well. My head was finally above water, my feet were on steady ground, and that was when Liam decided to pop back up.
I hated Liam.
Hated. Him.
He’d texted me once last week, and I’d just rolled my eyes.
Liam: Hey, Kit! Long time, no talk, eh? We need to catch up as soon as you have a minute. I want to know how the baby is, and how you are. We have a lot to discuss.
We had nothing to discuss. Not over text, when he was on another continent with no intention of coming back or stepping up. He didn’t get to jump in whenever he liked without any concern for the waves he made.
This week’s was harder to ignore.
Liam: Hey, Kit. I get you’re angry, but you can’t keep my baby from me. I want to meet her. I’m emailing you tickets to fly to Sydney. We’ll talk about how we’re going to do this co-parenting thing in person.
I didn’t know how to reply to him, so I didn’t. This wasn’t me burying my head in the sand like I had about the house. Adequate words would not come to me. What could I even say to this man after he’d abandoned me and Joey?
I had a feeling if he pressed me for a call now, what I had to say would involve many curse words and copious amounts of yelling. One thing was certain: I wouldn’t be using that airplane ticket.
Elliot walked up behind me, so I laid my phone down on the counter beside the sink and watched him in the mirror.
“That’s quite a frown you have,” he remarked, his hands landing on my shoulders. “What’s going on in here?”
I was in the bathroom, touching up my lipstick for a night out with Elliot. Raymond and Davida were in the living room with Joey. Raymond to babysit, and Davida to nose about Elliot’s house.
This would be our last night together for a week. Elliot was leaving in the morning for Dubai, taking Daniel with him as his assistant. I didn’t want him to go, and he hadn’t hidden his reluctance to leave, but his responsibilities were far spread, and he couldn’t put them off forever.
Besides, I had plans that would fill my time during his absence. Work on the house had begun. Raymond’s cousin wasn’t the fastest worker, but he was methodical and came cheap, so I was a fan. While Elliot was away, I’d be spending half the day in the office and the other half at the house, doing some of the work myself. It was all coming together, thanks to Miles’s detailed plan. If not for him, I would have still been wandering around the home improvement store.
Elliot knew about this. He grumbled when I wouldn’t allow him to take over, but he had grudgingly accepted I needed to do it on my own.
I handed him my phone. “Liam.”
He glanced at the text, his expression unreadable. “Is this the first time he’s contacted you?”
“Basically.”
His hand clenched around my shoulders. “Basically or yes?”
I sighed, my mood plummeting. I’d been hoping to ignore this so I could enjoy my last night with Elliot.
“He texted last week, asking to catch up.”
“You didn’t tell me.”
“It barely registered.”
He put my phone back on the counter and met my gaze in our reflection. “You didn’t tell me about the one he just sent either. I had to ask.”
I took his hand from my shoulder and kissed his first knuckle. “He just sent it. I was trying to battle back my annoyance so I could wrap my head around it.”
“You would have told me?”
I nodded. “Yes, I would have. I just needed a minute to process.”
His hand slid from my shoulder to cup my throat, drawing my back against his chest. “And now? Did I interrupt?”
As always, I melted into him, the knots in my stomach unfurling and tension in my muscles easing. Elliot was so damn good at relaxing me.
“You came right on time.”
He tapped my throat twice. “What do you think about his request?”
“I’m not going to Australia.”
“Damn right you’re not.” His palm flattened on my chest. “If he really wants to see Joey, he’ll get on a plane himself.”
I smiled at him. This wasn’t a time for smiles, but I couldn’t help it. He’d started calling her Joey more often than Josephine or Jo. I didn’t know why he’d made the switch, but there weren’t many sweeter sounds than my daughter’s nickname coming from Elliot’s lips.
“I don’t want to think about him anymore. I’ll come up with a reply tomorrow.” I spun around to face him, and Elliot wasted no time backing me onto the counter. Reaching around, he slid his hand over my ass, watching himself touch me in the mirror.
“Don’t promise him anything. If he makes demands, we’ll take it to a lawyer.” He wrapped his arms around me, holding me against his chest, and buried his nose in my hair. “He’s not going to walk all over you again.”
My throat squeezed at the words that went unsaid. “I’m here now. I’m standing by you. I’ll make sure no one mistreats you.” Maybe I shouldn’t have relied on Elliot so much, but it was a relief to know I could.
I woke in Elliot’s arms. He had one leg thrown over mine, locking me against him, and his fingers were stroking my hair.
Seeing him watching me in the dim, early morning light, I smiled, my lids still heavy with sleep. “I don’t remember falling asleep like this.”
“You rolled into my arms as soon as your eyes closed.”
Despite Liam’s message hanging over our heads, we’d had a wonderful night out, just the two of us. Outside of work lunches, we’d never gone on a date. Kind of crazy, considering we were basically cohabiting, even temporarily.
We ate good food, had delicious drinks, laughed, flirted, then came home at ten p.m. exhausted—with absolutely no shame about it.
“Hmmm.” I kissed his bare chest and sighed. “That sounds like something I would do.”
“I would have pulled you onto me if you hadn’t.”
I laughed softly. “That sounds like something you would do.”
Since the first night he’d shared my bed, he hadn’t left it. With Joey-Girl in her bassinet on the other side of the fireplace and Elliot wrapped around me, I’d never slept better in my life.
“I’m going to have to snuggle a pillow when you’re gone,” I whispered.
He groaned, his forehead crinkling. “I’m going to have to snuggle with Daniel. Who’s got it worse?”
I snorted. “Poor Daniel. He doesn’t know what he’s in for.”
He pushed up on his elbow, looking me over. “You’re going to be okay when I’m gone.”
Not a question, but I nodded anyway. “It’s only a week. We’ll be fine.”
“You and Joey will. I’m not sure about me.” He teased my lips with his fingertip. “You’ve gotten me used to waking up to sunshine.”
“There’s sunshine in Dubai. Plenty of it.”
“Not the kind I crave.” Dipping down, he pressed a lingering kiss to my lips, and my chest ached. This man could be devastatingly sweet. If he kept it up, I was going to fall stupidly in love with him.
Joey cooed, telling us she was awake in her own cute way. Elliot kissed me again, then disentangled himself to get her. I lay there listening, the ache intensifying as he spoke to her.
“Good morning, little girl. How did you sleep?” Velcro ripped as he opened her swaddle. “Big stretch, Josephine. That means it’s going to be an incredible day.” He picked her up from her bassinet and carried her to the changing pad on the dresser. “I’m sorry to tell you, I’m leaving for a while. Lucky you, you get to hang out with your mommy while I’m on the other side of the world with a guy who shakes like a leaf when I speak to him.”
Joey kicked her legs while he changed her diaper, making gurgling sounds as she watched him.
“I need you to promise me not to change too much while I’m gone, baby girl. If you’re going to have a cool milestone soon, how about waiting until I’m home? That would be very much appreciated.”
All clean and in fresh pajamas, Elliot swooped Joey up, kissing her cheek and forehead. Closing his eyes, he just…held her. She tucked herself under his chin, and he rubbed slow circles on her back, whispering something to her I couldn’t hear.
That was okay. They could have their secrets. After all, I’d been the one to tell him she was the best kind of confidant.
Eventually, he brought her to me, and the three of us huddled together on the bed while I fed her. Elliot stroked her cheek, and she looked up at him with complete trust.
“I have to get going,” he said.
“I know.” I leaned into him, kissing his jaw. “Get dressed. We’ll see you off.”
He hesitated, looking from Joey to me. “I’ve never had a problem traveling.” With a grunt of disgust, he climbed to his feet and stalked out of the room to get ready for his flight.
He wasn’t happy about leaving, and I understood.
At least I could be certain he’d hurry back to me as quickly as he could.
I reread Elliot’s latest email while standing in line at my favorite café. I was here for coffee but had my eye on a donut too. Sweets were necessary to push through my gloomy mood. Elliot had been gone five days and just informed me he needed to extend his trip by a week. I’d already been missing him, and now I had to blink back tears.
Silly me.
Joey and I were having a good time together, and Freddie was a massive help, but I missed Elliot far more than I’d even expected. And I might have been imagining it, but I swore Joey was disappointed every morning when it was my face appearing above her bassinet and not Elliot’s.
He’d been texting me regularly and sending me a good morning email every day, which I printed and added with the others.
From:[email protected]
Catherine,
Daniel’s shaking has mysteriously diminished lately. Could it be the desert air? Or is he no longer afraid of me? If it’s the latter, it has to be due to him walking in on me telling Joey good night. No one can be afraid of a man who tells a baby she’s a good girl for making a big burp.
But it was an extraordinarily good burp. Our girl is advanced for her age.
I hope you’re sleeping, sweetheart. Take care of you for me so you’re in one piece when I get back.
Yours,
Elliot
P.S. Everything extraordinary about Josephine came from you.
Every word made me smile. I tapped out a quick text, though he was probably at dinner with his associates. That was how he spent his evenings when out of town.
Me: Are you implying Joey got her extraordinary burps from me? If you are, I protest. I’m a lady. I have never burped once in my life.
To my surprise, he replied by the time I had ordered my coffee and glazed donut.
Elliot: I would never accuse you of anything like that, sweetheart. Where are you?
I texted him a picture of my coffee cup and pastry. He replied immediately.
Elliot: Do you know how disappointing it is to receive a picture and you’re not in it? Try again. I’m jonesing for your big brown eyes, Catherine.
My stomach flipped. It was amazing he could give me butterflies from the other side of the world, and he had managed to do it every day he’d been gone.
I found a table and snapped a picture of me biting into my donut and sent it to him.
Elliot: Did you hear my groan all the way over there? I’m supposed to be heading to dinner, but if I walk out of my hotel room now, I’ll cause an international incident.
Me: Are you…hard?
Elliot: Jesus, now I’m going to have to take care of myself before I leave.
Me: If you call me when you get back from dinner, I’ll be on my lunch break. I can watch you.
Elliot: 0823hiv23;,piugrviuqebiuew3ebgu’; You’re killing me. I wish you were here right now.
Me: I miss you too, you know.
Elliot: I’m sorry I had to extend my trip. I want to be coming home to you two, but some things can’t be helped.
Me: I understand, but I still miss you. Call me when you have the chance so I can hear your voice.
Elliot: I will. xx
With a sigh, I stashed my phone in my purse and pushed back from the table. With Elliot out of town, I didn’t have to be in the office quite as early as usual, but it was time to get my butt behind my desk, or Raymond and Davida would side-eye me.
When I turned around to head for the exit, I almost ran into another woman. She jumped back, laughing.
“I’m so sorry, I wasn’t paying atten—” She stopped, and we recognized each other at the same time. “Catherine! How are you?”
“I’m great. I was on my way into the office.”
Ann worked in human resources at LD. I didn’t know her well, but often saw her around the building in passing.
“Wonderful. I am too.” She held up her cup. “Just needed my morning dose.”
I raised my iced coffee. “Same.”
Laughing, she held the door and fell into step beside me. “I’ve been meaning to come talk to you in person about the terrible mix-up with your salary.”
I waved her off. “It’s my fault for not pointing out the error sooner.”
She shook her head. “No, no. It isn’t your fault. Things got lost in the shuffle.” She leaned into me, lowering her voice. “In the strictest confidence, it’s all Elliot’s fault. He really mucked things up by skipping normal procedure and procuring his own candidate for a job we hadn’t even advertised. Then he went and hired you on his own.”
I blinked at her, unsure what she meant. “I don’t understand. I saw the listing for the job. It’s how I applied.”
She patted my shoulder like I was a poor little lamb. “No, that was for an assistant position in marketing. Normally, our executive positions come from a different pool of candidates with much greater qualifications.” Her eyes narrowed on me. “Elliot never did tell me how he found you.”
I offered her a shining smile while revealing nothing. “I guess I got lucky.”
I got lucky again when we were separated by a rush of employees heading into the lobby, so she couldn’t press me for answers I wasn’t going to give her. It wasn’t like I had them, anyway. This was the first I was hearing of this.
Very strange.
I guessed Elliot and I would have a lot to talk about when he came home.
