Liam, ever the picky eater, pushes his salad aside and focuses on his plain chicken and pasta. “Mommy, why do we have to have weird stuff in the salad?”
“It’s not weird, sweetie,” I explain. “It’s just different.”
Reeves continues talking about the conference he attended, mentioning names I don’t recognize and complaining about how tiresome it all was.
I try to listen, but find my mind drifting back to the beautiful stranger and the way he moved at the pool table earlier this week. Slow and smooth. And that smile. I barely had any contact with him, but I could tell the guy's a player, in the actual sense of the word… he kicked ass.
He was charming, but I didn't peg him as a player with the ladies; a little too reserved, a little too high andmighty. He struck me as a discerning guy, the type who likes things just so. The memory brings a smile to my face.
“What's so funny?” Reeves asks suddenly.
“Oh…" Caught off guard, I reply quickly. "Uh… just thinking about Liza,”
Reeves raises an eyebrow but doesn’t press further. “She’s a character.”
“She is,” I agree, my thoughts still half-occupied by Caine.
Reeves finishes his plate and compliments me on the meal. “The chicken was perfect, Jenna. You really outdid yourself.”
“Thanks,” I say softly. My appetite dwindles even more as I look at the mess left behind on the counter.
I glance around our expensive kitchen—stainless steel appliances gleaming under the lights—and sigh inwardly. The renovations had been Reeves’s idea; he always wants everything perfect and flawless.
“You okay?” Reeves asks, noticing my expression.
“Just thinking about how much work this kitchen needs after dinner,” I reply honestly.
Reeves smiles tightly, but doesn’t offer to help clean up—he never does.
As I start in the kitchen and rinse our dinner dishes, my mind drifts back to Caine, and the way Liza and I couldn't stop giggling...
A little harmless daydreaming never hurt anyone, right?
Our conversations play in my head, his smooth, slow speech contrasting with my usual rapid-fire thoughts. He’d asked me a few questions, looked deep into my eyes, and for a moment, I felt truly seen. I realized how much I had missed that feeling, particularly from someone like him. Guilt tugs at my heart—after all, I'm a married woman.
Memories of Liza’s playful banter make me smile… she is such a ham. I'd found myself laughing, the sound coming more easily than it had in months. It felt whimsical, almost reckless, but there was something undeniably thrilling about it.
Now, back at home, as I tidy up tonight's dinner mess, I'm struck by how different it felt to have someone like him enter my life, even if only for a brief moment. That dreamlike quality of our encounter hangs in the air, blending with the scent of Reeves’s after-dinner vanilla coffee. He's sitting in his office, probably going over our dire finances again. I really should give the guy some slack — he has a lot on his plate too.
Whispers of doubt creep into my thoughts,reminding me of my responsibilities, my marriage, my child. Yet…
It's exciting just thinking about him. I am just human after all.
I'm lost in thought, staring at the neighbor's Japanese red maple, and watching a cardinal hop from branch to branch, when I feel Reeves’s solid warmth press against my back. His large hands slide around my waist, and I can smell the faint traces of his deodorant mingling with the scent of the pool hall that always clings to him.
"It’s been too long, Jenny," he whispers into my ear, his voice dropping to that low, gravelly tone that still gives me goosebumps after all these years. His beard tickles my neck as his lips brush against my skin, and his hands wander down to give my ass a firm, possessive squeeze through my worn jeans.
The dishes sit forgotten in the sink as I lean back against him, momentarily surrendering to the familiar comfort of his touch. For just a second, I let myself forget about the bills piling up on the counter and Liam's next speech therapy appointment that we can barely afford.
Despite everything, I smile. He's always known exactly how to make me forget our problems, even if just for a little while.
I feel myself melt a little despite everything, my body responding to his touch like it always does.
Reeves’s eyes are dark as he shoves me onto the bed. His large body heats mine as he presses himself down over me. I feel his hard-on in my hand, and it sends a delicious shiver right through me.
He's commanding in bed, and I've always loved that about him. He likes to take charge. I get so tired from work, the house, and Liam, that when I finally lie down in bed, I don't want to make decisions anymore. I just want to be bossed around. And Reeves is a boss, alright. I love it when he takes charge like this, when he's assertive and sure of what he wants—what we both want. I submit to him willingly, eagerly, my body already aching for his.
His hands roam over my skin, rough and tender all at once, leaving a trail of tingles in their wake. I moan as he kisses his way down my body, his lips and tongue teasing and tormenting me with impressive skill.
