His Sugar Baby(57)
Chapter Eighteen
The following week, Winter was able to meet Michael for an early dinner at a casual family-style restaurant, and she had dressed accordingly. Michael’s appreciative glance slid over her soft clinging sea-blue sweater and her skinny black jeans. “You look nice.” His palm settled warmly in the small of her back as they made their way to a table.
After they had placed an order, Michael handed her an American Express gift card. “As you see, I didn’t forget. I hope you buy something that I’ll want to tear off you.”
Despite the casual way he spoke, there was banked heat in his ice-blue eyes. Winter felt her body warming under his intense perusal. She dropped her own gaze, ostensibly so that she could get out her pocketbook and slip the gift card inside. “Okay, Michael. I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you.” She was actually a little surprised that, after their heated discussion, he had given the gift card to her. It was nice that he didn’t seem to be holding a grudge. His pleasant demeanor during dinner seemed to bear out her interpretation of his mood, and they had a good time together.
Afterward, Michael suggested that they take a walk in the nearby greenbelt before it got dark. “You’re wearing flats. Are they comfortable enough to walk in?’
Winter nodded. “I’d like to walk.” She hadn’t used the area’s hiking and biking trails for a long time. Before Chloe had gotten sick, she had often taken her to the park that adjoined the greenbelt.
They had driven separate vehicles to the restaurant. Winter followed Michael’s Porsche to the parking area. She drew the Lexus up in the neighboring parking slot. As she got out, she reached for the lightweight jacket lying on the passenger seat and slipped it on. The season was beginning to change. The first cold front had blown in, clearing out the overcast skies of the past week. The temperature had dropped several degrees while they had been in the restaurant, and it was actually chilly enough that Winter was glad of her hip-length jacket.
Michael was waiting for her. He smiled and caught her hand. Their hands clasped together, they set off at a leisurely pace under the large oak trees arching overhead. The gravel crunched under their feet.
Winter breathed in the crisp air. It was good to be outdoors. She had hardly gotten out of the apartment at all that week, except to take Chloe to the hospital for her routine checkup. That didn’t exactly count as a pleasure outing. However, Chloe couldn’t be out in public places around a lot of other people. There was too much risk of infectious cold germs or pollen or any of a hundred other things that wouldn’t be a hazard to anyone else.
The trail widened to a vantage point that overlooked a grassy clearing, where people congregated around a playground with a bright-yellow curlicue slide, climbing platforms, bridges and swings. Children clambered over the equipment, their shrill voices noisy.
Michael stopped. He set his back to a tree trunk and drew her into his arms. Slowly, he kissed her. Then he turned her around to settle against his chest, his arms wrapped around her and his cheek resting against her hair. She clasped her own hands over his where they spanned her waist. She could feel his warmth seeping through her clothes.
“I like being with you, Winter.” His voice was low and husky in her ear, and his breath teased her skin.
Winter smiled. She squeezed his hands in acknowledgement that she had heard him. “This is nice.” It was nice, she thought contentedly, to just stand like this together, quiet and comfortable together. At times their mutual passion had threatened to consume her. She was afraid sometimes that they would burn up and there would be nothing left of them. Then there were other times, like this, when they inhabited a little oasis of peace.
The children were bundled up in coats and hoodies, playing their games and running back and forth, shrill voices raised. A few adults lounged on park benches, some of them engaged in casual conversation. Their lack of activity was a counterpoint to the exuberant youngsters.
“I wonder where they get their energy,” she remarked. It was such a long time since she had watched kids playing. She had forgotten that it was normal for children to run and jump and scream with laughter. A pang of infinite regret gripped her heart. She had left Chloe comfortably settled with Vicky to watch over her until she got home, but she would have given anything in the world if Chloe could have been on that playground instead. It went without saying that Vicky would have none of the problems associated with an over-active child. She’d even settle for being told, when she walked in the door, that her daughter had torn up the apartment or refused to go to bed on time.
“I see some fathers over there. That’s good.” Michael’s voice rumbled in his chest behind her.
“Yes,” she agreed. She shifted in his embrace so that she could turn her head and look up at him. She was surprised by the somber expression on his face, and suddenly she wondered about his childhood and upbringing. “Was your father around for you?”
He shrugged. It was an easy lift of his shoulders. “Oh, yeah. He did the whole Little League and Boy Scout thing with me. He died of a heart attack a few years back.” A smile tugged at his lips. “He was a great guy. I was lucky to have him. Some kids aren’t that lucky.”
“You’re right. You were lucky.” Winter turned back around and leaned against him. Her ex-husband was only her daughter’s biological father. He had steadfastly refused to have any other role in Chloe’s life. He had even refused to try to help save her life. Cathy didn’t know whether she could ever forgive him for that.