Fated to be Yours (21 page)

One little boy jumps up from his bean bag chair, darts over to me and smiles.

“My name is Dominic.” He holds his tiny hand out to me and I wrap my much larger one around it, shaking gently.

“Hello, Dominic. It’s nice to meet you. My name is Tessa. How old are you?”

He has curly red hair and a face full of freckles. His green eyes sparkle as he holds up his hand, his fingers splayed wide.

“Five? Wow, that’s a whole hand full.”

He nods his head, showing me all his teeth as he smiles. I straighten myself upright as he takes my hand, leading me over to the rest of the children. They’re all just too adorable as they watch me sit in the middle of the bright green rug in the center of the loft. I cross my legs and place my hands on my lap.

“Would anyone like me to read them a story?” I ask.

They all yell their approval as I bring my index finger to my mouth to remind them to be quiet in the library. Ten little fingers all mirror me in a shushing sound and I can’t help but smile.

“Do you have a favorite book that you would want me to read?”

Several of them jump up and run to the bookshelves located along the far wall. The children that remain behind ask me questions, curious about my accent and where I’m from. I laugh as they compliment me on my outfit and how pretty I look. I’ll take those kinds of compliments any day of the week.

A little girl returns, holding a familiar book out in front of her.

“We like this one a lot. Could you read it to us?” she asks. Her voice is quiet and small, a trait I find very familiar. I smile sweetly at her before she places the book into my hands.

“Of course. I would love to read this one. What’s your name?”

“Amelia,” she replies. My eyes travel over her and I fight the sadness in my heart. Her curly blonde hair is pulled back into pigtails and she’s wearing a frilly purple shirt with her worn jeans. She holds her hands behind her back as she swings back and forth, a nervous habit I would guess. Without thinking about it, I tap the end of her nose and smile.

“It’s very nice to meet you, Amelia.”

She giggles and joins everyone else around me. Several have pulled up some bean bag chairs while others are lying on their stomachs close to me. Amelia sits next to me, cuddling into my side. I turn my head slightly when I feel another pair of eyes watching me. I’m greeted by Andrew’s smile as he leans against the wall, his arms crossed casually over his chest. That smile alone warms me up inside as I return my attention to the ten little people all gathered patiently around me.

I look down at the book and smile. The Country Mouse and the City Mouse. I remember this book. This used to be my favorite when I was little. My grandma said that I used to recite it by heart to her when I would visit. She’d try to throw me off by changing the story as she read it and I would always correct her, causing her to laugh and kiss the top of my head. The memory hangs heavy in my heart, but I shake the emotion off, needing to create a new memory now.

I hold the book out in front of me, showing the pages as I read the story. They all watch me intently; smiles plastered wide across their faces as they listen to me read them the book. A few of the kids are holding stuffed animals while others are just resting their chins in their palms.

A round of applause follows after I finish. Toothy grins greet me again as they beg me to read another story. My eyes fall upon Andrew as I silently ask if there’s enough time. He shrugs his shoulders. I turn to glance over the railing of the loft to find the other three in our group, but they’re not around.

“Where did everyone go?” I ask Andrew.

He pushes himself off the wall and walks toward me in that sexy, easy swagger he has. His hands are stuffed casually into his pockets as he approaches us.

“They continued on with the tour and then I believe they were going to head to the office. We didn’t want to disturb your story time with the children.”

He folds his body onto the floor next to me, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear. His index finger lingers on my cheek, causing the blush to appear on my face again. His mere touch always affects me so and I wonder if it will always be that way. Will I always feel this giddy when he’s around? Will his touch always ignite my skin, my heart, my soul?

I can’t help the giggle that escapes me though as I watch him try to get comfortable next to me. His long legs don’t seem to want to cooperate in the small space the kids have given him. He looks at me with a laugh of his own.

“What’s so funny?” he asks.

“Nothing. You look so cute sitting here surrounded by all these kids while sitting on the floor in your dress clothes.”

It’s his turn to flush this time as his eyes dart from mine to the kids surrounding us. I’m sure there’s a part of him that wants to kiss me right now, but with ten little eyes watching us, it probably wouldn’t be the best idea. Instead, he flashes me that dazzling smile of his and begins talking to one of the little girls who has suddenly taken a fancy to him. It’s not surprising the girls are flocking to him. Heck, I’m flocking to him for reasons unknown other than it just feels right.

Another book is held out in front of me and I smile. Taking the book from the little boy, I glance down at the title and once again my heart drops into my stomach. I’ll Love You Forever by Robert Munsch. Oh no, I can’t read this book. It makes me cry every time I read it, regardless of how old I am.

“This one? You want me to read this one to you?” I ask, praying that they change their mind.

Maybe they’ll change their mind and find a Dr. Seuss book instead. Unfortunately, there’s no luck in that happening.

“Yes, please. We love this book so much. Could you please read it to us?” says a little brown haired girl with glasses.

I sigh, resigned to my fate and pray I can get through reading this book with minimal tears shed. I quickly glance at Andrew and he gifts me with a tender smile that lights up his face. His hand covertly sneaks over to my leg as he brushes his thumb gently along the outer seam of my pants, silently reassuring me that I can read it.

Straightening my back, I prepare myself for the emotional ride that I know I’ll be taking when I start reading. It’s the lullaby part that kills me. But I always sing it in my head. It’s a soothing melody yet that’s part of the reason why I get emotional because it’s so endearing and sweet. And that’s exactly how I read it to them. I sing it.

All the kids listen as I read to them, the words sometimes getting stuck in my throat. I push them out anyway, just to see the smiles on their faces. Another round of applause is heard as I close the book. Andrew places his hand on my knee and it takes everything within me not to break down and cry. At least I managed to finish the book with minimal emotions showing. Andrew’s hand squeezes my knee, a reassuring gesture of a job well done. My chest is heavy once again and I take a shuddering breath. My eyes close as I exhale, letting all the tension go with it.

Andrew stands and holds his hand out to help me up from the floor. A collective groan is heard from the kids, letting me know their displeasure.

“Could you stay with us for a little bit longer? We like to listen to your voice when you read,” says one of the older looking girls as she pulls on my sweater.

Once again, my chest tightens as I remember the reason why the children are here. How I wish I could take each and every one of them home with me. I bend down and gently cup her cheek.

“I’m so sorry sweetheart, but I can’t stay anymore today. I do want to thank you for letting me read to you all. I enjoyed it so much.”

I stand up but not before they all gather around me, hugging me tightly, saying their goodbyes. A few of them land some sloppy kisses upon my cheeks, making me smile. Reluctantly I head to the staircase with a final wave goodbye. Andrew’s right behind me, his strong hand placed on the small of my back.

The air around us feels warm and I don’t know if it’s from Andrew’s close proximity or the emotional ride I just had from my little story time. I turn to Andrew in the hall, my lips twisted to the side.

“I could use some fresh air. How about you?”

My voice is full of unshed tears as I’m unable to hide them anymore. Between my past memories creeping back into my head, the book, and the children I’m just an emotional mess.

“Sure, love. Let’s go this way.”

He places his hand in mine, leading me down the hall to a side door. It opens up to the playground area where we’re greeted with the laughter of the children playing on the equipment. I close my eyes and take a cleansing breath, blowing it out slowly.

“Thank you, Andrew,” I say, squeezing his hand.

My eyes open and are instantly greeted with his, shining with the emotions that I’m trying to fight.

“No need to thank me for anything, Tessa. To see the smile on your face is all I want.” He reaches up as his fingers tangle in my hair, dragging the strands slowly through them. “I never want to see anything but a smile on your face.”

His words cause my heart to beat faster as they bounce around in my head. Why did he have to be so sweet?

Unable to keep myself away from the laughter, I walk over to the swings as several little girls ask me to push them. Andrew joins me, both of us laughing and playing with the kids as they rotate from the swings to the slide to the merry-go-round. Andrew doesn’t dare follow them down the slide but of course he encourages me to do so. As if I could ever turn down a slide. It’s surprisingly fast and I’m flung into the air when I reach the bottom. Andrew is there to catch me though as I stumble into his chest. His arms wrap protectively around me and his reverberating laugh shakes my own chest.

There’s a small group of boys playing basketball nearby. Andrew raises his eyebrow to me and I shake my head. He laughs and pulls me toward the side door again.

“No basketball for me today. I’m still sore from yesterday,” I say, reaching up to rub a sore spot on my shoulders.

He quickly moves behind me, rubbing the spot with his thumbs as I moan in pleasure. He hits a rather tender area then gently kneads the knot until it loosens. Another moan escapes me and he quickly drags me around the corner of the building, away from the prying eyes of the children.

Andrew presses me against the hard wall, his face nuzzling into the crook of my neck. My arms reach up and wrap around his shoulders, holding him close to me as he trails his lips gently up and down my skin. A mewling sound comes from the back of my throat and he rewards me with that possessive noise of his.

“Maybe later I can give you a full body massage to alleviate your sore muscles.”

A shot of heat runs directly to my groin and I almost buckle underneath him. He keeps a firm grip around my waist, leaning into me further. His hip presses against mine and I feel a twitching underneath his pants.

“Mmm, that would be heavenly. But I have a meeting with Christopher and Kara tonight and I don’t know when I’ll be done.”

“I understand, love. Don’t worry. We have all day tomorrow to spend together. And I plan on spending every single minute of it with you.”

My eyes find his as I attempt to find the words I want to say to him. But I must tread lightly because I don’t want him to see the sorrow and pain I feel, knowing that tomorrow is our last day together and I don’t want to let him go. Not yet. I’m tied to him, so completely and emotionally attached that I know I will shatter into a million pieces when I leave.

He runs his nose along mine, giving the tip of it a kiss. It’s my most favorite gesture from him, so intimate and loving. My heart melts every time he does it.

A shiver causes my body to tremble and he wraps his arms around me tighter. “Come, let’s get you inside. I’m sure Charles is pacing the halls by now, wondering where we are.”

He tries to pull back, but I squeeze him tighter, unable to let him go just yet. He laughs and strokes the back of my head, kissing my forehead while doing so.

“Comfortable?” he asks.

My lips find the underside of his jaw before I pull my face away. His eyes are alight with fire as I nod my head and smile.

“Very.” My eyes bounce back and forth across his face, burning it into my memory. I don’t want to lose this. I want to live in this moment forever as he looks at me with his bright, beautiful eyes. The same eyes that I lose myself in every time that he’s near me. Eyes that I want to look at me, exactly as they do now, for the rest of my life. I’m so gone. I can’t fight it anymore. All I can do is admit the truth to myself and pray that I come out in one piece.

I’m falling for him. No, scratch that. I’ve already fallen head over heels for him. The thought alone scares and excites me though I try to hide it from him, unsure if he returns the sentiment. All I can do right now is reach up to caress his face. “I don’t ever want to leave.”

And with that, the last of my walls crumble down around me as his lips press against mine, bringing with them a warmth and promise of more to come. “Neither do I.”

C
HARLES SMILES AS WE ENTER
the office hand in hand, unable to pull ourselves away from each other for even the briefest of moments. My head is still up in the clouds after my realization of how deep my feelings for him indeed go. I shouldn’t be so careless to let my emotions run away from me as they are. But the intense feeling of belonging is one that I cannot keep bottled up inside, pretending that it doesn’t exist.