Page 58 of For Now

“Definitely. Thanks, D,” shesaid.

We hung up and I ran into the nursery to fill Samuel in. This was even sooner than expected which meant we really needed to kick it into gear. This room had to be done by tomorrow and Samuelagreed.

We ate some lunch and got back to it. We worked into the evening, pretty much skipping dinner, and checked our progress. The crib was assembled and in place. I had started to put the clothes away into the dresser and the bedding was in the dryer now. We put the mattress in the crib, assembled the swing and bassinet, and hung some of the pictures on the walls. We had made a lot of progress. When David came for the bag, we got the car seat installed. The only things left to do were to put the bedding on the crib and assemble Emma’sglider.

“I think we should take a break. Maybe even just get up early in the morning and finish?” Samuelsuggested.

“Yeah, you’re right. Besides, I’m starved,” Isaid.

“I’ll order a pizza. Sound good?” heasked.

“Sure. I’m going to take a quick shower. I need to rinse the sweat off me,” I said. I looked at Samuel who was visibly affected by this comment. “What?” Isaid.

“Nothing. Nothing. I’m just…I’m a guy,” he said, smiling as if that explainedeverything.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Iasked.

“Nothing. Seriously, nothing. I’m being a bonehead,” he said, shaking hishead.

Men could certainly be very difficult. “Seriously, tell me,” Iurged.

“Seriously?” hesaid.

I nodded and crossed my arms, waiting for a more reasonableexplanation.

“Let’s just say the fortune cookies aren’t the only thing I remember, Delilah,” he said, looking me up anddown.

I felt heat in my cheeks.Oh, god.I cleared my throat. “Oh,” I said, suddenly regretting my persistence. I could feel his eyes on me. My heart had begun to thud against my ribs. A grin swept across myface.

“I shouldn’t have said anything. I’m sorry,” he said, chuckling to lighten the sudden thickness in the space betweenus.

I stepped down the hallway toward the bathroom before turning. “Hey, Samuel?” I called back tohim.

He popped his head out from inside the nursery. “Yeah?” heasked.

“I remember, too,” I said. I turned back toward the bathroom before he could respond. I left the bathroom door cracked to let some light in and undressed. I stepped into the shower and instantly melted. The steam rolled off my skin as I wiped my face with my hands. I started to lather shampoo in and let my thoughtsgo.

Seeing Samuel here wasn’t expected. But it hadn’t been bad. It was really nice, actually. Samuel was so comfortable.Had I forgiven him?I had almost forgotten how completely gorgeous he was. It was unfair. And he did something to me. He made me hot. White hot. It was hard to resist that smile and even harder to resist those black eyes hehad.

A rustling from the other side of the shower curtain pulled me from my daydreaming. I looked at the curtain, waiting for more. Samuel pulled back the curtain part way and gazed at me. To my surprise, I didn’t try to cover up. I wasn’t even startled. I just stared right back at him, tempting him, tempting myself. After a few silent moments, hespoke.

“Do you mind if I join you?” heasked.

I nodded in return and watched as he slowly pulled his t-shirt over his head in one fluid motion. He was magnificent. My breath hitched in my chest as I watched him slowly unbutton his pants and push them down to the floor. He stepped out of them and into the shower. He didn’t touch me. He just stood there looking at me for the longest time. It was a pure moment. It was heat, but it was intimacy,too.

“Delilah, I just have to say something before…” He was interrupted by my cell phone ringing on the bathroomsink.

I stood here for a moment ignoring it. But then it hit me.Emma!I tore open the shower curtain and saw her name on the front screen. I reached for my towel and phone.“Emma! What’s going on? Is everything okay?” Iasked.

“The baby is coming!” shesaid.

“I’m on my way!” I exclaimed and hung up with her. I looked back at Samuel who was already climbing out and getting his clothes backon.

“I’ll drive,” hesaid.

Of all the moments to be ruined. Of all the times for a baby to be born, it had to be now.Whynow?!

We drove to the hospital in silence making our way to Emma as fast as we could. I desperately wanted to know what he was about to say back there but it would have to wait. She needed menow.

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