Page 24 of Omega's Midlife Love
I smiled and handed everything to him. “What do you want to drink?”
“Whatever you’re having.”
“Ok.”
I turned to the fridge and grabbed a couple bottles of water, then joined him out at the table, where he was pulling takeout containers from the bag.
For a moment I thought he’d disapprove of my meal, then he nodded. “Lucky Dragon, good choice.”
“You’ve had them before?”
He laughed. “A few times, yes. Before I hired you, of course. But they make some damn good food.”
I smiled as he pulled out one of the chairs for me.
We sat in silence for a few seconds, each dishing food onto our plates. Then he turned to me and slid a hand over to rest on mine. “I’m glad you’re back.”
A blush heated my cheeks, and I smiled. “Me too.”
Then I realized that I’d been so busy kissing him, that I had never bothered to find out why he was there. I licked my lips. “Alan… I’m glad you’re here. But… why?”
“Because I couldn’t wait until tomorrow to see you.”
Oh that simple statement made my heart flutter. I turned my hand over under his and ran my fingertips along his palm.
He shivered at the touch, and I had to force myself to pull my hand away so that I could eat.
Alan released a long breath. “How’s Eddie and the baby?”
I smiled. “They’re going to be ok. The doctors think he might have to deliver a few weeks early, but they think they’re going to get close to full term.”
“That’s great,” he said. “Do they know what happened?”
I nodded. “I forget the technical term, but apparently the placenta attached in a weird place, and as the baby grew it made the walls of his womb thin. That allowed some tearing, and a lot of bleeding. It terrified my Samantha.”
“I don’t blame her,” Alan said, reaching for my hand again. I set down my chopsticks, his touch being more important than eating right then. “How are you holding up?”
I let out a shuddering breath. “Honestly? I’m exhausted. Even once Eddie was discharged, we had to make sure that the house was set up for him to be on bedrest for the next couple months. Luckily he was able to get permission to work from home, but we had to get a little laptop table that he could use, and make sure that there were no obstructions when he did have to get around. At least their house is a single-story, so no stairs to deal with.”
Alan’s thumb traced back and forth over the back of my hand, and I closed my eyes to savor the subtle reassurances such a simple touch conveyed.
“Do you need more time with them?” he asked, even though I could hear the strain in his voice.
I shook my head, opening my eyes to meet his gaze. “His mama is there. She’s who he needs right now, besides Samantha that is.”
He nodded. “It may be selfish of me to say this, but I don’t know how much longer I could have handled you being away.”
I shook my head. “I’m just a chef.”
“No, David,” he murmured. “You’re so much more than that to me. You’ve brought a light to my life that I didn’t know I needed. I treasure our time together, and I missed it dearly while you were away.”
The flutter in my heart was back. How was it that this man had the ability to make me feel so cherished?
“I love spending time with you too,” I whispered.
His gentle smile said more than words could. There was relief and affection in his gaze.
I turned back to my food before my stomach could start up its grumbling again, sad that I had to take my hand back.
