Frayed Silk(61)

“I’m going to be a unicorn for the book parade.”

Leo chuckles, cutting into his steak. “How are you going to swing that?” He glances over at me, and I shrug, smiling and trying to hide the bubbling in my gut over today’s discovery. The check.

“Mommy will make something,” Greta says confidently, shoving a mouthful of corn into her mouth and chewing.

He laughs again, keeping his eyes on me. “Right.” His blue eyes pierce my skin as they narrow a fraction on my brown ones. I glance over at Charlie. “What are you planning to dress up as?”

He scowls. “I’m not dressing up. That’s for babies.”

Leo’s eyes shift from me to Charlie. “Halloween’s coming up at the end of the month. You mean to say you’re not dressing up for that either, then?”

Charlie looks as though that’s just occurred to him. “Umm.”

Greta giggles. “You can’t go trick or treating without dressing up. Why don’t you go as Mr. Grumpy?”

He scoffs. “No. Why don’t you go as Mrs. Annoying.”

Greta thinks about it for a second, “There’s no such thing—hey!” she squawks when it suddenly registers that he’s insulted her.

“Charlie,” Leo reprimands even though I can tell he’s trying not to smile.

“Think about something you want to go as. Maybe we can make you a robot costume?” I suggest. Charlie’s brows rise, his blue eyes alight with sudden interest.

We finish our dinner, and the whole time, I feel as though Leo’s eyes are burning holes into my skin. But I try to ignore it. Now’s not the time. Because what I’m going to tell him and the argument that it will no doubt cause is best had when the kids are asleep.

“Okay, you two.” I stand and take some plates to the kitchen. “Finish up and then it’s time for a shower and bed.”

“I need some ice cream first!” Greta demands.

“Greta, manners,” Leo says firmly as I leave the room. I dig the ice cream out of the freezer and scoop some into two bowls before taking them back into the dining room and grabbing the last of the dirty plates. Leo snags my hand as I’m about to grab his plate and moves his chair back, pulling me down into his lap.

“What’s up with you?” he asks quietly, taking the plates from my hands and putting them down before leaning in to kiss my lips.

Greta giggles behind us.

“Nothing. I’ll talk with you later.” My arms wind around his neck. His hand rubs up my back then glides up into the back of my hair.

“Daddy, you’re messing up Mommy’s pretty hair,” Greta informs him loudly.

“Shut it,” Charlie hisses at her.

“Why?” she whispers loudly.

Charlie sighs loudly as Leo and I both shake with silent laughter.

Leaning back, I look down into his eyes for a moment. I lift my hand to trail my finger down the side of his face to his lips as his eyes stay glued to mine. “I love you, Leo Xavier Vandellen.”

His brows tug together, but he says it back, “And I love you, Dahlia Jade Vandellen.” He then grins at the sound of his last name after it leaves his lips. I shake my head, kissing his nose before climbing off his lap to return to the kitchen and finish cleaning up.

After the kids are bathed and in bed, I hop in the shower too then head back downstairs in my pajama pants and a pink t-shirt. I find Leo in the living room, watching TV and checking emails on his phone, but the sight no longer worries me. Tugging my knitting basket out, I spread the blanket over my lap and get back to work on finishing it while Leo does his thing and the kids are hopefully falling asleep.

“How the hell are you going to make a unicorn costume?” Leo asks distractedly.

Smiling down at the crocheted blanket, I tell him, “I’m sure there’s something on Pinterest I can copy. I’ve got two weeks.”

He shifts, sitting up on the couch and stretching his arms over his head. “What’s a Pinterest?”

That has me laughing. “In short, it’s a website full of wonderfully crafty ideas.”

He grunts, standing up from the couch. “I’m going to take a shower.”

“Okay.” I look up when he still hasn’t moved. “What?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “Never could take a hint, beautiful.” Leaning down, he tilts my chin up to meet his mouth. His tongue demands instant entry, and I give it to him, moaning as he skims it over mine. “Upstairs. Now.”

Swallowing, I pull back a bit. “I have to talk to you about something first.”

He straightens. “Well, come upstairs and do it. Unless you want to do it here.” He grins and I feel myself grow heated. I grab the basket, putting my stuff away and rising from the couch. He moves over to the coffee table, grabbing the remote and turning the TV off. “Come on.” He takes my hand.

“Leo.” I stop in the hallway, and he turns to me. “I saw Jared today.”

He drops my hand, rearing back against the wall. “What?”

My throat burns as I try to swallow, not wanting to repeat myself again. He heard me anyway. “I had to go into the shelter to tell them that I wasn’t coming back until his hours were done.”

He stares at the hardwood floor for a moment then laughs quietly, shaking his head. “And what? You thought you’d kill two birds with one stone?”