And that’s not like me at all.I don’t even know who I am anymore.
Apparently, this is who I am when I’m in love. I had no idea.
With all the plans for the next few days set into motion, I stand from my desk and push my hands in my pockets as I walk out to where Natasha is. When she notices me, she stops playing immediately, and her face flushes.
“You don’t have to stop on my account.”
She nibbles that plump lower lip and stares down at the keys. “I wish I didn’t suck at this. I know I need to practice, but my hand doesn’t want to work the way it should.”
“We can find a physical therapist,” I tell her. “Dr. Asgood recommended that when we saw her last week.”
“I was hoping I could work on it myself, but I need help.” She looks up at me and shrugs a shoulder. “Let’s find someone.”
“I’ll make some calls.”
Natasha nods and slides over on the bench, inviting me to sit next to her. I’ll never deny this woman anything. She leans her head on my shoulder, making me grin as I kiss the top of her head.
“Will you play for me?” she asks quietly.
This has been our thing this past month. We sit here, sometimes late into the night, and I play for her. Everything from classical Bach to Taylor Swift. My girl loves a wide range of music.
“What do you want to hear, Angel?”
“Something fast and happy.”
I grin and start playing “All That Jazz”fromChicago, and Natasha starts to sing with the music, surprising me.
“You can playandsing? Add in gorgeous and smart as fuck. Jesus, what can’t you do, baby?”
“Cook,” she says between lines, making us both laugh.
Christ, it feels good to laugh with her.
When the last notes fade, my wife smiles up at me, and I can’t resist tipping her chin up so I can kiss her, sweetly at first, but it heats up quick, and I sink into the taste of her. She makes that whimpering noise in the back of her throat, and I glide my fingers into her hair, enjoying the fuck out of her.
“Thanks for playing for me,” she says when I pull back. “You’re so good. I never would have pegged you for a concert pianist.”
I snort and tuck her hair behind her ear.
“Far from it. I learned when I was a kid and never stopped playing. It’s the thing that always soothed me. I don’t drink a lot, I don’t smoke. I play the piano. And now, I have you.”
“I soothe you?”
“Yeah, baby. You do.” I kiss her again and then stand so I can move to the side and face her. “I have to go to LA this afternoon, and I’m taking you with me.”
She blinks in surprise and then firms her chin.
“I don’t need to be babysat, Julian. I keep telling you that. You can go, and I’ll be fine here alone. I won’t do anything to hurt you.”
I take a deep breath and rub my hand over my mouth.
“Angel, will you please join me in California? I want you with me because I enjoy being with you and going without you for three days sounds like fucking torture. Please come with me.”
She presses her lips together for a heartbeat. “Was that so hard?”
“Is that a yes?”
She stands and bushes her hair over her shoulder. “I’d love to come. What do I need to pack?”
