Page 39 of Second Chance at Love (Chance At Love Duet 1)

Well duh, we’d probably be having sex right now.

Lately, I was really not so opposed to it. Correction, since I met Kristoff Baldwin I had not been opposed to having sex and my body seemed focused only on his body. I would be a liar if I said I didn’t want it but my fear of mixing feelings with sex was greater right now. I wanted him, and he seemed to want me. But for how long? I had never been able to do anything halfway. I knew if I’d give in, I’d run a risk of getting hurt. Even worse, my girls could also be hurt in the process. I knew without a doubt that Kristoff Baldwin always got what he wanted in life, but what I needed to know was whether he got it at any cost.

Diana’s voice interrupted my thoughts. “You are a knockout.” She was looking at me with satisfaction in her eyes.

“Ah, thank you,” I mumbled. “Only thanks to you.”

“No, my dear. You are a natural knockout, inside and out. And nowadays, that is rare! Ok, now go put that dress on.”

I grabbed the dress and went upstairs to put it on. I looked myself over in the mirror. Diane did a fabulous job. I was worried she’d put on too much makeup but all she did was enhance my best features. I felt like a stranger in the mirror was looking back at me. Jewelry went perfect with the dress. I put the shoes on and went downstairs just in time to hear my kids and Betty along with her kids enter.

When they saw me, they all started squealing.

“Mom!” Saoirse was beaming. “You look like a princess!”

“Aww, thank you, baby. Come and give me a kiss. How was your day?”

“It was good, Mommy. Can I have a dress like that too, and a beautiful necklace?”

I laughed. So typical of my Saoirse to want the most beautiful and expensive thing there is. I glanced at Betty and smiled at her. She had tears glistening in her eyes.

“Oh, Gemma… you look beautiful!”

“Don’t cry, Betty. It’s making me feel awkward... like you are my mother and I am getting ready to go down the aisle.” We all laughed.

I went to hug Sierra and she gave me a big kiss and put her little chubby hands around me. My little lovebug. “Love you, Sierra!”

“Love you, Mommy.”

“Mom, you look great.” Sienna was looking at me surprised. “Actually, you look better than great! You look beautiful!”

“Thank you, honey!” I leaned and kissed Sienna on the cheek. I wasn’t sure why but it crossed my mind that she grew up too fast. I missed her being carefree.

Saoirse was already by Diane’s side, trying to ask her a bunch of questions.

“I’m sorry, Diane. She likes everything new,” I told her smiling. Diane looked amused.

“No problem at all! This one is going to be a knockout when she gets older! Look at those beautiful exotic dark eyes she has! Her mother’s eyes.” She knelt down and listened to what Saoirse was trying to tell her.

As always when kids came home, the house was buzzing with life and Betty was handing glasses of champagne to Diane, her assistants, and myself.

“Here’s to a night out for Mommy,” she cheered brightly. We clicked our glasses gently and took a sip. Saoirse stood up on the couch, so she could stand next to her big sister and both were admiring the necklace, while Sierra was wrapped around my legs.

“Mom, is this necklace real?” Sienna asked.

“I want one too, Mommy,” Saoirse added.

Everyone was chatting and laughing, and none of us noticed that Kristoff had let himself in.

“The necklace suits you perfectly, Gemma,” Kristoff's deep voice interrupted the chatter. “I knew it was perfect for you.”

God, this man really had a way of making my knees shake. He wore his tux perfectly, you could tell it was tailor-made just for him. He had gold cufflinks on his sleeves.

“The emeralds match your eyes,” I murmured. “They are the exact same shade.”

While one hand remained on Sierra, my other went to the necklace. “I won’t lose it,” I said, as my voice came out a bit shaky.

“The necklace is yours. You can do whatever you’d like with it. Though, I’d love for you to keep it.” He was smiling, relaxed. The room got quiet suddenly.

---