Page 37 of Vincent
"Hi." She had been so absorbed in the painful musings that she hadn't heard him enter the kitchen. The rain was abating, leaving behind a grey mist as night descended. She had made shrimp salad for supper and was removing the sweet loaf from the oven.
"Hi. Supper is ready."
He glanced at his watch and saw that it was time to go. He wasn't surprised to discover how reluctant he was to go.
"I was hoping you would eat before you leave."
"That sounds fine. What can I do?"
"I hope you don't mind if we eat at the counter."
"Not in the least." He hesitated briefly before rounding the counter. Clamping his hands on her shoulders, he turned her to face him.
"I want to see you again, soon."
Her heart picked up speed. "We both have lives-"
"Are you saying that it's not the same for you?" He tipped her chin up and bent to touch her lips with his. "I want to see you. I don't know what's happening here. God knows I'm scared as hell, but the only thing I know is that I want to see you again. Soon."
Abandoning pride and fear, she leaned into him. Going on her toes, she wrapped her arms around his neck and prolonged the kiss.
"Yes. I want that too."
"Good," he murmured against her mouth. They had spent an entire night and day in bed, taking breaks to eat and use the facilities and that's it. But it was still not enough. He had a rigid rule that he never broke. After not seeing his son for two days, he liked to be there for when he got home. And he was never late picking him up.
Before now, it had not been a problem. But now it was. Granted, he was dying to see the boy, who had his heart completely, but for the first time in his life, someone else was edging in and he had no idea what to do about it. He wanted to officially introduce her to David, but as what? he thought in confusion. The woman he was extremely attracted to? What?
"Vincent."
Shaking his head, he dismissed the troubling thoughts and kissed her long and deep.
"Let's eat."
She was determined to make their last moments gay and casual. So, she regaled him with stories of her life in Italy and France. He cleaned his plate and declared it was the best shrimp salad he ever had and took time for a quickie by the door as she was seeing him out.
"I'll call you. No." He shook his head. "It's wet out and cold. Don't come out." He hugged her and she clung. She had never been a clinger, but it felt as if he was going off to war and there was no way of knowing if he would come back to her alive.
The heaviness in her heart was not going away but getting worse.
"You will let me know when's good for you?"
"Any time is good for me," she pointed out. "It's up to you. I know you don't like leaving David."
"I don't. I could ship him over to Mother and Jacklyn." He cupped her face between his palms. "Thanks for an amazing weekend."
"You're welcome."
"Next time I'll do the cooking."
Her heart was feeling heavy, but she managed to ask teasingly, "You cook?"
"I can grill something or make a sandwich. I'm not completely worthless."
"I'm sure you're not." He kissed her again and wondered at the fact that he could not get enough of her. He wanted to suggest she sneaked into his house and into his bed. He never usually locked his doors in case his son needed him, but he was tempted to do just that.
"I have to go."
"I know." She touched his face gently and wished she could tell him she loved him. Wished she was free to admit that she had loved him since they were children. "Just go." She pushed him away.
