When Alex came that weekend, he didn’t bring up that I had turned down his invitations. Instead we spent time in his giant tub and relaxed. Well, relaxed some. I really liked his tub and not just because of the jets, though those were nice.
“You know, when you picture ha**ng s*x in a bathtub, it always seems romantic and erotic, but then when you actually attempt it, there’s nowhere to put your legs. And you slosh water over the top.” I crawled onto his lap and wrapped my arms around his neck.
“Is that so?” He ran his wet hands up over my back.
“Mmmhmm.” I tilted my head back while he trailed kisses over my collarbone and down to my br**sts. “Not this one though.”
“Why is that?” His words were muffled because he was paying so much attention to my nipple.
“Because it’s so—” He gripped my thighs and lifted me so I could slide down over his thick shaft.
“So what?” His teeth caught my earlobe and tugged gently.
“Big.” I moaned as he shifted under me.
The rest of our conversation consisted of nothing more than the sound of our lovemaking. His growls of desire answered my moans of pleasure. When we finally fell over the edge, it was a blinding sensation that left me gasping.
Later that night we collapsed in his bed, the sheets tangled around our legs.
“Are you staying?” His fingers ran over the skin of my back and I sighed in contentment.
“Do you want me to?”
“Yes.” There was no hesitation to the reply.
“Then I’ll stay as long as you want.” I pressed a kiss to his jaw and snuggled closer. The nights I spent with Alex were always the best and sleep came easily. Being with him quieted my anxiety and the constant worry. I almost didn’t hear what he said next.
“Forever.” He mumbled the word against my hair. “Stay forever.”
My heart did a little dance and I smiled as I cuddled even closer to him. Alex had wiggled his way into my heart despite my best efforts, and I couldn’t be happier about it. Who would have guessed that the day he blocked my way into the library, he’d also changed the entire course of my life?
The following week was much the same. No news about Dad, but he did seem to be adjusting to the medicine. He wasn’t as grumpy and Patricia said he was finally keeping food down. Dr. Bielefeld hadn’t called me with any more information, but his assistant had sent me a package of potential treatments to look over. I also spent a lot of time with Simone. We went over cases from local families who had issues with land or tax problems, and I wrote my first check for charity after seeing a home destroyed by fire. I had folders full of notes and names. Chadwick and I spent several evenings researching computer programs that were easy and efficient to use. I needed a filing system and while I preferred to take notes by hand, I wasn’t fond of the idea of having eight hundred file cabinets.
I found that I actually enjoyed the problem-solving aspect of my new job. It was work, but it gave me something constructive to do. The brightest spot of the week was Jess’s call to tell me Bert had proposed. My heart had felt much lighter after listening to her squealing. When I told her she should wait to go dress shopping until she came to visit, I thought my eardrums would explode. Not only was she excited about shopping in Europe, she immediately assumed it meant I was going too. I didn’t have the heart to tell her no, so I decided I’d just suck it up and look for a dress with her.
It wasn’t until Friday arrived that I started to feel blue. I’d stayed so busy I’d managed to not worry too much. Unfortunately, Chadwick was pretty strict about keeping my weekends free. He felt I deserved time off just like everyone else. Normally that would be a great thing, but Alex had called to let me know he couldn’t come back this time. He was attending a formal dinner at the palace and wouldn’t have time to make it here and back.
“Why don’t you go do something? Call Cathy.” Chadwick looked at me over lunch. “You need to think about something else.”
“Are you sick of me?” Not that I’d fault him for it. I was being grumpy. I stood up and put my plate in the sink. Margie was getting used to the idea of us eating in the kitchen and I was getting used to her cooking everything.
“I’m sick of you looking so frustrated.” He threw his napkin on the counter. “Your dad wants you to stay here, but you feel like you should go to him. You miss Alex but don’t want anyone to know you’re together. It’s like you’re trying to torture yourself.”
“I am not!” Margie tsked under her breath while she wrapped up the leftovers and I frowned. “You think I’m being stupid, too?”
“Of course I don’t think you’re being stupid. I think you’re afraid to see the good.” She set the plate she was holding in the refrigerator.
“What do you mean?”
“The man you love loves you just as much.” Her back was to me, so she didn’t see the look on my face.
“Close your mouth, Samantha.” Chadwick rolled his eyes. “You’re the only person who doesn’t realize you’re in love with him.”
“How would you know I was in love before I did?” I crossed my arms and glared at him.
“Because we’re not the ones living it. It’s easier to see when you’re not wrapped up in it yourself.”
“Speaking of being wrapped up in things. How are you and Daniel?”