Fidelity (Infidelity #5)

Down I moved to his sensual lips and chiseled chin. It was resting atop my head, covered with just the right amount of stubble. We fit together perfectly. Nearly four years married and I doubted I’d ever tire of the way he held me or looked at me. Even from across the room, he made me feel as if no one else mattered, no one else existed.

Through all we’d experienced, his love and concern never wavered nor had his desire—make that our desire. In his arms, I was alive. With only his eyes he could set my skin ablaze. With his touch he could accelerate my heartbeat or calm a wild sea inside me.

The first time we’d created life while death had been all around us. This time, the life inside me was a planned joy, an anticipated addition to our family. Nox’s hard limit was gone.

“I was thinking,” I said, “about something Silvia told me a long time ago.”

I spun in his arms, craning my neck upward and relishing his light-blue gaze. Even surrounded by family and friends, Nox had a way of cutting through all the noise to see me, deep inside me.

“If it’s making you sad, stop.”

Despite the moisture in my eyes, my lips turned upward. “It doesn’t make me sad, not really.”

“You, Mrs. Demetri, have never been good at lying.”

“I’m not lying. I’m not sad. I’m reminiscing. The first time I was ever here in our house, Silvia told me about your mom. She said how much she’d loved this house and how she’d always wanted it filled with family.”

Together we turned toward the Christmas tree, aglow with colorful lights. From our position we could see the back of Oren’s and my mother’s heads as they sat together on the sofa. Silvia, Cy, Pat, Uncle Preston, and Aunt Gwen were also near, some refilling their plates with more of the amazing food that I’d help Silvia prepare. The chatter was light and festive as Christmas music played in the background.

I’d not neared Silvia’s level of culinary genius; however, frozen meatballs were no longer in my repertoire. With hers and the help of many patient Costello ladies, I’d made enough strides to keep my husband from starving—well, when Silvia wasn’t around.

Nox nodded. “It feels good having them all here. I think she’d be happy.”

I turned back toward the window. “I’m glad it feels good, because if the snow keeps falling as the weather people promise, we may all be together for more than tonight and tomorrow.”

“Luckily we have some extra rooms, plus the guest house, and Silvia will keep everyone well fed.”

“Mommy!” Angi squealed as she ran ahead of Jane. “Will Santa still come?”

Nox squatted to the floor, capturing our daughter only seconds before she tackled me—and her baby brother in the process. “Whoa, slow down, princess. Have you been good?”

Her lips thinned as she gazed up at her daddy, peering her big light-blue eyes through long lashes. “Mostly.”

“Mostly?” he asked, tickling her sides.

“Daddy, stop!”

The entire room quieted as Angelina became the center of attention.

“If you’ve been mostly good,” Nox asked, “why are you worried about Santa?”

She pointed out the large windows. “Because the man on TV said the snow is coming. He said lots and lots. He said no driving. What about Santa?”

“Child,” Jane said, “I told you, Santa flies a sleigh. Snow’s a Christmas miracle.”

I leaned closer. “Jane’s right.” I glanced at her smiling brown eyes, winked, and looked back to my daughter. “She always is. Santa’s sleigh flies better in snow.”

Angi tilted her little head. “But when you were little, you lived at Grandma and Grandpa’s big house. It doesn’t snow there. Did you still get Christmas miracles?”

“Baby, you’re my miracle.”

She reached out and laid her small hand on my tummy. “And my baby brother, too?”

“That’s right.”

“So Santa will still come?”

“Now how old are you?” Nox asked.

“You know how old I am! I’m three and a half!”

“Has Santa ever not come?” he asked again.

“No.”

“There is one thing you have to do,” I said.

“What?”

“You must go to sleep.”

“It’s the rule,” Nox added with a wink.

“No,” she declared with all her daddy’s finality. “Grandpa said I could stay up with him and watch for Rudolph. Santa needs his nose in the snow.”

Nox’s shoulders straightened. “Grandpa said that, did he?”

“Yep.” Auburn curls bounced as Angi’s little head bobbed.

When she was first born, her hair was copper, just as Dr. Beck had described mine. But with time it’s grown darker. I wouldn’t be surprised if one day it was as dark as her daddy’s. I still have my hopes set for some red highlights.

“Angi,” Oren called. “You weren’t supposed to tell. That was our secret.”

Her little eyes opened wider as she covered her mouth. “Oh, Grandpa, I forgot!” She took off toward him and my mother. “Can we still stay up? Please? I won’t tell…”

I shook my head as she landed directly between our parents.

“He never told me I could stay up for Rudolph,” Nox muttered.