Page 61 of Anything For This Love

Jacob’s next weekend to visit falls on Valentine’s Day and just before Chloe’s birthday. He shows up with two bouquets of flowers, a large one for me that completely shields his face when I open the door to find him standing on my front porch, and a smaller one for Chloe that has a big chocolate heart sticking out of the middle.

“Hey, where’smychocolate?” I ask with a pout, and he produces a heart shaped box from behind his back.

“Hope none of them are melted. I had to tuck them in the back of my pants since my hands were full.” He smirks and I roll my eyes.

“They better not be,” I warn playfully. Filling a vase with water, I put my flowers in it and tear open my candy. I pop a piece into my mouth and chew, enjoying the rich, sweet chocolate and salted caramel.

“Where’smypresent?” he asks.

I look down my body, spreading my arms wide to indicate that Iamhispresent.

“Exactly what I wanted.” He grins and wraps his arms around my middle, kissing me heatedly. I leave a smear of chocolate on his lips when he pulls away. Leaning up on my toes, I lick it off and he hisses. “Careful with that tongue,” he growls, grinning wickedly. “I have plans for it later.”

“I wouldn’t mind another great grandchild,” my grandmother announces, entering the kitchen to catch Jacob squeezing my ass and shoving his tongue down my throat. My face flames with embarrassment as I push him away. “But I don’t think you two are ready for that,” she adds with a warning.

“Sorry, Enisi.”

“Yeah, sorry you had to see that,” Jacob interjects, his hand rubbing the back of his neck in a nervous gesture.

After my grandmother’s lambasting, my mood sours a bit. It’s a day for lovers, and I don’t even have the privacy to share more than an innocent peck on the lips.

Chloe moseys into the room, most likely hearing her daddy’s voice, and starts to hop excitedly toward him. Her little curls bounce around her full pink cheeks as she makes her way to us. He presents her with her small bouquet of flowers and a stuffed dog holding a little pink heart that reads “Daddy’s Girl.” She holds tight to her gifts, cherishing them all the more because they’re from Jacob. She adores her father, and it makes me giddy watching them interact.

“You should probably start getting ready. We have somewhere to be soon,” Jacob declares nonchalantly, turning his focus on me.

My eyes widen in surprise. “Really? Where are we going?”

“I can’t tell you that,” he tsks.

“Ugh, you are an infuriating man. Why do you always do this to me?”

He puts a hand to his chest, pretending to be affronted. “I thought you liked my surprises.”

“Well, I do, but....”

“But what?”

“I guess I also like knowing what to expect. I need to know how to dress and wear my hair. This is information women need to be prepared.”

“Cocktail dress,” he begins, stepping closer to me and gripping my hip. He glances over toward the kitchen where my grandmother is washing dishes with her back to us. “Heels. Red lips. Hair down so I can run my fingers through it when I claim your mouth.”

I suck in a breath, surprised and aroused all at once.

“Okay.” My voice comes out soft and breathy and his gaze drops to my lips. Before I can lean in for a kiss, he backs away, putting some distance between us mere seconds before my grandmother turns, wiping her damp hands on a towel.

“What are we going to do with Chloe?”

My grandmother huffs. “Why do you act like I’m not right here and readily available?” she asks, sidling up to us. “Just leave her here. I’ll take care of her. I never get her to myself anymore.”

“You know I worry about your health. What if something happens and you’re by yourself with her? She can’t call for help.”

She throws a hand up and makes a waving motion at me, scoffing at my concern. “Do you know how many times I’ve seen that doctor that put that chicken wire-looking thing in my heart?”

“It’s called a stent,” I remind her for what seems like the hundredth time. “And it’s not made of chicken wire. It’s medical grade stainless steel.”

“Looks like chicken wire to me,” she mumbles. “But that’s not the point. He’s done tests on me and listened to my heart half a dozen times.”

That number is most definitely exaggerated, but I hold my tongue. No need to get her more worked up.

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