“This was a good idea,” I sigh and rest my cheek on the back of the couch, facing my impressive husband. He flashes his smile and nods.
“I’m glad you think so. I was afraid you wouldn’t want to leave Soph overnight.”
“It was really, really hard, but she’s in capable hands. I’ll just call and check up on her a few thousand times.”
He chuckles and removes the plate from the couch, placing it on the floor, and pulls me to him, cradling me between his legs, with my head on his chest. I bury my nose between his pecs and take a deep breath. He smells of fresh laundry and my husband. I feel him rest his lips on the crown of my head and he runs his hands down my back.
“It’s supposed to snow,” I murmur and feel him smile.
“They always say that, but it rarely happens. This is Seattle.” He brushes his hands through my thick hair and I sigh. When was the last time we were able to do this? Just be us, without any interruptions?
I don’t remember.
“How’s work been?” I ask.
“Busy, but good. I haven’t been able to work in the field as much as I like. Too many phone calls and desk work to get done.”
“That’s what happens when you’re the boss.”
“I think I’ll hire more office help so I can be out with the guys more.”
“That sounds good.” Isaac grips my chin and tilts my head back to look up at him.
“How are you feeling?” he asks, making me smile.
“I’m good. Hormones are finally starting to stabilize.”
He chuckles. “Thank God.”
“I wasn’t that bad.” I murmur and sigh when he brushes his fingers down my cheek.
“Let’s just say I’m happy to have my wife back.”
“They warned us when we started the whole fertility treatment thing that the hormones would make me wacky,” I remind him.
“Well, they were right.” He narrows his eyes at me. “I’m still pretty sure you were trying to kill me by hypothermia.”
I giggle and kiss his chin. “The meds gave me hot flashes.”
“Well, it’s nice to have you back to normal, and I’m so damn thankful it worked.”
God, I love him.
“Me too. The clinic called, checking in on me, and to let me know that in three months we can start trying again if we want to.”
“So soon?” His eyes go wide and his hands still, while his body stiffens beneath me.
“Some couples start trying again right away because it can take so long for it to work, and we’re not getting any younger.”
“Not yet.” He shakes his head adamantly and palms my cheek in his hand.
I frown up at him. I’m not ready to try again either, especially with as rigorous as fertility treatments are, but this response surprises me.
“What’s wrong?” I ask. “I thought you wanted more.”
“I do, but not yet. Sophie is four months old. We’re still getting used to being parents. Besides,” he swallows and kisses my forehead. “The emotional shit that came along with it not working for three years before we conceived Sophie was hard enough on me, but I know it was ten times harder on you. I’m just not ready to watch you go through that again. Not yet.”
His magnificent blue eyes are fiercely serious, the frown-line between his them prominent. I reach up and smooth it with my middle finger.
“I’m not ready, either, Eyes. I’m happy with it being the three of us for a while.”
“Good.” He sighs and rests his forehead on mine. “Let’s just enjoy our family for a while. Make love when we feel like it, rather than when a chart says we should.”
I grin up at him. Having a normal sex life again sounds great to me.
“You know,” I sit up, straddle his hips and run my fingers through his soft, dark blonde hair. One of his big hands cups my ass and the other trails leisurely up and down my spine.
“Yes?” he asks gruffly.
“There’s nothing that says we can’t practice.” I grin down at him and nuzzle his nose.
He nods thoughtfully, as though he’s considering my words carefully.
“True. Plus, there’s this new technique I’ve wanted to try with you.”
“Oh? And what is that?” My body begins to hum as he slides those hands under my shirt and over my skin, up my back, around to cup my breasts.
“Dirty Fireplace At A Lake Cabin Sex.” He gives me that seductive smile and I giggle down at him.
“Oh, please, by all means, give me a demonstration.”
“You don’t have to ask me twice, baby.”
Chapter Five
Thunk
I wake slowly, disoriented as I push my hair out of my face and look about the spacious bedroom. Shit! Sophie hasn’t woken me up this morning! Then it dawns on me that I’m not in my own bedroom.
That’s right, we’re at the cabin. I smile as last night’s events of making love by the fire flash through my mind. I glance over and frown at the empty bed.
My phone vibrates on the table next to me. It’s a text from Gail; a photo of Sophie curled in her grandpa’s arms, drinking her bottle and looking up at him while he reads the morning newspaper. We’re all fine. Don’t worry. Enjoy yourselves.
I smile and respond. Thank you. We are. Love you guys. Will text later.
I drop the phone to the bed and scrub my hands over my face and then hear it again.
Thunk
What the…?
I cross to the sliding door that leads out to the deck and pull the sheer curtains aside and gasp.
Snow! It freaking snowed! There must be six inches of soft white powder covering everything. It’s absolutely breathtaking.
It never snows in Seattle, my ass.
Of course, we are up in the mountains, so Seattle might very well just be wet today.
Thunk.
What the hell is that?
I pull on my jeans and sweater, socks and shoes, and search the house. Isaac is nowhere to be found. I peek out the back door and find him near the lean-to by the house, splitting firewood.
Holy shit!
His faded blue jeans mold around his perfect ass and long legs. He’s wearing a black t-shirt, and his fleece Northface jacket is lying over the railing nearby. The hair at the nape of his neck is dark with sweat.
He props another log on the stump, raises the axe over his head and brings it down with a loud thunk, sending the two new pieces flying in either direction.
God, the man is strong, and can do amazing things with tools.