It was impossible to refuse either of them anything but falling deeper in love with Raoul was starting to take a toll on her. Still, worrying about it wasn’t going to solve anything. She just had to do what she did every day, and every night, and hope that the strength of her love could mend what was broken at Raoul’s core.
She dragged a warmed towel from the rail and laid it on the floor before lifting a wriggling and squealing toddler from the bathwater. Now that Ruby was more confident walking, it was getting to be more and more of a challenge to keep her immobilized long enough to do simple things like dry her off and dress her. Since the baby had found her feet she’d been on the go all day every day. Of course, without the perception to realize what was risky and what wasn’t, there’d been a few accidents—like the one at the coffee table in the main sitting room last week—which had left a small bruise on Ruby’s ivory forehead.
Raoul had immediately removed the table and Alexis had been surprised when a local furniture maker had delivered a rounded edge oval one in its stead. Even though Raoul tried not to care, it was obvious that he did, in spite of himself.
She patted Ruby dry, blowing raspberries on her tummy to make her giggle as she did so. As she righted herself, though, Alexis was assailed by a wave of dizziness. She put out a hand onto the edge of the bath to anchor herself. Ruby, not wasting a moment, rolled over and onto her knees, then gained her feet and headed straight for the door to the hallway as fast as she could go.
“Oh, no you don’t, young lady!” Alexis called after the rapidly departing naked figure.
She shot to her feet, only to be hit by another dizzying wave. Black spots swam before her eyes and a roaring sound filled her ears. From what seemed like a great distance away, she heard Ruby’s high-pitched squeal of delight. She forced herself to take a step, and then another. Her vision thankfully began to clear.
“I’m coming to get you,” she called as she exited the bathroom just in time to see Raoul sweep the naked wriggling baby into his arms.
“Got a runaway, I see,” he said, walking toward her and handing Ruby to her as soon as she was within distance.
“I just about need to tether her these days,” Alexis said with a smile.
Raoul did a bit of a double take, looking at her more intently than a minute before.
“Are you okay?”
“I think I got up a little too quickly before. It left me a little dizzy but I’m fine now,” she said, brushing off his concern.
“You look quite pale, are you sure you’re all right?”
She nodded, and it was true. She was feeling fine now compared to earlier.
“Of course, I’m great. Really.”
But there was a niggle there in the back of her mind, one she didn’t want to consider right now if she could avoid it.
* * *
Later, after she’d settled Ruby for the night and had picked up the trail of toys that she had left through the house, she was surprised when Raoul sought her out. Usually he kept working in his study up until he was ready to retire for the night, often reading more about wine-making and blending techniques. He rarely joined her in the family room to watch television. But when they went to bed, it was a different story.
Usually, he came to find her wherever she was in the house and then took her by the hand back to his room. She cast a quick glance at the mantel clock above the family room fireplace. It was early, even for him.
“I’ve been thinking. It might be best if you sleep in your own room tonight,” he said.
“Oh? Why?” Sick of me already? She clamped the words firmly behind her lips, not wanting them to possibly be heard in case they might be true.
“You need a decent night’s rest and let’s face it, I haven’t exactly been letting you have one the past couple of weeks, have I?”
Disappointment crowded into her chest.
“It’s okay. You haven’t heard me complaining, have you?”
He gave her a crooked smile. One that made her heart lurch in that crazy way he always managed.
“No, I can’t say I have but I’m worried about you. Get a good night, tonight, hmm? Situation normal again from tomorrow if you’re feeling better.”
He leaned forward and kissed her. Initially, his lips were soft and undemanding but it was only a matter of seconds before their kiss deepened, before his mouth slanted across hers so he could kiss her more thoroughly. Heat snaked along her veins, priming her body in readiness for what usually came next. She looped her arms around his neck and gave back with everything she had in her.