Chapter 13 #2
I’m not sure she heard what he said, she’s busy staring at him.
In the four months I’ve known Miriam, she’s never smiled this much, not a real smile.
She always seems so unhappy and miserable underneath the phony smiles and helpfulness.
You know the type, eager to volunteer to help without anyone asking for their help.
Always smiling, and as soon as they hear something’s going good for someone else, the facade slips and you can see the real them for that second.
If things in your life aren’t good, then you’re on the same page with them.
Then they’re all in there for you, rubbing your back, offering up tissue and advice to fix your problem instead of theirs.
That’s Miriam. She’s one of those people.
If something good is not happening for her, she can’t be happy for you.
A bit flustered, she says, “I’m sorry I’m staring, but you have the most unusual eyes.”
“Do I?” Nick says, amusement dancing in his eyes.
Miriam is almost speechless. “Yes.”
God, I have to break this up before she snaps out of the trance of Nick’s eyes and reverts to being herself again. “I’m sorry, Miriam, but we have to go. We have an important appointment we’re going to be late for.”
“I’m sorry I’m being so rude. I don’t know what has come over me.”
My man and your lack of one. “Bye, Miriam,” I say flatly. Nick tells her goodbye with a smile and more emotion than I care for, holding her hands before he opens the door for me. I can practically hear her sigh when he unnecessarily touches her hand again before getting into the car.
“All you had to do was get in the car. You don’t have to be extra.”
He starts the car with the push of a button and grins at me. “I thought I would give her a thrill. She looks like she hasn’t had one in a while. That was my good deed for the day; don’t be jealous, I’m all yours.”
“Remember that while you’re away.”
“What, you don’t trust me?”
“I trust you.” I really do, but I would be a fool not to wonder with a man like him sometimes.
“Trust is a good thing. I won’t let you down.”
He says it with such sincerity. “Good, let’s prove them wrong.”
“Them who?”
“All the doubters. Specifically my family, once they find out about us.”
He takes my hand and kisses the back, licking my middle knuckle with the tip of his tongue. “I can think of a thousand better ways to spend my last three hours with you than talking about your family.” A smile tilts the corner of my mouth and he asks, “What do you want to do before I leave?”
He looks at me with smoky eyes, and I know there’s only one thing he’s thinking about doing. I’m going to burst his bubble for a while. I lean into him and lick my lips, his eyes watching my mouth I slowly say, “I want to do the BBG.”
His forehead creases in question. “What’s the BBG?”
“The Brooklyn Botanic Garden, of course. What did you think I was going to say?” I smile teasingly, knowing exactly what he wanted to hear.
“You little wench,” he whispers with promise in his eyes. “I’m going to let you have your way for now. BBG it is. After that I’m going to play with your garden and plant myself up in you, watching you scream my name endlessly when I plant my seeds.”
“I can’t wait. I know your promise is as good as gold.”
“Damn right.” He puts his hand on the inside of my thigh, caressing my skin, pulling out of the parking spot.
“I can see why you wanted to come here.”
We hold hands, looking up at the cherry blossom trees as we walk.
I love the garden in the spring. May is the best time.
I put my head on his arm and take in the beauty around me.
Purple weeping trees hanging down over you when you walk by them.
It is stunning to see the beautiful, lush green grass against the vivid whitish purple Lilac Hues.
It’s a real Garden of Eden. “My mom and dad would bring us twice a year when we were kids. I had good memories here. I felt like I was in a fairy tale. Like Alice in Wonderland. It was all so vivid and bright. It still is; nothing’s changed.
Still peaceful and tranquil, you can forget about everything. ”
“Is that why you wanted to come here, for the peace and quiet?”
I stop in the middle of the trees. I let go of his hand and turn around, looking at the blossoms. He stares at me and smiles.
“Yes. I wanted to spend time with the man who has captured my heart, in one of the most beautiful and tranquil places nature has to offer in the city.” I stop turning and walk back to him.
His arms go around my expanding waist, lightly rubbing his nose against mine.
“You belong in here. You’re just as beautiful and amazingly vivid.”
I rub my nose back against his, barely touching his lips. “That’s nice of you to say.”
“It’s the truth. Nothing in here can compare to you.”
He brushes my lips with his, nudging them apart, and I open for him.
The kiss is deep, slow, and heady from the smell of the flowers.
His tongue meets mine, wet and warm in the back of my mouth.
Tilting my head with his intoxicating kiss, he sucks my tongue into his mouth, eliciting a soft moan and a sigh from me.
The voices of an older couple passing by breaks the moment, and I remember where we are.
We pull back reluctantly, smiling at each other.
He rubs his hand against my back and brings one hand up to pull at the collar of my trench coat.
“I like this coat.”
“Thank you. I bought it last week with Ava.” It’s an electric blue trench coat that ties in the front and comes down two inches above my knees. “This is what I bought with the card you gave me.”
“You went shopping with Ava and this is all you bought?”
“Yes.”
“She knew you had my card and tried to get you to buy the whole store, didn’t she?”
“How did you know?”
“Ava has a shopping problem. Did she try to wrestle the card out of your hand and shop for you?”
“How did you know?” I repeat.
“I’ve seen her do it before. She’s happy shopping, even if it’s not for herself.”
“I had to be the voice of reason. I didn’t want her to spend all your money.”
“Our money.”
“Your money.”
“What’s mine is yours—it’s our money. If you wanted to max out that card, I wouldn’t care as long as you were happy.
” He rubs his nose against mine again. “Now that that’s settled, move your little ass over to the rose garden so I can take you home and give you the ride of your life!
I desperately need to plant seeds of my own in what I know is very fertile soil. ”
I laugh and he takes my hand, pulling me down the path over to the rose garden.
Afterward, he makes good on his promise with an hour of nonstop sex and making out, licking and touching every part of my body.
I wanted to go with him to the airport, but he wouldn’t let me.
He said the baby and I needed the rest after the afternoon we spent in bed with him, making me beg.
That’s one reason he took a night flight—to spend more time with me.
He was right; I was wrung out from the garden, our evening of great sex, and making love.
I could hardly keep my eyes open when he kissed me goodbye and left for the airport.
Nick
I can’t stop smiling like an idiot thinking about my afternoon with Cat.
She has me; I’m all hers. You know you’re a goner when you don’t want to take a shower to wash the scent and feel of her off.
Sick but true. If it wasn’t absolutely necessary, I wouldn’t leave her to go on this trip.
I miss her already. I told Ava to keep an eye on her and asked Chris to check up on her for me too.
I made her promise, again, not to go near her family or tell them about the baby until I get back.
She’s afraid we might get into a fight if I’m with her when she tells them.
Like I told her, it’s better that I’m with her if something happens.
If something happens to her and I wasn’t there to protect her and the baby, I don’t know what I would do.
I would lose my fucking mind and kill someone.
I get to my hotel room late in the night and I’m tired.
I would call Cat, but I don’t want to wake her.
I’ll send her a text letting her know I’m at the hotel.
I can see her now, curled up under the covers on her side looking all sweet and cute with her baby bump.
She’s five months pregnant, but you still can’t tell unless she’s wearing something fitted.
I love my girl so freaking much. Best thing to happen to me was her coming back to me and giving me a baby I love already.
Having this baby with her is so different from Kate.
With Kate, it didn’t feel real for the longest time.
But, I love Cat and this baby more than anything or anyone I’ve ever known; they’re my heart. And everyone knows you can’t live without one.