Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
Sonja groaned as she pressed snooze to silence her alarm. The previous weekend, she had slept just fine, but the past three nights had been her normal four or five hours of fitful sleep. The slightest sound would rouse her. Usually, she would wake between 2:00 and 4:00 am, only to fall asleep again an hour or so before her alarm went off.
She pushed herself up on one elbow and grabbed her phone.
6:32 am: Hello, Daddy .
6:34 am: Good morning, babygirl. How was your night?
6:41 am: Fine. I hope you slept well, too? Have a nice day, Daddy. Can’t wait for Friday to arrive.
As Sonja typed the message, she realized it was true. She wanted to be with Derek, not only at the club but also at her house. Although Derek had a more beautiful home, they spent most of their time together at her place because of Snuggles.
6:43 am: You too, babygirl, and I’m looking forward to Friday, too!
Sonja trotted over to her sports car after the busy Friday lunch crowd had left. Suzie would stay with the crew and keep an eye on cleanup so Sonja could go to her appointment at the beauty salon. Thank God, it was finally the weekend! She was bone tired after an entire week of short nights. It seemed like it was getting harder for her to cope with her sleeplessness. Is it because I’m getting older, or is it because sleeping beside Derek gives me an inkling of how a good night feels?
2:18 pm: Heading to the spa now—‘Grinning face with smiling eyes’ emoji, ‘Clapping hands’ emoji
2:19 pm: Okay, babygirl—enjoy and relax. I’ll see you in about three hours at my place.
2:20 pm: Yes, Daddy. Looking forward to seeing you—‘Face blowing a kiss’ emoji— Need me to bring something?
2:20 pm: No, thank you, baby. I’ll take care of everything.
All right, time to indulge in some pampering. Sonja rarely took time for this kind of treatment, but Suzie and Connor had given her a gift card for a spa at the rebranding of their café almost a year ago, and it was about to expire. Sonja was amazed when she realized it had been over a year and a half since her mentor, Carol, had retired. Suzie and Connor had bought out Sonja’s former partner in The Savory Table, and Suzie had added her baked goods to the menu. Connor had come up with the new name, and they had reopened as The Sweet and Savory Table the previous October.
Sonja drove the eight miles to Green Leaf Massage and parked her Miata in the lot near the building. The temperature was pleasant for October, but the wind was quite cold, and she was glad she didn’t have to walk a long distance. Inside, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, with tranquil music playing. An attractive man greeted her.
Sonja introduced herself and presented the gift card.
“Ah, yes, Ms. Madden. You’re scheduled for a ninety-minute massage and a reviving foot rub. Brooke will be ready for you in a few moments.”
Sonja wiped her mouth with a napkin. She was afraid she would fall asleep over her plate if she weren’t careful. After the pampering at the spa and a copious meal, all she wanted was to snuggle up with Derek on the couch.
“I have something for you,” Derek said as he stood up to clear the table. “Let me deal with the dishes, and then I’ll get it for you.”
Sonja jumped to her feet. “I can help.”
“No need, baby. You’ve been on your feet since six this morning, and you look tired. Would you like to stay in tonight instead of going to the club?”
Sonja rose and collected their glasses with one hand and the remainder of the lasagna with the other. “I am tired, but not from work, and I would love to stay home tonight.”
While Derek filled the dishwasher, Sonja cleaned the kitchen counter and told him about her spa adventure.
“What a thoughtful gift. You should pamper yourself more often.”
She hummed. “Maybe.”
Derek kissed her on the mouth with just a soft press of his lips. He was a patient kisser, and she liked that he didn’t dive in with his tongue right from the start. Some of the men she’d dated had been more like dogs, licking and slobbering. Derek seemed pleased with the feel of her lips against his as he coaxed her to relax against him and grant him access. After minutes of worshipping her mouth with his, he pulled back and grinned. “You make me forget everything. Let me get your present. Please, wait for me on the couch by the television.”
Sonja did as he instructed, bursting with curiosity. What was it this time? Another dress? When he came in with an artfully wrapped present in his hands, she stretched her neck to see the package better. She couldn’t make out what it was from the shape.
Derek grinned. “Curious?”
Sonja smiled back and nodded. Derek held out the gift to her, and she took it eagerly. It was soft, the material yielding under the wrapping paper. Sonja tore away the paper, and the cutest white teddy bear gazed up at her. Sonja pressed the bear against her chest and beamed up at Derek. Their eyes met, and she felt he was studying her the way Snuggles watched her opening a can of food. Of course, Snuggles never had this much love and adoration in his eyes. Sonja was speechless, enthralled by his gaze, and on the verge of tears at the thoughtful gift.
As she searched for words to express her gratitude, warmth swelled in her chest, too big to contain. She didn’t need to say anything—she could feel the emotion written all over her face.
Derek settled beside her on the couch and pulled her against his body. She snuggled and managed to say, “Thank you, Daddy.”
Derek pressed a kiss on her hair. “You’re welcome.” She could feel him smile. “I realized you had all these stuffed animals in your bedroom and none here.”
Her heart melted.
He is the most amazing man I’ve ever met!
Derek stroked her arm and back as he held her securely in his strong arms, and she thought she could fall asleep right there. Derek broke the silence with, “Now, tell me how you’ve slept the last week.”
“Huh?” His words startled her.
Derek chuckled. “Don’t play dumb. Answer the question, baby.”
“I slept like I always do.”
Derek pushed against her shoulders so he could look her in the eye and made a disapproving sound. “If you slept a solid seven or eight hours a night, you wouldn’t look this haggard.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“What?” Derek gave her a blank stare.
Sonja conceded, “Normally, I sleep about four or five hours a night.”
He cocked his head in a ‘tell me more’ gesture, and she sighed.
“I don’t know what you want me to say.”
“Have you always slept so little?”
Sonja chewed on that question for a bit. “Frankly, I can’t remember the last restful night of sleep I had before I spent the night with you.” But then she recalled something her grandmother used to say. “But Gran told me I slept like the dead.”
“So your short nights of sleep started after your grandmother passed away?” Derek appeared to be deep in thought. “Right after?”
Sonja nodded then amended, “Not until I moved out of the house and was sleeping in my car. It’s not the most comfortable place to sleep, and I had to be careful where I parked. I got rousted by the police every now and then. I was still living out of the car when I met Carol.”
Derek patiently held her until her trembling subsided. “I’m sorry you went through that, baby.”
Sonja released a trembling breath and leaned back to look up in his face. “I don’t get why I sleep like a baby when we’re in bed together but not when I’m alone.”
“Actually, it makes sense.” Derek explained. “Our prehistoric ancestors used to sleep for short periods during the day. Their usual pattern was to sleep for a few hours at night, wake up, and sleep a few hours during the day. A big portion of our brain is built the same way. When a person isn’t feeling safe, the primitive brain takes over. After four or five restful hours, yours tells you to wake up and take your turn watching over the group.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“I’m not happy you have trouble sleeping, but I’m glad your brain tells you it’s safe with me around.” Derek kissed her on the forehead. “Now, tell me how you want to spend the rest of our evening.”