“Hey honey, how did it go?” Mary greeted me when I walked into the house. She and Belle had come over for the few hours I was gone to hang out with Caleb.
“Pretty well, it seemed to help Chase too. How was Caleb?”
Oh, perfect as usual. He and Belle are playing in his room. He’s trying to convince her to play cars and she’s trying to talk him into a tea party. It’s a wonder they play so well together.”
I laughed when I peeked into Caleb’s room. Belle had somehow gotten a dress on him, even though he didn’t look for happy about it. Even Tootsie looked to have gotten in on the action with a pink tiara sitting on top of his head.
Chase had definitely made sure Caleb was a man’s man. I had overheard him talking to Roy one time, telling him if he ever bought Caleb a pink toy, he would burn it.
“Hey buddy, how’s it going in here?”
“Mommy!” He ran towards me, stripping off the dress as he came, and wrapped me in a hug. According to Chase, he was in a much better mood now that I was around more often. I didn’t even stop to think how my actions had been affecting him.
“Hi, Leah.” Belle came over to give me a small side hug and I kissed her on the cheek. “Caleb doesn’t ever want to play what I wanna play. Do you want to have a tea party?”
“Of course, sweetie.” We spent the next couple of hours playing with every girly thing she had brought along. Eventually, Caleb lost his patience and joined Mary in the kitchen, where I’m sure she was cooking or baking something. By the time we were finished, I had a tiara, makeup that made me look like a clown, and so much tea and my cookies in my stomach, I’m sure if it was real, I would’ve exploded.
“Hey, what are you two up to?” I turned my head as soon as I heard Chase’s voice call from the doorway and smiled when I saw him. He had already stripped out of his work clothes and was leaning against the frame, with a hand above his head, in nothing but a pair of black athletic shorts. I licked my lips when I saw those tight muscles that rippled in his stomach. Was it bad that I was practically salivating like a dog over my own husband?
The tattoos that I had once thought made him look like a bad boy, sprawled up each of his arms and across his chest, stuck out prominently and I wanted to go over and trace each one with my finger. I must have been staring for a while because one of his green eyes winked at me and I let out a small giggle. He always made that sexy, not cheesy like some guys.
“Ready to go, Belley? Mom’s ready to head home for the night. You and Leah can play dress up some other day.”
“’Kay, Chase. Bye, Leah. Next time you come over, we’ll have to play in my room. I have tons more stuff than this. I don’t know if my tutus will fit you though.” She pursed her tiny lips and Chase laughed at her concentrated expression.
“Don’t worry, Belle. I’ll find one Leah’s size for next time, I’m sure she’ll love to have one of her own.” Belle kissed both of us and ran out of the room. “Maybe you can wear that and nothing else for me,” he whispered into my ear, before following Belle out of the room. I think I stood there for a full minute in shock. Glimpses of my husband were starting to break through and I couldn’t have been happier.
I finally followed Chase out to the living room and we all said goodbye to Mary and Belle. After they left, the three of us sat down for a family dinner and then curled up together on the couch to watch a movie. Caleb fell asleep halfway into the second one and Chase got up quietly, scooping him into his arms and carried him off to bed.
I must have fallen asleep too, because I woke up in the familiar set of arms that loved to carry me around. He deposited me into the center of our bed and covered me with a blanket, before dropping a kiss onto my head.
“I love you, baby,” he whispered, his warm breath doing all sorts of crazy things to my stomach. He went to stand back up, assuming I was sleeping but I yanked on his arm before he could get very far, and pulled him back on to the bed.
“Chase, please don’t leave.” He was silent as he curled up against my body, snaking his arm around my waist and I buried my head in the crook of his neck. “Why don’t you want me anymore?” I murmured against his neck. His body stiffened against me and he pulled back an inch, confirming my suspicions. I knew I had hurt him by what I did with Grant. He still loved me, and had seemed to be giving me hints here and there, but now I didn’t know if he was in love with me.
“Leah, why would you ever think that? I’ve just been trying to keep my distance, to give you time to heal.”
“Chase, I just need you. You’re all I need.”
Chapter 19
Chase