Chapter 66
CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX
“ H ow’s your first day back going?” Priss asked, waving her hand in front of her monitor.
Larissa made a face at her sister. She had been so intent on updating files that she hadn’t heard her sister enter her office.
“Good.”
“You don’t miss the baby too bad?”
“How?” She grinned. “Mom’s brought him by three times to be fed.”
“The benefit of working ten minutes from home.”
Perching herself on the side of her desk, Priss slanted her a curious glance. “I’ve missed having alone time with you so we can talk without anyone hearing.”
“Me, too,” she admitted. Between Mom or Moon being around, they hadn’t been able to share any confidence since Jace’s birth.
“How’s it going with Moon?”
Larissa bit her lip. How much did she want to confide in her sister? Priss always kept their chats private, but with Mom living in the same house, would she let something slip?
Priss must have read her hesitation.
“Come on; I won’t tell Mom or Lana.”
“It’s going well. He’s fantastic with Jace. I don’t have to ask him to help out. I think Jace prefers him to me unless he’s hungry.”
Priss stared at her doubtfully. “You’re exaggerating.”
Larissa gave her a sad smile. “A little.”
Priss frowned. “What’s wrong?”
Picking up the ink pen on her desk, she put it in the revolving pen caddy. “I’m probably being oversensitive,” she admitted glumly.
“Are you experiencing some postpartum depression?”
“No.” Larissa started fiddling with her caddy.
“Larissa … what aren’t you telling me?”
Larissa moved her hand away from the caddy to lay it flat on the desk. “We haven’t had sex since Jace was born. It’s been three months. I told him there’s no reason we can’t. I even put my birth control pills on the vanity in our bathroom to show him I’m taking them.” Larissa felt her cheeks flush. She had never really confided in either of her sisters about her sex life before, but she was tired of holding it inside.
Priss seemed unsure as to what to say. “Uh … have you come out and told him you want to have sex?”
“I’ve done everything but say it out loud. I tried to take a shower with him last night …” Staring at a picture hanging on the wall rather than looking at her sister, she felt herself turn redder. “He got out and said he didn’t want us both out of earshot of Jace. Then I told him I would bring the monitor into the bathroom.”
Priss’ frown deepened. “What did he say?”
“That by the time I did that, he would be done showering.”
Priss grimaced. “Ouch.”
“Yeah.” Glumly, Larissa started turning the caddy again.
“Maybe he just wants to make sure you’re healed. He could be worried about losing control and hurting you.”
“Maybe.” She was skeptical. She didn’t buy that reason at all. Something was going on with Moon since Jace’s birth.
“You don’t believe that’s the case.”
“Not really. Moon has never lost control during sex.” Larissa worried her bottom lip. “I don’t think he wants me. Why should he? He has a clubhouse full of sexy women, waiting to give him anything he wants.”
“You really think he’s cheating, don’t you?”
“No.”
Priss’ gaze sharpened on her. “You don’t sound too sure.”
“Is any women a hundred perfect sure her boyfriend isn’t cheating?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t ever been in a serious relationship to judge.”
“I’m probably just overthinking what’s going on. We just had a baby; he is most likely adjusting to being a father. Like I said, I’m probably overthinking it.” Bolstered by her talk with Priss, she grinned at her. “I could go home tonight, and he could be ready to rock my world.”
Priss gave her a thumbs-up. “There you go. There’s the sister I know and love. I’m not used to you being so down.” Breezily walking across the office, she gave her a mischievous look. “By the way, it couldn’t hurt if you’re wearing something to knock his socks off when he gets home.”
“You know, I might stop and pick up something up on the way home.”
Larissa finished up the chart she was working on, then told Priss she was leaving a little early. Feeling in a much better mood, she drove to the clothing store on Main Street, next to King’s restaurant. When she was unable to find a parking spot on the street in front of the store, she parked in King’s parking lot at the side of the restaurant.
Once she was inside the clothing store, she wandered around the different departments, unsure of what she was looking for. About to give up and make another shopping trip with one of her sisters, she sighted a pale blue maxi dress. She carried it to the dressing room to try it on.
It made her feel like a million bucks. It accentuated her newfound bust before it fell loosely around her waist, hiding her baby belly. Spinning, she saw the back was bare except for on lone tie in the middle. She had never known her back could look sexy. Would Moon think so? There was only one way to find out.
Excited about getting home and changing into her new dress before Moon came home, she checked out then rushed to her car.
She opened the rear car door and had just laid the dress over the back seat when she heard motorcycles passing on the street.
Recognizing Viper at the front of the massive group of motorcyclists following after him, instead of getting into the car, she waited to see Moon so she could wave to him.
Smiling, she waited for him to pass by, and she was beginning to think he wasn’t riding with the group when she spotted him.
Her smile faltered and died. A woman she didn’t recognize was riding on the back of his motorcycle. The woman had her whole body pressed against Moon, with her arms wound tightly around his waist. Resting her chin on Moon’s shoulder, she was cheek to cheek with him.
Larissa waited until the last motorcycle passed by before she got into the car. Automatically, she drove home.
She carried the dress inside and hung it in the hall closet before heading toward the living room. Finding her mom in the kitchen, she managed a smile as she came around the kitchen counter.
“How’s Jace doing?”
“Still sleeping.” Closing the oven, her mother gave her a perceptive glance. “He’s due to wake any moment. I made some lasagna, and I just put in a baguette. I set the oven to warm so you can eat dinner when Moon gets here.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Moving to the fridge, she poured herself a glass of lemonade. “Why don’t you stay and eat dinner with us?”
Her mother had made a point of disappearing before Moon arrived home since she had started babysitting. By the time she had been ready to return to work, they were lucky her mom’s house had sold and she had already moved in with Priss and Lana.
“I would, but Lana, Priss, and I were invited to Sex Piston’s house. They’re having a small get-together. I think they’re trying to set me up.”
“I forgot that was tonight.”
She went to the cabinets and took out dinner plates, then brought them to the dining room, where she started setting the table. “It’ll be good for you to meet new people,” she said absently, her mind still picturing the woman riding on Moon’s motorcycle.
“Is everything all right, sweetie?”
Larissa came back to the kitchen for glasses. “Just a little tired. After dinner, I think I’ll have an early night.”
Her mother didn’t seem convinced. “You know, if you need to talk, I don’t have to go.”
“Go. Meet my future stepfather,” she teased. “I’m fine.”
“I’m worried about you.” Her mother stopped beside her. “You never smile anymore, unless you’re holding Jace. Are you and Moon having problems?”
Jace’s cry coming over the monitor gave her the excuse to escape.
“Everything is fine. Moon is a wonderful father. I’ll see you in the morning. Text me if you meet anyone interesting.”
“You know I won’t.” Her mother gave a mock shudder. “Why is it when people try to set me up, it’s with men who have one foot in the grave or have dementia?”
“I don’t know, possibly because they aren’t aware you’re a cougar?”
“How many times have I told you I dislike that term?”
“How many men your own age have you dated since Dad died?”
The look her mother gave her had her deciding to make good on her escape.
She picked up Jace from his crib and carried him to the rocking chair. Sitting down, she unbuttoned her top and unsnapped her maternity bra. She used a cleansing cloth to clean her nipple then settled him against her chest as she started rocking the chair.
She had switched Jace to her other breast when she heard Moon walk in the door. Usually, she called out to him when he came in. Tonight, she remained silent, gently rocking the chair.
Staring at her son, she thought how much he looked like his father. He was a little carbon copy of the man standing in the doorway, watching them.
“Is Jace asleep?” Moon whispered.
“No, he’s wide awake.” Using her knuckles, she rubbed the soft skin of his cheek. “He finished. Would you mind burping him so I can take a shower?”
Moon came forward to take the baby from her arms. She was aware of his eyes dropping to her uncovered breasts. Raising her hands, she pulled the two sides of her top closed over her breasts as she got up from the chair.
“Dinner is in the oven, if you’re hungry. You don’t have to wait for me.”
As she passed Moon, she kept her face averted from him.
“How was your day?” he asked as she was about to walk into the bedroom.
“Good.” Usually, she would ask how his day had been. Today, she went into the bedroom and shut the door behind her.
She took her time showering and only dried off when couldn’t postpone getting out any longer. No longer having the desire to wear the new dress she had bought, she pulled out a pair of buttery soft jeans and slipped on a wine-colored crisscross top that tied at the waist. Then she padded barefoot down the hall to the living room. Moon was sitting on the couch with his feet propped on the coffee table, Jace wiggling on his lap.
“He’s getting bigger every day.”
Moon might not love her, but it was obvious he loved his son.
“Yes, he is,” she agreed on her way to the kitchen to take the lasagna out of the oven.
When he saw she was setting the food on the table, Moon placed Jace down in the small portable crib they kept in the living room, then wheeled the crib to the table and sat down.
Placing the bread on the table, she took the chair opposite of his. She served him a generous mound of lasagna before she gave herself a smaller portion. She did the same with the bread.
“You’re not hungry?” he questioned.
“Not very.”
Lasagna was her favorite, but tonight, her stomach was too twisted in knots to have much of an appetite.
After taking a small bite of the gooey pasta, she lifted her head. “You have a good day at the factory?”
Moon’s head swiveled from the baby to her. “It was slow.”
“Hmm,” she said, taking another bite of the lasagna. “The day must have dragged on for you, then.”
“It was pretty boring.” Tearing his bread into a small chunks, he placed a piece in his mouth.
“Really?” Reaching for her glass, she took a drink of water. “You didn’t seem bored to me when I saw you riding by with a woman on your motorcycle.”