Chapter 17

Checking the rearview mirror as she pulled around and parked in front of the garage confirmed her suspicion. Lily was dead asleep in her car seat. Stephanie smiled and eased herself out of the car. She was ready for an eight-hour nap herself. Disneyland wasn’t for wimps. She unbuckled Lily and lifted her from the seat, leaving the bags with their souvenirs for later. She made it to the door before the tired toddler lifted her head from mama’s shoulder. “Daddy?!”

“He’ll be home soon. He had to drop Ava and Shea off.” Stephanie rubbed her hand lightly, soothingly up and down her daughter’s back.

“’kay” Lily dropped her head back down on her mother’s shoulder.

They made it up the stairs and into Lily’s room before she stirred again. “Bed, mama.”

“Yes, my baby doll. It’s time for bed.” Stephanie gently took the sparkly band of purple mickey ears from her little head and stripped off the dress. “Let’s go potty first.” She took Lily into the bathroom and let her do her thing. While she was practically asleep sitting on the commode, Stephanie dampened a washcloth with warm water and ran it over Lily’s face and hands. “Good enough for now” she murmured as she lifted her exhausted little girl and carried her back to the bedroom. Tugging her nightgown on Stephanie tucked Lily into bed. “Sweet dreams, baby doll” she whispered with a kiss to her cheek. Leaving a nightlight on Stephanie closed the door and headed down to her own room.

Stripping out of her own clothes she unwound her braid and stepped into the shower. The hot water felt like glory on her tired, sweat-sticky body. Shampoo and soap left her feeling refreshed instead of ready to drop like a stone. After drying off she slicked on some lotion and pulled on a pair of cotton pants and a tank. Maybe she’d go down, pour a glass of wine, decompress from the day and figure out what was going on with Richie. She was finger combing her hair when she stepped from the bathroom and stopped.

Richie had made it home and was waiting for her on the balcony off their bedroom. There were candles lit and scattered around the bedroom and out on the balcony. He was reading her mind again. He had a glass of wine waiting for her on the new table. There was also a small box resting next to the glass. Pushing her hair over her shoulder, she crossed the room and stepped out to join him.

She picked up the wineglass by the delicate stem and sipped what she knew would be her favorite Riesling as she traced the embossed “Pandora” on the small box. As always, the wine was cool and crisp on her tongue. She knew what he was up to, but she played along. “What’s all this for?”

Richie’s lips curved into a knowing smirk, “it’s the ‘I’ve-been-acting-like-a-complete-ass-and-have-a-lot-to-make-up-for’ special.”

Caught in a triangle of candlelight, moonlight and shadows, it was hard to make out his expression, but there was no mistaking the amusement in his tone. She couldn’t help but smile. “Well, it’s a start.”

He reached out, his fingers stilling hers on the box and tugging her gently toward him. “How much more than ‘I’m sorry’ will it take to get me out of the doghouse?”

She took another sip of wine and set the glass on the little table in the corner near him. He had come to Disney after all and had given Lily, at least, his time and attention. That was all she had wanted. She didn’t care that his attention wasn’t centered on her, she wanted him to be there for his girls. He hadn’t given Ava as much, but he’d managed there too. All in all the day had ended up miles away from where it had started and the girls were happy. And, here and now, that was all that really mattered.

“You already said you were sorry.” She settled down into the chaise lounge that was next to the table, stretched out her legs, “and I told you I wasn’t mad anymore.”

He picked up the small box before moving to sit on the end of the chair. Putting the box in her hands, he lifted her feet onto his lap. “I know, Sweetheart, but I feel like we’re still at odds over what happened this morning.” He rubbed his fingers up and down her arch, digging in just enough to soothe and massage away the hours and miles she had walked.

Setting the box on the table with her glass, she closed her eyes and sighed. The man knew how to give a damn good foot rub. “You don’t play fair.”

“I just want you happy with me again.” He slid his fingers higher, caressed her ankle, her calf, “I don’t like having you mad at me.”

Her sigh turned to a moan when her pant leg slipped higher and his fingers found the sensitive spot at the back of her knee. “Not mad, irritated mostly.” And even the irritated was waning with every stroke of those very talented fingers.

He started on the other leg, “open your present” he continued the light caress on her calf. “I don’t like you irritated either.” But he had earned the irritation through no one’s fault but his own so he would do whatever it took to fix it.

Forgetting the box she closed her eyes. “Oh God.” She was going to be one big puddle of goo on the chair if he didn’t stop. “Rich, I’m never going to be able to walk back into the bedroom if you keep that up.”

He skimmed his fingers lightly down her leg and, with a little rearranging, moved up the chair to curl behind her, “who said anything about going inside, yet?”

She purred contentedly at the warmth that surrounded her as he settled closer to her. It had been a while since they’d had any intimate contact. She missed feeling close to him. She nestled more fully against him and his purr in her ear echoed her own.

His hand found its way up inside the tank she wore and long fingers lightly stroked the heavy under curve of her breast and up, to just barely tease the hardened tip. His breath was warm at her ear. “I’ve missed you, darlin’.” He carried the bulk of the blame for the distance between them and he was determined to put things to right with her.

With him wrapped around her, she could do little but press her bottom back against him even as she pushed her breast harder into his touch. “Missed you too.”

His hand slid down, pausing to lie flat against her stomach before slipping below the waist of her pants. “Hussy” he whispered finding nothing between her and the soft cotton. Her warmth drew him, a moth to the flame. His fingers brushed over her, urging her leg up and between his. He teased her with light, barely there strokes that had her hips undulating restlessly against him.

She pressed back against him, caught between the arm that was banded across her front and the hard, warm wall of him behind her, it was all she could do. She couldn’t ease the ache…if he would just…”god Rich, please” she begged, uncertain exactly what she was looking for but she needed something more, just a little bit more.

He shifted behind her, sliding his fingers deeper as he nipped along her shoulder and up her neck, his tongue both soothing and inciting. “Just let go, darlin’.” He bit down harder on her shoulder, rubbing away the sting with his tongue and she cried out as her whole body strained with release.

Limp with release and a long day’s exhaustion the only thing keeping her from rolling off the chair were Richie’s arms. His warmth radiated through her and had her curling as close as she could get without being inside his clothes with him. She purred her contentment and reached for him only to have her hand stilled. Prying her eyes open she raised her head slighty, “what about…?” She let the thought trail.

“That was just for you, Sweetheart.” He reached out a hand and snagged the box off the table. “Open your present.”

She shook her head to clear the post-orgasmic fog, “but you didn’t…”

He pressed a fingertip to her lips, “this isn’t about me.” His finger slid from her lips to under her chin and the slightest pressure had her lips in line with his. “Open your present, please.”

She kissed him lightly, “since you asked so nicely…” she picked up the box and unfolded the end and pulled out the tissue paper. The charm dropped into her hand and in the low light she could just make out the heart-shaped charm. Mickey and Minnie were silhouetted in the silver heart, nose to nose. She turned it over, the back was engraved with the words “Believe in Magic.”

Cradling the charm in one hand, she raised her eyes to his and cupped his cheek, “I believe every day, Rich. Ever since we met and you decided I was the one for you, I’ve believed.”

“Just don’t stop believing, Sweetheart. I know I screwed up, but just don’t give up on me, on us.”

“Never, but you need to use your head for more than just growing hair.”

He chuckled and held her close, “I get more than a little focused and tend to shut everything else out in that moment, but I’ll try, Sweetheart. I’ll try.”

Stephanie laid her head against his chest and started to drift. “I’ll miss you while you’re gone.” The tour was starting back up and he was leaving. Tomorrow.

He pressed his lips to her forehead, feeling her breathing start to even out. He closed his eyes. “I’m not going anywhere.”