“You surprised me...It’s good to see you.”That was a gross understatement.Her heart beat urgently, anticipating his firm kiss.She wasn’t disappointed.He closed the door with his foot and claimed possession of her mouth.Even with the baby in her arms, her pliant body bent toward him, yielding to his kiss.
“That alone was worth the hassle of getting to you tonight,” he said, his voice low and disturbed.
Dazed and happy, Skye blinked her liquid blue eyes.She was forced to draw her attention back to the baby, who began to fuss in earnest.
“Anne Marie Avery, daughter of Sally Avery.”She laid the crying baby on her arm for Jordan’s inspection.“I would like to introduce you to the man I love, Jordan Kiley.”
Anne Marie cried furiously, her reddened face twisting angrily while tears rolled from her squinted eyes.
“She doesn’t seem to be impressed.”Jordan shrugged, studying her.
“Give her time,” Skye teased.“She hasn’t woken up enough to appreciate your obvious male charm.”
Anne Marie screamed at fever pitch and kicked with all the strength of her eight-month-old limbs, fighting Skye’s attempts to change her diaper.
“What’s wrong with her?”Out of his element, concern laced Jordan’s voice.
“Nothing a dry diaper and warm bottle won’t cure,” she assured him, bringing a bottle from the supplies Sally had left.“Here, warm this; there’s hot water in the kitchen.Just set the bottle in a bowl and surround it with the water.”
In her dry diaper, Anne Marie’s cries were no less frenzied.Jordan returned looking slightly unnerved.The room went from blustering cries to restful silence as soon as the bottle was placed in the baby’s mouth.
Jordan sighed in relief and relaxed his lengthy frame in the chair.
“You look like you could use a cup of coffee,” Skye said, watching Anne Marie greedily suck at the bottle.When she glanced up a few seconds later, she found Jordan’s gaze lingering on her.His eyes were narrowed, expressing uncertainty, perhaps hesitation.
“Jordan, is something wrong?”she asked in a whisper.
His eyes cleared immediately.“No, I was just watching Anne Marie and seeing how very right you look with a baby in your arms.”His look was tender.“We’ll have beautiful children.”
Their children...their child.A lump of wonder and joy blocked her throat.The deep womanly desire to bear children was one she had ignored for eight years; now it surfaced, andthe longing to hold her own child swelled within her.Jordan was right; their children would be beautiful.God willing they would be dark, like Jordan, but their eyes a striking contrast of deep blue.
“Do you want a cup of tea?”he asked, breaking into her thoughts.
“I have one.It’s sitting on the countertop in the kitchen, but it’s probably lukewarm by now.”
The time he was gone gave Skye a chance to gather her thoughts.Children were something they had barely discussed, and there were so many other things they needed to know about each other.Perhaps Jordan would prefer to wait a few years before starting a family.It was another question to add to the long list.
Anne Marie finished the bottle; her eyes closed, and she fell more than half asleep.When Skye gently withdrew the nipple from her lips, her tiny mouth continued the sucking action.She placed the baby over her shoulder and urged her to burp by rubbing her arched back in gentle, circular movements.The release came, and Skye placed her inside the playpen, covering her with one of the blankets.
Jordan returned with their steaming drinks.
“She’s asleep,” Skye whispered, accepting the cup he handed her.
By silent agreement, they sat together on the sofa.
“Have you missed me?”Jordan asked with a coaxing smile.
She studied the steaming cup of tea.“You know I have,” she admitted freely.When he placed his arm around her shoulder she snuggled closer to his side.A contented happiness stole over her as his body pressed close to hers.
“Then I won’t mind admitting how frustrated I’ve been these past two weeks.”The words were issued in mild exasperation.
Shifting her position slightly, she slid her arms around his middle and rested her head on the firm hardness of his shoulder.
The gentle caress of his hand against her hair was comforting and at the same time arousing.
“What’s worrying you, Skye?”Jordan asked quietly.The pressure of his lips touched the crown of her head.“The last few times we’ve talked, I’ve felt you were holding something back.It’s the most frustrating thing in the world to hear your voice and realize you need me there.Won’t you tell me what it is, sweetheart?”
A silence followed.Skye longed to tell him, pour out her doubts and fears, but she was afraid...afraid if he saw her lack of faith, it would hinder Jordan’s budding awareness of God.Dare she bare her soul again?She had left herself exposed, and there was nothing left she could disguise from him any longer.Telling Jordan about Glen had left her naked, her heart, her mind, her soul.
