Page 60 of Reckless Curves
“I’d like that,” Tom agreed. “I have to get to work after I take Connor for a quick swim. Shall we go tomorrow morning?”
“Sounds like a plan.”
He ran a hand over his head. She felt exhausted, so she knew this must have been more draining on Tom. His father was dying. He looked so tired. The stress of his father, Connor, and their late night of love-making were tiring both of them.
“How about I bring pizza tonight and we watch some movies?”
Kendra smiled up at him. “I’d really like that. We can have an early night.”
“I can stay here?”
His whole face lit up and Kendra felt tears well in her eyes. “I guess I’m committing to this relationship. Connor needs to know his father.”
Tom’s excitement filled the room. “I’ll try to be here by six so I can visit with Connor before he goes to bed.”
Kendra wrapped her arms around his waist and squeezed tight. “That would be awesome.”
Tom planted a firm kiss on her mouth. So lost in each other, they didn’t hear Connor approach.
“Daddy kish Mama,” Connor said with a giggle.
Tom laughed and swung Connor into his arms. “That’s right.” He blew a raspberry on Connor’s cheek and the little boy squealed with laughter. “Daddy kiss Connor, too.”
Connor took Tom’s face in his chubby little hands and tried to blow a raspberry on his cheek. Tom and Kendra laughed at his antics.
Reluctantly, Tom set Connor down on the floor. “I’ll see you tonight, Kendra, okay?”
Kendra laughed as Tom pulled her against him and rubbed his hips against hers.
“Maybe tonight Tom kiss Mama.”
Hunger rose inside Kendra and she wished they could play house right now. “I’m counting on it.”
Tom groaned. “I wish I didn’t have to go to work.” He gave her another kiss and let her go. “Let’s have that quick swim, Tiger.”
Kendra couldn’t stop smiling even after they left. She watched them through the window as Tom and Connor played in the toddlers pool. Humming a song, she went back to her music room, happier than she’d ever been. Suddenly the lyrics bloomed in her head and as she heard Connor and Tom splashing in the pool, the song flowed.
* * *
Tom arrived home at five, not six. He was the boss, after all. Lexi needed the overtime, so he’d left her to finish the car he was working on.
Connor squealed when he saw Tom and raced into his arms. His son put a little finger to his mouth and went, “Sssh, mama is sleep.”
Tom looked at Jackie. “Kendra wasn’t feeling well, so she went to lie down about two hours ago.”
He lowered Connor to the floor. “I’ll just check on her.” He handed Jackie some money. “I ordered the Pizzas as I was leaving work. They should be here soon. Then you could take the night off.”
He made his way to Kendra’s bedroom and quietly opened the door. The curtains were pulled but light poured in from the open door behind him. Kendra was curled on her side, sound asleep with a throw over her. He tip-toed over to the bed and stood looking down at her. She looked so beautiful. His heart was so full of love for her. He couldn’t wait to marry this woman and start a new life with her. He hoped they had more children. He would be by her side this time; nothing would keep them apart.
How silly of him to have been afraid of love. Scared of not knowing how to be a good husband and father. All he’d needed was to give his heart to the right woman, and it had taken him this long to understand what he’d felt four years ago. Kendra was that woman. The only woman for him.
She looked tired. He decided not to wake her. It would give him and Connor an evening to get to know each other. He tip-toed out of the room and went in search of his son and family pizza.
Two hours later, Connor was lying on the couch pressed snug against Tom, with his favorite cuddly toy, just freshly bathed and full of food. Tom was reading him a story before he tucked him in to bed, when Kendra wandered sleepily into the den.
She looked all soft and warm from her sleep, and his body reacted to her immediately. He wanted to take her right back to bed and—
“Mama, Daddy is reading to me.”
