eager to see you, sugar,” Stella said as she bounced Erin in her ample arms.
Vanessa stuck her head out of the bathroom to glare at her friend. “It’s ten minutes, Stell.”
“Still, it’s interesting.” She cooed at Heather who was on her mother’s bed, making her way over to the long strand of pearls Vanessa had left on the edge. In one quick movement, Stella scooped them up and put them on the dresser, replacing the necklace with a Winnie-the-Pooh rattle.
“Goo!” Heather grabbed the rattle and gave it a healthy shake. Vanessa grinned.
“Can you go and let him in? I’ve got this one here.”
While Stella went to the door with Erin, Vanessa scooped up Heather, breathing in her newly washed baby scent all wrapped up in a pink onesie.
With one last look in the bathroom mirror to analyze her makeup and hair, she gave a final nod and walked out.
“Mr. Chase Harrington awaits you in the parlor, Lady Partridge,” Stella announced from the bedroom door. As she took a step inside, her face creased into a comical display, lips forming a silent, theatrical, “Oh my God!”
Vanessa huffed back a laugh. “Calm yourself down,” she whispered, before giving her friend a gentle nudge as she walked out.
He was back in the living room again, same stance, same commanding presence. But this time she glimpsed a flash of blue silk tie and black suit beneath that luxurious coat.
“Vanessa.” Her name rolled off his tongue like something naughty, sending a flush rushing up to her cheeks.
“Chase,” she replied, shifting Heather onto her hip as she replied to his smile with one of her own. Oh my God, indeed, Stell. He was a stunning specimen. Hard to believe he’d had no date for tonight.
“And who’s this?” He stepped forward and it took all of Vanessa’s composure not to reel back.
“Heather. Meet Chase Harrington.”
“Pleased to meet you, Miss Partridge.” He smiled and held out his hand and Heather silently studied it, then him, for a few moments.
That’s right, honey, you keep your eye on him.
Finally her chubby face broke out in a smile and she thrust out the rattle.
“Why, thank you.” As Chase accepted the offering with a grin, Vanessa felt her breath catch. The genuine smile, the unthreatening distance and the way he bent down to her level…this guy was not only familiar with kids, he actually liked them.
To say it threw her was an understatement.
“You look beautiful.” Startled, she met his gaze and realized he was talking to her. “Don’t you think your mama looks beautiful, Heather?”
“Boo!” Heather replied obligingly then held out her hand for the rattle.
Chase promptly returned it with a chuckle. “Ready to go?”
“Sure.” Vanessa glanced back down the hall, to Stella, who had witnessed the entire exchange with a goofy grin.
“Erin’s in bed already,” Stella said as Vanessa handed Heather over with a kiss.
“I’ll just be a moment,” Vanessa said over her shoulder before walking swiftly into the girls’ room.
“Mmm-mmm, that man is deeelicious!” Stella huffed under her breath, her brown eyes sparkling as she laid the baby down in her crib. “You see the way he was with Heather?”
Vanessa made an affirmative “hmm” as she stroked Erin’s cheek, then leaned in to kiss her. “Make sure you put on the night-light. And Heather’s still fussy about her pacifier.”
“I know the drill, missy. You just go and have yourself a good time.”
“It’s not a date, Stell.”
When she straightened, Stella was studying her, hands on her wide hips. “You’re both dressed up, yeah? He’s picking you up and you’re going someplace with food and alcohol? Sugar, that is a date.” She tipped her head for emphasis.
“It’s not—”
“Date.”
“We’re not—”
“Date.”
Vanessa gave up. “Okay. Date.” She pulled the blanket up over Erin then reluctantly made her way to the door.
Stella’s brows went up. “They’re fine with Auntie Stella at work, they’ll be fine tonight. Now, go.”
And with a not-so-gentle pat on the rump, Vanessa was dismissed.
With a deep breath, Vanessa emerged from the bedroom and grabbed her coat from the hook near the front door.
“Ready?” she said to Chase a little too brightly.
He nodded and held out his arm. When she took it, she swallowed the sudden urge to yank her hand straight back.
It was like touching iron draped in cashmere. Delicious and forbidden, something she wasn’t entirely sure she could handle. Or needed.
Yet there was nothing to indicate he’d felt it too, not when he smiled at her, nor when he led her out her front door and down the stairs with Stella calling, “Have fun, children!” from the top.
Not even when he chivalrously opened the passenger door on his shiny silver Audi for her.
Chase finally broke the silence a few minutes into the drive.
“Nervous about tonight?”
“No,” she answered way too quickly. His sharp glance had her adding, “It’s only my second night out since the girls were born.”
“Really?”
“Well, there was New York. And I don’t count last year’s Christmas party because I was home by seven.”
“So you haven’t been out for…”
“Eighteen months.” He slanted another look at her, one she couldn’t quite read. “What?”
“Hard to believe.”
“Not really. I have two babies and that tends to put off a lot of guys.”
“A lot of guys are idiots.”
She nodded slowly. “Some are.”
Then they lapsed into silence for the remainder of the trip.
As they drove down Pennsylvania Avenue, the gentle flutter in Vanessa’s stomach had morphed into a serious case of butterflies.
There was no guarantee she’d actually see any familiar faces. And even if she did, it wasn’t as if she was scared
