Page 68 of Love is Grand

He set his drink down and moved closer. “And you? Did you have a good day?” He slid his palm down my cheek and brought his lips to mine.

The kiss was slow, gentle, tender, yet full of unspoken promise. Now that my stomach was under better control, my hormones were back in full swing and ready for what he was silently promising. I nodded while he kept kissing me.

When he broke free, he said, “Good. I’m glad you’re here. I’ve never really shared this space.”

“It’s beautiful. Or handsome, I should say.”

“I didn’t decorate it.”

This made me giggle. “I didn’t think so.”

I wanted to ask if Sophia had spent much time here, but why? I was here now with Weezie and carrying his baby.

Continuing to cradle my cheek in his palm, he asked, “Was Weezie okay with your sleeping arrangements? Did you mention anything?”

This man was such an enigma. I imagined he was a powerful force when it came to his career, and I knew him to be a lover of life. A party boy when time allowed, yet he could be incredibly passionate when it wasn’t called to his attention. I didn’t even think he knew he did it.

I took a deep breath, and his free palm slid over my belly, presumably massaging our child.

“I’m a little worried because she’s so go with the flow when it comes to this, but Weezie is usually all about routine. Maybe it’s because Ricky just up and disappeared, and she’s searching for a replacement. I don’t know. I’m not an expert, for sure.”

“Shell, you’re perfect, a great mom,” he whispered to me.

“I don’t know about that, but I said I would be staying down the hall in your room, and she said I know. No questions, no rambling, nothing. All very unlike Weez.”

“Maybe she senses you’re happy, and that makes her happy.”

“Maybe.”

“I don’t want to pressure you. I can stay here, on the couch.”

“Caleb.” His full name tasted like honey coming from my mouth. “Don’t be absurd. I’m here. I’ve been missing you.”

“And I’ve been missing you,” he said before kissing me again.

He tasted like mint and Scotch. We’d had Japanese takeout at his counter for dinner—sushi for him, udon noodles for me, and fried rice for Weezie. I’d watched him pop a peppermint in his mouth when we were done and wished it was my tongue. Now it was.

Our mouths danced along each other as my heartbeat sped up. Outside his window, the sky was darkening with dusk. Inside, the lights were dimmed and soft music came from the TV—it was a setting I never saw myself in, but I was here.

“I want you so fucking bad,” he murmured into my lips.

“I want you back.”

For a moment longer, we kissed and groped like two high school kids who hadn’t seen each other in a long while.

“Let’s go to my room, yeah? For some privacy,” he said.

I nodded, and the next thing I knew, I was being swooped up in his arms. “Cal, I’m too heavy.”

“Shhh.”

He made his way to his room, me safe in his hold. Once inside, he gently laid me on the bed.

“One sec,” he whispered and went to shut the door. “This okay?”

“Yes, please come here.” I wasn’t one to beg, but it had been a while.

He lay down next to me, running his hand under my shirt and over my belly, stopping for a beat before traveling south, then smoothing over my bra. “Sex is okay. I read it in my books.”