Page 55 of Break the Ice
The birds that can do anything they want.
“These are gorgeous. You painted them?”
“Yes.”
“Would you be able to do it on a bigger scale?”
I’ve never done it before, but… “I guess so.”
“I’m thinking magical woodland,” Summer says with a sigh. “Parker and I don’t know if we’re having another boy or a girl. The start of the pregnancy has been a bit rocky, so we thought we’d wait until we were further along to find out. Anyway, woodland works for two boys or a boy and girl nursery. The greens would be so tranquil…”
I watch her rub her belly. She’s so tiny that her bump is almost impossible to make out until she leans back into her seat. While she tucks her loose dress around the minuscule mound, she goes on explaining her vision for her kids’ nursery, and with every word, I fall in love with it a little more.
Elijah’s waitingfor us when the elevator door opens. He’s pacing from pillar to pillar at the end of the hallway opening up to the bright lobby.
“Oh boy,” Summer laughs when I pause, watching him scroll on his phone with an intent frown pulling on his brows. “He’s almost as bad as Parker. My phone has been going crazy since we left the restaurant. I really don’t know how he gets any work done with all the stalking and worrying he does.”
“Dude, give the girl context. She’s going to think your husband is a weirdo,” Christina scoffs as she turns to me and says, “The man has PTSD from his wacko ex. Woman tried to kill their child and his girl. Obviously, he’s going to have separation anxiety.”
“And I’m obsessed with my wife,” a deep voice adds from behind us before a light blond man engulfs Summer in his arms.
He’s not as tall as Elijah, but he’s broad and even though he meltsaround her, there’s a protective glint in his eyes that makes it clear he’d do anything for her.
“You say obsessed, I say you keep getting under my feet.” Summer tells him with a playful kiss to his jaw.
“Same thing, baby.”
“You’re just lucky I love you.”
“I’m totally blessed,” he replies with a kiss to her forehead.
“You are, because I made Finley an offer for the assistant position you keep nagging me about,andshe’s agreed to mockup a mural for the nursery.”
“Oh, here we go…” Christina groans under her breath as he lifts Summer into his arms firefighter style and covers her face in a quick slew of kisses.
“Parker Hawthorne, put me down!” Summer squeals loud enough that Elijah turns to us.
There’s a sharpness to his face that is wild. Then he finds me, and he’s instantly stalking to me before I wave.
“Mrs. Hawthorne, I’m not putting you down, I’m taking you home,” Parker says, holding onto Summer tighter when she attempts to get down.
“Let me finish, and then you can go all out caveman on me.”
“Well, I can’t say no when you smile at me like that,” he’s saying as Elijah approaches.
My heart doesn’t know what to do with itself when he takes my hand and pulls me into his side.
“Beautiful,” he greets with a lingering kiss to my hair.
It’s become a noticeable habit when we’ve been apart for longer than usual that Elijah is tactile in his greeting. He hugs me tighter. Kisses me harder. On my hair, my cheek, my temple… never my lips. After he lets me go, we’re back to moving around each other. Me waiting for him to touch me, and him… avoiding it.
For now, though, I refuse to let him pull away from me. I wrap my arms around his waist the same way Summer has hers around Parker’s shoulders. Snug.
“Fuck me,” Christina grouses, stepping backwards, away from us. “You loved up fools make me…ugh…” She shudders.
“Get yourself loved up, then,” Summer retorts as Parker sets her on her feet, only to coil his arm around her.
“Eww, no thanks.” Christina shivers exaggeratedly. “Anyway, I have work tonight, so we have to go.”
