CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE #2
“It smells delicious,” Julian said. “Is there enough for me?”
“Of course,” Kiara said. “I made plenty in case you were hungry.”
“I’m starving, actually.” He hadn’t felt like eating on the flight, but now, with the tempting aromas in the air, his stomach rumbled.
“I made some beef stew, and Annie helped me with some sourdough bread.”
He followed her as she walked back toward the kitchen, noting that the dining table had been set for two.
“Don’t you have any luggage?” Kiara asked as she stirred the contents of a large pot.
“My suitcases are on the porch.”
“The food isn’t quite ready, so you have time to bring them in if you want.”
With a nod, Julian turned and headed for the door. After he’d taken his suitcases to his suite, he made the snap decision to change into something more comfortable.
He settled on a pair of flannel pajama pants and a faded sweatshirt from his college alma mater. Even though he hadn’t been wearing a suit while they traveled, it still felt like he’d changed out of his work persona.
Back in the kitchen, he found that Kiara had put the food on the table and divested herself of her apron. She had on leggings and an oversized sweater that had plenty of room for her bump.
“Water okay?” she asked as she stood next to the table with a pitcher in her hands.
“Perfect.” He wasn’t sure what the other option might be for him since he no longer drank alcohol. Milk maybe?
In addition to the tureen of stew, there was a bowl of salad and a basket containing thick slices of bread. It was the perfect meal for a chilly fall evening.
Remembering his manners, Julian helped Kiara with her chair, then sat down across from her. When she didn’t immediately serve herself, Julian said, “Don’t wait on me.”
“Oh. Okay.” Kiara hesitated, then reached for the large spoon in the stew. She ladled some into the wide bowl in front of her, then returned the spoon to the tureen and moved it so it was in front of him.
Julian’s stomach rumbled again in anticipation of what was to come. And his first bite of the stew was an explosion of flavor.
“You were right that you can cook,” he said. “This is delicious.”
“This is something I’ve made a lot of,” she said. “Beef stew was a favorite throughout the fall and winter months for Jim. I wouldn’t have thought I’d enjoy making it if I didn’t have to, but it seemed perfect for today.”
“Well, let me be sure to tell you how much I appreciate you making this. It’s wonderful.”
“I’ve been cooking more now that I have my own kitchen, even though it was designed by Angie.”
“Duncan wants us all to eat at the house tomorrow for dinner,” Julian said. “Do you feel up for that?”
“Sure. I think I have something that fits and will be appropriate for dinner.”
“It would be nice if Duncan would relax his standards for dressing when it’s just us family.”
“I’m just glad he doesn’t expect us to wear clothes like we had on the night of the fundraising gala.”
“I don’t think I’d join them for dinner if that was the case,” Julian said as he dipped a chunk of bread in his stew.
They ate in silence for a few minutes, then Julian remembered something he needed to tell her. “Elijah is arriving tomorrow to stay for a bit.”
“Oh, that will be nice.”
For a moment, Julian wondered what Kiara thought about Elijah. They’d never really talked about him, but she’d hung around him when he’d been there previously. Was Elijah the type of guy she would have gone for, had an evening of alcohol not led to some questionable decisions?
Julian frowned. The thought had come out of left field, but he realized he really didn’t like that idea.
“Is he flying in?” she asked.
“No, he’s driving from Texas.”
“Is he staying here in the house? We didn’t really plan a space for visitors, but the rec room in the basement has a pull-out couch, and there’s a bathroom down there as well.”
Julian considered it, then said, “I think it will work better if he’s at the main house. Especially since it’s not that far away.”
As he ladled another helping of the stew into his bowl, he asked, “What have you been up to this week? I’m sorry my emails kind of fell off. Duncan was trying to make the most of our time in Dubai.”
“Well, I’ve spent quite a bit of time practicing driving a UTV. Jude decided it was time I learned. He’s having one delivered that is modified to accommodate an infant seat.”
“How did your driving go?”
“I think I did pretty well.”
“Maybe we’ll have to go for a drive,” he suggested, surprised that it actually sounded appealing.
They talked a bit more about driving around the estate as they finished their meal.
“Do you want some dessert?” Kiara asked.
“I don’t want you to go to any trouble,” he replied.
“It’s no trouble. Just cookies and brownies that I baked with Angie yesterday.”
“Sounds good. Do you want to have it in front of the fireplace?” Jude asked. “I can start a fire.”
“Oh, I’d like that. Thanks to Jim, I know how to start one, but it’s not my favorite thing to do.”
Julian went into the living room while Kiara cleared off the table. By the time she joined him, he had a good fire going, and warmth spilled out into the living room.
Julian stood staring down into the flickering flames. He welcomed the warmth and the coziness and acknowledged just how much he needed it after the hecticness of the past two weeks.
He heard movement behind him and turned to see Kiara approaching with a plate of cookies. She set it down on the coffee table, then straightened, resting her hand on her stomach.
“Do you want coffee?” she asked.
“Are you making some for yourself?”
She shook her head. “I’m going to have some hot chocolate. Would you rather have that?”
“It’s been forever since I last had hot chocolate.”
“The way I make it is amazing,” she told him. “You should have a cup.”
Julian couldn’t help but smile. “Okay. You’ve convinced me.”
He trailed her back to the kitchen, then stood at the island counter, watching as she prepared two large mugs of hot chocolate. When she was finished, she slid one to him, and they carried their mugs to the living room.
They settled on the couch, with Julian taking one end while Kiara took the other, tucking her feet beneath her.
The flickering fire cast a warm glow across the room, creating dancing shadows on the walls.
Julian took a careful sip of the hot chocolate, letting the rich, sweet liquid coat his tongue.
"You weren't kidding," he said, surprised by how good it was. "This is amazing."
Kiara smiled, her face brightening at the compliment. "It's a secret recipe. Well, not really. When I made up a batch of the mix, I added some cinnamon and a little bit of cayenne pepper."
Julian took another sip, detecting the subtle spices that gave the hot chocolate depth and complexity. "The spice really makes a difference."
"That's what I think too." She reached for a cookie and took a small bite. "So how was Dubai? Did you get to see anything outside of the office?"
"Not really," Julian admitted, settling more comfortably against the cushions. "I was pretty much confined to meetings the whole time. I did get to eat at a few good restaurants though."
"That's something at least."
Julian watched the fire for a moment, feeling the tension of travel gradually releasing from his shoulders. There was something soothing about being here, in this house, with Kiara's quiet company and the crackling fire.
"How about you? What else have you been up to besides learning to drive UTVs?"
Kiara's fingers traced the edge of her mug. "I've been reading a lot about childbirth. I found some great books, and there's a class at the hospital next week that I’ll be going to."
Julian felt a flicker of guilt. He should probably be learning about childbirth too, even if he wasn't going to be in the delivery room. "The class sounds good. When is it?"
"Tuesday evening at seven. It's a two-hour class."
Julian nodded, considering his schedule. "Would it be okay if I came with you? I mean, I know I said I wasn't going to be in the delivery room, but I should probably at least understand what you'll be going through."
Surprise flickered across Kiara's face, followed by something that looked like hope. "Really? You'd want to come?"
"Yeah, I would. Even if I'm not in the delivery room, I should know what's happening."
"I'd like that," she said softly, her fingers curling more tightly around her mug. "It would be nice to have someone with me."
Julian felt a twinge of concern. Had she been planning to go alone?
"Angie wasn’t going to attend with you?" Julian asked, reaching for a cookie.
Kiara sipped her hot chocolate before answering. "I haven’t asked her. I think I was hoping…" She trailed off, then shook her head slightly. "Anyway, I'd really like it if you came."
Julian nodded, feeling a strange mixture of relief and anticipation. "Then I'll be there."
The fire popped and crackled, sending a shower of sparks against the screen. Julian watched the flames dance, feeling more at peace than he had in weeks. There was something about being here, in this space, with Kiara, that felt right. It felt like… home.
Kiara put her mug on the end table, then burrowed into the cushions on the couch. The silence that settled between them was comfortable, and Julian didn’t feel the need to break it.
When he glanced over to check on Kiara a few minutes later, he saw that she’d fallen asleep. If she hadn’t looked so comfortable, he might have woken her so she could go to bed. Instead, he pulled a large blanket from the back of the couch and spread it over her.
Rather than going to his room, he shifted closer to Kiara and pulled the end of the blanket over himself too, then leaned back against the cushion behind him. He didn’t know if he’d be able to fall asleep, but he’d stay there until Kiara woke up.
As Julian stared at the crackling fire, contentment swirled through him. It was a foreign feeling, and he wasn’t sure what to make of it.
He turned his head to look at Kiara. She was curled on her side, her head resting on a cushion, with her hands tucked under her chin. Her dark eyelashes fanned out across her cheeks.
When he’d first met her, she’d already had some curves, but the pregnancy had softened her features a bit more, and it looked good on her. He wondered if the baby would have her dark curls and hazel eyes, or if he’d have lighter brown hair and green eyes like him.
He hoped that regardless of who the baby looked like, he inherited Kiara’s easygoing personality and the determination that had helped her through the years of growing up in an environment that was anything but easy.
He had never thought about having children, but as he considered the situation he found himself in, he was glad that Kiara was the mother of his child. She was devoted to those she loved, and he knew that she would love their child in a way he’d never been loved by his mom.
Julian just hoped that he’d be a good father. With Kiara’s help, he thought he had a better chance than he would have had without her.