Hunter sits on the edge of the bed and pulls me between his legs so I'm resting against his chest. "Cory's happy wherever his train set is." He smiles and his entire face brightens. He's so handsome. How can a man like this love me?
"I'll settle in here and we'll see how it goes, okay?" I offer.
He cocks a brow and sits in silence. I know he's thinking. He's going to get his way and we both know it. "For now," he counters. It's a small reprieve but it means that I'll have time to adjust to living with both of them before we have to take on the task of a move.
"Thank you." I pull my hands through his thick black hair. "I already like being here."
"Sunshine," he whispers softly into my neck. "I need to go away for a few days."
My heart drops as soon as he says the words. He's always traveled. It's been a part of our relationship from the very beginning. The difference now is that he's leaving me here, at his home, with Cory.
"When?" I don't want to know. Please don't let it be today or tomorrow. Please let me have at least one night with him in his bed before he leaves.
"Later tonight." I can't tell if there's disappointment in his tone or not. I know how important his work is to him.
"Okay," I manage. I don't know what else to say. Suddenly, I've gone from the high of feeling as though Hunter and I are partners, to the trepidation that always comes when I have to entertain Cory on my own.
"His nanny will be by in the morning before you go to school." He pushes me slightly so he can stand and finish unpacking my bag. "If you need her overnight you can call. Her number is on the piano."
I nod in silence.
"I'll be back in two days." The muted sound of his cell phone ringing stops him in his tracks. He walks quickly out of the bedroom as I hear him answer it.
This is my new life. There's no time like the present to jump in headfirst.
Chapter 4
"Why do you have to go to school, Sadie?" Cory's pulling on the hem of my sweater as I try to explain to his nanny, Donna, that he hasn't eaten anything for breakfast yet.
"It's really important." I tap him on the top of the head to get his attention in an effort to save my sweater from becoming a stretched mini-dress.
He rubs both hands over his eyes. "I don't want you to go. Daddy said you'd be here with me."
I kneel down so I'm right at his eye level. "As soon as I'm done school, I'm going to come get you and we'll go shopping."
"For a new train?" He tugs lightly on the end of one of my curls.
"No." I tap him on the nose. "For
some stuff so we can make tacos for dinner."
"Tacos?" He jumps up and down with my hair still tightly clenched in his fist.
I try to pull free but his exuberance is addictive. I just kneel and watch the pure joy in his face over my choice of a dinner entrée.
"I'll be back at three." I hold up three fingers. "I want you to eat some cereal for Donna and then show her what a good boy you can be."
"I'll do it." He pulls me into such a tight embrace that I almost tumble with him unto the floor.
"You're my favorite guy." I kiss him lightly on the cheek before I pull away.
***
"There's something I have to ask you when I get back." The deep melodic sound of Hunter's voice drowns out all the idle chatter coming from the other passengers on the bus.
"To marry you?" I tease back. "The answer is please ask again next week."
He laughs and I can picture him throwing his head back. "The next time I ask it's going to be so special that you won't be able to resist."