Page 87 of Irresistible Temptation
I rolled my eyes and followed him out of the police station, eager to get out of there, I had no intention of ever going back there again. We walked in silence across the street to a nearby park. We settled onto a wooden bench and watched as people biked past on a finely graveled path, while others played with their dogs in a nearby grassy patch. We sat there, without a word for a while, until Chester finally spoke.
“How long have you known?” he asked softly.
Without any context, I knew what he was asking.
“Only a few days,” I said, staring straight ahead at a white dog catching a frisbee.
“A few days…” he repeated quietly.
“I wasn’t going to tell you,” I said, chewing the inside of my cheek. “But then everything with Mia happened, and it all got so blurry.”
“You weren’t going to tell me?” he asked in surprise, turning to look at me. His eyes looked sad, and I hated that I was the reason for it.
“I didn’t think you’d want to…you know.” I shrugged. “We just met. This seems so fast. And I didn’t want you to think…” I stopped, struggling to get the words out as the lump in my throat formed.
“Think what?” he asked, his brows knitted together.
“That I did this on purpose. To trap you or get your money. I wouldneverdo that to you.”
Chester shook his head and took my hands in his, the familiar feeling of his callouses against my skin making me feel like I was finally home.
“I would never think that of you, Juliet. Webothgot lost in each other that night at my apartment. This isnotall on you.”
I felt a tear stream down my cheek.
“I don’t regret it for a second,” he said, reaching up to wipe it away. I leaned in to his touch and looked up at him.
“What do you want to do?” he asked softly.
“I want to keep it,” I said.
He nodded, a look of relief washing over his face. I hadn’t expected that. I hadn’t expected any of this.
“You’re not doing this on your own,” he said. “I mean, if you don’t want to…”
“I don’t,” I said with a shake of my head.
“Whatever that might look like to you. I want to be there for you. For the baby.”
I swallowed down a sob, and saw his eyes were glittering with tears. He pressed his forehead against mine as he ran his thumb across my knuckles.
“I would like that,” I said.
We stayed like that for a while, our heads pressed together on that park bench just looking at each other, as the rest of the city moved around us. There was still so much to figure out, but right then, that was enough. That was all I needed.
Finally, Chester pulled away and studied me seriously.
“What?” I asked, my brows furrowing.
“Are you going to be able to handle the media shitstorm?” he asked, his voice laced with concern. “That picture is going to leak its way out. I don’t want the stress to affect you or the pregnancy…”
I laughed softly before tilting my head and looking up at him. I pressed my hand gently against his cheek. “Chester…you already knew me before you met me, remember? The internet has already seen my lady bits.”
He laughed out loud, genuine and boisterous.
“That’s true,” he said, reaching up to hold my hand against his cheek. He stroked it gently, leaning into its warmth. His gaze turned serious then.
“You know…because of this, you can no longer be my personal assistant,” he said, pressing his lips together tightly.
