His Tattooed Virgin(Divine Creek Ranch 12)(86)

“I’m surprised we didn’t find it before now. That bag has so many hidden pockets and compartments. We should probably check it for any other surprises.”

Looking at the phone in consternation, Jayne asked, “What should we do with it?”

“Well, it’s been two months since she left him. I guess if she wanted it, she’d have contacted me by now.” Seth laid the phone on the kitchen counter. “We’ll decide later. We’ve got a hungry little boy. Isn’t that right?” he asked in a playful voice as he lifted Toby from the playpen and took him to his high chair while Jayne gathered the contents of the bag and replaced them.

Tamar hadn’t bothered to check on Toby even once in the last two months. Jayne’s heart hurt for both of her men. For Seth, because Tamar had purposely kept Toby a secret until she could no longer deal with him, and for Toby, because it seemed as though Tamar had abandoned him permanently.



* * * *



Jayne sighed happily as she returned to Seth’s living room after putting Toby to bed in his crib. Seth had poured a pale, peach-colored wine in two goblets and placed them on the hearth in front of the unlit fireplace and turned on her favorite music. It was still much too warm for a fire in the fireplace, but she looked forward to the romantic ambience of a crackling fire in there in the winter. He smiled at her from the kitchen where he was slicing a fresh, juicy peach onto a plate. Next he sliced several strawberries and arranged them.

“Wow. Is this a special occasion? Is that white chocolate?” she asked as he poured a thick white sauce he’d warmed in the microwave into a small bowl.

“Yes, it is. I made a friend at the local wine and liquor store who gave me the suggestion. She thought we might like it with the wine she sold me.” He handed her the bottle as he came around the breakfast bar with the platter. She ran a finger over the label of the chilled bottle. Moscato d’Asti. “Come sit on the cushions with me.”

Seth had recently bought a thick rug to put on the hardwood floor in the living room since Toby played in there a lot. Big, comfy cushions were piled to the side, and he arranged them after placing the platter on the hearth next to the goblets.

He eased into a cushion and drew her down with him. “Toby okay?”

“Yeah. He was out before I left the room.”

She eased into his arms and received his kiss and the glass of wine he offered. Detecting the trace of white flowers in its scent, she took a sip and enjoyed the light fizz and hint of honey and peaches in the chilled wine.

“I love this.”

Seth seemed pleased. “I hoped you would. It’s low alcohol too. Try this.” He lifted a fork from the tray and dipped a small slice of fresh peach in the white chocolate sauce. He watched with warm eyes as she let him feed it to her, and smiled when she groaned with pleasure as the flavors burst on her tongue and combined into a decadent, tasty mouthful. She leaned forward and kissed him as he drew even closer, watching as she ate.

“Mmm.”

He lifted a bite to his lips and echoed his agreement. He fed her another bite, and then she took another sip of her wine. She fed him a slice of strawberry dipped in the chocolate, and he returned the favor.

Finally finished with the delectable dessert, she took a sip of her wine and laid her head back on his shoulder. For several minutes, he did nothing but stroke her. Her arm. Her hair. Her cheek. Feeling cosseted, she melted against him and listened to the comforting sound of his heart. She looked up at him when she noticed the gradual increase in the rhythm of his heartbeat. Desire was written on his face, which the thick bulge at his groin attested to, but she saw something else in his eyes as well.

“What is it, Seth?”

He reached in his pocket and pulled out a key on a red ribbon. “I got this for you the other day.”

He must’ve realized she was still sharing a key with Lucy. Even though Lucy no longer lived in Seth’s home, Jayne had kept using the extra key and leaving it in the hiding place in case Lucy needed to use it. She hadn’t thought to mention it to Seth because it hadn’t been a problem to share with Lucy. The key dangled from the ribbon, and she opened her palm to receive it. He seemed like he had more to say. Was this his way of asking her to move in? Inwardly, she hesitated. Was that all he wanted?

“You’ll need this,” he said as he laid the ribbon on her hand. “For when you wear this.” His fingertip caught on the metallic ring looped through the ribbon, and she gasped so hard she had a coughing fit. Choked on her own spit.

Again. Brilliant!

He helped her sit up, and stroked her back as she caught her breath, and to his credit he never laughed or chuckled even once.