Page 30 of Mama & Pops

“Rockwell, Illinois. He has a place in Oklahoma too. I thought it would be better to meet him there. Assuming he’s agreeable.”

“Why wouldn’t he be?”

I couldn’t help but smile, remembering exactly why Luca Romano was pissed at me. “Because, the last time we were together, I beat him at chess.”

There was silence and Mama was completely still. Then she looked up at me. “You beat him at chess.” It wasn’t a question.

“Yep.”

“I take it he’s a sore loser?”

I chuckled then. “You could say that. He likes to think he’s the smartest man in the room. Usually is. I got lucky, though I’ll never admit it to him. Far as he’s concerned, every move I made was on purpose.”

Mama chuckled too. “Now we’re thinkin’ alike.”

“Honey, I think we always do.”

Her smile was so beautiful that if I hadn’t already been in love with her, I was now. “You’re so fuckin’ beautiful, woman.”

“I am not.” She shoved back to sit up, a fierce scowl on her face. “Take it back.” And, God help me, that little bite in her voice made me hard as a motherfucker when I’d already come my brains out.

I barked out a laugh. “I absolutely will not, Mama. You’re beautiful like a hurricane. Breathtaking and destructive. A fuckin’ force of nature. And all fuckin’ mine.”

She looked appropriately put out but didn’t deny she was mine. I called it a win. “You’re mine,” she said with a huff. “Don’t you dare deny it.”

“Never, honey. No matter what, I’ll never deny I’m yours.”

“Good. Because this is all your fault.”

I shook my head, still chuckling. “Not saying it is, not saying it isn’t, but what exactly are you referring to?”

“You knocked me up, Mike.” There was that vulnerability again. For such a strong woman, she hid what she thought of as weakness very well. She must have been afraid I’d leave if I found out. Or that I wouldn’t want her or the child. She couldn’t be further off the mark.

“So, another hellion to add to a whole slew of them. Only this one’s mine.” I grinned. “I hope it’s a girl who looks just like her beautiful mama.”

I think I kind of expected Mama to frown at me or pretend to be angry at me for implying any child of hers would be beautiful. Or say she was having a boy just to be ornery. Instead, she gave me a soft smile. “She’ll be a beautiful girl, and courageous like her father.”

“I’ll be spoilin’ her terribly. And she’s never dating.”

“I’ll teach her how to get around you. She’ll give you a world of trouble.”

I grinned. “Same as her mother.”

“God, Pops. I love you so Goddamned much.”

“I love you too, Mama. With all my heart.”

Epilogue

Mama

We were on our way back from the West Coast when I realized we’d gone as far as we were going. I led us off the main highway to a rural back road. Took a couple hours to find what I wanted, but it was worth the wait.

We pulled up outside an old barn. Pops stopped beside me before killing the motor. He looked up at the structure with a puzzled expression.

“Why we stoppin’ here?”

I shrugged, though I was starting to feel a panic setting in I wasn’t expected. “Thought it looked interesting.”