CHAPTER 14
CARTER
Shopping with Della is crazy on a whole new level. Every sweet thing I took, she just put back. She even spoke to me in her stern Mom voice. That’s some serious scary shit.
When we get back home, Jamie is waiting for us with a jar in her arms. The words swear jar is written over the middle of it.
“Alright, kids.” She holds the jar out to me. “You owe the jar thirty dollars for all the f-bombs and five dollars for the b-word.”
“You’re fucking kidding me,” I say, not believing this shit.
“Make that an even forty-five. Another ten for the f-bomb.”
Della starts to laugh but Jamie pins her with the same look that makes her quickly swallow the laughter
“Let me just place the bags on counter.” While I pay my fine, Della unpacks the bags.
Daniele comes running from her room, yelling, “I’m made a poo-poo in the big toilet.”
“Dammit, I forgot about her seat.”
“That will be five dollars,” Jamie says, taping the jar.
I try to open a cupboard but the thing is stuck. “What the hell?”
“That’s another five dollars, and you have to remove the safety clip first.”
I look at Jamie and take my wallet out again. I shove a hundred in the jar. “For the rest of the night. Now show me how to remove this thing.”
Jamie unclips it quickly then hands it back to me. “Now you do it.”
“Why?”
“So Danny won’t open them and get hurt.”
“Oh.” After my fourth try I get it right. When I turn around Della is already busy preparing the Mac n Cheese.
“That’s my favorite,” Danny says as she’s struggling to get onto one of the stools.
I go stand behind her and pick her up. Helping her to balance on the stool, I keep standing behind her so she doesn’t fall backwards. She leans back against me and looks up at me with a huge smile. “Love you, Daddy.”
Her words slam my breath from me.
I knew Dad loved me but he wasn’t one to say it. I can’t remember if I’ve ever heard those words in all my life. At least not directed at me.
I press a kiss to Daniele’s head before I hand her to Jamie. I walk away before they can see what her words are doing to me. I’m just about to head up the stairs when I trip over something and slam the side of my head against the wall.
“Fuck it!”
Della is the first to come running. “What happened?”
I look down at the weird contraption that’s blocking my way up the stairs.
“What’s this? Have you turned the place into a death zone?”
“It’s a safety door so Daniele doesn’t go up the stairs.” She looks at me, then darts forward. “You got hurt.”
There’s concern in her voice as she reaches up and presses her cool fingers against my forehead.
“Mommy, you have to make Daddy better,” Daniele says, her little face tight with concern.
“Come,” Della says as he takes my hand and pulls me to the bathroom. She wets a towel and presses it gently to my forehead.
When she’s done, Daniele says, “Kiss it better, too.”
Della’s eyes dart from our daughter to me. She looks very nervous as she stands on her toes. She places her hands on my shoulders and pulls me a little forward. Her lips are soft as she presses a kiss to my forehead and I can’t help but smile. She still smells like crushed apples.
When she’s done kissing it all better there’s a flush on her cheeks.
“Yeah, Mom. You have to kiss it better,” I tease her.
She scowls up at me and the words just come. “Careful, babe. Looking at me like that will get you in trouble.”
She starts to laugh, obviously remembering the first night we met.
Her smile, her scent, her flushed cheeks – damn, it still has a way of screwing with me. She’s still the only one I can see a future with.
***
DELLA
I look at my reflection and sigh miserably. It’s my first day at my dream job as cover designer, and I look like shit.
I’m wearing the best clothes I have, but the black pants are faded and the white blouse is stained yellow with time. I’m wearing my hair down for the first time in months. I’ve even curled it a little. It hangs well past my breasts. I pick up a strand and look at the split ends. I have to cut it this weekend. I’ve also put on a little eye-shadow with mascara. This is as good as it’s going to get.
I walk out of my room and go kiss Daniele goodbye. At least we have time before Jamie starts school. I’ll find a good daycare in the next few weeks.
When I walk into the kitchen, I’m surprised to see Carter still here. He looks devastatingly handsome dressed in a royal blue suit.
“Morning, Della,” he says and his eyes sweep over me. “You look beautiful.”
“Morning,” I say, feeling very self-aware of the outfit. I hate that he’s seeing me in these rags. After all, he is my boss.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” he asks.
I force a smile to my lips. “I’m just nervous.”
“Have some coffee before we go,” he offers.
“We? You’re taking me to work?”
That’s bad. I don’t want everyone thinking that I got the job because I know the boss. Even if it’s true.
“We don’t even work on the same floor, Della. No one will know about our relationship.”
I spit the coffee out. “Relationship?” When I look down it feels like the ground is turning into quicksand. I’ve spilled on my blouse. Dammit!
“Yeah, we share a child,” he snaps. “I’ll wait while you go put on something else.”
I grab some paper towels and start to dab at the coffee mark.
“Just go put on something else,” he says again.
“I have nothing else,” I snap as I toss the towel in the trash. “This is my best blouse.”
“Let’s go -”
“Don’t even go there,” I warn him as I position my hair over the stain.
He comes to stand in front of me and lifts my face so I’m forced to look at him.
“Why did you check on me last night when I walked into the safety gate at the bottom of the stairs?”
I shrug not sure where he’s heading with this. I force the words out. “’Cause I care,” I huff.
The look on his face changes and it makes a nervous feeling explode in my stomach.
“I tried to see this for what it is, the mother of my child moving in so our daughter can have both her parents. I keep telling myself that you’re just doing what’s right for Daniele.”
He frames my face with both his hands and our eyes lock. Tension starts to crackle between us and there’s no denying that our attraction for each other is still very much alive.
Placing my hand over his, I lean my face into his right hand. He brings his other hand to my hip, pulling me a little closer and it makes my heart beat wildly in my chest.
We just look at each other, while the attraction between us hangs in the air.
“I understand that you’re cautious and used to doing your own thing,” he whispers. “So much has changed and it will take time for the dust to settle. But, Della, I don’t just want to take care of our daughter. I still want to try with you. I want to take care of you. And Jamie.“
I hear his words and I’d love nothing more than an instant happily ever after, but that’s not how life works.
“We can’t just pick up where we left off, Carter. We were stupid. We got swept up in all the excitement of finally being finished with our studies. We have Daniele now. What if it doesn’t work out between us? What do we do then?”
“That’s a chance I’m willing to take,” he says. “Look, I’m not saying we should jump into bed right away. We live together now. It’s not like you can date. I can’t bring someone over. We might as well try.”
I pull away from him and frown. “I’m not going to be some consolation prize, Carter. If you want to screw someone then go ahead. All I ask is that you keep your women away from our daughter. As for me, I haven’t dated in four years, and I’m not about to start.”
I’ve forgotten how fast he moves. His hands are back on my face, keeping me from pulling away. The second I realize he’s going to kiss me, it feels as if everything comes to a standstill.
His mouth crashes against mine and the intense wave of emotions that comes along with it, makes me lose my breath. His body pushes against mine until I bump into the counter. I grab hold of his sides as his tongue forcefully starts to dance with mine. He moves his hands to my backside, and picking me up, he sets me down on the counter. His strong body forces my legs open and he steps in between them. I feel his hardness straining through his pants and it makes my insides quiver with want.
He pulls away slightly and our racing breaths are all you can hear for a moment.
“I said I’d kiss you to shut you up. Next time I’m throwing you over my shoulder and carrying you upstairs.”
I swallow hard and tell myself it’s only lust that’s making me like that idea.
He tucks my hair behind my ears and then frames my jaw.
“You can’t tell me you didn’t feel that. Let’s try, Della. We deserve a chance. We can take it slow.”
“Really slow,” I whisper. I just hope I don’t regret this.