His fingertips drop to my waist. “Sure. Whatever you want.”
“Yep, a nice dinner because today isn’t a normal day in a way,” I repeat.
“Well, if you insist that we have an intimate not exactly celebrating our wedding dinner, then I should probably tell you that I have your favorite cherry pie in my car because I thought what the hell, today deserves dessert.”
Our eyes lock for a second before we both burst out laughing, and I only calm when he swoops his mouth down to brush my forehead before dropping to catch tip of my nose, and my mouth scoops up to meet his lips for a kiss.
“Looks like we will navigate this bizarre day together then,” I whisper.
His suave half-smirk informs me that I’m already in trouble. I’m trying not to remember my wedding night or how I’m sharing a bed with him again. When Carter leaves to grab the pie from his car, I stretch my arms over my head and feel weakness take over me.
Not physically but pure resolve.
* * *
“It’snice to see you eating okay.” I realize that Carter has been watching me for a long time as I scarf down his cardamom rice as we sit at the island. It’s a fantastic Middle Eastern dish that he’s always made from a recipe book.
Setting my fork down, I decide that I’m finished. “Well, my energy is back, and I’m eating for two. Now tell me where the pie is,” I joke.
He rubs my back as we are sitting next to each other. “When do you think we will start feeling him or her kick?”
“Sooner than later, I guess.” I smile warmly.
He slides off the chair and gathers the plates. I would offer to help, but he will never hear of it. “Go relax on the couch, maybe pick a movie, or is it gratitude card reading time?” he teases. I always used to read one with my morning tea. Lately, I’ve forgotten, to be honest.
Shaking my head with a smile, I head to the couch, and a few minutes later, he joins me and I’m holding my deck of gratitude cards in hand, purely to mess with him.
Carter rests his feet on the coffee table and leans back on the couch. Him in jeans and a white tee does things to me, probably because it’s criminal the way he looks and the things I want to do to him in my head.
“Surprise me.”
I narrow my gaze at him while I feel my lips thin into a smile, and I shuffle the cards, before ceremonially pulling a card out. Flipping the card, my breath gets caught after I read the words.
“And?”
I hand him the card. “Be thankful now and you’ll end up having more.”
He drops the card, and his jaw flexes side to side. “That’s telling,” he comments mundanely. “Shall we discuss how the universe is conspiring?” I do see a smile he is struggling to contain.
I toss the deck of cards onto the coffee table. “It is… uh… fitting.” My long finger darts out, and I feather his hand that is resting on the couch cushion between us. “I’m thankful for the baby, which I’m sure will amaze us with how much love we can have.”
His face hardens, and his eyes are no longer light. “Just the baby.” It’s more of a question.
“Carter…”
“I agree about our child, but say what you think that has no connection to the baby,” he challenges.
My eyes drop to his hand. “You mean us?” He doesn’t respond, but that’s answer enough. “I don’t know why but it’s difficult to say aloud. Inside, I see it, but to share the words is scary.”
His other hand hooks gently under my jaw to draw my attention back to his eyes. “Rosie, I think we’re both on the same wavelength, so you might as well say it.”
“Fine. The ba— whatever circumstances that have brought us together, I am thankful for, because you and I…” My heart is racing, and I’m about to jump off a cliff. “Maybe we will be more again.”
His mouth dips down to kiss me. “We are aligned then.” He speaks against my lips before kissing the corner of my mouth. “And it’s not even a full moon,” he rasps before kissing me.
I smile as my body sinks into a mood that only he can take me into. Slowly, I move, and my fingers push against his chest to make room so I can swing my leg over until I’m straddling his hips. Sitting on top of him, I feel the thickness under his jeans that presses against my middle. I loop my arms around his neck, and his hands frame my waist.
His eyes chase mine, and he is letting me lead, but our destination is straight back into our mouths melding together for a kiss.
