“I know. And I told them that.”
“You did?” he asked.
“Yep. And don’t bother with cleaning all of it up. The kids are helping me tomorrow. This will be a good lesson,” I said.
“Good. That means I might be able to get some sleep tonight.”
“Do you need something?” I asked.
“I actually want to apologize for our date being interrupted. I hope you’re not upset with me.”
“Not for the interrupted date.”
“But for other things.”
“I already spoke my piece in the cab,” I said.
“Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?” he asked.
“I’m not upset with you, Kevin. But I am upset with the circumstances. You can’t lead me to believe you don’t see your hand in all of this. I understand the interrupted date. Your children need you and I would never take that away from them. From anyone. Ever. But they had a right to be angry with you. And so did I, all those years ago.”
“Yes, you did.”
“And just bec—wait, what?”
“You did have a reason to be upset with me. And you still do.”
“I do? I mean—yes. I do. I’m not their mother, and I can’t replace her. Or you. If you promised them a vacation—”
“They’ll get it. I promise.”
“You have to make sure you follow through on that,” I said.
Kevin took a step toward me as the backs of my legs hit the bed.
“I know,” he said.
“And you don’t owe me a promise. You owe them,” I said.
His body was flush with mine as I sat down.
“I know,” he said.
“They love you so much,” I said breathlessly.
I felt his finger under my chin, pulling my gaze to his.
“I know,” he said.
“I—loved you so much,” I said, with a whisper.
His lips slowly bent toward mine, the pulsing of his breath heating my skin.
“I know,” he said.
I wanted to fight this desire between us. I wanted to stay upset with him. I wanted to stay in control and kick him out, then write until the tension from my body released me to a stress-free slumber. But when he pressed his lips to mine I could feel myself melting, caving when I needed to stand strong.
My hands fisted his suit and I pulled him down on top of me. My back hit the mattress as his tongue slid along my lips. I parted myself for him: my jaw and my legs. Letting him in from all angles as his hands pulled my robe open. He palmed my breasts and teased my nipples to aching peaks. I slid his suit coat off his shoulders and ran my toes up his back, feeling his thick groin pressing into my thigh.