Page 65 of Challenged By You
I turn without another word and saunter back toward the kitchen to relieve my boss and to support my team.
I’ll figure out how to satisfy Jonas later.
Chapter 24
Trina
Inever thought it was possible to feel this way. How did I never understand the powerful emotions capable of being evoked? And each time we’re out and about exploring, I’m falling more in love.
With New York.
This wasn’t supposed to happen.
Head spinning crazily, I try to absorb all the oohs and ahhs from the people around me as we’re all agog at a dinosaur too enormous to be confined to one room. “Three,” I manage to get out to my companion. “It takes up three rooms.”
“It’s called the Titanosaurus for a reason, T,” Jonas jokes.
Chris is shrieking is glee along with the other children who were admitted for free due to their age to the Museum of Natural History. The buy-one-get-one-free coupon I saw advertised online during a break last night at work made our visit unstoppable.
I spent all morning bragging about the deal to Jonas even as the two of us fought over who would be pushing the stroller throughout the museum. That was after he kissed me senseless.
“I know they won’t remember this; they’re too young,” I begin.
Jonas’s arm tightens around my shoulders. “You don’t think so? Maybe they won’t remember everything about today, but if Chris looks at a book of dinosaurs in a few years, we’ll remind him of the fact he could barely shut up to appreciate it.”
Unable to comprehend his use of the word “we,” I’m silent until he turns and grins. “Now, what you really have to worry about is whether Annie’s going to have hearing damage.”
Jolted from my reverie, I manage to pitch my voice just above the cacophony of sound without blasting his ears anymore. “Since her head’s turning each time either of us speaks, I think it’s all good on that front.”
Dropping a friendly kiss on the side of my head, he asks, “Any desire to push through the horde surrounding the Star of India? If so, we should make our way downstairs.”
I shake my head. “Another time. I think the natives have hit their cultural capacity.”
And on cue, Annie tips her head back. “Mama, hungry.”
“Me too.” Chris’s lip begins to tremble.
Lifting my wrist, I grin at the impossibility my children have a built-in alarm clock since it’s noon exactly. “Well, Mr. Rice, it appears the natives are restless. Care to join us for lunch?” I wiggle my butt to shake the backpack I’ve been wearing all morning.
“That all depends. What’s on the menu?” he teases.
“PB&J.” My voice is haughty, as if I just declared the backpack I’ve been carrying for hours was just nominated for a Michelin star.
Pursing his lips, he informs me, “I’m extremely critical of PB&J. Are the crusts cut off?”
“Of course. To indicate otherwise is an insult to the establishment.”
Stepping so close our bodies touch, his words are a caress when he asks, “Triangles?”
My breath caught in my lungs, I get out, “Four squares.”
“Hmm. I wonder what management will do to compensate me if I don’t like the deviation from tradition.”
I brush a kiss under his jaw. “Management is going to tell you it’s nouveau cuisine.”
“In other words, I’m going to hate it.” He grins to show me he’s kidding.
“We’ll see.” Twisting the stroller around in the crowded space, I announce, “Who wants to go to the park for lunch?”
