I look into Evan’s eyes, eager for his answer.
He pauses to take a breath. “Let me show you just how ready I am,” he says, and then he kisses me harder. I pull his bottom lip into my mouth and move backwards, pulling him along until the back of my knees hit the bed. Suddenly he moves away, but it’s only to reach for the roses. I watch as he pulls off the deep red petals and tosses them on the bed.
It’s so incredibly romantic. I’m surrounded by the sweet smell as he picks me up and lays me gently on top of everything. My pulse racing with anticipation, I unbutton his perfectly starched white shirt as he unzips the back of my dress. I suck in a breath as I gaze at him. His six pack abs kill me every time. I spend a few moments caressing him from shoulders to hips, enjoying the feeling of his taut muscles beneath my hands and the way his breathing grows quicker. He leans down to whisper in my ear, “Now it’s my turn to look at you.”
I peel off my stockings, leaving me wearing only my bra, panties, and heels. I feel his eyes rake over my body and watch the heat rising in them. I lean up towards him eagerly, and he unhooks my bra and slides off my panties. The look on his face makes me feel worshipped to be looked at so closely, rather than embarrassed.
“You’re gorgeous,” he says, running his hands over me slowly as if to savor the way I feel. His touch ignites a fire in me and I am desperate for more. He strips off the rest of his clothes like he can’t wait for us to be as close as possible. Finally, he takes off my heels and his fingers tickle the soles of my feet. I giggle a little. Then he’s on top of me and I can’t get over how lucky I am. This perfect man is mine.
“I love you,” I whisper, running my hands through his hair just as his hips meet mine and he pushes into me.
“I love you too, Ciara; forever and always,” he answers as our bodies rock together.
“Are you mine?” he asks in a voice so low, it’s almost a growl.
“Yes,” I moan, tilting my head back so he can lay a row of kisses along my neck.
A while later we peel away from each other. We’re both gasping for breath and my limbs feel loose and heavy with pleasure. It’s a reminder that despite everything that happened today, we’re really are connected. God, I love this man so much! Maybe we got together in a nontraditional way, but he’s the one for me. I know it deep in my heart.
I reach up and stroke his hair thoughtfully, then I take a deep breath. “I’ve decided I’ll do the wedding. I know how important it is for your family, and I think it will be important to mine, too.” I’m thinking of what my mom said on the phone. It’s a meeting of families, not just a wedding.
Evan’s smile takes up his whole face. He gets these little crinkles by his eyes that I love. I wonder if this is how he’ll smile when I walk down the aisle. Or maybe he’ll wipe away a tear, though that seems unlikely. He’s not an emotional mess like me.
“Are you sure about this?” Evans props himself up onto his elbow and looks down at me. I laugh as I stroke my finger along his jaw.
“It’s funny to hear you ask me that, since you’re the one who didn’t want a wedding at all.” I think back to our first conversation about marriage—it seems so long ago now.
“I know.” He pulls me in for a deep kiss. “I’ve gotten over my fear of being left at the altar. I think it has something to do with you,” he says, stroking his chin and pretending to think before pulling me closer and kissing me again. We don’t come up for air for a while.
* * *
It’s been three days since I’ve been at work, and I’m starting to feel a little stir-crazy. I’m playing with Alfred in the living room as the minutes seem to move by slowly.
Alfred has his fingers in his mouth as he waves a rattle, his ditched pacifier lying beside him. I love being there to watch him discover new things, whether it’s a bird in the trees or the jingle of the ice cream truck. Spending all this time with him is wonderful, but I wish I had something more to do than change his diapers and go for walks in the park. I smile at Alfred, my heart tightening a little with guilt for feeling this way. Suddenly my phone chimes and I’m happy for the distraction.
“Hello?”
“Ciara? It’s Lianna! How are you? I’m on a break and I thought I’d call you. We just delivered twins, a boy and a girl. The parents are going to name them Jack and Jessica. Isn’t that so cute?” She doesn’t wait for me to answer before continuing to tell me what I’ve missed the past few days. “I wish you could’ve been there,” she concludes.
I sigh. “I wish I could have been there too, but I’m happy with Alfred. Maybe Dr. Juliet was right. I needed this time at home.”
Lianna scoffs. “I know how much nursing meant to you, Ciara.”
Meant? Why is she speaking in the past tense?
“Nursing still means a lot to me,” I tell her, trying not to sound hurt or annoyed. “But I can’t dwell in the past. I need to take advantage of this situation and enjoy this time with Alfred, Not to mention, I’m planning a wedding.”
“A wedding?” Lianna asked, shocked. I spent the next twenty minutes catching up with her. It’s surprising how much can happen in three days.
That evening, I decided to do something special for Evans. He’s worked late the past two nights, so I settled on surprising him with a home-cooked, romantic dinner. I’m not the most amazing cook in the world, so I choose roast chicken served alongside risotto. As Alfred plays happily in his high chair, I start the chicken, placing rosemary and lemon slices inside the skin and seasoning the outside with spices Bellina had in the cabinet. I know she could’ve done all of this for me—for us—but I want to do something nice for Evans. I also don’t want her to think I’m totally useless.
I keep a careful watch on the chicken as time passes, pausing to feed Alfred and settle him into bed. Once the clock strikes eight, I realize that Evans should be home soon, so I slip into a nice dress and even put on a little make-up. To make things extra special, I decide to light the tapered dinner candles and pour some wine. I’m just lighting the second candle when my phone rings. It’s Evans.
“Hey, are you on your way home now?” I ask. The chicken has fifteen more minutes in the oven. If I take it out as soon as he leaves Barcode, it will be ready when he gets here.
“Ciara, I’m so sorry but I have to stay late again tonight. The DJ is having a problem with the sound system, and the music isn’t playing out of all of the speakers in the club.”
“Oh, that’s okay,” I say, but part of me begins to worry: Am I going to be the sad stay-at-home-mom and housewife who just waits for her husband to come home every night? This is the third night in a row that he’s had to work late. I know that his job is a lot of work, but this is unusual.
“I’ll try and let you know when I’m coming home, but don’t stay up too late to wait for me. It could be a while before Elena and I sort everything out here,” Evans sighs.
“Elena’s there?” I ask, trying to keep the prickliness out of my voice. I think back to them laughing on the sofa in Elena’s office the other day, all close and cozy.
Evans laughs. “Of course. Why wouldn’t she be? You sound jealous. Are you?” What the hell, Evans?
“I don’t know, Evans.” My voice is harsh. “Do I have a reason to be?”