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“Getting a new son in my life is worth celebrating.”
I tangle a couple of wine glasses between my fingers and bring them over to the coffee table next to where she’s settled on the couch.
I uncork the wine and pour us each a glass.
I hold up my glass in a toast. “To my new son.”
“Cheers to that.”
We both sip the wine, and I savor it as the liquid travels down my throat. “That’s divine.” I moan.
She licks her lips and sets the glass down. “Some of the best I’ve had.”
I can’t help staring at the movement of her tongue flicking across her lips.
She places a hand on my knee, the warmth of her skin seeping into my slacks. “How are you doing with all this?”
“Truthfully? I’m caught in this place where I’m ecstatic to have a new son, but I can’t help but feel angry at Amanda for the years she robbed from us.” I cradle my glass between my hands. “My mind is racing with so many questions and possibilities, but mostly, I’m just terrified. How am I supposed to raise a kid? What if I’m terrible at it? It’s not like I raised him from birth, and he got the opportunity to bond with me. All of that has been ripped away from us.” I don’t want to get too bitter about it, but I’m angry.
“I would say Amanda must have had her reasons for keeping Hayden a secret from you, but I can’t think of what they must have been to warrant what she did.”
Her hair is swept back from her face except for one tendril that’s escaped. She looks gorgeous today, as always. Dressed impeccably in a navy-and-white spotted blouse and navy pencil skirt that hugs her body, which is a big change from how she looked this morning, covered in mud. But strangely, she was even more beautiful that way. Wild and carefree, laughing. Looking at her pristine appearance now makes me wonder if she still has traces of mud beneath her fingernails, a telltale remnant of our mud fight earlier.
There’s something new between us, and it’s growing and changing by the minute. It all started with that almost kiss this morning. Even with everything going on today, I haven’t forgotten it.
“Thank you for caring so much,” I whisper, taking another sip of my wine before setting it on the table. I reach up and sweep back her renegade lock of hair.
She shudders under my touch, and our gazes lock. “Of course,” she breathes.
Warmth fills my chest as I keep my attention on her. “And thank you for being there tonight. I know you were just there for appearances’ sake, but I needed it more than I realized.”
“It was my pleasure.” Her voice is sweet and sincere, and I want to kiss her, to feel her lips on mine, and entangle my hands in her hair.
Only, I don’t know how she’d react. Would she pull away from me?
“If you need any help with Hayden, I’m here for you,” she says, reaching out and rubbing the back of my neck, causing my breath to catch. “And I don’t mean it as part of our act. I want to help you. I’m not an expert on parenting, but I love kids and I’ve grown pretty fond of Hayden already.” She smiles, her eyes sparkling. “He has your dimples.”
“You noticed that, huh?” my voice is low and husky, and I take another sip of wine. I need to calm my nerves and maybe take a little bit of the edge off of the day I’ve had.
She continues to rub my neck, and I sink into her touch, which feels like magic.
“I thought you didn’t like me,” I say.
Her hand kneads into my shoulders. “Who says I do?”
“Your hands seem to be saying they do.”
“Oh? You like this?” Her voice is silky and low.
A shudder runs through me, and my senses are alive.
I grin, somehow still keeping my wits about me. “Don’t get too cocky. You’re still the enemy.”
“Still bitter about Valentine winning?” Her eyes are playful now, and I suddenly want to keep them that way. She should always look like this. Happy, present in the moment, not a care in the world.
“Bitter is too strong of a word…” I trail off.
She gives me this knowing smile. “Is it though?”