“What does that mean?”
Yup, he’d totally forgotten Valentine’s Day.
“Nothing. I guess.” I stood up, a little annoyed with his reaction. “Well I better get back to work.”
“I’m finishing early today. I thought I’d pick up the girls so they don’t have to go to the after school program.”
“Okay, great. Make sure to let the school know they won’t be there.”
“Got it. I’ll see you at home.” He hung up and I glowered at the phone. Nate had no right to be pissy at me because of a stupid lunch.
Ugh.
What an unbelievably crappy Valentine’s Day.
***
Walking up to the house in the dark of the early evening I stared at it in confusion. Usually the house was lit up when I came home from work. Whereas I did breakfast and the morning school run, Nate always arranged his schedule so that he could pick the kids up from the after school program and he more often than not had dinner on the table too.
There was only a faint glow of light peeking out of the blinds that covered our front window.
Opening the front door I was immediately hit by the comforting heat and the delicious smell of Chinese food.
My favorite.
Maybe Nate felt bad for being all grumpy and jealous on the phone earlier. “I’m home!” I called out as I closed the door.
I was usually barraged with something along the lines of ‘Mum! Jan stole my Barbie!’ while said thief came running at me from wherever she was in the house.
Nothing.
“Nate?”
“In here, beautiful.”
Smiling at the compliment I shrugged out of my coat and shoes and followed the smells of divine food to the dining room.
My eyes widened at the sight before me.
The room was lit with candlelight and there was a huge bunch of stunning red roses in a vase on the middle of the table. A table that was set up for dinner.
Nate stood by the table in his favorite jeans and a long-sleeved black top that did nothing to hide his still muscular and trim physique. He was barefoot and relaxed and staring at me with a familiar heat in his eyes.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, babe.”
I grinned, my stomach letting out a rumble at the sight of the Chinese food. “Did someone remind you?”
He shook his head, mischief in his eyes. “I called my dad last week and asked him if he’d take the girls tonight. My parents picked up Lily and Jan this afternoon.”
“But… you made it sound like you’d forgotten?”
He shrugged and laughed. “I was just messing with you.” He strode toward me and grabbed a handful of my shirt to tug me to him. His kiss was hot and deep and I instantly wrapped myself around him.
When we broke apart, he stared into my eyes and whispered, “I’ve missed you, Liv. I thought we could use some time alone.”
And just like that the knot in my chest loosened completely. “I’ve missed you, too.”
***