She took a step closer and wrapped her arms gently around my neck. I wrap my arms around her lower back, letting my fingers caress the warm skin underneath her shirt. Goosebumps rose on her skin as I let my fingers explore the softness of her back. Then, I kissed her for a moment and wrapped my arms around her, pulling her tightly to my chest. Not saying a word to one another, we were just enjoying having each other in our arms. We stayed like this for a moment, watching the sunset.
“I could stay like this forever,” she whispered.
“Me too,” I said, content.
“Why in the three and a half years that we’ve lived here together have we never watched the sunset?” she asked curiously.
“I guess we never took the time,” I replied with a sigh.
“Can we start making time?” she asked, laying her head on my shoulder.
I rested my cheek on the top of her head. “All we have is time.”
***
“Mmmm, this is far better than the restaurant, Lance,” Tatum said with a mouthful of pasta.
I gave her a look as I took another sip of my wine. “You’re just being modest,” I said, smiling, sliding another piece of bread onto her plate.
“It’s good, Daddy,” Madeline said as she shoves a forkful into her mouth. Hungry, they both woke up after we went inside.
I looked over at Tane to see him just going to town, not taking a second to breathe. In repetition—noodles, bread, sippy … noodles, bread, sippy.
“See?” Tatum laughed.
“Want some wine, babe?” I asked as I poured more into my crystal glass.
“Ah … no, thank you. I’m seriously full,” she said, leaning back against her chair, groaning.
“Okay,” I replied, smiling at her before digging into my dinner.
“Daddy?” Tane asked.
“Yeah?” I said, taking another bite of my pasta.
“What is Vawentine’s?” he asked, his mouth full of garlic bread.
“It’s the day that you show someone how much you love and appreciate them,” I answered, squeezing Tatum’s hand.
“Is that why you had us color?” Madeline asked, ripping her bread apart.
“Absolutely! Why don’t you kids go and get your pictures you made?” I asked them.
I watched as they hopped off the chairs and disappeared into the house.
“They made me something?” Tatum asked, ready to cry.
“Of course they did,” I replied, leaning in to kiss her cheek.
“Here, Mommy!” they yelled in unison as they ran out of the back door nudging each other with their elbows.
“Mine first, Madewine,” Tane whined.
“She wikes mine better!” she argued, knocking him with her hip.
“Now, now, I love them both,” Tatum said, smiling with her hands outstretched. “On the count of three, you both put you’re pictures in my hands and I’ll look at them both at the exact same time.”
They nod. “Otay,” I just sat back, smiling as I watched Tatum take control. I could never have asked for a better wife or mother for my children. She amazed me every single day.
“Okay, ready?” she asked as the twins nodded expectantly. “One … two … three.” Then, they quickly placed the papers in each of her hands.
“Thank you,” she said, kissing them both on the cheeks.
“You’re wewcome, Mommy,” they replied.
Tatum held the pictures out in front of her, admiring their glued on hearts, glitter and scribbles.
“These are fantastic! I love them both,” she said, smiling at Tane and Madeline.
***
After cleaning off the table out back, blowing out all of the candles and putting away all traces of the Mitchell Spa, I loaded the dishwasher while Tatum gave the kids a bath, getting them ready for bed. I insisted on cleaning everything up for her so she could relax.
“I should pay you,” Tatum said, laughing behind me. I stopped cleaning and turned around to look at her.
“What?” I ask, laughing.
“You’re seriously spoiling me tonight,” she said, bending over to pick up the sippy cup off the floor. Then, she set it in the sink and grabbed the broom and started sweeping. “Thank you, Lance.”
“You’re welcome, babe,” I said. I rinsed out the cup and placed it into the dishwasher, then turned it on. I watched as she dumped the dustpan into the trash and placed the broom back into the closet by the fridge.
“Did the oil come off easily?” I joked.
“Yup, it sure did,” she said, smiling, “although I’d have to say that it made for an awesome Slip-N-Slide for the twins in the bottom of the tub after the water drained.”
I laughed. “Seriously?”
She nodded. “Oh yes … wee!” She sang, imitating the twins as we both laugh.
“Oh, wow …” I said, composing myself. “I love you, Tatum.” I said thoughtfully.
“I love you, too,” she replied, leaning against the closet door.
“Are you ready for the rest of your Valentine’s Day?” I asked, taking her hand into mine, leading her to the bedroom.
“Is there a time when my Valentine’s Day ends so you can have yours?” she asked sweetly, halfway up the stairs.
“What … you got me something?” I asked, feigning shock, but I wasn’t really surprised. She always gets me little surprises here and there.
She laughs. “Shut up! You know I have something for you,” she said as I laugh with her.
Then, we stop at the bedroom door. “You didn’t go into our room while you were up here earlier, did you?” I asked, searching her eyes.
She shook her head and smiled. “Nope,” she laughed. “Although I was very tempted to.”
I grinned, sweeping her off her feet, then carried her into our bedroom as Tatum laughed the entire time.
I laid her onto the bed as she slowly released her hands from around the back of my neck and looked around the room. Her eyes lit up as she took in the red rose petals and candles.
“I would hate to ravish this amazing set up you have got going on here, but I have to say, Mr. Lance Mitchell, that you are looking seriously sexy,” she said, rolling her tongue across her upper lip while throwing a few red rose petals at me. I couldn’t help but laugh. She was never like this. I was blushing. “Do you think it’s funny?” she asked me seductively, leaning over to trace her finger along the rim of one of the many lit candles I had around our room. Then, she sat up straight, took off her shirt and let it fall to the floor. “Why, I do believe you’re blushin’,” she said in a thick, country accent.
I looked at her intensely. Utter pleasure coursed through my veins as I watched her. “No, I don’t find it funny.”
“I didn’t think so,” she said and stood up to takes her jeans off, then kicked them at me. She sat back down onto the bed and scooted back against the pillows gracefully. Anything this girl does is always satisfying to watch.
I watched her with my mouth hanging open, smiling at her seductively while I undid the buttons of my shirt. I let it fall to the floor exposing my chest and stomach. Her lust-filled eyes trace every inch of my tanned skin as I knelt on the bed and crawled toward her. But before I reached her, she sat up again and took off her bra. She screamed as I pounced on her, laughing hysterically. She was just too sexy for her own good.
***
I washed the oil off her back with a sponge and kissed trails across the top of her shoulders, as she leaned her head back into my chest and groaned.
“You are too good to me,” she said softly.
“I’d have to say you treat me fairly well yourself,” I replied, smiling.
“So, is my Valentine’s Day over with yet?” she asked, sitting up to look at me.
“It doesn’t have to be,” I smirk. “Nope.”
“Well, then you’re just going to have to wait,” she said, matter of fact. “I’m enjoying this way too much.” Then, she turned around and pointed to her back. “Wash,” she de
manded.
“Oh, really?” I laughed, raising an eyebrow. “You’re demanding me to wash your back?” I laughed out loud again.
“Yes,” she said sweetly. “I am.”
I kept sponging her back as I watched her head slowly tilt to the side. “What’s up?” I ask her.
“Babe, do we have strawberries?”
I placed a strawberry in her mouth and she took a bite.
“Aw, so good,” she mumbled with a mouthful of juicy strawberries. She held one up to my mouth and I ate the entire thing, green leafy top and all.
“Oh, ewe!” she said, laughing. “Gross!”
“I got a reaction out of you though, didn’t I?” I smirked. “You’re turn. Eat it.” I try to take on the demanding roll, but it didn’t turn out the way I hoped. I laughed, pressing the leafy green part to her mouth. She couldn’t help but shriek, laughing. Then, she ducked, trying to get away from the strawberry.
“It’s good, just try it!” I insisted, but she was still laughing as I pressed it to her lips again. Then, she started tickling me.
“Oh, yeah?” I asked, completely unphased by her wriggling fingers wedged into my armpit as I hover above her. “You want to be tickled then?” Without waiting for an answer I tickle her neck, ribs, inner thighs and feet.
“Please … stop,” she yelled, laughing uncontrollably.
“What’s that?” I ask as I tickled her feet.
“I can’t take it, stop!” Then, she sat up and grabbed me by my bicep. I turned to her and purposely made a funny face. She just smiled and kissed me passionately. I let my tongue taste the sweet strawberry she ate just moments before our tickling war.
“Do you think this is what Lainey meant by being teenagers again?” she asked against my lips.
“Absolutely,” I said with a smile.
***
I woke up as Tatum rolled over and laid her head upon my chest. I looked down at her and saw that she had strawberries on her face, in her hair … and it was all over our sheets. It’s all I could smell.
“Good morning, babe,” I said quietly, as the twins were still asleep.
“Mmmm, morning,” she said, smiling. “My face is sticky,” she said, giggling with her eyes still closed.
“So is your hair,” I giggle, trying to run my fingers through it.
“Ouch,” she whined, then smacked my chest lightly with her hand.
“Sorry,” I replied, smiling. I was staring at her face when it hit me. “You seriously devoured those strawberries last night.”
“I did. They were so yummy,” she said in a baby voice and snuggled up tighter against me.
The last time I saw her go to town on fruit like that was when she was pregnant with the twins. Then, it was apples and bananas.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you have one cookin’,” I said again. That was the first thing I said to her when I noticed her eating habits when she was first pregnant. I was right, too. She was nearly six weeks along.
She laughed and sat up, blinking her eyes open. “You still need your Valentine’s Day present,” she said, watching me thoughtfully.
I reached up and rubbed her cheek softly with my thumb, trying to wipe away a strawberry seed. “Oh, that’s right … well, let’s have it,” I said, sitting up, rubbing my hands together excitedly.
“I’m pregnant,” she said, smiling broadly. “Happy Valentine’s Day!”
***
Look for Impassioned also by Molly Bryant, published by Write More Publications.
Acknowledgements
A special thank you to the authors featured within this anthology,
and who came up with this idea!
Kudos, everyone!
Rebecca Boucher
Molly Bryant
Stephanie Greenhalgh
Theresa Oliver
Jennifer Paquette
Amber White,
Elaine White
J.S. Wilsoncroft
It was a pleasure to work on this project with you all!
Looking forward for more to come!
Table of Contents
Copyright
DEDICATION
The River Liffey
The Twistedly True Nightmare of Ruby Hood
My Forever Love
Be Mine
Hungry
A Heart That Cannot Beat
FAT CHANCE MY LOVE
Crazy Love
Acknowledgements
Novel Hearts Page 27