Roman: Book 2 (The Hunter Brothers Series) (11 page)

“Pasta bake?” she
grinned as I nodded.

“I wasn’t sure if
anyone had eaten, so I thought I’d do some just in case. Tyler’s practising
with the band and Roman is sleeping,” I said as Lucas glanced across at me.

“Has he read the
letter?” he asked.

“You’ll have to
ask Roman about it, it’s not my place to say. Did you all get one?”

“Roman was the
only one who got an individual letter, but there was one to all of us. He knew
he was ill. He was scheduled for surgery on his heart, but didn’t tell anyone.
We’re not sure why, but my father wasn’t a stupid man and we have to respect
his decision to keep it private. He must have had his reasons for not wanting
us to know. I guess at least the fact that he knew, meant he could get
everything in order,” Lucas said sadly as I nodded, smiling at Dex who was
tugging at his hand.

“Do you have
Scalextric here?” he asked as Lucas shook his head.

“No, but we have
other stuff. That banister rail is awesome for sliding down,” he laughed as
Jess gasped.

“No, Dex, that’s
way too dangerous. If you fall off, you’ll break your neck.” She was glowering
at Lucas as he shrugged.

“We used to do it
all the time and never fell off,” he smiled as she shook her head.

With four
brothers, all so close in age, I guessed Jess would have to accept that what
she found totally dangerous was just run of the mill, boyish fun in this house.

I filled the huge
ceramic dish with pasta as Lucas and Charlie took Dexter for a tour of the place
and I could hear him squealing endlessly in delight as Jess walked over. “Have
you spoken to Charlie?” she asked as I glanced across at her.

“Only briefly.
He’ll just have to get used to it, it’s done now,” I said as she raised her
eyebrows. The last thing I needed was a lecture and felt sure I was about to
get one.

“But you get on so
well together, Chas, it would be such a shame for you to fall out over it. You
need to try harder. He’s obviously hurting.” I stared at her for a moment. This
situation was unusual, not to mention uncalled for.

“You’ve been with
Lucas for a few weeks and now you’re an expert on men?”

She flushed at my
reaction and was suddenly on the back foot. “I didn’t mean...” she started as I
put my hand up to cut her off.

“If anyone doles
out lectures on how to behave with the opposite sex, Sis, it’s me. I’ve had
enough experience to know that Charlie will come around, and if he doesn’t,
he’s not worthy of my friendship.”

A flash of
disappointment flicked across her features. I wasn’t even sure I believed those
words myself, but I was damned if I’d stand here and listen to Jess banging on
about it.

“How has Dex been
getting on with Mrs Kilbride?” I asked as she smiled brightly. It was a common
tactic to get Jess off my back.

“He loves Lucas’s
place. I can’t believe how great he is with Dex and that I was so worried about
it. He’s trying really hard and he’s so good to him,” she said as I nodded,
stirring the cheese in with the tomatoes and switching on the oven.

“So you’re not
worried anymore?” I asked quietly, knowing that only a couple of weeks ago,
she’d had major reservations about letting Lucas into Dexter’s life.

“It’s a big
adjustment for both of us, but I want Lucas in all the ways he wants me, so I
have to trust him. I know there’ll be times when things get tough, and you know
as well as I do how he doesn’t like to be told ‘no’, but I know he won’t do
anything to hurt us deliberately and this stuff doesn’t come with a handbook.
We’ve just got to take it day by day,” she smiled as I nodded.

“How long is Dex
staying?”

“Just for tonight.
I thought he might cheer everyone up at bit. Things are strained.”

“No shit,” I
laughed, glancing across at her.

“It’s really early
days for them, Chas, and you can see everyone’s tempers are a bit frayed. They’re
men and they don’t do the whole emotional thing. I’m worried that they’re
bottling it all up. Lucas said if they want to fight, we should stand back and
let them. Apparently it’s how they sort most things out,” she said as I raised
my eyebrows.

“Who does he think
is going to fight?” I asked, turning to face her as she avoided my gaze and looked
at the floor. “Jess,” I pushed.

“He thinks there’s
trouble brewing between Roman and Charlie,” she said as I stared at her hard.

“Because of me?” I
asked as she nodded reluctantly.

“Do you think I
should go?” I asked as she put her hand on my arm, shaking her head. “No, Chas,
and neither does Lucas. He just said that if they want to kick the shit out of
each other; stand back and let them. They’ll get it out of their system and
shake hands afterwards. That’s all,” she said as I shook my head, wondering
again what the hell I was doing. My head was all over the place.

Chapter Eight

Dexter was racing
about the lounge, pretending to be a sports car as I set the table for tea,
wondering if I should go and wake Roman, waving as I saw him making his way
across the grass from the lodge. He didn’t wave back and looked deep in thought
as I called everyone through and let them know there was food if they wanted
it.

Tyler had said
goodbye to the band and idled through, grabbing a beer from the fridge and
sitting next to Lucas who was at the head of the table. Dex sat next to Jess,
and Roman came in and took a seat next to Tyler, this time with no romantic
mid-kitchen kisses. I cast him a glance, wondering if he was okay, but it was
hard to tell. I placed the huge dish on the table, carving up the bread and
telling everyone to help themselves.

Charlie was the
last to arrive, taking a seat beside me, looking just as pensive as he had
earlier.

“Thanks, Chas,”
Lucas said, as everyone mumbled their appreciation.

“You haven’t
tasted it yet,” I quipped, trying to lighten the atmosphere.

“It’s nice, Aunty
Chas, you do this every night at home,” Dex said as everyone except Lucas and
Jess gazed at me curiously.

“I know. I have
limited culinary experience, kid,” I shrugged, looking out of the window at the
sound of wheels on gravel, wondering who it could be.

Lucas went to
answer the door and I glanced at my sister as soon as I heard the soft voice in
the hallway. She looked thunderous and from her reaction, I knew instantly who
it was. “Take a seat, we’re just having dinner,” Lucas said, showing Roberta
inside as she held out a giant lasagne.

“I wasn’t sure how
you boys were coping. Alison told me you’d given her some time off and I know
how tragically inept you all are in the kitchen. But I see you’ve got it
covered,” she said, eyeballing me and Jess.

“Thanks, Roberta,”
Lucas smiled, taking the dish from her and putting it by the fridge. “We’ll
have it tomorrow. Chas has just knocked up a rather impressive pasta bake,” he
said, winking at me before putting down his knife and fork and taking my
sisters hand in his.

“You remember my
girlfriend Jess. This is her sister Chastity,” he smiled broadly as I looked up
to see Roberta’s face contort in shock.

“Your girlfriend?
I thought she was your business partner, Lucas,” she stuttered, trying to
regain her composure quickly. It was a valiant, if not totally convincing
effort.

“She’s that too,”
he smiled, leaning across to kiss Jess’s cheek as she stared between them,
looking as though she’d just been slapped.

“I like lasagne,
lady,” Dex piped up, and from the look of shock on her face, I assumed Roberta
hadn’t even noticed him until now.

“And you are?” she
spat as Jess cast her a steely glance and even Tyler raised his eyebrows. It
was a hostile way to address a five year old, although Dexter to his credit
didn’t seem remotely phased.

“I’m Dex. Jess is
my Mummy,” he said, sounding as cute as a button as his little lisp rolled
around the words. I could practically see the mental maths playing out on her
features as she glanced again at Lucas with a ‘what the hell are you playing
at?’ look on her face. Lucas read it just as clearly as I did.

“Where’s your
Daddy?” she asked quickly as Jess took a sharp intake of breath. This woman was
clearly clueless on how to interact with kids. Roman and Charlie looked almost
amused.

“My real Daddy
died, but I want Lucas to be my new Daddy,” he said confidently. Jess looked
stunned for a second, but for the look on Roberta’s face I wanted to high five
him, throwing him a huge grin as Charlie choked on his pasta.

“What made you say
that, Dex?” Jess asked, her tone as sweet as pure cane sugar, but I knew my
sister well enough to know that it was an act. If this was something to do with
Lucas, he was well and truly in the fucking shit. I tried to stifle my giggle.
Dexter glanced at Roman who’d said nothing, looking mildly terrified before
turning back to Jess.

“I heard Lucas
talking...” he started as Jess glared at her boyfriend and I turned to Charlie
who was trying not to laugh. Lucas shrugged. If he knew what Dexter was
referring to, he was playing dumb and I didn’t blame him.

“He was asking
about the pop question,” Dex smiled as we all glanced at Tyler who looked up
from shovelling pasta into his mouth, glancing around the table.

“What?” I don’t
know what he means,” Tyler said, laughing and smiling at Dexter who was smiling
back, until he caught Roman’s gaze and sank deeper into his chair, moving
closer to Lucas.

Something about
Roman Hunter frightened my little nephew and I’d need to sort that out. I hated
the thought of him being afraid of anyone; particularly the man who was
currently sharing my bed.

“Charlie knows,”
Dexter grinned as Charlie looked at him in surprise.

“Come and whisper
it to me,” he said as Dex jumped off his chair, bounding into Charlie’s lap and
cupped his hands to his ear. I grinned at my sister, knowing we were all about
to hear this anyway.

“The pop question.
Lucas said to you that one day he might be my Dad, after the pop question.” Dex
returned to his seat, smiling at Lucas and Jess before Charlie announced that
he had no idea about the conversation Dex was referring to.

 
“I can’t remember discussing Tyler and Dex
with you, Lucas,” he said, shaking his head in amusement.

 
It suddenly dawned on me that the ‘pop’
reference had nothing to do with music or Tyler’s career. I wasn’t sure that
mentioning my theory was a particularly good idea, and my sister would go
mental. But if I was right, it would put Roberta well and truly in her place.
It was worth it just to piss her off.

“Do you mean Lucas
was going to pop
the
question?” I
asked as my sister dropped her knife and fork in stunned shock, but there was
someone at the table even more incensed.

“Jesus Christ, how
long have you even been together?” Roberta snapped as Lucas glared at her.

“Don’t blaspheme
in front of my son,” Jess said calmly, but there was an undeniable undercurrent
of aggression in my sister’s tone. I blasphemed all the time, as did she. She
didn’t like Roberta and was baring her fangs. I wondered for a second whether
we were about to witness that infamous temper again, deciding that since I’d
raised it, I’d better try and diffuse the situation.

I didn’t get the
chance. Tyler beat me to it.

“Are you going to
propose to Jess?” he asked, beaming broadly. Jess was flushed with
embarrassment as Lucas squeezed her hands tightly.

“This is neither
the time nor the place, but since it’s been raised, I expect that I’ll have to
put everyone’s mind at rest or I’ll never hear the end of it. I don’t see the
point in waiting around. Jess is everything I want and I know in my heart that
will never change. I would ask this beautiful girl to marry me in an instant,
but the fact is, that right now she’ll say no,” he said, looking at my sister
as she glanced at the floor. Roberta’s eyes were burning into her with
something akin to disbelief. She clearly didn’t think my sister had any right
to say no to Lucas Hunter.

“Have you just
proposed?” I asked as Lucas laughed.

“No, Chas, it’s a
theoretical proposition, and I can assure you that when I do, it won’t be in
front of you lot, and my girlfriend will hopefully look a lot happier than she
does right now. I’m sorry, Jess, I didn’t know Dex was listening,” he said
softly as she gazed up at him, nodding gently.

My sister was
right. Lucas was intent on moving things forward quickly, much more quickly
from the sounds of that conversation. I was delighted for her, but the impact
on me would be significant. That was a conversation for another day and I
wasn’t so selfish I’d piss on her parade right now. Even if she wasn’t ready
for that level of commitment, she must be reassured that Lucas was already willing
to offer it. I think in my heart I’d known that when he was so insistent on
getting close to Dexter. Men like Lucas Hunter didn’t fuck around with single
mothers if they weren’t serious. Turnbull was right; he was a man of morals.

Roberta looked
like she was about to burst into tears and it was almost hard not to feel sorry
for her, but she rallied quickly. “So Tyler, when will we see you live in
action?” she asked as Tyler grinned broadly.

“We’re gigging in
Manchester in a couple of weeks to support the launch of the new album,” he
said as she nodded. She was showing willing, but it was clear she still hadn’t
quite got over Lucas’s revelation.

“I’d like to go to
that,” I smiled at Jess, trying to bring her out of her obvious shock as she
nodded enthusiastically.

“You can all have
tickets,” he said as Roman faced him.

“I’m sorry, Ty, I
won’t be here.” My heart sank, reinforcing just how temporary this arrangement
was.

“I’ll get the
train. I’m not relying on that stupid sat nav again,” I laughed, trying to
focus on the here and now and distract myself from thoughts of Roman leaving.
I’d only known him a couple of days and this wasn’t loves young dream. The
whole reason we were cramming so much in was because we were short on time. It
would have taken weeks, if not months, to let down my sexual guard with anyone
else the way I had with Roman. We hadn’t cultivated trust, or togetherness and
that was the whole point. One weekend. No promises.

 
“You can come with me, we’ll travel together,”
Charlie smiled as I nodded, glancing at Roman who was busy with his pasta and
paying neither of us any attention.

“I thought you’d
be going with your girlfriend,” Roberta quipped as my skin bristled and Charlie
tensed.

“No, I’ve just
said I’ll be going with Chas, not Scarlett. And who the hell told you she was
my girlfriend? I’m pretty certain that I have
never
used that word,” was Charlie’s retort and it was sharp and
hostile. Roberta’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. It was clearly a word that her
friend Scarlett was banding around. I began to wonder if Roberta wished she’d just
stayed at home.

“On the subject of
devious bitches,” Lucas said as everyone turned to stare at him in surprise, except
Charlie who gazed at him intensely, shaking his head. “You need to fire Melody,
Roberta.” Well that was left field and Jess looked just as confused as I was.

“No, Lucas, she’s
a brilliant P.A, which is why I snapped her up when you let her go,” Roberta
shot back as Lucas glared at her hard.

“I won’t work with
people I don’t trust, Roberta. I fired her for a reason, and if you want to
continue in our joint ventures, you need to do the same,” he said as Charlie
finally looked up.

“That’s harsh,
Lucas,” he said in a firm tone as his brother shook his head.

“Lucas, this is
business. I won’t fire someone who is good at her job, simply because she
doesn’t like your girlfriend,” Roberta shot back. “Melody is not only a valued
employee; she is a long term friend.”

I raised my
eyebrows. It would be interesting to see how this one played out. They were
equally as adamant, and both of them were determined to win. As a widely
acclaimed, successful businesswoman, she was obviously no pushover and I was
more than a little intrigued.

“You should know
me better than to question my judgement by now. This isn’t personal, Roberta.
Melody has connections to Dimitri Gorav that I’ve recently become aware of. She
already knows far too much about my business dealings and they both have an axe
to grind with me. If she works for you, then she has access to me. Fire her, or
I’ll dissolve our arrangements,” he said fiercely as Charlie stared at him
hard.

“That isn’t just
your decision, Lucas.”

Roman broke the
unbearable tension. “Why the hell are you involved with someone like Gorav?” he
asked, looking between Lucas and Charlie.

“We’re not. He
wanted to do a deal with us, but I wound up throwing him out of the office when
he turned on Jess,” Lucas replied as Roberta raised her eyebrows, staring at
Lucas hard.

“It looks like
you’re allowing your personal life to interfere with your business in more ways
than one, Lucas. Melody upset your girlfriend; this Dimitri character upset
your girlfriend. What are you planning to do, cut ties with anyone who looks at
Jess the wrong way?”

This was getting
tense...and interesting. Lucas looked livid and it was a menacing sight. His
fists were clenched, knuckles white and if Roberta had been a man, he’d have
probably knocked her out.

He turned to face
her, his gaze never wavering and he spoke in such a low, deep tone, that even I
swallowed hard. “As I said before, Roberta, this is not personal.” He said
nothing else, just staring at her hard. He wasn’t giving an explanation or any
further justification and it was Roman who eventually ended the deafening
silence.

“He’s a dangerous bastard,
Lucas. If he’s out for blood you need to watch your back. He doesn’t operate in
your world. He won’t post a summons or flood the market with whispers and
rumours. He’ll just put a bomb under your car,” Roman said seriously as Lucas
nodded and Jess gasped.