.”
A smile lights up her face. “Have you ever been in love before?”
“Not even close.”
“Me either.” I pull her closer to me, needing to kiss her. I will be her first everything. Or I’ll die trying to be. “I need to go check on Ace and Grams.” I release my hold on her. She slips off my lap, coming to her feet.
I watch her leave, but she pauses at the door, turning back to me. “I am falling in love with you, Roman. That’s why last night I got so upset. I care. Don’t break my heart.” With that, she leaves.
I smile. Something I’ve done a lot more since Fawn came into my life. I will own every part of her one day. Even her heart.
16
FAWN
I try to keep a smile pasted on my face as I enter my gram’s place. This week has been really hard. My emotions are all over the place.
“Fawn.” Grams, who’s standing at the kitchen sink, turns to look at me. “Can I get you some tea?”
“Let me.” Since coming here, Grams is doing a million times better. I’m not even sure she needs the nurse at this point. I’m not going to suggest that, though. I like that there is a nurse checking in on her a couple times a week to make sure everything is going well.
She might catch something sooner than me. Roman also told me if at any time I need her to see a doctor he can have one here in a few hours. The man was not kidding when he said he’d do anything for me. I have to admit it's nice to have someone take care of me.
Grams goes and sits down at the small table as I prepare our tea. “Are you going to tell me why you’re so mopey?”
“What? Why do you say that?” The woman reads me too well. I should have known she’d be able to tell something is bothering me. Her doctor pulled her off a few medications they’d had her on when she was in the other facility, saying it was overkill and she didn't need them. Since then, Grams has been sharper. I’ll forever be grateful to Roman for doing this for us.
“Your eyes. You were all bright smiles last week.” True. Since Roman told me he loves me I’ve been on cloud nine. He is the first person to truly love me besides Grams since my mom passed away. It’s nice, and for the first time in my life I can relax and let things go.
“Ace started school.” I know he’s only been in my life for a short time, but I love that little boy. The first few days of him not being home with me were really tough, but he’s loving it.
“I get that, but there’s more.” She waits. I set her tea in front of her.
“The kittens are growing too fast?” I try again. She stares at me, waiting for me to tell her the main reason. I sit down in the chair across from hers. “Roman doesn’t tell me that he loves me.”