“I just don’t think you should be alone right now.”
“I’m fine,” I said.
He took a step toward me, closing the distance between us, and took my hands in his.
“I know you’re strong and independent and stubborn as hell, but I want to take care of you. Please, let me take care of you.”
My eyes burned with tears as his words soaked into me. Heknewme. So, instead of putting up a fight, I simply nodded. I had been out to prove I could do everything on my own, and for once, I wanted someone to take care of me. Not someone.Chandler.
As he drove me to his place, I remembered that I had never been there before. In the past, we had always been together in the office or at my place. It was such a small thing, but it felt big. He was letting me in. I felt a curious anticipation come over me as he began to slow the car, pulling it into a parking garage beneath a large glass building that looked like it blended into the blue morning sky above.
After he had the car valeted, which was something I didn’t know apartments even did, we rode the elevator up. I watched as the floors ticked by one by one, the elevator ascending higher and higher until it reached PH. The penthouse. Of course.
The elevator doors opened and I was met with a large arched entryway held up by cream pillars on either side. Just beyond that was a large living room that my apartment could have fit into. Growing up in a wealthy family, I was no stranger to money, but this place was amazing. It was decorated with mid-century pieces, and despite how big it was, it felt homey with the warm wood and deep fabrics. It was definitely Chandler’s place. I saw him everywhere, as if he had hand-picked everything himself.
“Come,” he said, taking my hand and leading me down the large hallway to the left.
He led me to his bedroom at the end of the hall and my eyes immediately went to the large California king draped in a plush duvet and a soft knit blanket. I couldn’t wait to sink into it.
I heard the bath running in the nearby bathroom and peeked my head inside. Chandler was running the water and pouring an expensive-looking soap in. Bubbles immediately emerged to the surface and the room smelled of lavender and honey. He pulled a plush towel from a nearby cabinet and set it on the edge of the tub.
“Take as long as you need,” he said, gently putting his hand against my cheek. “I’m going to go make breakfast.”
“Thank you,” I said, biting my lip for fear I might start beaming. He had never taken care of me like this. This was a whole new side to him, and hell, it only made me love him more. Words I hadn’t said still, but was waiting for the right moment to.
Once he had left the room, I stripped down and stepped into the heavenly warm water of his large clawfoot tub. I let out a relaxed sigh and laid back, letting the bubbles wash over me. I could get used to this. Maybe being taken care of wasn’t all that bad.
Chapter 46
Chandler
“Hey, can you grab some pepperoncini from the store?” asked Gabriella who was posted up on the couch underneath a cozy blanket, her head propped up by several pillows as she flipped through the channels on the TV. She had her hand draped over her stomach, looking at me with an innocent smile that could only read as “I have you wrapped around my finger.” I put my hands on my hips and raised an eyebrow as I looked at her from the arched entryway to the kitchen where I had just finished washing dishes from our dinner earlier.
“I can’t help it!” she said with a shrug. “Baby is craving some spice.”
“I’ll give you some spice.” I smirked.
“Chandler!” she exclaimed, her cheeks turning pink. “Not in front of the baby,” she whispered, covering her tiny bump with her hands as if they were earmuffs.
I laughed out loud before striding over to her. She was in a pink and white striped nightie, and I was having my own cravings right about now. I bent down and pressed my lips to hers in a gentle kiss, even though I was hungry for more. She had only been out of the hospital for a few days, I didn’t want to push it no matter how sexy she looked. Aside from a kiss here and there, we had been taking things slow.
“Anything else?” I whispered against her lips as her eyes fluttered open, the golden flecks shimmering against the green of her irises. Up close, her hazel eyes were even more captivating.
“I think that’s it,” she whispered.
I nodded and stood up, her eyes following me, her breath shallow. I wondered how much longer we would be able to resist each other. From the look in her eyes, I would guess not much longer. I tore my gaze away, afraid I would throw caution to the wind and peel that nightie off her right then.
“I’m on it,” I said, striding for the door. I grabbed my keys and wallet from the entryway table and threw her a smile over my shoulder. I really loved having her here at my place, seeing her in spaces she had never been before. Where no woman had really ever been before. I had opened up a part of me that I usually kept closed off to the world, and now I couldn’t imagine her notcozy on my couch or sleeping next to me in my bed or cooking pancakes in the kitchen. She belonged here. For a moment, I didn’t want to leave her, missing her already, but knowing she would be there when I got back made me smile.
I rode the elevator down to the lobby. The lights were dim and the place was quiet, except for a few residents sipping cocktails at the bar and a few working on their laptops in the seating area. I was usually one of them, working on my laptop with a whiskey in hand. But now it was nearly 11 p.m., and I was in my new routine of heading to the corner store. I had grown accustomed to heading out at this late hour to get whatever Gabriella was craving, or the baby was craving, as she claimed.
I actually loved doing it. I loved taking care of her. It was a whole new thing for me to care about someone else. To cater to them. I thought Gabriella secretly enjoyed bossing me around based on the hint of a mischievous smile she had on her face anytime she asked me to do something for her, which usually revolved around food or rubbing her back.
Maybe part of it had to do with her getting back at me for all the times I had bossed her around in the office. I didn’t blame her. I was an asshole. But it felt like those days were so far behind us now. Even the mess at Harold Enterprises seemed like a distant problem for now. After we told her father what had happened, he told her to stay the hell away from work and focus on getting better. He didn’t want anything happening to his grandbaby. I didn’t realize how much his support mattered to me.
“Back again?” asked the store clerk as I pushed through the door of the corner store, the bell jingling overhead.
“It’s about that time.” I chuckled as I perused the shelves. “Please, tell me you have pepperoncini,” I called out.
