Chapter 14
Weak Spot
Nadine
I put away my list and left Aaron paying the bills at the kitchen table while I snuck off to our bedroom. With him home for the past two weeks, I hadn’t found time to continue my project. I couldn’t wait any longer.
Looking up, credit card statement in hand, he promptly burst out laughing. “What on earth are you doing now?”
I sat with my back braced against our headboard, knees pressed to the side, make-up mirror propped between my toes.
I held my new at-home laser hair removal device in the air for his perusal. “Everybody’s doing it, and I’m a jungle! I haven’t been for a wax in way too long, and I’m sick of shaving. I’m surprised you can even find it!”
His brow furrowed as he walked closer. “You’ve got quite the set-up.”
I snorted. “Well, I can’t see past all the curves you claim to love so much.”
“I do love them,” he murmured, eyes warm on my face. “Want me to help you? Although,” his eyes dropped to my lady bits, “there doesn’t appear to be anything to take off.”
“You have to shave it all off before using the laser.”
He dragged his eyes away from my sex and grinned up at me. “It’s pretty.”
“Pretty,” I snorted. “It looks like it’s been stretched on the rack, drowned, and hung out to dry.”
He laughed. “Like beef jerky. But sweeter.”
I shook my head, my smile as wide as my splayed legs. There was no dignity left. “You’re incorrigible.”
“You love me.”
“I do,” I replied earnestly, making sure he heard me. I got that he was going through something, but I still didn’t understand how it had such a huge effect on him. Especially when a simple conversation cleared things up. “I really do.”
He held out his hand for the device. “Lie back. Tell me what to do.”
As weird as this new stage of life was, I couldn’t deny having him help was infinitely easier. And his sweetness turned my heart to mush.
“Nadine…this doesn’t hurt, does it? I don’t want to hurt you.”
“No. It’s good. Best one on the market.”
Winking at me, he replied, “Hence the $632.00.”
I rolled my eyes. “Get back to work.”
“You’ve got a longer one here you missed,” he murmured. “Do I shave it first?”
“I missed one?”
“Well, I see a couple that have grown back.”
“Let me see.” I lifted my head off the pillow and bent myself into a pretzel trying to see past my boobs and my stomach. “Oh my God,” I spat. “I’m too late. They’re gray. Laser won’t remove the gray ones, Aaron!”
“So what? I like them.”
I narrowed my eyes. “No. You don’t,” I snapped.
“I do!” He protested, laughing. “It’s celebratory. Like tinsel.” Turning off the laser, he tossed the device down on the bed beside me and moved to his knees between my thighs. With his hands braced against the mattress on either side of my head, he hovered over me and smiled into my eyes.
I snorted in disbelief but couldn’t stop myself from smiling back. This man had made me smile thousands upon thousands of times over the decades we’d loved each other.
It hit me like a Mack truck. For years, he’d been my rock. Then he had six bad months, and I threatened him with a separation.
I closed my eyes against the painful truth.
I would do better by him.
Tinsel. Honestly. He made me crazy in the very best of ways.
He nuzzled his nose against my cheek. “Makes me feel festive. And a little hungry.” He moved down my body while I watched in slight disbelief.
How could he still find me attractive?
I didn’t even find me attractive.
Did I find him attractive? I’d never questioned it before. Why would I? Up until now, I’d always wanted him. I tilted my head to the side. Wide shoulders, long freaking legs, that smile… Okay, he had a little paunch where his six-pack used to be, but I liked it.
I like it.
Could he feel the same about me?
Just as he pushed my thigh wide to make room for his shoulders, his head snapped up, eyes twinkling. “You’re not going to use that thing on my head, are you? I know I’ve got a bit of a hamburger bun happening back there, but I’d just as soon keep it as small as possible for as long as possible.”
I laughed. He was outrageous. Full of life. My heart burst with joy that I had him back. I smiled evilly. “Just don’t piss me off now that I know your weak spot.”
“Speaking of weak spots,” he dropped his head, “I know a few of yours…”