Five: Surprise!

Amelia couldn’t remember a time in her life that she’d ever felt so positive and at peace with herself, and the direction her life was taking. These new feelings of inner happiness and glow had her feeling like she was living every day of her life on cloud nine, with no worries of the future constantly nagging at her. Choosing to have James in her life was truly the best decision she’s made in a while.

As usual, it was a Friday afternoon and they’d closed early from work, as was the norm. James had driven home with Amelia, intending to spend the rest of the day with her and Dora. While Dora was still in school, they decided to have some quiet time to themselves before the toddler arrived.

“What do you wanna do?” James asked, wrapping his arms around Amelia’s waist, and gently pulling her against him. They’d just stepped into her home.

“You have something in mind?” she questioned, glancing up at him, but he reached for a stray strand of her luscious brown hair and tucked it behind her ear, while staring into her eyes lovingly.

“I’m contempt with just holding you. As long as I have you here with me, I’m fine, love,” 

He leaned in and gently brushed his lips against her head, making her blush.

“So beautiful,” he murmured, cradling her face in his palm and kissing her forehead again. 

Amelia blushed harder, at a loss for words, their conversation lost to her.

“So tell me, sweetheart, what would you like to do?” James inquired, bringing her mind back to the conversation.

“How good of a cook are you?” she wiggled her brows, a smirk curving her lips.

“Well, I wouldn’t say I’m an excellent chef but I could put up a simple dish,”

“So… how about we make lunch together?”

“I’d like that,”

“But I’ll have to change into comfortable clothes,”

“Suit yourself, my lady,” he released her from his comfortable hold, bowing at her.

A giggle escaped from Amelia’s lips, filling his ears with a musical ring as she moved towards her bedroom to change.

A few minutes later, she returned to see James with his suit jacket draped over one of the dining chairs, with the sleeves of his dress shirt rolled up, ready to hit the kitchen.

“Ooh…” she drawled, and he responded with a wink. 

Grabbing his arm, she led him into the kitchen and threw an apron at him, also getting one for herself. As soon as they decided on what to make for lunch, they began, with Amelia asking him to help with the veggies. 

“You fit so well into my kitchen,” she complimented him, giggling.

“Yeah?” he quirked a brow in question, chuckling at the way she bobbed her head in response, her musical laughter still ringing in the kitchen. “Teach me to be your personal chef then,” he winked at her, leaning over and quickly kissing her forehead.

Amelia hadn’t expected it and for a moment, her eyes locked on his, radiating so much affection that she felt her heart leaping inside her.

“Come on love, we still have lunch to prepare,” he spoke after a while, breaking their trance.

“Yeah?” she asked with an innocent expression etched on her face, before proceeding to throw an egg at him that broke on his chest, the slimy liquid running down his white dress shirt. “Oops!” she blurted out, grinning, and turning on her heels to escape James but she wasn’t fast enough as he immediately caught her, wrapping an arm tightly around her waist and pinning her to the nearest wall. He grabbed a few eggs from the crate and returned the favor, breaking them on her face, while she let out a string of giggles, as she struggled to get free of his grasp.

“Now how’s that?” he asked, his eyes glinting and a smile on his face, but Amelia raised her hands in surrender. 

James grabbed her hands, pinning them above her, just to stare into her honey-brown orbs that were shining with so much happiness, and radiating joy. The more they stared at each other, the more they subconsciously leaned into each other with Amelia’s heart racing wildly. Deep down, she knew what was coming but wasn’t ready to stop it. She’s been so scared of truly going all-in with James but now, she didn’t want to hold back anymore.

Leaning into her, James rested his forehead against hers, still staring into her eyes, with his warm breath fanning her nicely shaped lips. Just when she expected him to kiss her, he voiced out the words,

“Can I kiss you?” 

His words were barely above a whisper but she heard them and instead of responding, she closed the little distance between them by sealing her lips to his in a soft passionate kiss. As quickly as their lips had met, they parted, with Amelia heaving. It felt as though she’d just crossed a hurdle.

“You still want to cook?” she asked quickly, not wanting things to become awkward as a result of her abruptly ending the kiss. But James wouldn’t let her go. He enveloped her in a hug, rubbing her back soothingly before whispering into her ear;

“We don’t have to rush things, love. We’ll get there,”

“Thank you,” she murmured, her appreciation dripping from her words.

“Come on, let’s get on with lunch preparation. We still have to pick Dora up from school soon,”

Amelia couldn’t help but smile at the fact that he still recalled Dora’s closing hour. Putting the kiss behind them, they worked together to make lunch and in about an hour's time, they were done.

“Oh my God, we’re a bit late. I just hope she isn’t worried already,” Amelia lamented the moment they stepped into the living room and her eyes landed on the fancy wall clock.

“Come on, the faster we get out of here, the quicker we’ll get to her.”

“Let me get my pause then we can leave,” Amelia said, but the moment she turned on her heels, the doorbell rang. A frown of displeasure took over her face, wondering who it was that had come to waste the time they didn’t have.

“Are you expecting anyone at this time?”

“No…”

The words left her mouth as she reached for the door handle but when she pulled it open, she wasn’t ready for the sight that greeted her. 

Her eyes landed on very familiar cold gray eyes that had her legs freezing on the spot, mouth parting in shock.

“Mommy, daddy is home. He brought me from school.”

Dora’s excited voice broke through her trance, causing her eyes to drift to where the toddler and her worst nightmare were joined, arm in arm.