Footsteps of the Past (Second Chances #2) - Felice Stevens Page 0,13

that. He loves you so much.

But Chess knew sometimes love wasn’t enough. I was thinking of suggesting a weekend alone together. Give us a chance to be together with no interruptions. Maybe I’ll figure out a way to ask him then.

Spencer: That’s perfect. Nothing but sun and tons of hot sex and good food. And more sex.

Wolf: Leave it to you to be so crude. They need to talk.

Elliot: Will you two shut up? Chess, it sounds like a good idea no matter what. This was the longest André’s been away, and you need to reconnect. My offer for the Long Beach place stands.

Chess: Yeah. I’ll talk to him now. Thanks.

Excitement built in his chest, imagining the getaway. Since Webster Properties had decided to go international, André had been flying around the world, doing all the heavy lifting on his own, and though Chess was incredibly proud of what André had accomplished for the company, André had to understand a relationship took the same amount of work. They hadn’t had too many days strung together for the two of them to concentrate on each other, and Chess made up his mind; they were going to do this.

The tea he’d made for André had gotten cold, so he dumped it and brewed another cup, made two slices of plain, toasted white bread, and set everything on a tray. Their bedroom was shrouded in darkness, and he took a step backward to leave, when André spoke, his voice buttery soft and rich. “Don’t go. Keep me company in my hour of need.”

“Are you trying to arouse my sympathy?” He approached the bed. “I made you some tea and toast to settle your stomach.”

“If I didn’t feel like death, sympathy wouldn’t be what I wanted to arouse in you, trust me. You’re wonderful. The perfect nurse.” A lazy grin tipped his lips up. “I always did like you in white.”

“Silly.” Chess settled on the edge of the bed. “Do you need a doctor? Maybe it’s food poisoning.”

“I’m feeling better. I think a day in bed to rest would be best. I’m sorry if you had plans for us.”

“My only plan is you. But I did have an idea. What if we took some time off and went away, just the two of us? We could use Elliot and Win’s condo or look into a bed-and-breakfast somewhere upstate. What do you think?”

André shifted in the bed, rolling his long body onto his side to face him. “I think it’s a brilliant idea, mainly because I’d thought of it myself.” He chuckled, warm and deep, and a pang hit Chess hard. He loved André’s laughter and his teasing humor and had missed these intimate times between them. “But instead of a B and B or Elliot’s place—which was very sweet of him to offer—why don’t we go to the Hamptons?”

That suggestion surprised Chess, as André rarely mentioned the family property in the Hamptons, and in all the years they’d been together, he’d only taken Chess there once, overnight. Once had proved more than enough. It wasn’t his scene—the crush of parties, the dressing up for dinner, André’s siblings insisting on going to the trendy places…Chess couldn’t relax around any of it. But he didn’t want to say no and disappoint André. Martine had thought it would be the perfect place as well. Maybe he should give it another try.

“Are you sure? I thought it might be better to go someplace quieter. Not so much of a scene.”

“If you’re worried about my family barging in on us, you don’t have to. My mother is still in Zürich, Henry took off for Monte Carlo, and Bianca for Paris.” He reached out a hand, and Chess laced their fingers together. “It’ll only be us, love.”

Nine years together, and he never got tired of André calling him “love.”

“Sounds like a hell of a plan.”

Chapter Four

The next morning, they were on their way to the Hamptons. The ride out to the East End took close to three hours with all the traffic, but André didn’t mind. He had Chess drowsing on his shoulder and a week of nothing to look forward to but sleeping late, making love, and indulgence. Maybe it was stupid, but he felt as giddy as a kid at Christmas the moment before opening presents.

God knew they both needed this time away. The whole day yesterday he’d suffered from that stomach bug, and Chess and Martine had taken care of him. It had left him helpless as