Dani nodded. “It is. But I told him we’ll just face it together.”
Elena smiled. “That’s great. It seems like things have been worked out.”
Now that the high of her reconciliation with Cole was starting to die down, reality was starting to settle in. Everything wasn’t worked out, but Dani had to be hopeful. They had a lot to decide. Logic said that they would move in together. Blend their lives. Get married. Dani knew she needed to take this one step at a time. After all, they’d moved beyond two huge obstacles to find forgiveness. If they could do that, everything else should be a piece of cake.
“We’re beginning the process of putting things back together. It’s going to take some time to figure everything out.”
“I don’t need to worry about my job, do I? I hate asking the question. You’ve done so much for me.” Elena’s face was painted with worry, and Dani felt as though the bottom of her stomach might drop.
“There is absolutely nothing to worry about. Nothing. I need you to be there for the boys. Nothing about that has changed.”
The corners of her mouth turned into a smile. “Oh, thank God. I was worried.”
Dani went and sat on the edge of Elena’s bed. “Are you kidding? I couldn’t have gotten through the last five years without you. And the boys love you. I would never take you away from them. Now get some sleep. I’ll be home in the morning. I have to go in to the Glass House tomorrow afternoon to talk menu changes with the staff, and I told them I’d be there for tomorrow night’s dinner service. Between that crazy trip to California and everything with Cole, I’ve spent too little time in the trenches. I need to put my chef’s coat back on and get to work.”
“Well, just keep me posted. I’ll be at the house if you need anything.”
Less than an hour later, Dani returned with a duffel of clothes for her and the boys, along with toothbrushes and other essentials. Cole helped the boys change into their bathing suits while Dani left their bag in the guest room where the boys would sleep and took her own things to Cole’s master suite, directly across the hall.
Dani headed back downstairs. Cole had left the French doors leading out to the backyard wide-open, ushering in warm breezes and the sound of big splashes and delighted squeals. She stepped out onto the flagstone patio, which was already darkened by plenty of water. Cole and the boys had wasted no time. He was in the shallow end with them, hoisting Colin up high and tossing him into deeper water. Colin swam to the edge and shook the water from his face while his brother took a turn. Cole waited until Cameron swam to safety, then approached her, wading to the side where she was standing. If ever a man was poetry in motion, Cole was, especially while the droplets of water on his chest and shoulders glistened in the sun and his aviator sunglasses sparkled.
“You gonna put on your bathing suit and get in with us?” He reached out and touched her ankle with the tip of his finger. How the man could turn her on with a single touch, especially when she had so much on her mind, she didn’t know.
“I am. I was just enjoying the scenery.”
Cole’s eyebrows bounced. “Oh, yeah? Well, there’s plenty of time to enjoy that later tonight.”
* * *
As planned, the instant the boys were sound asleep, Dani and Cole were in his room, door locked, hands all over each other and clothes coming off faster than Dani could keep up with. It was no surprise things boiled over so quickly—they’d spent their entire evening together exchanging heated, smoldering glances while there was absolutely nothing they could do until the boys went to bed.
They kissed, tongues winding. They fell into a naked heap on the bed. Cole was quick to roll Dani to her back and start kissing her neck. She wanted him so badly she could hardly see straight.
“I’m so glad we worked everything out,” Dani managed before Cole claimed her mouth with another hot, wet kiss.
“Me, too.” Cole gripped her ribcage and drew her nipple between his warm lips, gently tugging.
Dani moaned softly, digging her fingertips into Cole’s shoulders. “I want you, Cole. Now.” She spread her legs and watched as she fell under his gaze. She’d never felt so wantedandloved. What a wonderful combination.
As he drove inside, Dani raised her hips to meet him. They fell into their rhythm effortlessly, just as they’d managed to fall back into sync with their lives. Cole’s eyes were dark with desire, his breaths ragged. Dani’s peak was approaching, so she wrapped her legs tightly around Cole’s hips, muscling him closer. He got the message loud and clear, bearing down in exactly the right now. A few forceful thrusts were all it took before Dani was unraveling in his arms. Cole followed with his climax, kissing her deeply as the pleasure shuddered through his strong body.
He rolled to Dani’s side, but was quick to pull her close. He tenderly brushed her messy hair from her forehead. His was lightly glistening with sweat.
“I love you so much, Dani. We can rebuild a life together.”
Dani smiled and burrowed her face in Cole’s chest, inhaling his warm smell. “I love you so much, too. And I know we can. We can do anything now.”
* * *
After a blissful night in each other’s arms, Cole and Dani awoke to the sound of tiny frantic knocks at his bedroom door. It sounded like there was a woodpecker out there. “Mommy? Can we come in?” the boys asked.
“It must be seven if they’re up,” she said to Cole, getting out of bed to open the door.
“How do you know it’s seven?”
“The boys know not to bother me before then unless it’s an emergency.”
“I guess I have a lot to learn.” Cole, too, got out of bed and joined Dani at the door. He crouched down for the boys. “Hey, guys. Do you remember how I showed you the other day how to feed the chickens? Do you think you could go do that for me?”
