Chapter 21

21

MARIGOLD

" I planned to decorate my house for Christmas, then invite you over for a dinner. Then I thought I'd take you to get a tree for your place."

"Why didn't you ever bring me here? Were you worried it would make me think we could have a future?" I wasn't afraid to voice what I was feeling out loud anymore.

He grimaced. "Your place was more convenient. It didn't make sense for you to drive here. I promise it wasn't on purpose. But I won't lie to you; I never brought any of the women I dated here. My friends haven't spent much time here either. But that's because I'm always in town, at the ski lodge, or my parents' house. There's never a reason for anyone to visit because I'm almost never here except when I'm sleeping."

"It's such a nice place." I hadn't gotten to see the property itself yet, but it seemed like the perfect space to spend your off time.

"And I want to share it with you. That's why I wanted to show it to you."

I frowned. "I thought you couldn't have a significant other because of your job."

Chance sighed. "I didn't think I could have both, but I've talked to my parents and Eli. I want to try. I'm not saying I'm not going to screw things up or fall back into my old ways from time to time. But I want a future with you. I love you."

I sucked in a breath. I hadn't expected him to say that. "I love you too."

"You don't have to make a decision now. I'd like us to be a couple. I want the whole town to know you're mine."

"I want that too." But was it smart? Would he fall back into his old ways and regret this conversation?

"I know you're worried and you probably don't trust me, not yet, but will you give me time to prove it to you?"

"I can do that." Even though I knew my heart was already gone for him.

He got a washcloth and gently scrubbed my body. He soaped my hair and rinsed it. When I got out, he dried me, then wrapped a robe around me. I sat between his legs so he could dry my hair. I felt cherished.

His hands massaging my scalp were heavenly, and I was warm. When my hair was dry, he stood and carried me into the bedroom where he laid me down on a soft comforter. He handed me lotion.

"I'll turn on the fireplace." He moved to the hearth and turned on the gas. A fire instantly came to life, and warmth slowly filled the room. It was the perfect house. I could see us living here, expanding, and growing as a family.

My heart was swollen with hope and love, but I'd give him time to show that he meant his words. When he returned to me, he slipped off his clothes until he was only wearing black boxer briefs.

I applied the lotion, then set it aside.

He coaxed me under the covers where he held me tight. His skin was hot to the touch.

"I could get used to this," I said as I played with the hair on this chest.

"That's the idea," he murmured.

My body was warm, my heart full. I fell asleep in his arms, hope for the future alive again.

T he next morning, I woke to an empty bed. My neck and back ached. When I saw water and more pills on the nightstand, I eased myself to a sitting position and took the pills. There was a heating pad on the pillow next to me that was already plugged in.

I placed it on my pillow and turned it on. Between the pills and the heating pad, my muscles slowly loosened, and I was able to relax.

There were a few books on the nightstand, ones I'd recommended at one time or another. The one on top was dogeared and worn as if he'd read it multiple times. I hadn't read it, so I opened it to the first page.

A few minutes later, Chance appeared with a tray. "You're awake."

I set aside the book. "Thank you for the heating pad and the pills."

"Are they helping?" he asked as he placed the tray over my lap. There was an omelet filled with veggies and wheat toast slathered with butter.

I nodded as my stomach rumbled.

"You need to eat."

I dug in while he sat on the bed by my hip.

"How are you feeling?"

"Better." I was sure it had something to do with the bath last night and the heating pad this morning. Chance was taking care of me. And there was no mention of needing to go to work.

"I wanted to let you know that I'm going to delegate more at work. I don't have to be physically present at every emergency. I'm going to let my employees take more of the load, and I told Carol not to send me those updates on my phone."

"Was she okay with that?" I wondered if his employees would push back on the changes.

"She thinks I need to take more time off. She's the one who suspected I'd met someone a few weeks ago. She said I was working less and coming into work refreshed. I was happy. I just didn't realize that the change was because of you."

"That's sweet."

"But it's true. I never would have considered making any changes had you not shown me another way. I'm so grateful to you."

"What do you want?" He'd always described his future surrounding his job and responsibilities.

"I want to spend more time with you. I want us to be a couple."

I liked the idea of that.

"When you're ready, I want to build a future with you. I don't want to be married to my job. I want balance. Always."

He was saying all the right things. The question was, would he follow through?

When I was finished eating, he set the tray aside.

Oakley jumped onto the bed and curled into a ball, promptly closing his eyes.

Chance slipped into the bed, and pulled me into his arms. “Do you want to go to the performances today? Then we can get a tree tomorrow?”

"That sounds perfect."

T he next day, I felt better. After breakfast in bed and a rejuvenating shower, Chance drove me to my house to grab new clothes. Then we drove to a nearby Christmas tree farm. We hiked to the field while holding hands.

Along the way, we ran into people who knew us. Chance continued to hold my hand, referring to me as his girlfriend.

It felt great not to be a secret anymore. The town would know we were dating, and Chance didn't seem worried about what that meant for his position. I was encouraged that he was doing things differently than he had in the past.

I had to believe that our love for each other was enough.

"You already have a tree," I said as he continued to reject each one.

"This one is for you. It has to be perfect."

My heart was close to bursting. I didn't think I'd get enough of this new Chance, the one who treated me with the same care and attention in public as he did in private.

When we finally chose a tree, we went into the Christmas shop and bought decorations. I bought hot chocolate and cookies to take home. I was content to be his girlfriend.

We picked up Oakley from Chance's house and took him to mine so we could spend the afternoon decorating the tree.

As Chance put the ornament we'd bought together at the farm on the tree, I vowed to create new traditions with him. When the tree was lit, Chance insisted on making me that apology dinner, even though we were at my house instead of his.

It was lobster tails and baked potatoes. It was delicious, and I loved the thought behind it. I wasn't in as much pain, and I needed him.

After dinner, I helped him clean up. When we were done, Chance asked, "You want to watch a movie?"

"I have a better idea." I took his hand and led him to my bedroom.

"And what is that?" Chance's voice was thick with desire.

"I want you." I tried to express with my eyes how much I needed him to show me his love.

He hesitated. "Are you sure you're up for it?"

I nodded. "I'm feeling better."

"I'll be careful."

I didn't need him to be careful. I just needed him. I slowly removed my clothes as he watched, every muscle in his body pulled taut. When I was naked, he lifted me and gently placed me on the bed. He grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled it off, then shoved his jeans down.

The last day, he'd taken care of me and shown me how much he loved me. And now I needed him to show me with his body.

He cupped my cheek. "You won't regret giving me a second chance. I want to be the man you deserve."

I smiled. "You already are."

"You've always believed in me. That I could be the man you needed."

"And nothing's changed."

"I promise I'll always be here for you. I'll never make you feel second place to my job ever again."

"Your work is important."

"You come first. Always."

That sentiment warmed my heart better than anything else could. He wasn't keeping me a secret anymore. And he'd made a new vow to put me first going forward. It wouldn't always be possible, but it was his intention that mattered.

I touched his jaw. "I love you, Chance."

"I love you, and I'm going to show you how much." Then he lowered his mouth to mine. I let him overwhelm me with his touch, his lips, his kisses. When he moved down my body, I was more than ready for him.

He was more determined than ever to make me feel good. To cherish me. My heart was close to overflowing. It was almost too much.

I'd never been the center of anyone's life, but I knew I would be with Chance.

When the orgasm hit, he eased me through it, then moved up my body. "I want to show you every day how much I love you."

I held him close to me. "I want that too."

His cock nudged my entrance, and he slipped inside me as if we were one. "I want to love you every day of your life."

I couldn't stop the whimper from escaping. This was so much more intense now that we were honest about our feelings. "I think I'm going to let you."

He growled, sinking inside me all the way. "You always feel so good."

"You do too."

He kissed me as he moved leisurely inside me, like we had all the time in the world. Because we did. We had the rest of our lives to show each other our love. It would be like one never-ending dream.