Submerged(Bound Together Book 1)(51)
For Natalia and for Carly.
Chapter Seventeen – Date Night
Carly
“Be ready at six,” Blake says into the phone as I wedge it between my ear and my shoulder, mismatched socks in hand.
“What happens at six?” I ask, watching Natalia pull the sleepers I had just folded, sending the small pile spilling all over the floor. “No, Natalia,” I say firmly to our daughter.
“What’s she doing?” Blake asks, the sound of an impact wrench filling the background. Blake is working today which he says is rare. Most Saturday hours are covered by those employees a little further down the totem pole, but when a big car comes in with lots of money and a political career attached, he’s the one they want handling it.
“She’s a little too helpful with the laundry,” I tell him. Even though she’s making a mess and I’m going to be refolding half the clothes I’ve already folded at least once, I can’t fight the smile that crosses my face.
Blake laughs on his end of the phone. His voice has this deep, sexy timber to it. From the first moment I heard him speak to his brother that night at the bar, I’ve been drawn to the sound of his voice. Like a lighthouse alerting boats of the position of the shore, his voice is a beacon that I just can’t miss. Nor get enough of. “Tell her that Daddy will see her later tonight.”
Every time he says something like that, my heart leaps and does a swan dive. It’s a beautiful feeling, knowing that he’s already in love with his daughter. It’s something I never expected of him or of anyone for that matter. Since he walked back into my life, and subsequently Natalia’s life, he has done nothing but leave imprints on our hearts. Natalia is head over heels in love with him, and I don’t doubt for one minute that I’m heading in that direction myself. Spending the night with him and waking in his arms has been like a dream. A dream that started two years ago and is finally coming true.
The sound of a man speaking in the background pulls me out of my daydream. “Babe, I gotta go to work. They’re needing my help with something.”
“Okay. I’ll see you tonight,” I tell him.
“Six o’clock. Your mom is picking up Nat around two,” he says, the noise in the background increasing considerably.
“You arranged for my mom?” I ask him, dumbfounded that he already thought of and planned for my mom to take care for Natalia.
“Yeah, she’s coming over and grabbing her around two so you can get ready.”
“Okay. Thank you, Blake.” I don’t even care that Natalia has unfolded every single piece of clothing at this point. My mind is blown that he has planned this all out so meticulously. I’ve never had someone just take the initiative to help me with Natalia. Well, except Mom. But that doesn’t really count, does it?
“See ya tonight. Oh, and wear something sexy,” he adds, that voice dropping lower as if he’s telling some big secret. We sign off quickly, though I don’t bring the phone down from my ear for several minutes. I’m too consumed with shock that he arranged a babysitter without my help or direction. A girl could definitely get used to this.
At five ‘til six, my buzzer sounds, signaling Blake’s arrival. I buzz him up quickly, pacing back and forth anxiously between the living room and the kitchen. I chose a knee-length black wrap dress with a plunging neckline that reveals a little more cleavage than I’m used to. I paired it with a great pair of red Christian Louboutin pumps and matching lip-gloss. My hair is down, cascading in large, soft curls down my back; just the way Blake likes it.
When I open the door, he’s standing there in a pair of pressed black slacks and an ice blue button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the middle of his forearms. He shaved beforehand, which I’ve learned, isn’t an everyday occurrence. Blake is more of a “shave every few days” kind of guy, and the look is delicious on him. But Blake with a clean shave makes him just as much, if not more handsome. My lady parts quiver at the sight of him. But when he steps inside and I catch my first whiff of his cologne? Like female catnip, his scent drives me insanely wild with lust. I want to climb him like a tree.
Blake’s knowing smile is full of mischief as if he knows exactly what I’m thinking. I’m sure I’m panting like a dog though, so it probably wasn’t very hard for him to narrow down the reason why. “You look amazing,” he says as he steps forward and pulls me into his arms. His kiss isn’t gentle as he nips and licks at my lips. “You taste amazing, too.”