Page 41 of Fake Wife for Dr. Secret Daddy

It takes a while to get a rein on my tears, but I do, sniffling between bouts of prayer that I conducted inwardly.

“Do you think we'll see them again, Ted?” I whisper, my hand on his chest.

“Yes, we will. And we're never letting them go this time around.”

I let him lead me to the chair at the room's far end. We sit down, our weight crushing the old chair and making it release a creak.

“I care for you a lot, Winnie, and I want you to know that. It has been there since I saw you on your birthday and has never gone away.”

I take his hand in mine and stare at his gray eyes. Eyes that have undoubtedly seen a lot of women but still chose me, eyes that had gone through a lot these past few days but still saw me in the same light, never faltering, full of love and warmth.

“Thank you, Ted. I'm sorry that I let my emotions get the better of me. It's just that–”

His lips are on mine before I can complete my statement, telling me without talking that I should shut up and stop worrying, a kiss that said, “Everything is alright.”

My heart was thumping in my chest when he broke the kiss, and I came up for air because that was what his kisses did to me; it made me breathless and didn't give me time to think, as if I was drowning.

He is looking at me now, rubbing my fingers with one hand and massaging my temples with the other.

“I'm hoping Luna likes her siblings. Because sometimes, she can decide not to get along just because she doesn't feel like it.” I laugh, happy that he is sharing in my happiness, the baritone of his laughter filling the silent room.

“Of course, she will. She likes children her age, this I reckon.” He stares at me as he talks, making the hair on my body stand on its end with the thought of what lay beneath his stare.

I like it when he stares at me like this. It makes me feel he would do more than love me if given a chance, and he would do a Romeo for an unworthy Juliet like me.

“I love Luna and want to be there for her, too, if that's okay with you. I love her because she is also mine. After all, she is ours.”

I didn't know where it came from: if I had failed my children by not being in their lives early enough and so desperately wanted to make up for that by being in Luna's. I look down, unable to meet his piercing stare.

“Luna is your child, too, Winnie. She is what you want her to be; how you define her is up to you. I have no problem with you wanting to be in her life.”

Smiling, he tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear, and when he kisses me again, I am glad that my lungs are filled with air because I know I will go breathless again in seconds.

His free hand clutches my neck, and I lean into him, opening my mouth to receive the warmth of his tongue.

It is that musky scent I cherish the most. And I let it engulf me as his tongue explores the insides of my mouth, opening a new world of the wonders of French kissing.

When he breaks the kiss the second time, my insides are begging for him to do to me what he pleases, but he smiles wistfully instead, his thumb on my swollen lip.

“If we do this, we'll be a wreck in the morning.”

I laugh, knowing it is the truth but wishing it could be tweaked.

“Come here.”

He took me into his arms again as the room grew silent, save for the gentle breeze from the window.

CHAPTER 17

Ted

My heart is thumping wildly in my chest as I navigate the car towards the orphanage.

I steal a glance at Winnie, and I can tell that her insides are doing quite the damage on her from the worried look on her face. I swallow hard, my foot on the gas, muttering my apologies as I avoid hitting a man in his car.

When the Our Mother Orphanage Home sign comes into view, my mouth suddenly becomes dry, and I secretly wish this episode in my life could be forwarded.

Winnie's hand is on mine instantly, a silent place amid the storm–the devil's eye.

---