Page 84 of A Touch of Frost
“There really isn’t anything to do.” I told her softly. “He’s dead and his kids want nothing to do with me. Sure, it hurts but I have a brother who wants me. I’ve decided to focus on Paul and on you and the family we’re trying to build.”
“Is that your way of telling me you want me to have your kids?” She grinned.
I hung my head. The truth was, I didn’t mean to say that out loud—not yet. It was a serious conversation we needed to sit down about.
Frost touched my cheek and smiled. “I love you, you know?”
“I’m sorry—what?”
“Too soon?”
I hugged her then kissed her. “No.” I cheered. “Not soon enough.”
“Loving you, Jesse Ackert means I want everything that comes with that.” Frost licked her lips. “That includes your babies.”
Frost released me and walked out onto the back porch. She exhaled and I watched the way she sat and elevated her legs over the arm. After starting the machine, I grabbed a bottle of wine, two glasses and a platter of grapes and cheese.
She sat up when I exited, and I set my treats on the table. When I sat, Frost lifted her feet across my thighs.
“Frost?”
“Mmm?”
“I love you too.” I told her.
“You don’t have to say that.” Frost told me. “I know I’m not the easiest woman for you to love—for anyone to love. Sometimes I think I’m not deserving of all that because of what I turned out to be.”
“What you turned out to be?”
Frost sighed. “I’m just saying, don’t feel you have to say the word because I said it.”
I leaned forward and gathered a piece of cheese with a couple grapes and pop them into her mouth. While she chewed, I popped the cork on the wine and poured us each a glass. “It will take time for you to believe me.” I handed her a glass. “But we have time. Just promise me you’ll never stop telling me.”
“How much I love you?”
I nodded.
“The hardest part was saying it the first time.” She admitted. “I wasn’t sure how you would feel hearing that from me.”
I laughed softly. “Say it again and let’s see.”
Frost’s cheeks flushed red and I smiled, proud of myself.
“I love you, Jesse Ackert.”
“I love you too.” I kissed her.
We spent a quiet evening together until she left me to take a bath. I fielded some calls from a few clients who wanted new ink. They were VIP customers who were a selected few who had my cell number. Once I dealt with them, I called Paul who was still on hiatus from the hospital. I really didn’t think he was steady enough to go back for a while. He’d been going to therapy, but I didn’t know if it was working.
Frost had suggested him coming to visit—thinking the sea air would do him good. I had yet to run the idea by him.
“Jes.” He greeted me. “How are you?”
“I’m good.” I told him. “Before we get carried away in a talk, Lady Frost wanted to know if you’d like to come here for a little while. She thinks the sea air would do you good and I agree.”
“Come on, man.” Paul groaned. “I don’t wanna get in the way of the two of you.”
“You won’t be in the way.” I told him. “Trust me.”
