There was visible relief on his features. His eyes brightened and lost some of their dread.
"I swear you won't regret it, Chess," he said gruffly.
He turned away and cracked open the stove, peering in at the bubbling cheese that was just turning a yummy brown. She sniffed appreciatively, her stomach growling in anticipation. She hadn't even attempted to eat today because the mere thought of food was revolting to her.
He grabbed oven mitts and slid the casserole dish from the oven, setting it on the stovetop while he closed the oven door.
"We'll give it five minutes or so to rest and then we'll dig in," Tate announced.
As he spoke, he went to the cabinet where the plates were and took two down. Then he retrieved knives and forks from the drawer and set the small table in the breakfast nook where they so often had eaten together. The formal dining room had only been used on the occasions when they entertained clients or their friends.
He carried the still-steaming casserole dish to the table and then fetched a spatula to spoon up the delectable entrée. Chessy took a cautious sniff, praying her stomach didn't rebel.
To her relief, she felt no nausea when she forked in the first savory bite. The flavor hit her taste buds like a mouth orgasm. She moaned her pleasure. This was right up there with good sex.
"Good?" Tate asked with a smile.
He knew damn well it was fantastic.
"It's wonderful," she sighed. "Best thing I've eaten in weeks."
He frowned at that. "Have you been eating, Chess? I know you. And when you're unhappy or stressed you don't eat or take proper care of yourself."
"Well duh," she muttered. "I can assure you that my marriage crumbling around me isn't exactly lighting my world on fire."
He sighed. "We're both miserable, baby. Doesn't that tell you anything? We both still love each other. I certainly love you. If we're so unhappy apart, don't you see that the logical thing to do is get back together so we can make one another happy again?"
"Because I'm afraid," she said frankly. "You've broken too many promises to me, Tate."
His nostrils flared and he went silent a moment before pushing his plate forward. He propped his elbows on the table and directed his stare at her.
"Maybe my news will prove to you that I'm trying to change-that I am changing. I've partnered with two other guys and expanded my firm to include them. Which means that I'm no longer a one-man show. It also means I won't have to devote so much time to work or my clients. I have two partners now to share in juggling clients and their needs. I did this for us, Chessy. Because I let my career get in the way of our relationship. I let it overrun all else. That wasn't fair to you and I'm prepared to go to whatever lengths necessary to make amends."
Chessy stared at him in utter disbelief. Tate had been so adamant about not taking on another partner after his first one had bailed. He'd been determined to make his business a success without anyone else.
"It will be made public tomorrow," Tate continued. "But I wanted you to hear it from me. And for you to understand why I did it. I did it for you. To hopefully help you see the commitment I'm making to you. To our marriage. You mean more to me than my business, my career, money, worldly possessions. Having it all means nothing if I don't have what's most important in my life. You."
Of anything she may have expected him to say, this was not it. She was shocked at the matter-of-fact way he'd said he was taking on not one, but two partners. Tate was extremely possessive and proprietary when it came to his clients. He was a hands-on person who didn't believe in allowing anyone else to handle matters he himself could personally see to. He didn't trust other people not to fuck up.
This was huge. It was epic. She had no idea what to say to his announcement. Instead she simply stared openmouthed at him.
"I hope this will at least show you that I'm very serious about doing whatever it takes to win you back," he said quietly. "And it's only the beginning, Chess. There will be no afterhours calls. No client dinners unless you go with me. The weekends will be ours and I'm going to start taking vacation days more frequently so we can travel together."
She shook her head in confusion. "I don't get it. Why now? If you could have done this sooner, why didn't you?"
His eyes darkened with regret. And they grew suspiciously wet, which made her even more aghast. She'd never seen Tate cry. Ever. He was always the strong one while she was the emotional wreck. She cried over sad movies, happy movies, those sappy Hallmark commercials at Christmas. She cried over news stories. Hell, she cried when she was happy. But Tate?
"I should have done it a long time ago," he admitted. "I have no excuse other than I took you for granted. I took your love for granted. I wanted it all. The perfect wife, the perfect career. It was never enough. No matter how successful my firm became, I always wanted more until there was nothing left.
"Seeing what I did to you, what my neglect caused, was a huge wake-up call for me. I stood by and let another man abuse you. Do you have any idea what that did to me? I can't even look at myself in the mirror anymore. All I can see is you huddled on the floor crying. All I can remember is you screaming your safe word. Every night when I go to bed, that entire night plays over and over in my head. It's not something I'll ever get over, Chessy. I have to live with that for the rest of my life."
"I wish I could believe you," she said wistfully.
He reached across the table and captured her hand. "Just give me a chance, Chessy. One more time. I'll never ask for another. If I fail you again, I'll leave. The house and everything in it will be yours. You'll never want for a single thing. I'll make sure of it."
She closed her eyes and paused. "There's something I have to tell you, Tate. Something I only just found out. It's why I came over tonight. It changes everything and I don't know what to do."
Concern blazed over his face. His grip tightened around her hand. She took a deep breath and put it out there.
"I'm pregnant, Tate. I'm pregnant with your child."
TWENTY-SIX
TATE stared back at Chessy in shock, sure he hadn't heard her correctly. But the fear and apprehension in her eyes told him he had. Close on the heels of shock came unfettered joy-and relief. He'd been so afraid of what it was Chessy had to tell him. It's why he'd pulled out all the stops in his bid to win her back because he didn't want her to tell him she was filing for divorce.
He squeezed her hand, temporarily incapable of speech. Tears burned his eyelids and she stared at him, stunned, when one trickled down his cheek. He didn't bother wiping it away. He wanted her to realize the magnitude of this moment for him.
"Chessy, that's wonderful," he whispered.
"But you didn't want children," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "You wanted to wait. Every time I brought it up, you said maybe next year. And I want you to know I didn't do this on purpose. The very last thing I would have done is bring a child into an unstable marriage. It must have happened the weekend of our anniversary. I forgot to take my birth control pills."
Unable to bear the distance between them one more second, Tate stood and walked around to her chair and pulled her up and into his arms. He hugged her tightly, his shoulders heaving with emotion. So much love welled up in his heart and soul. He closed his eyes and prayed for another chance to make things right. He had a family now. More than just him and Chessy. They had a child.
"Come into the living room so we can talk," he gently urged.
She allowed him to lead her to the sofa and they sat down together. He pulled her into his arms and thank God she didn't resist. He savored having her in his arms again. The last few weeks had been hell for him. Not being able to see her, talk to her, touch her. And yet he saw her every single day when he entered his house. Her stamp was on every single item in the house. It was impossible to look anywhere without seeing her reflection.