Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Mick
“ M ummy, I want to come with you.” Riley clings to Jules, her tiny feet perched on top of her mother’s four-inch heels.
Jules tries to prise Riley’s fingers away, but she holds on tight. “We’ll be home tomorrow morning.”
“Nooo. Please. Don’t leave me.”
I squat next to her. “You won’t be alone. Aunty Claire will be here.”
Claire stands a distance from the nightmare unfolding in front of me, tapping on her phone. Is she regretting babysitting for us now?
Riley shakes her head back and forth at a disturbing speed, choking on her sobs. She’s a few minutes away from a full-on tantrum. If we don’t calm her down soon, we’ll have to cancel our plans. Jules and I exchange looks. This has never happened before.
Claire kneels on the floor. “What if Oscar came over?”
“Isn’t Jake still at the station?” I ask. He and Greg had gone to the scene of yet another suspicious drug overdose this afternoon. Jake had left a message on the work group chat asking Emily for some additional analysis first thing Monday .
Claire holds up her phone. “He’s home earlier than expected and said he and Oscar would love to come over.”
Riley stops the head wrestling and peels her face away from Jules’ legs. “Like a double date?”
What the hell? She’s six. How does she know about double dates?
“You bet,” says Claire. “It would be so much fun. We could build a fort with Lego, then eat chips while we watch Shrek on the TV.”
Riley jumps off Jules’ feet. Poor Jules blows out a puff of air, clearly relieved to have the weight removed. “Can I stay up late?”
I open my mouth to say no, but Jules beats me to it. “Yes. But only if you promise to help Claire make breakfast tomorrow.”
“Will you and Daddy be home in time to eat with us?”
Jules sighs. “We’ll make sure we are.”
Not quite what we’d planned but good negotiation. Unfortunately, it means doughy, burnt pancakes are in my future, but I can live with that if it gets me and Jules out on our date.
“Yay.” Riley wipes her face. “I’ll go get the Lego.” She dashes up the hallway and into her bedroom.
I shake my head. “That was close.”
Jules stretches her legs. “It certainly was.”
Claire play-punches Jules. “That’s what besties are for.” She glances at me, her bright green eyes hardening. “I’ve got your back, sister. Always.”
Subtle, Claire. Real subtle.
Hand in hand, Jules and I navigate the crowded pavement as we walk the short distance from where the Uber dropped us and the restaurant. It’s been so long since we’ve gone out on a Saturday that I’d forgotten how busy Parramatta gets. It’s also been a long time since it’s been just the two of us. The alluring scent of Jules’ perfume and the warmth of her fingers in mine has me on high alert. This feels like a first date. And in a lot of ways, it is.
We reach the Italian restaurant, our favourite when Jules and I started dating. I push open the door, and we’re greeted by the owner, Gino.
“Mick, Jules, it’s been too long.”
I shake Gino’s hand. “You know how it is. Riley keeps us on our toes.”
He kisses our cheeks. “Well, don’t be afraid to bring her next time. We have picture books and puzzles for kids to play with if they get bored.”
Jules gives him a dazzling smile. “That’s wonderful.”
Gino runs his gaze over us. He and Claire should compare notes on how to be as obvious as hell. “You both look good.”
We’re ushered to a private table in the corner, then a server whispers in Gino’s ear, and he bustles off to the kitchen. Light from a flickering candle dances with the shadows. The plush red seats are as I remember them, as is the rich garlic aroma wafting through the restaurant.
I pull my reading glasses out of my pocket and pick up the menu. All our favourites are here, and by all, I mean lasagne and Fiorentina steak.
Jules is more relaxed than I’ve seen her in a long time as she studies the selection. She looks up, her teeth tugging on her bottom lip. “Do you mind if I have a glass of wine?”
It feels odd that she’s asking my permission, but also encouraging that she’s trying to cut back. “It’s up to you, but one drink shouldn’t hurt.” She’d be enjoying it with a meal. Not guzzling the entire bottle.
As if sensing I’m ready to order, a server appears at my side. I point to the menu. “A glass of the Penfolds St Henri, thanks. ”
“Mick.” Jules’ gaze snaps to mine. “That’s too expensive.”
“You deserve it. It’s the same vintage you enjoyed on our honeymoon.”
Her tongue darts between her lips. “You remember.”
My dick swells at her response. At the thought of re-enacting our wedding night. If we’d been in any other room than the bridal suite, the staff might have investigated the screams. I would have stopped if Jules said her safe word. She never did.
Now I’m glad we’ve made a hotel reservation. I wasn’t sure if it was premature, but Dr Amy suggested time alone together would be good for us.
Conversation is stilted to begin with, but soon Jules is regaling me with Zola’s antics when the mobile dog wash guy came to bathe her and then her attempts to catch a possum who lives in the trees of our backyard.
She pauses mid-breath and fiddles with her cutlery. “I start a part time job next week.”
“What?” She never told me she’d applied for anything. “That’s great.”
A light blush dusts her cheeks. “Yeah. It’s at a café in Parramatta, so not too far from home or the school.”
“I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks.” She lowers her gaze, clearly uncomfortable with the conversation. “It’s not what I want, but it’ll do until I find something better.” She clears her throat and tilts her head. “So, now it’s your turn to tell me about your week. How are you enjoying working with the police again?”
I chuckle to buy some time because I’m still acclimatising to the change. While Jules knows I was brought in as an accounting expert, she’s unaware of the link to my past, and I don’t want her to worry. “It’s the same old number crunching in a different environment.” Which makes me come across like the most boring loser on the planet. I slap my forehead. If this was a real first date, I’d have no chance of getting a second one.
Jules laughs. It’s a beautiful sound, a bright tinkle that settles in my heart and warms it. “I like having you home earlier in the evenings. And you seem happier.”
“Yeah, I guess I am. There’s a buzz at the station that’s missing at the tax office.” And because I’m not on the front line, it’s like being a cop again. But safer.
“As long as you’re enjoying it.” Jules stretches her arm across the table and threads her fingers with mine. “This was a great idea. I’ve missed you.”
Those three tiny words punch a hole through my heart. I’ve missed her too. The closeness. The laughter. Her teasing. How is it possible to live under the same roof, sleep in the same bed and yet feel like you’re oceans apart?
Before I can respond, Jules’ phone rings. She releases my hand and answers, her happy expression faltering. “Of course. No problem. No, no. You did the right thing in calling.” She ends the call and plops her mobile back on the table.
I sit straighter. “Is Riley okay?”
“Yeah. But she’s still acting up. Claire thinks we should come home after dinner.”
Bugger. It’s not like Riley to suffer from separation anxiety. “I’ll cancel the hotel booking.”
Jules’ lips twist in disappointment. “I’m sorry, Mick.”
“Hey, this isn’t your fault.” I lift her chin. Her warm eyes shimmer with tears. “Riley’s clearly more affected by what’s been happening between us than we realised. We’ll find another time to spend quality time together when she’s more settled.”
Despite the change of plans, the date is a success. Jules and I link hands in the Uber on the way home. We even kiss a little. No tongue, but feather-light caresses that promise more. The pressure in my pants is uncomfortable, but that’s a small price to pay to have my wife look at me like she loves me or, at least, could love me again.
I slip the key into the lock of the front door, then stop. My dick aches to be inside Jules. Her eyes are bright and slightly glazed, which is odd given she only had one glass of wine. But otherwise, she resembles the woman I first met. Relaxed and vibrant.
She slides her arm around me. “What are you waiting for?”
I nuzzle her hair and breathe her in. Would it be wrong to steal a kiss?
Jules mustn’t think so. Her mind is clearly on the same track because she pulls my face towards hers. Our mouths open as if in sync, and our tongues tangle. I tighten my hold on her. If the outside light didn’t throw a spotlight over us, I’d be tempted to take it further. But I’m a grown man with a daughter inside the house. And while the neighbours should all be in bed, there’s no way I’d put Jules in a compromising position, even if she was up for it. No one sees my wife coming undone but me.
Jules pulls away first. Her lips are swollen, her eyes black pools of want. “That was some kiss.”
“Yeah.”
She palms my crotch. I groan at the contact. It’s been too long since we made love. “I’ll help you with this when we get inside.”
I press my hand against hers. “I won’t last.”
She winks. “Neither will I.”
Jesus. She’s such a tease.
Jules plucks the key from my fingers and opens the door. We tip-toe down the hallway. I choke back laughter, my painful erection almost forgotten at the sight of Jake sprawled on the floor, his head propped on a pillow as he scrolls on his phone, his son’s head on his thigh. His back’s gonna ache like a bitch tomorrow. Nearby, Claire and Riley are snuggled on the sofa. Sound asleep.
Jake’s steely gaze snaps to us, no doubt taking in our rosy cheeks and the bulge in my trousers. He presses a finger to his lips. “We’ll get going,” he whispers.
“You don’t have to,” I say. I don’t mean it, but it is late, and they’ve helped us out.
He chuckles softly. “Nah. You guys need some space. We’ll sleep better in our own bed anyway.”
Jules gently shakes Claire awake. I slide my arms under Riley and carry her into her bedroom. She doesn’t stir as I turn back the sheets and lay her on the mattress. I pull the covers up. She’s a mini-Jules, but there are elements of me in her. Enough that there’s no doubt I’m her father—the same nose, lips and long black lashes.
“Daddy,” she murmurs.
“I’m here. Go to sleep.” I kiss her forehead, and she rolls onto her side and curls around her teddy bear.
I linger in the doorway. My chest aches with how much I love this little girl. “Your mum and I will be better parents from now on. I promise.”