Page 37 of Mitch

“How was your first day at work?” He needed to get his mind off the feel of her body.

“It was good, but not anything like I’ve experienced before.”

“Oh?”

“Well, firstly my office is kitted out with a full range of baby paraphernalia, and then a bunch of women arrived.”

“Ah, don’t tell me. Pax, Callie, Evelyn, and Taamira?”

“Yes. A model, a Princess, and god knows what Pax and Evelyn are, but they don’t work in a bloody Art Gallery.”

“They were nice to you?” He felt a sudden overprotectiveness creep in at the thought of her overwhelmed with them all and him not there to intervene.

“They were wonderful, helped me sort the office, built the play centre for Maggie, and caught me up on everything they deemed essential for me to know.”

“They’re good girls. Actually, I’m glad you met them because there’s a party next weekend for a friend of mine. It’s at the Cunningham Estate, and everyone is going. Will you come with me?”

He felt nervous as he asked, the beating of his heart faster than before as she laid a hand on his chest, her face falling slightly.

“I can’t. I don’t have anyone to have Maggie. Not that I’d leave her anyway.”

Mitch’s tension that had appeared when she’d said she couldn’t, eased. “Well, I think I have an idea. The Cunningham Estate is actually a large country home. My friend Zack and his wife own it, and a few families live there, including Nate’s parents Mimi and David, and Zack’s in-laws Frank and Helen. They usually do childcare after nine at night in a different part of the house from the party. I could ask if they’ll look after Maggie too.”

Autumn bit her lip and the sexy action made him shift in his seat to relieve the pressure on his dick. “I’m not sure. I haven’t left her before, and I don’t know these people.”

“But you know me, and I’d never ask you to leave Maggie with anyone I don’t completely trust.”

He saw her hesitate and moved in, lifting her chin so her eyes met his. “I’d never let anyone harm Maggie or you. I just think it would be nice for you to relax and have some fun and for us to do something normal and couple-y. How about this? We go, and if you aren’t happy, then we can come home.”

“I want that too. I feel like we’ve skipped the dating stage.”

Her soft laughter had guilt moving through him, making him feel like he’d cheated her. Autumn deserved the world, and he’d give it to her one way or another. “I’m sorry, honey. When this is over, I promise to give you all of that, the dates, the fun but this is a good compromise for now.”

“I don’t need all that. I actually like that we’ve skipped over the awkward, uncertain stuff and gone straight to this relaxed intimacy. I don’t have time for rubbish like that.”

“I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life than I am of you. In fact, I even told my mother about you tonight.”

Autumn straightened, her graceful neck lengthening as her eyes went wide. “You did?”

“Yeah.”

“What did she say?”

Mitch scratched his chin. “Well, I wouldn’t say she’s planning the wedding just yet but she sure as hell is planning the engagement.”

Autumn burst out laughing, throwing her head back, exposing the long column of her throat to his lips, which he took full advantage of, nipping at the soft skin before smiling against her neck. “Don’t laugh, I’m serious.”

“Oh boy, you look worried, Mitch.”

Her teasing made him want to kiss her again, this playful side making him fall for her that little bit more. “Not worried, Autumn. If I have my way, you and Maggie will be permanent fixtures in my life.”

Her eyes twinkled with warmth as she lifted a hand to cup his face, her thumb brushing over the dark stubble that was littered with more grey than he cared to admit. “How come you stopped earlier?”

He knew what she meant, what she was asking him, and he needed her to know how much he cared about her. He tangled his hands in her long braids, marvelling at the softness. “When I make love to you for the first time, Autumn, it will be in a bed and not one four feet from your daughter. It will be something both of us remember when we’re old because I’m going to take my time and discover every inch of your delicious body.”

He felt her shiver against him, goosebumps popping up on her skin.

“I want that too, but we don’t know when that will be.”