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Amber could hardly wait to see Jules! Hopefully, they could start getting close again. Especially now that Crystal was sleeping through the night. She wished he would stay in town more.
Her body was back to its normal size and back in shape—even her tummy was flatter again after so many weeks of giving birth, especially thanks to Jules and his ownership of one of the country’s largest healthcare facilities, R.M. Fitness Centers. She had also enrolled in one of the Family Center’s Mom and Tots program to meet with other young mommies. Venus had joined her with little son, Christopher-Daniel, while her older son, Tristan, was at preschool. It all worked out to be good timing.
The telephone rang and Amber picked up the cordless handset that rested on the marble stone countertop by the sink.
“Hi, Mrs. Romero,” Venus teased her.
“Hi, yourself, Mrs. Romero,” Amber bantered back.
“How are you feeling today?”
“Much better,” Amber responded, stifling a yawn. Then her stomach did that lurching flip flop all over again. Her heart fluttered in her chest. “Well, almost better,” she corrected, her voice trailing off.
“Almost better?” Venus sounded puzzled. “Why? What’s wrong?”
“Oh, nothing.” Amber sighed heavily as she continued to scrub around the sink. Why was she feeling this way? She should be the happiest woman on the Earth. She was happily married to the hottest, sexiest man alive, in her own humble opinion, and he showered her with love and affection.
“I just feel like I’ve rushed into everything. The whole marriage thing after having Crystal.” And I have a sinking feeling Jules feels the same way, too.
“But, Amber, it’s what you wanted.”
“I know. I just hope it’s what Jules wanted, too.”
“Well, why do you say that?”
“Well, he’s been conveniently busy with business since we tied the knot. I hope he’s not having second thoughts.”
“Oh, Amber, you know the Romeros—all work and very little play. Jules just launched the Family Center franchise and then he’s working with Dion on the international expansion of the business college. You know the Romeros have a lot of business interests. There’s no slowing down now.”
“I know. I guess I’m feeling overwhelmed. And I feel terrible for feeling that way. I should be so grateful.”
“Aw, Amber, don’t feel that way. Trust me. I know you feel the guilt thing. Your life is nothing more than sleep, wake, feed baby, change baby, sleep, wake and repeat, right?” Venus said warmly. “It’s the joys of early motherhood, girl. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to take some time for yourself. And there’s nothing wrong with wanting time alone with Jules once in a blue moon. Trust me, it’s healthy for the marriage.”
Marriage? What marriage? Well, talk about a “shot gun” wedding. Amber practically forced him to push the date of their nuptials earlier than intended—like when she was “pushing” her little angel into the world.
“Why don’t you let me babysit for you while you and Jules spend a weekend together?”
“Oh, Venus, I can’t ask you to do that!”
“Why not? And you didn’t ask, I offered! Shelly did the same for me when Christopher-Daniel was born. It was a life-changer. Trust me. I didn’t realize how much we were drifting apart after Daniel was born with my exhaustion and hormonal imbalances. This is a time to really bond with your baby but not forget to cater to your own needs and your husband. It’s not like you’ll be gone for long.”
Just the thought of being away from Crystal and leaving her in someone else’s care terrified Amber. Crystal was her little baby. She was all Amber really had in this world—next to being married to Jules, of course. But she was so fiercely protective of her child. That was just it. When Jules had tried, between his visits, to get sexual with her, she was feeling so groggy from the sleepless nights not to mention that her body hadn’t quite snapped back into shape until recently, that she was always too tired to really do anything. But now, Crystal, thank heavens, was sleeping through the night and Jules was going to be back in town more. But he seemed to be emotionally distant at times. Something was bothering him and she couldn’t quite pinpoint it.
“What about your aunt? She could babysit, too.”
“Um. I don’t think so, Venus.”
“Why not?” Venus paused before answering her own question. “Oh. Never mind.”
“Exactly. She’s a sweetheart. I mean, she really tries but she’s not exactly motherly material. I mean, seriously, she barely likes me. Besides, Jules wasn’t all too happy when she visited last month. The way she held Crystal.” Amber shook her head at the thought, and her stomach clenched. “Well, let’s just say that Jules is just as protective as I am over Crystal and he took Crystal from Aunt Mavis’s hands so fast it wasn’t even funny.” A small grin touched her lips at the memory, knowing Crystal was safe but the way Jules had reacted when they were all in the study. It was quite a sight to see.
“You know Grandpa Toni would love to babysit if I’m not available.”
“Oh, don’t I know it. I love dear old Gramps. But with his cane and his back…” Amber sighed. “I guess I’m just making all the excuses in the book, aren’t I?”
“You are, darling. I hope you’re not worried about…?” Venus paused again.
Amber’s insides tightened. She knew where Venus was heading with her interrogation. Amber was terrified of getting intimate with Jules right now. She was nervous about not pleasing him, even though he had seen her body with the disfigurement from the accident. Oh, heavens, Amber hoped she wouldn’t have any trouble around Jules. But oh, her body cried out to be touched by him when he was near her. Even when he was overseas and she heard the silky, deep voice of his sexiness from their long distance phone calls into the night when he was on one of his business trips.
Oh, Jules.
She craved him, desired his soft hard body over her. But oh, that hesitation, that emotional scar from her past.
Amber closed her eyes tightly and drew in a deep breath before opening them again. Venus was right. Amber deserved to be happy. Jules deserved to have all of her. She was ready. She was not going to put off her innermost desire. What on earth was she afraid of? Not pleasing her husband the way she knew he could pleasure her? Oh, his sexually addictive kisses, like an elixir of desire to drink in and savor. She loved the touch of his lips. Her body was ready. No longer sore from giving birth after a difficult pregnancy.
Things would be different.
“Listen, Venus, I hear a car pulling up in the driveway.” Amber’s heart galloped in her chest like a school girl about to meet her crush for the very first time face-to-face.
“My prince has arrived.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Though Jules couldn’t wait to get back home to see Amber, he was feeling stressed and fatigued right now. Marriage wasn’t exactly what he thought it would be. Amber was busy with the baby around the clock—and rightfully so. And well, he just got lost with business and working hard around the clock himself. Still, he obsessed about her on the plane from Europe. Amber and his little angel. His daughter, Crystal. His family meant the world to him. Jules didn’t know what he was missing out on until that special day when he made it official with Amber and tied the knot. What a ceremony that was! They both welcomed their baby girl into the world at the same time. Well, that was some story he couldn’t wait to tell his grandkids one day.
Grand kids.
Imagine that.
Jules still had to get his head around the fact that he was a father. He was a little girl’s daddy. Didn’t matter that she wasn’t biologically related. He still felt an undeniable sense of protection and closeness to her. She was so precious, so adorable. The way she looked into his eyes with her large, brown, innocent eyes made him melt every time. Amber even accused him of spoiling her. Well, she was only three-months-old. Of course he’d spoil her! He’d given her everything a dad could give his baby. She had the most advanced and latest toys on the market and Jules made sure that practically everything in her room was sterilized—even though that was going a bit far and admittedly unnecessary. He’d even set up a scholarship fund for her already even though she hadn’t spoken her first word yet.
In the past, Jules thought he would do anything for his brothers and dear old Gramps but having a child and a wife was a different feeling. If anyone so much as caused them to draw a tear, he’d have that sucker for dinner. He was fiercely protective of his little family. He wouldn’t hesitate to lay down his life for them if he had to. That was the burning love he felt in his gut, in his soul.
He slammed the car door of his SUV shut after he yanked out his luggage. Dion had already gone to his own place. The meeting in the capital of Lendovia, one of the wealthiest principalities in the Mediterranean, where their latest expansion project to open up educational facilities lay, threw a few kinks in their plans regarding expanding Romero’s sponsored colleges and educational programs. But they would deal with that after the weekend, on Monday. Now it was all about family time. Now if he could just fight this fatigue from all that flying and those boardroom meetings.
