by Lia Lee
“Please, Mommy, can I go to the game with Gerard?”
Hartford deliberately waited a few seconds, as if she was having such a hard time deciding. She couldn’t bear to keep Trent away from Gerard. Now that she’d decided to enjoy the time she had with Gerard, nothing would change the fact that he was someone who had a profound effect on who she was. He was the one who couldn’t be hers, and she’d just savor what she had. “I guess.”
“Great.” Gerard sat down next to her as the housekeeper placed his heaped plate of scrambled eggs before him.
“I’ll get some work done while you two are gone.”
“No. You’re not working today.”
For a moment, Hartford thought he wanted her to come join them. “Really, the outdoors, in that sun, totally not my cup of tea, Gerard. I thought you knew me too well.”
He chewed slowly and held her gaze. “I do know you, better than anyone else, I believe, and since you work too much and always have, get dressed and get in the car that’s waiting for you outside.”
Her face scrunched up in question. “What do you mean?”
“You’re going to the spa for a few hours and getting a much-needed break.”
Hartford gaped at him. “I don’t have time for the spa!” She choked back a horrified laugh.
He grabbed her hand over the table, and Hartford’s spoon clattered onto it. Gerard ignored it, and the flames of last night’s debacle were still lingering in his eyes as he drew in a deep breath. “Which is why you’re going. Work can wait for one day. De-stress, have fun, and you’ll work better tomorrow. It’s only for a few hours.”
“Fun?” She laughed. “You needn’t say more.” She was convinced. He released her hand.
She couldn’t believe that after years of listening to no one and being a stubborn-head who always did as she pleased, a one-sentence pep talk from this man and she was ready to do anything. Lots of things had changed in the last four years, but her obsession with Gerard had stayed pretty constant. She cursed her heart for being such a douche where Gerard was concerned.
Hartford left soon after the boys did. The image of them getting into Gerard’s car was enough to make her all teary. To her absolute surprise, Gerard had a booster seat in the back of his SUV. She’d watched for several long minutes as Gerard fumbled with the belts and then had looked at her pleadingly. She’d had trouble hiding her smile when she buckled Trent in, and Gerard had squeezed her hand tightly before he left.
She’d assumed that her paranoid self would go into overdrive when Trent left. She had a trustworthy habit of conjuring up the worst possible scenarios and accidents and was only comfortable when Gerard’s parents took care of Trent. But that morning, she wasn’t worried. Gerard could be trusted with Trent’s safety.
She found an Audi waiting for her with a uniformed driver at the door. She didn’t remember seeing him before, so she chatted with him on the way to whichever spa she was headed to.
The next five hours were insane. She forgot about everything: the world, her life, her troubles, and her concerns about doing something even more stupid with Gerard next time. Her mind was vacant and relaxed as she was massaged, plucked, and waxed. When she was done, her hair was given a trim and blow-dried, and a makeup artist arrived to primp her. Hartford tried to turn it down, saying she didn’t need it, but the artist was adamant that Mr. Blackstone had insisted. And as she stood before the mirror in a robe, with her made-up face and swaying hair, one of the workers carried in a green dress covered in plastic.
Hartford gaped at him as he extracted it from the covering and several of them gathered around her to help her get dressed. “Whoa. Wait, that’s not mine. I came in a purple skirt and white blouse?”
“Mr. Blackstone sent this via your driver.”
Hartford rolled her eyes and stared at the ceiling. This was crazy generous. And she also couldn’t help getting a little annoyed. It was one thing trying to suppress the control freak in her when she wanted, but Gerard taking over for one whole day was making her a little nervous—and embarrassed.
The dress was sensational. A deep emerald green, the strapless bodice clung to her heavy breasts, bordering on vulgar, she thought. Or maybe, she’d simply spent way too much time in hospital scrubs to feel comfortable baring her shoulders and the tops of her breasts. The cocktail dress made her feel like a teen, and she was giggling by the time new shoes and a beige jacket arrived.
“Oh my God!” But she kept it bottled in. “Did Mr. Blackstone say I was attending a wedding later?”
They didn’t get her quip, but when she was ready, she was shy just looking at herself.
She left with the driver, who smiled at her broadly. “Seriously, I was joking about it earlier, but am I headed to a wedding I don’t know about?”
“I can’t say, ma’am.” But he was fighting a secret smile. Hartford instantly felt a deep liking for the man. Being in on the surprise was definitely making his day too.
When the car stopped and the driver opened the door for her, Hartford stepped out of the car in the nude heels and stopped short. She’d expected to be taken back to Gerard’s place.
“What are we…”
“Mr. Blackstone is inside.”
Hartford looked up at the impressive, exclusive restaurant. The Republica. She’d heard that name somewhere. When she walked inside, she spotted Gerard after he had already spotted her and had made his way across the hall to her. With a big smile on his face and eyes wide, he looked at her in wonder.
“Jesus, look at you.”
Hartford couldn’t help but chuckle like a teenager in love. When he leaned down to kiss her cheek, she didn’t think much of it. He’d had his tongue in her mouth and her nipples between his fingers last night. It suddenly didn’t seem very scandalous that he was kissing her cheek.
“Where’s Trent?”
“He’s right here.”
Hartford’s mouth fell open and she smiled widely, walking quickly to the little guy in the dress shirt, black bow tie, and black pants who was seated at the dinner table.
“Oh my God.” She wrapped her arm around him and leaned back, crying and smiling at the same time. “Look at you. I didn’t know football players look like this in the evening. Very handsome, darling.”
Trent looked very pleased with himself. “You look lovely, Mommy.”
Hartford kissed him next to his mouth, and Gerard pulled back a chair for her.
She laughed shyly, and Gerard grinned at her, his eyes scanning her face and her dress and her hair without any qualms.
“How did this happen?” She chuckled.
“Trent and I decided to have dinner together, all three of us, so we improvised.”
“And that outfit?”
“Trent and I went shopping.”
Hartford pursed her lips and shook her head. “This is the craziest thing you’ve ever done since I’ve known you.”
He took a deep breath. “Damn, you look ravishing.”
Hartford blushed and looked away, then toyed with the napkin nervously. She’d seen Gerard in a suit plenty of times. She didn’t want to gush over how great he looked. His shoulders were wider now and his body fuller. His hair styled and his face freshly shaven, he looked more like a movie star than a football player.
“This is wonderful. Thank you.”
They spent the next hour laughing together. Trent dominated most of the conversation, and Hartford knew by instinct that Gerard didn’t mind. And as her mind was predisposed to think and analyze everything, she knew that any other man she ever dated would want more of her attention and time and romance. Not this “family moment” where the child took over every conversation. So she sat back and tried not to notice when Gerard frequently let his eyes wander over her throat, down her body to her breasts. When it became too much, she burst out laughing and leaned forward.
“Can you stop looking at me like a pervert?”
He swallowed and his Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat as h
e did. “Remind me never to buy you a strapless dress again. To be worn outside the house, that is.”
Hartford’s smile faded and her heart hammered. He said it as if he planned on getting her more dresses—to be worn outside the house as well as inside. He was making plans. He was expecting things to continue like this. He was expecting to keep them together as a family, and she knew she wasn’t making a mountain out of a molehill. The look in his eyes made it clear that he wasn’t fooling around. He was in it for the long haul, and now the ball was in her court.
***
Trent was tucked up in bed, and Hartford stepped through the door that connected to her bedroom. She’d just reached behind her back to undo the stunning green dress when the knock on the door made her stop. She walked barefoot to the door and opened it.
“Hey.”
Gerard’s shirtsleeves were rolled up, and an extra button was undone at his throat. Her mouth went dry at the virility that hit her in waves. “Would you like a drink?”
She bit her lip. Trent was asleep, she’d had a fantastic day, and yes, she was definitely too excited to go to bed just yet.
“Yeah,” she whispered. “I’ll change and come straight down.”
“Change later. You look sensational.”
Hartford smiled shyly and opened the door wide as she walked back to the bed. “Give me a moment.”
She snatched up the baby monitor, then followed Gerard down the stairs, through the living room, and into the game room where he’d spent so much time holed up with his group of friends.
“Wow. I’ve never seen this room so… vacant,” she joked.
Gerard walked up to the bar at the far end and poured two drinks, then grabbed the bottle too, before he came and sat right beside her.
Hartford self-consciously slid a little farther back, but they were hardly touching. He was still an entire sofa seat away from her. Just the fact that they were alone, and dressed up, and giddy with the time they’d spent together, was making her jumpy. She had kissed him back when she wasn’t having a good day. Maybe she’d be more sensible tonight.
“How’re my parents with Trent?”
She was glad the discussion was about Trent and not her. “They’re wonderful. Trent loves them.”
“Why did you decide to let them care for him?”
Hartford took a sip and dragged one of her legs across the seat, facing Trent as her back rested on the armrest of the couch. Now this was a good sight to behold while drinking the best-tasting white wine she’d had in a long, long time.
“I’m just very paranoid about Trent’s safety. I don’t know if it’s the blues that have lasted too long post having him, or if it’s just something I am going to be like as a mother… forever. But I always found something to be worried about at all the child-minding services I looked into, and then I ran into Mark and Christine. And they’re a godsend!”
“You’re not paranoid when Trent’s with them?”
“Hell, no. They moved to Baltimore for him!” Her eyes widened. “Who does that for their own children nowadays, and they made the move for their grandchild? My own parents can’t bear to meet Trent it seems. Or me.” She chuckled. “Maybe it’s just me.”
Gerard smiled but didn’t feel any mirth. “You always said they didn’t understand you.”
She shook her head. “Yes.”
“You also said I was the only one who did.”
Hartford had no desire to recall the heartbreak. It had been such a phenomenal day, and she had gotten a glimpse into the life that she could have as a family with Gerard. “You did.”
Gerard sighed and reached forward to slide his hand underneath hers. She drew in a sharp breath. Since she’d laid her hand on her bare knee, his knuckles were now pressing onto her thigh, while his palm pressed against hers. He clutched her hand tightly.
“I was so fucking immature and such an idiot.” He shook his head.
“It’s okay.” She didn’t want to go there.
“No, listen. Please.” He slid a little closer.
Hartford let her eyes wander to his white shirt, which had two buttons undone and was snug around his biceps.
“Not for a second did I think you’d keep the baby, Hart. Because we were so high on our plans—you and me. But you had a different connection to the baby, of course. I just couldn’t see it the way you did, and now, I can’t thank you enough…”
“What…”
“I’m so grateful to you. I’m so indebted to you for life, for not aborting my child.”
Hartford’s eyes burned with unshed tears. They weren’t sad tears, but happy ones. “I could never…” She stalled, sniffling, fighting back tears. “I could never have aborted anything that was yours.”
Gerard froze, then inhaled harshly as if he’d forgotten to breathe. He blinked repeatedly, his jaw clenched and his eyeballs reddened. He drew back and pinched the top of his nose, pressing his temples as he clenched his eyes shut. “He’s such a great kid.”
“He’s the best.”
He inhaled sharply, and when he opened his eyes, he looked like he had control over his emotions again. “What are your plans now for the future?”
Hartford was glad for the change of topic, even though his gratitude resounded in her ears. “I just began my residency a few weeks ago, and I was assigned to the sports medicine unit. So now I’m basically working one-on-one with celebrated football players, like you.”
“Will you be moving around a lot?”
“I think so. But I didn’t anticipate that it would be such hard work, so I’m thinking of changing my direction a little.”
“This is hard work? Me?”
“Yeah, in the sense that… even though I will always request that I keep Trent with me, it’s going to be really hard to have him around when I work. I thought it would be different. You’re fine with him everywhere because he’s your son, but it’s not something everyone can work with. Besides, it’s really stressful for me too.”
“So what are you thinking you’ll do now?”
“I think I’ll take some time and then try to get assigned to a football team. So I can move to one location and work with the entire team. And I can make individual assessments and therapy sessions accordingly.”
“That sounds good, actually,” he said, lost in thought.
“Yup. What about you? What are your plans?”
He smiled. “I’d rather talk about you.”
“Don’t push your luck, Gerard. You’ve been really lucky today. I went along with everything you asked for.”
He chuckled and held her gaze, his stare lingering over her lips and down over her breasts that spilled over the snug strapless bodice. Self-consciously, Hartford looked down and belatedly realized how smooth her skin looked after hours in the spa. It was gleaming, and Gerard couldn’t keep his eyes off her. She knew what he wanted. He wanted her body.
And she also knew she should call it a night and escape before she did something stupid again. But she couldn’t move.
“So, what are your plans?” she said without thinking.
His eyes flared, and she sensed that he deliberately misunderstood the question in a sexual context. His plans for her were clearly unabashed and wanton.
“I’m going to continue playing. And I… uhh… invested in some real estate that kind of worked out really well. So I guess I could see myself doing that sometime in the future too.”
Hartford nodded, engrossed in the expressions on his face. The way he talked was different now. He was more calm and authoritative as he spoke. Four years ago she’d had to put considerable effort into ensuring he stayed on track with his games and his studies. But this guy right here had been independent and seen a lot of success, and it had changed him for the better.
“I feel like I really know you,” she began slowly, her eyes crinkling in wonder. “But I also feel like you’re a completely different person now than you were back then.”
Gerard swallowed visibly. “I
am the same person.”
“You don’t see it.” She breathed and was wildly aware of his hand on her knee. He released her hand and clutched her calf, and she couldn’t stop herself. Her leg relaxed beneath his touch. His expression changed; that was all the encouragement he needed.
“Hartford?” He paused, and even as his fingers tightened on her leg, she knew that she was ready to dive into the moment with him. Everything was too tempting. She wasn’t that strong. Once again, she succumbed to his need. She slid forward, and he drew in a deep breath, sliding his hand up her thigh underneath the dress. She tilted her head sideways, her head falling slightly backward, and offered her mouth to him wantonly.
His lips pressed onto hers, his fingers softly splaying over the inside of her thigh. His lips were gentle, and every fiber of her being burned in delight as his lips stroked over the contours of hers. Her eyes closed, she drank in the scent of him, the taste of him. His kiss was unhurried, as if he knew she wasn’t going anywhere tonight. As if he knew they were too into it to back off now.
He dragged his hand down her leg, while sliding his free hand around the side of her waist. Hartford moaned into his mouth and reached for his nape, her eyes still closed as she savored the gentle, poignant moment. He stroked her waist over the dress, his other hand rubbing her thigh as if he couldn’t get enough. She shifted and leaned up on her knees, clutching his head as it fell back against the couch, and she deepened the kiss.
She threaded her fingers through his thick hair and pushed her breasts against the top of his chest as she plunged her tongue tentatively into his mouth.
“Fuck…” he groaned as he broke the kiss, his head back and his eyes wide with wonder as she stroked his forehead and pushed his hair back. The affectionate gesture caught him off guard. He clutched the sides of her waist with both hands and then slid them lower to her hips.
