Chapter Nine
Reagan
Memories of the last time I was here flood my mind. Of Leo pinning me to the door and kissing me like his life depended on it. Of the commanding way he took control of my body and made me come, harder than I ever have before. Of being pressed against the glass as he took me from behind.
I shake myself of those thoughts as I knock on the door. Leo is quick to answer, standing in worn jeans and an old T-shirt. His bare feet make him look comfortable. So unlike the Leo that’s always put together at the office.
“Hi.” His voice is cautious as he waves me inside.
“Hi.” The apartment is different from the last time. Light filters in from the floor-to-ceiling windows. The opera house gleams in the early evening sun. “Pretty incredible view.”
“Not even the best part. C’mon. Dinner is ready.” Leo takes my hand, a bolt of electricity skating up my arm. I hate that my body still reacts to him. It shouldn’t.It can’t.
Leo leads me to a set of stairs that open to an oasis in the city. Greenery surrounds us. Flowers are bursting out of pots that line the glass wall that overlooks the city.
“Wow. This is breathtaking.” A small table is set up in the corner with dinner awaiting us.
“And it’s all mine. It’s my escape.”
“Yes, it must be so hard having that incredible view downstairs and needing to get away from it.”
Leo hands me a glass of water, his gaze hard to read. “Just because I have a great flat doesn’t mean things are always easy. I’ve worked hard to get where I am.”
I wince at his words. “Right, sorry.”
Leo nods and pulls out my chair for me. A salty breeze blows through, whipping my hair in my face. “I hope dinner is okay.”
Leo pulls off the lid, revealing chicken and vegetables.
“Only one way to find out.” I cut a bite of chicken and pop it in my mouth, chewing slowly. “So far, so good. My salad at lunch almost did me in.”
“I thought you only got sick in the mornings if you’re pregnant.”
I laugh, taking another bite. “I spent all last night researching, and some women are sick all day for their entire pregnancy, and—”
Leo cuts me off. “Sick for nine months?”
I nod. Leo looks repulsed.
“I really hope that isn’t you. I don’t know if I could handle that.”
Hope blooms bright in my chest. “Does that mean you’re going to be doing this with me?”
A small smile plays at the corner of Leo’s full lips. “I don’t have the first clue on how to be a parent, but yes. I’m in this. Whatever you need, I’m here for you.”
Tears cloud my eyes.
“Shit, did I say something wrong?” Leo comes around the table, wrapping a strong arm around my shoulders.
“No.” I shake my head. “I find that I’m already getting emotional about things that I wouldn’t normally be emotional about.”
“So this is a good thing then?”
I take Leo’s hand in mine, tracing the veins running along the back. His strong fingers lace with mine. “It is. Because I want to do this too, but I’m scared. Terrified, really. I know maybe three people in this country, and it just makes it that much scarier. So I could really use a friend.”
A lone tear slips out that Leo wipes away with his thumb. His hand stays there, cupping my cheek. My eyes are magnets to his, locking on and not letting go. My heart flips in my chest, just like it did that first night. Two months later and my body still reacts to this man.
“A friend I can be. Anything I can do to make it less scary for you, I'm here.”
