Page 3 of The Billionaire Benefactor

Chapter 3

Roman opened the fifth box of pizza on the counter, finding only crusts. “Who ate the last piece?” he bellowed.

“Not it!”

“Wasn’t me!”

A chorus of voices from his teammates came from the couch where they were watching the baseball game. Tony, Blake, and L’Trel were almost permanent fixtures in his mother’s house, especially during the off-season. Other than L’Trel, who had just gotten engaged, none of them had family in Texas, so when they were in town, Roman’s house became like their second home. He knew his mom loved it, especially after the house seemed so big and quiet when his dad died. Roman had sold his condo and moved back home, but he hoped to get his own house soon. He wanted to make sure his mom was okay first. She was starting to really drive him crazy, which probably meant it was time.

Roman stacked the empty boxes, sighing, and checked the fridge. He knew he should have ordered more pizzas. It had been a while since the guys had come over and he underestimated how much they ate. Like him, they all needed way more calories than the average guy to keep up with their workouts on and off the field, even in the off-season.

“I think I actually ate the last piece, sweetheart. Can I make you something else?”

“Mom,” Roman said. “You don’t need to make me anything! It’s fine. I had enough. Really.”

“Are you sure? I don’t mind.”

Roman put an arm around her shoulders. “Stop. I’m glad you ate something. You were starting to get a little too thin. I’m not that hungry. Really.”

She leaned her shoulder against him. They’d always been close, but more so in the six months since his father died. His parents had been married for forty-five years. Still single at twenty-six, Roman had trouble thinking about spending that much of your life with the same person. Pretty girls were everywhere, especially given what he did for a living, but he had never dated anyone that he thought seriously about marrying. It made him even sadder for his mom, now alone after having someone she loved by her side for almost half a century. He had struggled with losing his father, but it was nothing compared to his mom.

That made him think back to the afternoon and the disaster with Jenny. As if she could follow his thoughts, his mom said, “How’d it go this morning?”

Roman groaned. “Couldn’t have been worse. She slammed the door in my face. Twice.” He left out the fact that her dog peed on him. He knew the guys would never let him hear the end of it.

“Did you try throwing a giant check at her?” Blake asked, coming into the kitchen. He pulled at his long blond ponytail, smoothing it down.

“I didn’t throw it at her…” Roman said.

Blake grinned. “Let me guess—you had a photographer there too?”

Roman didn’t say anything. His mom groaned. “Roman! We’ve talked about this. You have to be delicate. Not everyone wants to take charity, even if they need it. And yes, it’s good for your image, but not at the expense of someone’s dignity.”

He hung his head, feeling ashamed. “I didn’t mean to do that,” he said quietly.

His mom hugged him again. “Oh, baby. Your heart is in the right place. Sometimes you just need a little more…thought before you dive in with those good intentions of yours.”

“What should I have done?” he asked.

Tony joined them in the kitchen, leaning his arms on the kitchen island, his dark complexion contrasting with the white marble. “Look at this! Roman Bennett asking for help.”

“Shut up unless you’ve got some good ideas.”

“Now boys, don’t fight,” Roman’s mom gave Tony a look and he smiled.

“Sorry, Mrs. B. I’ll be better. Okay, so Roman. Tell me about today. Let’s figure out how to fix this. I’m glad to help.”

Roman sat down at one of the stools. “Well, it was a woman named Jenny who just lost her husband a few weeks ago. She’s got two kids. A house and car that look pretty trashed. Not awful, but just like nothing has been kept up.”

“I found her through a friend of a friend,” Roman’s mom said. “She has some family in the area, but her husband was in finance with Francie’s husband. I think she stayed home with the kids, so they didn’t have a lot.”

Tony ran a hand over his head, which he kept shaved close. “So, the house could use some work? Maybe we could head over tomorrow, just play handyman. Er—handy men.”

“I’m in,” Blake said. “I’m bored as—” He looked to Mrs. Bennett and cleared his throat, obviously swallowing down whatever curse word he had been about to utter. Roman smiled. “Uh, just really bored. Off season’s killing me.”

L’Trel sauntered over. “Where are we going?”

“How do you feel about helping Roman help out a woman who just lost her husband?”

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