Misty Reigenborn Romance Boxed Set (38 page)

Luke

Luke knew that it was hard for Sierra to hear that her son was in the hospital.  He was worried about his stepson himself, but he was confident that Nathan was well taken care of, especially since he knew that Kimber would be there to help.

After Sierra had spoken to her son, it seemed as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.  Luke knew that she would have ended their honeymoon immediately if there would have been a need for it.  She was such a wonderful mother.

Luke offered her a massage to clear her remaining tension.  They talked about planning a vacation with the kids down the road a bit.  Sierra teased him that they might as well wait to make plans until Kimber and Paul's honeymoon.  While the thought that his ex-wife would end up married to Sierra's ex-husband sat more easily with him than it had before, he still didn't think it was anywhere near as humorous as Sierra did.

Paul

Paul was relieved that Nathan's fever had gone down and that his son seemed to be feeling better.  He still seemed worn out, but he had been cheerful on the phone with his mother, telling her about his upcoming trip to the zoo.

When the doctor said that they could go home, Paul was even happier.  He knew that he would feel so much better when Kimber was with him.

He strapped Nathan into his car seat and drove them home, wondering what he had in the house to cook for dinner.  Once inside he sat Nathan down at the table with one of his preschool activity books and dug through the cupboards, not coming up with anything that seemed suitable to feed five people.

He sighed.  Nathan looked up at him.

"Are you sick too Daddy?"

"No buddy."

He kissed the top of his son's head.  "I can't find anything to make for dinner."

"Can we have pizza?"

"Sure.  I'll call Kimber to make sure we don't get anything the kids think is yucky on the pizza."

Nathan smiled.  "Okay.  And nothing I think is yucky either Daddy."

Paul smiled.  "Right."

He dialed Kimber's number, but it was Alexis's voice that answered the phone.

"Hi Paul.  Is Nathan feeling better?"

"Hi Alexis.  He is feeling better honey.  Thank you for asking.  Is your mom busy?"

Alexis laughed.  "She's in the bathroom getting ready.  She said it was okay for me to answer the phone."

"I see.  What do you like on your pizza?"

"We eat anything.  Dad says we have to.  Sometimes Mom doesn't make us, but Dad always does."

Paul laughed.  "Okay.  Well, if you would tell your mom that the pizza should be on the way by the time you get here I would appreciate it."

"I will.  We helped Mom make cookies.  I'm glad Nathan is feeling better.  I don't like it when my brother feels bad and Nathan's my brother now too."

Paul smiled.  "He is.  I'm very glad he's feeling better too.  We'll see you in a little while Alexis."

"Okay.  Bye Paul."

"Bye Alexis."

Paul hung up the phone.  Alexis was such a sweet, smart little girl.  He knew that he would be proud to be her and Halden's stepfather.

He was glad that he had patched things up with Kimber, but he knew that they still had a lot to talk about.

He placed the order for the pizza and then sat down at the table with his son, helping him with the activity book until there was a knock at the door.

"Can I get the door Daddy?"

Paul held out his hand and his son took it.  They walked to the door together.  He let Nathan open it after he had peeked and verified that it was Kimber and the kids standing on the doorstep.

Nathan's eyes lit up when he saw the tray of cookies that Kimber was carrying. 

She gave Paul a sheepish smile as he closed the door behind them.

"I think we went a little overboard."

He laughed, feeling lighter than he had all day.

"It's okay."

He gave Kimber a quick kiss since the kids had disappeared into the kitchen, Alexis carefully balancing the tray she had taken from her mother's hands.

"He seems to be doing okay," Kimber said softly.

"I was so scared Kimber.  I wish you would have been here."

Kimber squeezed his hand.  "I know baby.  But you handled it just fine.  You don't give yourself nearly enough credit as a father Paul."

"Maybe not.  But going through that made me realize just how much I need you in my life Kimber.  I can't do this alone."

"You could, but I don't want you to either.  When I heard Nathan was in the hospital, it hit me hard too.  It felt as if it were one of my children."

"Oh Kimber, can you forgive me for being such an ass?"

Kimber laughed.  "I think I can probably manage."

"Good.  I love you."

"I love you too."

They shared a brief kiss that was interrupted by a knock at the door, the signal that dinner had arrived.

Kimber

It took a weight off of Kimber's chest to see Nathan playing happily with Halden and Alexis.  She'd realized not only how much she loved Paul, but how much she loved his son when he'd told her Nathan was in the hospital.  She knew that she belonged in their lives as much as they belonged in hers, and she found herself looking forward to seeing Nathan grow up with her children.

They ate pizza and then curled up on the couch together like one big, happy family.  Nathan got tired after one movie.  Paul excused himself to put his son to bed, though he put him down not in his own upstairs room, but the downstairs guest room so he would be closer.

Halden fell asleep halfway through the second movie.  It made Kimber smile that he had chosen Paul's lap to fall asleep on.

It was starting to get late, and Alexis had started to yawn.  Kimber didn't want to leave Paul's side, but she knew that she needed to get her kids into bed too.

"I guess we should probably head home."

Alexis sighed.  "Do we have to?"

Paul cleared his throat.  "If you wouldn't mind Kimber, I would appreciate it if you stayed here tonight."

Kimber wanted to grin, but she held back, knowing that he was asking because he was still worried about his son.

"Of course.  Nathan's pjs will fit Halden well enough.  I guess we just need to figure something out for Alexis to wear to bed."

"Do I have to go now Mom?"

"No. You can finish your movie."

"Thanks Mom."

"You're welcome."

They finished the movie.  Kimber stayed downstairs while Paul took Halden up to Nathan's room and found Alexis something to wear to bed.

Nathan woke up and came out of the bedroom, rubbing his eyes.

"Where's my daddy?"

"He's upstairs baby."

Kimber held her arms out and Nathan came to her.  She touched his forehead, but he didn't seem to be even a little warm.

"Do you want to go up to your room?  Halden's there."

"Yes.  Will you carry me?  I'm tired."

Kimber smiled.  "Of course.  Let's go little man."

She carried Nathan up the stairs.  He had fallen asleep again.  She handed him off to Paul who was coming out of Nathan's room.  He put Nathan to bed and then returned to her.

He gave her an almost shy smile as he took her hand and led her to his bedroom.

"I guess we should find something for you to wear to bed too huh?"

Kimber shrugged as he shut the bedroom door.  It was the first time that she had been in Paul's bedroom, but sex was the furthest thing from her mind.

"Will you please talk to me Paul?"

He sighed and turned toward his dresser.  She was afraid for a moment that he was going to shut down again, especially after the day he had had.

He turned back to her and tossed her a t-shirt, though she had begun to think that he didn't own either t-shirts or jeans.  She took her shirt off without bothering to turn away from him, even when she removed her bra.

He drank in the sight of her body, his cheeks bright red.

"Kimber."

Her heart started to beat fast, and sex was no longer far from her mind.

"Yes?"

"Not to sound like an ass, but would you mind turning around when I get undressed?"

Kimber hid a smile.  "I would mind actually."

"I uh. . ."

"You have an erection.  It's nothing to be embarrassed about Paul.  I'm sorry I tried to seduce you last night."

"I'm sorry about the way I acted too.  I'm scared of screwing everything up.  It seems like that's all I do lately."

"Ahh baby.  Everything is going to work out.  Nathan is fine."

"I know.  He loves you."

"I hope so.  I love him too."

"It was weird for you to hear Halden tell Sierra that he loved her wasn't it?"

"A little.  But I can't expect him not to love his stepmother, especially since she's so great with kids."

Paul laughed.  "Sierra was always so funny about that.  She teaches other people's little ones so well, and didn't think she was going to know what to do when she had a child of her own."

"But she did know, and you know too."

She squeezed Paul's hand.  "Nathan is a very lucky little boy."

"He's even luckier to have you in his life."

"Thank you."

He tried to cover himself when he got undressed, but Kimber gave him an amused grin and he stopped trying to hide his erection.

"I'm sorry Kimber."

"There's nothing to be sorry about Paul.  It makes me happy that you want me.  I want you too, but we don't have to do anything you don't want to."

Kimber thought that he looked relieved.

"Okay."

Paul pulled back the covers and they climbed into bed together.

"Baby is it your job that's bothering you so much?  Or is something else?  Please talk to me."

"It's my job mostly, but I'm not thrilled that the old house hasn't sold either."

"There's more to life than money babe."

"I know, and believe me the importance of money has lessened for me a great deal lately.  But I feel like I'm in over my head with almost everything."

"Have you talked to your boss about working less?"

Paul sighed.  "I tried, but it was like everything I said was falling on deaf ears.  It's frustrating."

"I know baby.  It was frustrating not to feel like I had enough time with my kids even when I was the boss.  But Nathan needs you.  And I know you would feel so much better if you had more time with him."

"Definitely.  But I have no idea what to do about my job or the house.  I want to be able to help you more with the bookstore too."

"I really appreciate the help you've already given me babe, but you can't solve the world's problems, especially when you're not happy in your own life."

"I'm happy with you and the kids.  It feels so right.  Like we're a family."

"Luke and Sierra made the kids family, but I know what you mean.  This is right Paul, and I want to help you.  All you have to do is let me."

Paul laughed, though it sounded as if it held little humor.  "Maybe I'll get lucky and he'll fire me when I tell him I'm not coming in tomorrow or Tuesday."

"Doubtful.  Have you thought about looking for another job?"

"Not really.  I guess I probably should huh?"

"If they won't work with you and give you enough time off to spend with your son, you probably should.  Has there been any interest in the house at all?"

"Some, but no one seems to want to pay what I paid for it.  Was it hard to sell your house?"

"I sold it to one of the women that worked at my bookstore.  I'm taking payments actually.  Have you thought about dropping your asking price or renting the house out?"

"I'm guessing I should look into that too."

Paul gave her a sheepish smile.

"You don't need to do it all alone.  I hate seeing you so unhappy."

"I'm sorry Kimber."

"Stop apologizing for being human."

She smiled so that he knew she was teasing.

He smiled back.  "I'll try.  I guess we should try to get some sleep huh?"

"Yes, I suppose so."

He reached over and turned out the light.  As Kimber settled back against him, she could feel that he was getting an erection again.

She wasn't sure whether drawing attention to his arousal was a good idea after her failed attempt at seducing him the night before, but she thought that maybe they might be able to compromise on the sex issue for a while at least.

Paul shifted his position.  "I'm sorry Kimber."

"Baby I promise you that it's nothing to be sorry about.  I know that you want to wait to make love, but I thought maybe we could compromise on the sex issue."

"Uh okay."

Kimber laughed.  "I'm talking about oral sex Paul."

"Oh.  I guess that would be okay."

"If you don't want to we don't have to."

Kimber heard him take a deep breath, then let it out.  "I'm sorry Kimber, I'm just nervous.  I'd like that."

"Good."

Not giving him time to change his mind, Kimber quickly stripped them both.  Paul seemed a little embarrassed when she asked him what position he preferred, but they were soon involved in mutually pleasurable oral sex.

When they had finished, the air in the room seemed a lot less tense to Kimber.  She was soon asleep in Paul's arms.