Protecting Her(21)

“Could cocktails be at six-thirty and dinner at seven?”

“Holton and I generally don’t like to have dinner that early, but I’m sure it’ll be fine. We’ll plan on six-thirty.”

“Okay. We’ll see you then.”

“Oh, and please dress appropriately. No denim pants. And no shorts.”

I almost laugh. Did she really think I’d wear jeans or shorts? I know better than that. I’ve never been to their house, but knowing how formal they are, I would never show up in casual clothes.

“Goodbye, Rachel.”

“Goodbye, Eleanor.” I hang up just as Martha walks into the kitchen. She doesn’t have Garret and I panic. “Where’s the baby?”

“With his father,” she says.

“Pearce is home? It’s only four o’clock.”

“Jack sent him home early.” She hugs me. “I have to go. According to your husband, I have to meet Jack at some restaurant for drinks with a client and his wife.” She rolls her eyes. “Of course he doesn’t bother to give me any notice. That man. He drives me crazy.”

I laugh. “I’ll walk you to the door.”

When we get to the living room, Pearce is there, holding Garret and talking to him. It’s so cute. I love watching them together. Pearce never uses baby-talk. He uses his formal, serious tone, like he’s talking to a business colleague. It’s very funny.

“Hello, sweetheart.” He kisses me on my way to the door.

“Hi.” I give him a flirtatious smile. He’s in his suit and tie and looks super hot, like he always does.

We say goodbye to Martha and I close the door. “So you got off work early again?”

“Yes.” He nods, smiling. “Jack doesn’t seem to believe in a full work day.”

“I’m glad you’re home,” I hug his side, then turn to face him. “Oh, um, I hope you’re not mad, but I kind of agreed to have dinner at your parents’ house on Sunday night.”

He looks surprised. “My parents invited us for dinner?”

“Well, your mother did.”

“Will my father be there?”

“Yes,” I say, biting my lip. “Is that bad? Should I not have agreed to it? I don’t want you two fighting at dinner.”

“We won’t fight. What time do we need to be there?”

“Six-thirty. Dinner is at seven.”

His brows rise. “Seven? That’s early for dinner. My parents usually eat at eight or eight-thirty.”

“That was the original plan, but I didn’t want Garret out too late so I asked her if it could be earlier and she agreed to it.”

“That just shows how much my mother likes you. If she didn’t, she’d never agree to have dinner that early.”

I look down at Garret. His eyes are shut and his little head is tucked in the crook of Pearce’s elbow. “He fell asleep in your arms,” I say to Pearce.

“He always does that. I must have comfortable arms.”

“Why don’t you go put him in his crib?” I reach up and give Pearce a kiss as I slip my hand under his suit jacket and along his abs. “Then maybe you and I could meet in the bedroom.”

He smiles. “I thought you weren’t able to do it yet.”

“It’s been seven weeks. And I saw the doctor today and got the okay.”

He smiles even wider. “I’m glad I came home early. Get upstairs. I’ll put the baby down. He better take a long nap.”

I laugh as I run up the stairs. I’ve been dying to be with Pearce again. We didn’t do it the last month of my pregnancy so it’s been a long time.

When Pearce comes in the bedroom, I’m waiting for him at the door in a black lace bra and matching panties. He looks me up and down, his eyes filled with desire.

“You’re killing me, Rachel.” He shoves his jacket off and rips off his tie. “We may not even make it to the bed.”

His hand moves to the side of my face as his mouth covers mine, giving me those slow sensual kisses of his that I love so much. He hasn’t given me those for a while because we both know they always lead to sex, and since we weren’t able to do it, they’d just get us worked up for nothing. But now, we can finally do it and I’m realizing how much I missed these kisses. His tongue sweeps over mine as his hand lowers to my breast, causing my whole body to come alive, an aching need building inside me.