☀️ The wait is over! Loving Roman is HERE! ☀️

Aug 31, 2025 11:31 am

G'day, ,

I'm thrilled to announce that LOVING ROMAN is finally here!

🎊 Cue the confetti! 🎊

I had so much fun revisiting this story as I expanded it into a stand-alone novella. Alice and Roman had my heart in a vice as I watched them discover the joy of falling in love when they least expected it.

We first met Roman in Loving Summer as the counsellor caring for six pre-teens in one of The Parkerville Project homes where Kate Summer volunteered each week. It's in that story we get a glimpse into a man whose dedication to the well-being of the kids in his care had our hearts melting.

You can catch up with the series here:

Loving Summer

And now, you'll finally get to know him a whole lot more as he meets and quickly falls head over heels in love with the woman who's perfect for him!

Loving Roman | The Summer Twins — Book Three (a novella)

✔️later in life romance

✔️characters over 40

✔️perimenopause rep

✔️dad bod

✔️a hot summer vacation fling

✔️he falls first

✔️cinnamon roll foster carer

✔️widowed social worker

✔️single mom

✔️no third-act breakup

✔️🌶️🌶️🌶️

✔️HEA

Here's chapter one to get you started ...

Roman

Zipping the suitcase closed, I blow out a long breath and run through everything I need to tell Kate when she arrives. Not that I need to tell her anything, because I always keep a detailed appointment list on the fridge and Kate’s as familiar with the kids as I am, thanks to her weekly visits as a volunteer. But it’s difficult to switch into vacation mode when my life revolves around caring for six kids day in and day out. Being the sole adult in their young lives after everything they’ve each endured is an enormous responsibility.

One I don’t take lightly.

Blake wanders into the room and tips up his chin. I swear this kid is eleven going on twenty-one. The oldest boy in the house, he often takes on responsibilities he doesn’t need to, but when you’re forced to care for a drug-addicted adult from a young age, it’s tough to return to being a kid. “You finished packing yet?”

I nod. “Yeah,” I say, then lift my suitcase from the bed to the floor.

He shoves his hands into his pockets and raises his chin. “You got condoms?”

I snap my head up to look at him. What the fuck? “Uh?”

He widens his eyes and holds out his hands. “You’re going on vacation, man. Everyone knows people fuck on vacation.”

“Watch your mouth, and don’t let me hear you speak like that in front of the others,” I say to him as I widen my eyes to make sure my message is clear. In return, he rolls his eyes at me. “Not everyone goes on vacation to have sex, Blake. Some people genuinely go away for a change of scenery and pace. To relax.” I raise my eyebrows at him.

Here I was thinking I’d need to have the safe-sex talk with him soon, but he’s already all over it.

Shit! Has he already had sex?

I shouldn’t be surprised. He witnessed his mother bringing home random men for sex in exchange for her next hit. She would often have sex in front of him from what we’ve learned, which means he was in a highly sexualized environment during his most formative years. Blowing out a long, frustrated breath, I mentally add talking to him about sex, safe sex, and particularly intimacy to my to-do list for when I return.

He shrugs. “Whatever, man. Don’t come at me for looking out for you.” Spinning on his heel, he heads for the door. “You don’t wanna get caught with your pants down and no protection. You’re too old to knock someone up.”

When he leaves, I drop my head and huff out a chuckle. Then his words register in my brain. Too old. A pang hits me square in the solar plexus; he may as well have hit me with his baseball bat. There have been moments over the last few years where I’ve felt I’ve given too much to this job, to the detriment of my personal life. I always wanted to have kids of my own, but never met the right woman. Years passed me by, and my focus stayed steady on the kids in my charge. It felt right. It still feels right. But I know I’ve missed out, too.

“Kate’s here!” Pete, the youngest boy in the house, shouts from the front window.

As I stride toward the front door, I thank the kids for waiting for me to answer it. It’s taken consistency on my part to show them it’s my job to keep them safe … to be the responsible adult in the house. Which includes me answering the door every single time we have a visitor, even when it would be easier to let them do it. They’re so used to carrying the burden of being the responsible member of their previous households that it’s taken a while for them to slip back into the role of being a kid; to let their guard down and realize my role in this home is being their protector and they can relax.

To say the kids are excited to spend a week with Kate and Oliver would be a gross understatement. It’s a testament to the relationship Kate’s built with the kids over the last several years as a result of her weekly visits. A kindergarten teacher in her regular job, she brings a feminine softness to the house that I do my best to mimic, but it’s not the same as having her here.

I swing the door open and am surprised to find her billionaire husband, Oliver, standing on the front porch as well. I wasn’t expecting him, since he often works on Saturdays, but I shouldn’t be surprised. The man will do anything for his wife, including staying with six kids for a week in a group home so I can take a forced vacation.

After welcoming them inside, the kids gather around the pair, sharing their plans for the weekend and the week ahead.

My heart warms, and a grin touches my lips when I hear Ivy talking to Oliver. “I was thinking I could skip school on Monday and come to work with you.”

His eyebrows shoot up. “Future successful CEOs don’t skip school, Ivy,” he says firmly.

“Aww, come on. It’s one day,” she whines.

He stands a little taller and pushes his suit jacket out of the way to rest his hands on his hips. “Successful CEOs don’t skip out on anything. As soon as you start cutting corners, you may as well resign yourself to mediocrity. Your effort and focus always need to be one hundred percent.” She huffs out a breath and drops her head, but Oliver gently guides her face up to his with his finger. “I’ll be happy to have you come in when you’re on vacation.”

Her grin is instant, and I swear I can see her eyes sparkling from across the room. “Okay.”

“All right, everyone. Scram for five minutes. I need to talk to Kate and Oliver.”

The kids return to what they were doing before their two favorite people arrived, and I lead Kate and Oliver to the kitchen, grabbing the list I’ve put together from the fridge. “Thanks for looking after the kids. Marcus was relentless about me taking this vacation.” I push my fingers through my hair, noting I probably should have cut it before I left, but it’s too late now. It’ll have to wait until I get back.

Kate flicks her wrist. “No problem.” She smiles up at Oliver. “We’re excited.”

He leans down and presses his lips to her forehead, causing her eyes to drop closed for a moment. Some days, I wish I had what they’ve found together, but my life revolves around the kids, leaving me little time to date. Mostly, I’m okay with the choices I’ve made. I’m happy with the way things are. I have a job I love, and I’m helping kids recover from their traumatic pasts in a safe environment. Scoring this counselor-slash-foster parent position twelve years ago was unheard of for a single guy of thirty-three; it’s been the best … the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done in my life.

What more could I possibly need?

Waving my hand at the list, I point to Wednesday. “This is always a little tricky with timing. If you drop Sammy with her psychologist at ten to four, you’ll have just enough time, provided traffic cooperates, to get Jack and Evelyn to their art class at the community center. The rest is pretty straightforward. They shouldn’t have too much homework, seeing as school only started back on Monday.”

Kate takes the list from me and returns it to the fridge, then gently nudges me out of the kitchen. “We’ve got this. Go!” She pushes me again. “Have fun. Relax! You deserve the break.”

I hold up my hands with a chuckle. “Okay, okay. I’ve put fresh bedding on my bed for you guys. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” I wave my finger at them with mock sternness.

Oliver chuckles, holding out his hands. “Have you seen my wife? I’m not making any promises. That’s asking too much.”

Wincing, I wish I hadn’t gone there now. I don’t need that image of my sweet friend in my head.

I roll my luggage to the front door and turn to face the kids. My kids. Well, technically not mine, but I think of them that way. “Behave for Kate and Oliver, okay?” Murmurs of agreement fill the foyer. “And make sure you do your homework.”

“We will. We’re not babies, you know,” Ivy tells me as she crosses her arms and juts her hip out.

I rest my hands on my hips. I don’t treat them like babies, do I? “I know you’re not.”

Ahhhh! He definitely has his hands full ... 🤣🤣🤣

Finish reading Loving Roman here!

Loving Roman

I know you're going to fall in love with Roman and Alice as much as I have.

Enjoy!

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