In a Book Club Far Away(90)

“I hope so.” And she meant it, smiling. And maybe more often.

When the door closed, Henry looked up at her, mischief in his eyes.

She felt tingles running through her. “Henry… we’re alone again.”

He stopped fiddling with the boxes and ran a hand through his hair. “Yes, yes, we are.” He strode toward the bottom of the stairs.

Ever since their night together, they hadn’t been able to stop kissing, to keep from touching. At any private opportunity, she put her lips on him. This day alone, with the three trips he’d made back and forth from the cake shop, their work was interrupted by their hormones.

“What should we do?”

“I was thinking. Something”—he took two steps up—“naughty.”

Her breath left her, replaced by need. She took the next four steps down, meeting him. “I like naughty.”

A growl escaped his lips, and it revved her engine. She felt mischievous. She took his hand; their fingers entwined. A step above him, she was even with his height, his lips an easy reach. They kissed hotly; his hands roamed her body; hers entangled in his soft hair. Her imagination ran ahead by a mile.

But his hands settled on her hips, and with gentle pressure, he pushed her away an inch. His face was regretful.

“I know. I know. Guests are coming in like ten minutes,” she whined.

“Rain check,” he said, not asked.

“Definitely.”

“Okay, I’m going to let go now, even though it’s going to kill me.”

She bit her lip at how sweet he was. “Back to work, Mr. Just,” she whispered.

He nodded and turned.

She slapped him on the butt. He laughed, spinning around. Regina ran up the stairs and he chased her; her heart in her throat, this time with joy, until he caught her and turned her around. His kissed her fiercely then, and she submitted to him. Her spirit fell into his. “We’re going to wake the baby.”

She’d said it with such innocence, but it changed the mood.

“I don’t want this to stop,” Henry said. “I know you have to leave in a couple of days, but I don’t was us to end.”

Regina’s mind went blank, and the right answer evaded her. She wanted to agree with him, but her soldier instincts prevailed. Nothing’s set until the orders are cut, or, make no promises until the logistics are planned.

In the pause, Henry’s expression fell. His grip around her loosened.

“Henry—”

“No, it’s okay. I’m sorry. That was too forward.”

“No, that’s not it. It wasn’t too forward, I—”

“Hello?” A woman’s voice echoed from downstairs. “The advance party’s here. Put me to work! Anyone here?”

She shut her eyes. “It’s Missy. But our conversation isn’t over,” Regina said, her focus divided. She wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his lips. “Okay?”

“Yeah, okay.”

From the bedroom came the cry of Genevieve waking.

“Gosh, um…” Regina started.

“I’ll take care of her, and you can deal with Missy,” Henry said.

“Do you know how to…”

“Grab a child from a crib? I think I can handle that. Go do what you need to do.”

“You’re the best.” She let go and ran down the stairs and encountered the woman she’d met just briefly but had bonded with. “Hey!”

Missy gave Regina a hug. “Did you get my text? I just saw Adelaide.”

“What? Where?”

“By the toy store, about twenty minutes ago. I tried to stall.” She turned toward Henry, who was coming down the stairs, holding Genevieve’s hand as she stepped down. “Well, well, well.” She winked at Regina.

Luckily, Henry was cordial as ever. He shook Missy’s hand and somehow glossed over the entire awkward moment as Regina excused herself to the bathroom. Describing the meticulous methods of frosting, he fixed the two-tier cake upon a whimsical pedestal. He was a consummate professional.

Meanwhile, when Regina looked in the mirror, she saw a woman in the deep throes of longing. She would have to figure this situation out with Henry but until then: focus. Genevieve’s party.

Missy’s words caught up to her. Regina stepped out of the bathroom. “Which toy shop?”

Missy was setting the table like a good mommy-friend (Regina was impressed). “Four blocks away, on Burg.”

Crap. “Do you think she knows?”

“Not sure. Another friend came by but I think we deflected the situation.”

The doorbell rang. As Henry grabbed the door, Regina retrieved her phone from the charger. There were messages from Sophie, updating her every couple of minutes, noting their location. And the last text, sent two minutes ago: I can’t stop her. She’s literally walking home.

Mothers and toddlers spilled in. Missy corralled the mothers and assigned them duties. Kids sprinted through rooms.

Regina went to call Sophie, and turned just in time to see Adelaide come through the door. “What on God’s green earth is going on?”

Regina hung up.

Behind Adelaide, at the doorway, Sophie appeared. She had an exasperated look on her face.

The room silenced. Regina moved in front of the crowd. “Um… surprise?”