The nights in the Dupont bedroom were filled with passion and love. The evenings were their special time. After the kids were asleep, husband and wife retreated to their own private sanctuary where they discussed the children, work, household issues, and the day they’d just had. They made love every night with the same passion and fire they’d discovered on their wedding night, but neither of them ever spoke the word love.
One Saturday, Chase suggested taking the kids to a pumpkin farm. They’d be able to pick out pumpkins and carve them. At the farm, the family of four had a wonderful time.
“Daddy, I want this big one.” Ali ran to a huge pumpkin and hugged it to her chest.
“Isn’t it a little bit big for such a little girl?”
“No.”
“Okay, this one for Ali girl. Now, Brice, which one do you want?”
The little boy looked around and finally decided on one. “That one,” he said. He pointed to the pumpkin he had chosen, a smaller one, in the next row.
Chase purchased the pumpkins and they made their way to the carving table. Chase helped Brice, while Sunny helped Ali. Soon, they’d achieved the perfect Jack-o-Lanterns. It was time to take them home.
Chase set the Jack-o-Lanterns on the front steps of the house. Sunny snapped pictures of the kids to give to the two grandmothers.
“Isn’t this fun, Chase?” she asked as she watched the children playing later.
“I’m so glad I can share it with you, Sunny,” he replied as he looked at with love-filled, green eyes.
****
A few days later, with Halloween behind them, Sunny realized that Thanksgiving was fast approaching and began working with Alma on a menu for Thanksgiving dinner. She invited both her mother and Chase’s mother.
That night in bed, during one of their end of the day talks, she told Chase about the plans she’d made.
“What are you thankful for this year, Sunny?” he asked as he teasingly began to caress her breast.
“I’m thankful for a lot of things,” she replied, baiting him.
“Name one thing…” He moved to the other breast.
“Ali and Brice,” she answered seriously.
“That’s two things, but I’ll let you go with that, anything else?” He moved to her belly and made light, feathery, swirling patterns with his fingertips.
Sunny shivered, she was getting that tingly feeling that ran the length of her body from her head to her toes. “I’m thankful for my beautiful home.”
Chase laughed and continued with the roaming hand, this time softly caressing her inner thigh. “Anything else you want to add to the list, baby?”
By this time, Sunny was breathing heavily, warmth spreading down her legs.
“I’m thankful for my….ah…job.”
This time, he moved his hand higher. “I think you’d better add something else to the list…”
“Umm…oh…Chase…”
He continued to tease her with his fingers, waiting for her answer. “Tell me what else you’re thankful for this year, Sunny.”
“Oh, God…Chase. I’m. So. Thankful. For. You.”
“That’s it, baby…that’s what I wanted to hear…you can have what you want now.”
He rolled on top of her. Entering her swiftly, he gave her the one thing she desired most in the world. Sunny’s world exploded, a thousand sensations overtaking her being. She cried out, “Chase…oh…my love.”
“Only you…” he whispered then rolled over and pulled her into his arms, placing light butterfly kisses on her forehead, then her cheeks, and finally he claimed her lips in a possessive kiss that warmed her heart as well as her body.
When Sunny woke the next morning, she was still in his arms and he was watching her.
“Good morning, sunshine.” Chase kissed her forehead.
“How long have you been awake?” she asked.
“Not long, did you sleep well?”
“Like a baby, because of you.”
“And all you had to say was you were thankful for me.”
“I am, you know, thankful you came into my life.”
“I’m thankful for you, too, my sweet, sweet Sunny, more than you know. You’ve made my world a happy place and I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“You’ll never have to find out. We’re in this for the long haul. That was the deal, so you’re stuck with me, whether you like it or not.”
“Number one, young lady, there is no ‘stuck’ with you. I would never…and I do mean never…want to be without you in my life.”
“I would never want to be without you either, Chase.” She leaned up to kiss him.
“We need to get up…kids to feed…work to do…all that real world stuff,” he reluctantly reminded her.
“The nights are never long enough, are they?”
“No, they’re not. We should plan a weekend away soon. I’ll bet Mom would take the kids for a few days.”
“We could plan to go away after Thanksgiving. We could do some Christmas shopping, spend a lot of time in bed…”
“I’ll make the reservations today.”
“And I’ll ask Marty to take the kids that weekend.”
“Sounds like a plan. Are you coming by the office today?”
“Yes…I’ll be in after I drop the kids off at school. I need to leave when it’s time to pick up Brice though. Alma has a doctor’s appointment today and can’t do it.”
“That’s fine. Alma’s okay, isn’t she?”
“Routine checkup she said. You know that woman is fit-as-a-fiddle.”
They showered and dressed before waking their children. It was time to face another day.
Chapter Nineteen
Things were still going smoothly, almost too smoothly, as far as Chase was concerned. He still hadn’t heard a word from Lindy, or her father, since the run in at the restaurant.
The Board meeting had gone well. Chase introduced Sunny and she was welcomed by the other members.
One afternoon, while Sunny was in Chase’s office working, she looked up. “Chase, you don’t think they’d try a hostile takeover, do you?”
“You know about hostile takeovers, Sunny?” he asked in surprise.
“Well, I’ve been doing some research, with all that’s going on.”
“I’m impressed. You’ve really taken this company seriously.”
“You didn’t think I would?” she asked, looking at him in disbelief.
“I didn’t say that, baby, and I’m glad you want to be so involved. That was the whole idea of bringing you in,” he answered with a smile.
“Well, do you think they would try it?”
“They’d have a fight on their hands. I don’t think any of the board members would side with them. But having put several shares in your name helps.” He reached over and touched her hand.
“It worries me that we haven’t heard anything.”
“Don’t hold your breath, Lindy will surface again, I’m sure.”
“On a brighter note, did you know that Marty asked my mother to stay the entire Thanksgiving weekend with her and the kids?”
“Did she now? That doesn’t surprise me. She mentioned that she liked you mother when she was here for the wedding. It will give them a chance to get to know each other better and give your mom some time with the kids.”
“Mom said she would stay, so I guess those kids will be so damned spoiled by the time we get home, we won’t be able to live with them.”
“I’d say you’re probably right, but remember, we always have the Santa Claus card to play.”
“Ah…you’re right, smart thinking, Daddy.”
“The old naughty-and-nice list always works well.” He grinned as he added, “Which list are you on, the naughty list or the nice list?”
“If I say nice do I get a better gift?”
“No, more like if you say naughty, you’ll get a better gift. You see, it works the opposite for you, than it does for Ali and Brice.” He gave he
r the old sexy grin again.
“Chase…you are awful!”
“And you know you love it.”
She laughed as she got out of her chair and walked around the desk to where he sat. She planted a kiss on his forehead.
“I could lock the door and we could try out the desk.”
“No!”
“Sunny, you’ve never told me no before.” He attempted to look hurt, but burst into laughter at the look on his wife’s face. He pulled her onto his lap and kissed her passionately.
“The kiss won’t work…the answer is still no.”
“Will the kiss work if I take you home?”
“Later…”
“Okay, I guess that’ll have to do. Back to work.” He pretended to push her off his lap. She leaned down and kissed him again before she budged an inch.
“We have a date at nine in our bedroom.” She gave him a seductive smile and got up. Looking at her watch, she told him, “I’ve got to go, honey. The kids will be home and I want to spend some time with them.”
“I’ll see you at dinner then. And Sunny…”
“Yes?”
“Nothing…I’ll see you later.”
“You okay?”
“Yes…we’re on for nine. Don’t forget.”
“Like I could…like you’d let me…” She blew a kiss and gathered her things.
She walked out the door, leaving Chase befuddled. He’d almost said the three little words that he’d been holding back all these months. He’d almost told her he loved her.
****
Filling the tub with vanilla-scented bubbles, Sunny eased into the warm water. The master bath had a large garden tub, giving her plenty of room to relax. She’d stretched out and was soaking in the bubbly water with her eyes closed when she heard Chase walk into the room. Opening her eyes, she glanced at her husband.
“Whoops, I didn’t know you were in here, I came in to shower.” He started to leave but she stopped him.
“I’ll share my vanilla bubbles with you.”
He looked at her as if he surely hadn’t heard her correctly.
“You don’t like vanilla bubbles, Chase?”
“You’re serious?” he asked softly as he looked at her covered in bubbles.
“I wouldn’t have offered if I wasn’t.” She moved her legs to make room for him in the spacious tub.
He stripped out of his clothes quickly and joined her in the tub.
“Now doesn’t that feel just wonderful to soak in a warm tub?”
“Well, I can’t say that I’ve ever taken a bubble bath in my life, Sunny. But yes, it does feel pretty good.”
She picked up a bath sponge and began soaping his chest with the bubbles. Moving down, she found that part of his body she’d grown to love and began her sensuous assault.
“Sunny…”
“Yes, dear?” she asked innocently.
“You know I’m going to smell like a vanilla ice cream cone…what is this stuff?”
“Vanilla bubble bath, silly, and have I ever told you how much I like vanilla ice cream cones?” She was growing bolder.
He sighed and laid back giving in to the vanilla and to whatever she had in store for him. As she moved closer, she ran her tongue over his chest and his nipples. He moaned…as she moved down, down and finally found in the bubbles what she wanted. Hungrily, she took him into the sweet warmth of her mouth.
“Sunny Dupont…oh…my…God…what has gotten into you tonight?”
She didn’t let up to answer him, but continued until he was almost to the brink. She stopped and positioned herself to straddle him, taking him inside in one swift move. “Let it go, Chase…oh…yes.”
“Sunny…Sunny…” Together they found their ecstasy and when it was over, he pulled her to him and kissed her with a passion that spoke more than words ever could.
“Baby…” Chase looked at her and grinned.
“Yes?”
“What was that all about…not complaining, mind you…just surprised.”
“My way of making it up to you for not trying out the desk this afternoon,” she replied with a smile.
“You’re something else, you know that? Who would have guessed that behind closed doors, that innocent little nanny I hired all those months ago would be such a tiger?”
“I guess, maybe, you made the right decision asking me to marry you then, huh? I’m not so sure I would have put out for you if I was just your nanny.”
“But you told me you’d wanted me from the start. You don’t think it would have eventually happened?”
“Maybe, but I doubt it…I do have some principles. After all, you were my boss and I had to live in the same house with you. I don’t know if I could have had an affair with you, as long as you were my boss, no matter how hot I thought you were.”
“Each and every day, Sunny, you make me glad I cooked up the idea of marrying you. And did you just say you thought I was hot?”
“I’m glad, and yes, Honey, you’re hot, but I’m getting out of this tub. The water is getting cold. Are you coming?”
“I already did, if you’ll remember…”
“Chase…I swear.”
“Okay, yes, I’m getting out of the tub. I’ll be right behind you.”
She grabbed a towel and ran into the bedroom shivering. She dried herself quickly and slipped into a nightgown. Jumping into the king-sized bed, she was pulling the covers up around her as he walked into the room.
“If you’re cold, I’ll warm you up. And why do you always think you have to wear one of those wretched nightgowns to bed?”
“You sound like a husband.”
“And that’s because I am a husband, in every sense of the word. Come here, wife.” He crawled in beside her and pulled her into his arms, cradling her as she fell asleep.
Chapter Twenty
When Sunny woke up to discover Chase had already left for the office. He’d left a note on her nightstand telling her to sleep as late as she wanted. He told her he would get the kids off to school and she could take the day off if she wanted to. But he’d signed it simply, Chase. He hadn’t signed it Love, Chase. Will he ever fall in love with me? I’ve done everything I can to be the perfect wife, perfect lover, perfect mother, perfect business partner…there’s nothing else I can do. I believe he’s happy with me and that he cares about me, but I so desperately want him to love me.
Deciding it would do no good to brood about it, she got out of bed and dressed. When she went downstairs, Alma was in the kitchen baking pies.
“Hello, Sunny. Chase told me not to disturb you. Are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine. I guess he just didn’t want to wake me.” She poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down at the bar.
“Well, you’ve been running yourself ragged lately. Maybe that husband of yours thought you needed a break. Can I fix you something to eat?”
“You go on with your baking. I’ll make myself some cinnamon toast.”
“Sunny, you aren’t pregnant, are you? You look really tired.”
“No, I don’t think so, Alma. We’re using birth control so I really don’t think that’s it. I must be coming down with a bug. I do feel pretty tired, that must be why Chase let me sleep. He must have thought I looked bad.”
“He would never think you look bad. Why don’t you take it easy today? You’ve really been burning the candle at both ends, you know.”
“Yes, I guess I’ve been pretty much on the run, ever since we got back from Florida. I think I will just relax today. With Thanksgiving a few days away, I need to be at my best.”
“Once you get the big dinner over with, you have the whole weekend. Aren’t you going away for the rest of the holiday?”
“Yes, we are. I don’t know where he made reservations, but we’re going to do some Christmas shopping and just relax, away from all the hustle and bustle for a few days. That’ll do us both good. All this mess with the company has taken a toll on both of us, I think.”
/> “Chase gave George and me the weekend off too, Friday through Sunday. He said with both grandmas here, we could take some time to ourselves.”
“That’s wonderful. You two certainly deserve it.”
After she’d eaten her toast, she went into the den, picked a book from the vast selection in the bookcase, and snuggled under an afghan on the sofa to read. Alma brought her a cup of coffee with her favorite creamer a little while later and after drinking the steaming hot drink, she fell asleep. That was how Chase found her when he came for a late lunch.
“I was afraid of this,” he muttered as he gently shook her awake. “Sunny, are you all right…my God, you’re burning up.”
“What…” Sunny groggily looked at him with fever-glazed eyes.
“I cleared my schedule because I was afraid you weren’t well. You were feverish and chilling all night. And when the alarm didn’t wake you this morning, I let you sleep. But you’re burning up now.”
“I just feel tired…so tired.”
He scooped her up into his arms and carried her to the stairs, telling Alma to bring aspirin and ice water on his way up the staircase. He gently laid her on the bed, covering her with just the sheet. When Alma came in, he took two aspirin from the bottle. Helping her to sit up, he put them in her mouth, and gave her a sip of the cool water. He laid her back down and asked, “Baby, does anything hurt?”
“I’m achy and tired. I just have a bug.”
“I’ll let you sleep, but if you’re still feverish in an hour, I’ll call the doctor.”
She immediately went back to sleep. Chase pulled a chair close to the bed and sat, nervously watching her.
“I’ll bring you up a sandwich, Chase. Is ham and cheese all right?” Alma asked quietly.
“Anything is fine. I’ll have a cup of tea as well.”
****
Alma brought him a tray and after he’d eaten, he sipped the tea, his eyes never leaving his wife.
An hour later, he felt her forehead. Relieved that she felt cooler, he went downstairs.
“How is she?” Alma asked.
“I think she’s all right. It seems the aspirin may have controlled the fever a little. I just knew this morning when I left, she was coming down with something.”
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