The Second Time is Sweeter, page 17
All things he would never tell Sophia.
“People aren’t giving you a hard time, are they?”
“Define ‘hard time’.”
“You know. Doubt you can do the job. You’re too young and all that.”
“You heard?”
“Well, Diana said something. She has to go to those city council meetings for the paper.” She tossed the pasta, then licked some wayward butter off her finger.
“People need time to get used to me. It’s all good.”
“Sure, that’s what I was thinking.” She smiled. “What do you do all day?”
“Budget stuff, meetings, safety and otherwise. Think of me as a businessman. With a gun.”
“Is it wrong to find that attractive?” She handed him a bottle of wine and the corkscrew.
“I hope not.”
He opened the red wine and poured for them both. They ate in silence for a few minutes. Once, theirs had been a companionable silence. Comfortable. Tonight, he could hear the sounds of his own chewing. Hershee stared at him from her perch on the couch as though she expected an invasion at any time and was preparing to attack at daylight.
Sophia put down her fork. “Okay. This is weird.”
“Is it?”
“Did we ever do this before? Sit at a table and have dinner together?”
“We didn’t have a table.”
“Oh yeah. We used to eat on the couch.” She smiled. “Look at us, all grown up and eating at a real table.”
“I don’t like to brag, but I’ve been eating at a table for years now.”
She should have laughed at that but didn’t. Instead her smile slipped and her eyes looked shiny. “You’ve been doing a lot of things without me. For years.”
“Tell me what you’re thinking.”
“You have a few years that I know nothing about.”
“I had a whole twenty-one when we met.”
“That’s different.”
“I don’t want to talk about most of what I spent those years doing.” Too many deployments. Seeing the world and missing her. Wondering why he’d let her go. Regrets.
“I want to hear about some of it.”
“You never used to.”
“That was before.”
Before David. She didn’t have to say it. Before she realized what she’d gotten herself into. What she stood to lose. He didn’t say another word but waited for her next move. It had to be hers.
“How many deployments after that last one?”
“Too many.” He pushed the words out. “I eventually got forced dwell time. Frustrated me at the time but it was probably the best thing that happened.”
“Why?” She seemed interested, which surprised him.
“Too much time on my hands. All that led to some thinking. Some decisions. I was very close to re-upping for another four.”
He listened as Sophia hissed and tried to recover by gulping down some wine.
“And in the end, I didn’t.”
“You had always wanted to be a cop and you never said you’d be a Marine forever.”
“That’s true, I did say that. I don’t expect you to understand, but something happens on deployments. It sucks you in. At least it did for me. I don’t like losing.”
“I know.”
“But I’m home and I’m never going back there again. Do you believe that?”
“Yes. I believe you.” She wouldn’t meet his eyes and took their plates to the sink. “Were you ever lonely?”
Like me, seemed to be the end of that sentence.
Now they were getting somewhere. He stepped toward her as she stood at the sink, her back to him. “There’s never been anyone else. Not for me.”
“Never?”
She hadn’t moved to face him, so he turned her, circling his arms around her waist. “No. You?”
“My friends think I met men online because that way I could be sure I’d never really get serious with anyone.”
“Or maybe it’s because you got used to a long-distance relationship.” Another thing he’d done to her. Taught her how to distance herself.
“I never thought of it like that. You and I were different. We had our time together, our reunions, that made up for the long separations.”
“True.”
“Or maybe it’s because—I don’t know. Gen thinks maybe I never wanted the di…”
He chuckled. “The di?”
“You know.”
“Say it.” He tugged on a lock of her hair.
She shook her head. “No. I don’t think I can.”
“Sure, you can.”
She cleared her throat. Didn’t speak.
“Say it then.” Then, realizing his mistake, “Please.”
“Okay.” She took a deep breath. “I never wanted a divorce.”
“See, it’s not so hard, is it?”
“Not with you.”
“Maybe because I never wanted one either.”
“I was afraid to say it out loud. The thing is, I let everyone else believe that I was already divorced. That way they would leave me alone and go about their business. I figured maybe someday you or I would get around to it. But then when you came back, it was like you were the only one who saw me for who I really was. One of the few who knew the truth about me.”
“Which truth? That you’re still my wife?”
“Maybe that’s all I ever wanted to be. All I am.”
“It’s not all you are, baby. Look at you, you run a successful business, and you love what you do, you have good friends who have your back. A family who would do anything for you.”
“And you. Do I have you?”
He pressed his forehead to hers. “Always.”
“I have to admit that having you around all the time—it’s going to take some getting used to.”
“I have nothing but time.”
“But what are you going to do when I demand all your time? When I want you, all to myself?”
“Preaching to the choir.”
“You say that now.”
“I will always say that.” He brushed a tiny speck of sauce from the corner of her lips then kissed the same spot.
Sophia kissed him, harder and more insistent. Lingering. She pulled back, gazing into his eyes. “You still do work a lot.”
“So do you.” He kissed her neck and continued up, lingering at the soft spot behind her ear. “I’ve been working so much to give you space.”
She shivered in his arms, making him smile. “I’m thinking about closing on Mondays.”
“That’s a start.” He kissed her again and again, not letting her come up for air to think or talk or do anything but kiss him.
And Riley made love to Sophia on the kitchen table, which was, after all this time, another first.
CHAPTER 16
Several hours later, Sophia lay next to Riley, who slept peacefully. He had one arm thrown over her waist, his face buried in the crook of her neck. She felt his slow and even breaths warm on her skin and her heart swelled with such a powerful and sweet ache that blinked away tears.
He was so handsome, strong, intelligent, kind, and…hers.
She moved slightly and tried to reposition herself but didn’t move slowly enough and he jerked awake, eyes flying open. Alert, he seemed to struggle to get his bearings for one second until he realized where he was, until his gaze locked on hers and relaxed.
“Hey,” he said, eyes softened.
“Hi, you.” She brushed a soft kiss against his lips. “I can’t sleep. Maybe I should make us dessert.”
He came up on one elbow. “Sounds good.”
A sharp knock on the front door made Sophia jerk straight up. A second later, Riley had already hopped out of bed and stood looking out her bedroom window.
No one came by this late. Unless it was an emergency. Her mind flashed back to all those sleepless nights in North Carolina holding her phone by her side, listening for the front door. If officers had come to her door she had a plan to curse them out just like Nikki had. Sophia would make them turn around and take it all back. She would make them sorry they ever knocked.
“It’s Scott,” Riley said. “Go get the door? He probably doesn’t need to see me here now.”
“Right.” Sophia pulled on her bathrobe and ran to the front door. It had to be an emergency. One of the girls. What now? Who was hurt or dying?
“What is it?” she asked Scott past the coal of fear stuck in her windpipe. “What’s wrong?”
“Diana,” Scott said, nodding toward his truck. “She’s cramping. We called Ivey, her midwife, and she said to go straight to the hospital. Diana is trying to hide it but I can tell she’s terrified.”
“Oh no, what can I do?”
“Watch the girls while I take her to the hospital? It could be all night.”
“Of course.” She stepped out in her bathrobe and helped Scott carry the girls inside, grabbing Courtney from her car seat.
Diana was in the front, her seat reclined. “I just feel a little sick. Daddy’s taking me to the doctor to get checked out.”
“I want to go too, Mommy,” Chloe, Diana’s mini-me, said with a pout. “I can help.”
“No honey,” Diana said, “I need you to be the big sister and watch out for Courtney. Okay? That’s your job.”
“That’s my job,” Chloe said to anyone who would care to hear.
Scott barely took the time to kiss the girls before he raced back to the truck and his wife.
Sophia closed the door and wondered what she would do about Riley. She couldn’t hide him in the bedroom all night, not that he was the hiding type. And if the next few words out of Chloe’s mouth involved the word “cereal” in any way shape or form, she was going to need reinforcements. Back-up. As if he’d heard her thoughts, Riley emerged from the bedroom fully dressed.
“Hi, girls.”
“Uncle Riley!” Chloe said. “I’m in charge.”
“You are?” Riley asked, humor lacing his voice.
“Mommy said.”
“She said you were to watch out for your baby sister,” Sophia corrected, still holding a sleepy Courtney. Next thing Chloe would do, likely drunk with power, is insist they declare today National Cereal Day.
“Can me watch Dora, Auntie Fia?” a sleepy Courtney asked around the thumb in her mouth.
“Sure.” Sophia set both girls in front of the television set and started the DVD.
She then pulled Riley to the side and explained everything. “Sit with them for a minute. I’m going to go get something.”
“What are you getting?”
“Underwear,” she hissed.
He gave her a slow smile and damned if her womb didn’t contract. It was all these kids in here. Her body remembered and woke up to what she’d wanted for years with the man standing right in front of her. Sophia dressed quickly, pulling her trusty flannels back on. She gathered her phone, a couple of pillows and blankets for the couch and walked back into the family room.
Riley sat between the girls, and Chloe appeared to be explaining the show to him.
“His name is Boots?” he asked.
“Boots. He’s good. But Swiper is mean,” Chloe said.
Sophia drew in a sharp breath and took in the scene in front of her. Big man sitting between two little girls. This. She’d wanted this for so long her heart hurt a bit right now just watching the three of them.
Riley had said no. Absolutely not. They couldn’t have children, he’d insisted. They weren’t ready. No way. He wouldn’t even discuss it. It was one of the longest arguments they’d ever had. It frustrated her that he religiously used protection, not even trusting her to take care of it. Her heart seized up a little even now, remembering. At the time, she’d thought he didn’t think her worthy of having his children, or capable of handling them. With the benefit of hindsight, she now saw what a disaster it could have been.
And maybe Riley didn’t want to leave his children the way he left her for months on end.
Now, Riley turned to her. “Why don’t you come sit down with us?”
“Yeah!” Courtney said, hopping up to bounce on the couch. “Come on!”
Sophia gave a pillow and a blanket to each girl, then sat next to Riley where he’d made room between him and Chloe. His strong, solid arm went around her shoulders, pulling her in tight. Finding that she was not at all self-conscious in front of the girls as she thought she might be, Sophia buried her face in the crook of his neck and closed her eyes, breathing in his warm scent. He smelled like sleep and cotton.
Sophia had one single, life-altering thought: I could really get used to this.
Sophia woke the next morning to the aromatic smell of coffee in the air. Was there a better scent in the world? She opened one eye and saw that she was back in her bed. Oh yeah, she vaguely remembered being carried here by Riley after falling sleep between two of her favorite people in the world.
No Riley next to her. She rolled over with a groan.
Diana! What had happened last night? She reached for her phone and saw a flurry of text messages.
She’s getting checked out in the ER. From Scott.
Diana is anemic. Treating her.
Baby okay. Heartbeat.
No obvious baby penis. Too soon, Ivey says. Diana claims he might just be shy. That one was followed by a smiley face, which made Sophia grin.
Going home now. See you in the morning.
Sophia climbed out of bed. Where were the girls? Still on the couch? She peeked in the spare bedroom she’d decorated for all her nieces and nephews in matching blue and pink hues and saw them both asleep, one in each twin bed. Hershee was snuggled at the foot of Chloe’s bed and looked up long enough to give her a soft doggy-sigh of pleasure. Seemed Riley had carried more than one person to bed last night. The thought of that dad-like behavior gave her mixed feelings. She still didn’t even know if he wanted children.
Why didn’t she know that? She asked every guy she met online if he liked children. Marco, she’d asked on their first date. But back when she’d first met Riley, she’d done a whole lot of assuming which got her into a tsunami of trouble. Closing the bedroom door quietly, Sophia shuffled to the kitchen and the coffee carafe. He’d made coffee. Okay, he was getting a gold star. Were those—? Yes, they were donuts from Gen’s Sweet Southern Buns bakery. Riley had probably gotten up at the crack of dawn to get them and bring them back before work. Aside from obvious cop and donut jokes, she found the gesture endearing. There was a note on the box:
For my favorite girls. Save me one.
Double swoon.
Sophia poured herself a mug of coffee and realized she was already married to the perfect man. Coffee, donuts, and glorious romance. So, what else was there, exactly?
Must want children.
Must love dogs, Hershee in particular.
Must love Italian food and her restaurant.
Must support her career.
Must never lie to her.
Sophia sighed, took a sip of coffee and then dialed Angie.
“Who is this?” she groaned.
“It’s eight o’clock in the morning. Don’t act like it’s early.”
“I went to bed late.”
“Well, wake up. I think I’m in trouble here.”
“What happened?”
“Riley … he’s just, I don’t know. Messing with my head.”
“What did he do?”
“First of all, this isn’t going exactly slow like we said. But maybe it’s my fault. Anyway, he’s been spending the night. Twice now. And this morning, he’d made coffee before he left and brought me a box of donuts.”
“Someone should arrest the man.”
“This isn’t funny. I’m really worried.”
“About being married to a super awesome guy who makes you coffee in the morning and brings you donuts? Please do NOT pull a Diana on me!”
Sophia groaned. “No, I mean I’m worried we’re going too fast again.””
Silence for a few beats. “We warned you this would happen.”
“Do you want me to say you were right? I don’t even know if he wants…and maybe this is all too fast and too soon.”
“Oh yes, another chance with the love of your life. And so soon! This is horrible news.”
“Would you listen to me, please? Riley never wanted children, he always said we weren’t ready. But what if he never thinks we’re ready? What if that’s a deal-breaker?”
“Then you had better ask him. Talk to him.”
She’d always been able to talk to Riley. Unless, of course, she thought she might hurt him. That she’d never been able to do. Something about those eyes…she didn’t like it when they were filled with worry and pain. Those tender liquid eyes managed to reel her in every time.
“Right. I just won’t look in his eyes. Thanks. Good talk.” Sophia hung up and went to wake the girls.
An hour later, she had the girls on a massive sugar high for which Diana was bound to thank Sophia later. She’d have to tell Diana to blame the chief of police. When Sophia let Scott in the front door, both girls pounced on him. Hershee joined in, yipping and circling him.
“Daddy! Daddy! Where’s Mommy? I had a donut with sprinkles! We watched Dora! Uncle Riley said Boots is silly!”
“Donuts for breakfast,” Sophia confessed by way of explanation for the mania.
“Uncle Riley?” Scott asked, prying a daughter off his leg.
“He was over here last night.” Sophia walked into the kitchen. “I’m glad Diana’s okay. So scary. Is she feeling better?”
Scott followed her. “She’s good now that we know the baby’s fine. Hey, so I talked to Riley.”
“You did? When?”
“It’s been a couple of weeks.” He helped himself to a mug from the cupboard and poured coffee.
“Oh yeah? What about?”
“He told me something I didn’t know until then. He didn’t mean to let it slip. Guess he assumed I already knew.”
