Chapter 11
When Veronica woke up the next morning, she found Frank’s broad chest pressed against her lips. His arm was around her neck and she was nestled into his chest while his leg covered her thigh, almost like he was afraid she might try and escape at night.
She had an instant smile on her face. It was nice and comforting to wake up next to this man, she thought. Veronica tried to wriggle free from his arms, realizing that they were both too late for a run now and she would have to go straight to making breakfast again.
Frank blinked his eyes, forcing them open when he sensed her moving in the bed.
“Where are you going?” he mumbled in a groggy voice that sounded happy at the same time. He reached for her just in time and tugged at her arm so that Veronica came tumbling back into bed with him.
“We’re late. I have to make breakfast and get the girls ready for school,” she protested, laughing at the same time. Frank only wrapped his arms around her tighter, making it impossible for her to escape.
“Let’s all stay in today,” he said, smiling at her. Veronica’s eyes widened and she laughed.
“What do you mean?” she asked and Frank drew some strands of her dark curls away from her face.
“I mean, I’ll stay at home. The girls can skip school and we can all stay home and spend the day by the pool,” he explained and Veronica couldn’t suppress her smile.
“You’re going to skip work for a whole day?” she asked, arching her eyebrows up.
Frank laughed and she noticed how his shoulders shook when he did it.
“Did you think I was incapable of staying away from the office?” he asked and pulled her in closer, nuzzling his face into her hair. Veronica giggled and tried to pull herself away from him.
“That’s the impression I got,” she admitted and when their gazes met again, she noticed the warmth and softness in his dark eyes. Frank looked content and happy.
“Well, I want to make it up to the girls for my absence yesterday,” he said and Veronica bit down on her lip.
“They’ll be so excited. They missed you all day,” she said and tried to break free from him again.
“As for you. Maybe a whole day with me and the girls, might help you make your decision,” he said, and leaned in to nibble her ears. Veronica felt her muscles stiffen. She had forgotten about that completely. She was so taken up with Frank’s happy demeanor that she’d forgotten about the decision she still had to make. Was that a sign? That an expensive diamond ring in a velvet box was lying on her dresser. Given to her by a guy she had been with since college…and she had completely forgotten about it.
“What are you thinking?” she heard Frank’s voice which snapped her out of her thoughts.
“That you’re making it harder and harder for me to make a decision,” she said, pursing her lips. She didn’t want to spoil their mood with serious talk, but she couldn’t help it now that he had brought it up.
“I’m only making my case,” Frank said, the smile still not leaving his face. He leaned in and kissed her on her cheek then, and Veronica felt a warm glow spreading through her body right after. That was the kind of kiss she wanted to be greeted with every morning. Did it matter what her parents thought?
“Well, you’re making a strong argument. We have to get out of bed now lazy bones. The girls need their breakfast on time, even if we are staying in,” she said and pulled away from him. This time Frank relented and she was able to jump off the bed.
She was naked still, and remembered how they had run up the stairs with their clothes in a bundle in their hands the previous night. It was a moment of madness and after they fell into bed in her room, they couldn’t stop laughing. She couldn’t remember the last time she had laughed that hard.
Frank was watching her. She could sense that he had his eyes on her back as she pulled out fresh clothes from the closet to change into.
“Veronica…” he called out to her, and she whipped around to look at him.
He was half-sitting in the bed, with his head propped up by his hands. His arms were folded behind his head and he was staring at her, not smiling any more. He looked handsome in the morning golden glow of the room. His hair looked just as scruffy as his beard now, but she didn’t care. She liked looking at him like this.
“What is it, Frank?” she asked, breaking the silence.
“I just wanted to reassure you that you can take your time with this. I know I was angry yesterday, but I’m not today. The decision is yours and I will respect it no matter what. I don’t want to come between you and your happiness,” he said in a somber voice.
Veronica nodded her head, already feeling like she was drawing closer to a decision. No matter what her parents planned for her future, and how much history she shared with Calvin, no body could make her feel the way Frank did. In just the span of four weeks, she had felt so many emotions for him. Turning quickly from lust to something more. She knew she couldn’t deny it any more. She was in love with him. He respected her and gave her space. He was everything she needed.
Veronica smiled at him and turned to go to the bathroom, aware now that she had been foolish to even think about this. To waste so much time. There was no two ways about it, as sweet as Calvin was being, she would have to find a way to let him down easily.