49. He Kissed His Wife #2
“Dressed up? Yeah. I had to put on a good show. I went to a job interview this morning… Well… Sort of… Remember that clinic I was telling you about?”
“The one in Randwick?” she asked.
I nodded. “I went for a meet and greet this morning. The facilities are modern, and everyone’s super chilled out.
The owner’s keen for me to start. A lot of their patients are kids.
I’ve always worried my hands are a bit big, but he saw me chatting to some families in the waiting room and thought I’d be great at it.
” I shrugged. “For some reason, kids like me.”
“For some reason, huh?” Gwen smirked. “Maybe because you’re a bit of a big kid yourself.”
“Maaaybe. At least I’ll have a captive audience for all my awesome jokes now.”
“Toby,” she warned.
I grinned at her. I couldn’t resist. “What’s the best time to schedule a dentist appointment?”
Gwen groaned.
“Tooth hurty.” I roared with laughter. “Get it? Two thirty. Tooth hurty. Yeah?” I tickled her side until she couldn’t help but bubble with a laugh. I snuggled her close and pecked kisses up her neck. “I love it when you laugh, my sweet Gwendolyn.”
Playfully, she shoved me away, but the smile she was giving was all good. Sexy good.
“Wait…” Her smile faded. “Interview?” After kissing Noah’s cheek, she plopped him next to the tub of fruit. It didn’t take long before he was gumming on a strawberry chunk. “Did you take Noah?”
“Yup. NoBo’s my wingman. If work asks me to stop by on short notice, they need to know I’ve got a family. I’m setting expectations from the get-go.”
“They weren’t bothered?”
“Nope. I’m pretty sure his charms got me the job. They want me to start next Wednesday. Only three days a week, with occasional on-call and weekend work. Nothing like the hours I was pulling at the clinic. But you and Noah come first. You know that, right?”
“I…know…” she replied hesitantly.
“If you don’t want me to—”
“I’d never stand in the way of your career.”
“I know, but I want to make a decision that works for both of us.”
“I want you to be happy.”
“And I want you to be happy.” I bumped my shoulder against hers. “What’s worrying you?”
She shrugged. “Who, um…will you be working with?” She plucked at the grass poking up beside the picnic blanket. “Your assistant?”
My heart squeezed tighter than Noah’s fist around his strawberry. Vulnerability poured out of Gwen even though she tried to hide it. That was another side of her only I saw. She was scared work would be like last time. That I was going to mess up. Mess around.
“Gwen.” I pulled her as close as possible without tugging her into my lap. “Listen? Real good, okay?”
“O-okay…”
“It’s like…”
I cocked my head. What was it like? That I was useless without her? If I couldn’t see her again, why bother living? I’d had more than a few rough nights in the apartment without her. Dark thoughts. Rock-bottom moments. I’d never been so low.
“Want some straight talk about how I feel about you?” I asked. “No jokes, only truth.”
She nodded slowly, teeth digging into her bottom lip, uncertain.
“I really fucking love you, Gwen. Like crazy town love you. You’re smart and gorgeous and fierce.
You’ve got this tough shell on the outside that’s super hard to crack, but when I get in there, it’s so gooey and amazing, and I wanna float around with you forever.
And I’m tired of not telling you stuff like that. I love you . ”
“That’s…” She bit down on her lip again.
Too much? Too… “Weird?” I dropped my chin and flexed my palm over the soft spot I’d found on her thigh—I’d have one last touch if she ran off. It was hard to admit those kinds of feelings out loud.
Gwen shook her head. “I like it when you’re honest.”
“Wanna hear some more honesty?”
She nodded.
I leaned over, trying to ignore how loud my heart was hammering in my chest. “I’m shit scared that one day you’re going to figure out you’re too good for me.
I’ve been skating by on looks and muscles.
That will all disappear someday. Then you’ll realize I’m just this dumb old dude who tells stupid jokes. ”
“Toby…” She reached up and stroked my cheek.
“Being honest is kinda tough, huh?” It was easier to hide behind jokes and pretend she couldn’t tear me apart with only a few words.
Gwen nodded.
Her hands cupped my cheeks, soft and secure, and our eyes locked.
Not just a glance. She saw me. I saw her.
People often commented that Gwen and I were mismatched, but we were the same.
Even though we’d been dragged through different childhoods and covered our insecurities with different colored Band-Aids, we were the same underneath—two scared kids desperate for someone to love them unconditionally.
“Is this the part where we sexy kiss?” Gwen whispered.
Cautiously, I stroked my fingers through her hair. “This isn’t our date…” I murmured back.
“A picnic in the park…” Soft, flawless lips grazed my temple. “It feels a little like a date, don’t you think?”
I pressed a kiss on her cheek. “Hmm. Maybe.”
“And you’re not just a boring guy who tells dumb jokes…” Her grin turned sly. Oh man, was she going to lay a joke on me? Hell yeah! “You’re also the king of grass. How will I stay the envy of the street without you tending to my… lawn ?”
I tipped my head back and laughed.
That was when Gwen captured me—like a ninja, when I least expected it.
My face still lit up, cheeks aching from laughing, Gwen’s lips landed on mine right before she landed in my lap.
Her kiss was out of this universe—a soft brush, a teasing nip, and then feverish lips hungry for me.
There might have been a little slip of her tongue, too.
Just a sneaky taste. Heat rocketed through me and set me on fire from the inside out.
I had my hands on her, pulling her even closer, and she melted into me, her mouth pure honey.
That kiss was sexy and deep and a promise for more. Ten out of ten. That moment needed to be added to the list in my letter with my other perfect days.
But the best part of all was that Gwen never stopped smiling.
Even when the kiss was over, and we both stared at each other, breathless, cheeks burning like a couple of teenagers caught in the back of a car, she was still smiling.