Reasons Why - 9

Chapter 9

"Good night?" Phil asked as he squeezed past her in the doorway to the hallway. He was slurping coffee form a mug already in his suit as he looked for his shoes. Didi was also ready for work and was in the kitchen packing lunch for the day when she glanced up to see Chloe.

"You ok? You look tired! Late night?"

Chloe was only wearing her short pyjamas and it wasn't until Didi's eyes widened that she realised that she hadn't covered the hickie.

"That's from Saturday, he's been suitably chastised! And I was home by twelve last night...just didn't sleep well."

She raised an eyebrow but seemed to believe her, "you ok still for tonight? We'll be home a little early but then out again for maybe seven?"

Chloe reached for the coffee pot and filled a mug, "Chris is coming over. To keep me company."

Didi grinned, but it was left to Phil, who'd just entered the kitchen, to tease her, "seeing a lot of him considering you don't want to!"

Chloe glanced at him over her shoulder, "Chill out brother! One minute I don't have enough fun, and now I'm having too much?"

Jangling his keys at Didi he laughed, "Not at all,  Dee and I just don't have this excitement in our lives any more!"

"Ignore him Chloe, he has more than enough fun! I'm having a ride from Phil today so you can use the car. Go where you want!"

"Cool!"

Chloe was relieved that they left before her brother spotted the lovebite. How long do these things last? She was busy making breakfast when Carter shouted from upstairs, the childgate was across the top and neither him nor Mikey could come down. Lifting the youngest one and letting Carter follow them, she was almost done with feeding them when the phone rang. 

"Phew! I'm glad you answered and not your brother!"

Chloe sighed with pleasure, "Hi Chris, how are you this morning?"

"Better now I've spoken to you! I've just got half hour before my training session starts. Just thought I'd see how your day was going?"

"My day?" She laughed, "I'm still in my pj's and fighting some porridge into a two year old! Doesn't get more glamorous than that!"

He was quiet for a moment, then replied, "you have NO idea what that could conjure up in my mind!! What you doing later?"

"Mikey! Don't throw that!" She intercepted a spoonful of thick porridge before it hit the floor or even worse his brother. "Sorry, these are two boisterous kids! So I have Didi's car. Not sure where I'll take them. But I do hear Beacon Hill is a great place to go!"

"Good plan! I may try and join you there after lunch, if you don't mind? I'm training quite close. Could buy you a sandwich at the cafe?"

Chloe took a deep breath, her heart was racing purely at the thought of seeing him, "I'm taking a picnic, I'll add a few more things in case you can join us!" 

He groaned, "do you have any idea how big that park is? I'll have to find you!" Eventually he named a few landmarks and they decided on a rough location for the picnic.

Carter loved freedom, sprinting off in a dozen different directions, as she intermittently allowed Mikey to stumble along the path gripping her hand in his wake.They walked, played football, or rather 'soccer', then finally made for the rendez-vous point with Chris.

"You didn't tell me there was a farm here Carter!" she exclaimed as they saw the signs for the Children's Farm. "Shall we come back and see that another day?"

Carter nodded enthusiastically as they walked across the grass, and excitedly told her about ALL the animals that were there. 

They were sat on a blanket under the shade of a tree, Mikey sleeping, even Carter quiet and subdued when Chloe spotted a figure jogging across the grass towards them. Chris. Chloe drank in the vision of him, a sleeveless t-shirt and royal blue shorts showing his tanned muscular arms, similar muscular calves powered him towards them. His dark hair was hidden under a baseball cap, and despite the dark shades covering his eyes, she knew they were focused on her. 

"Hey!" he whispered as he realised both kids were quiet. "Tiring morning?"

She nodded, stroking Carter's head that had fallen onto her thigh, his eyes closed. "Lots of running around!"

He dropped to his knees next to her, and she automatically lifted her face to his for a kiss. He grinned at her eagerness, and as their lips met, she patted a slap of chastisement on to his upper arm. But it was a mere gesture, because as soon as his mouth, those beautifully shaped lips touched hers, she was lost, again. 

Suddenly remembering that they were in a park, a public place, with the children, she pulled away. But her hand remained, cupping his cheek. 

"Can I go away then come back again if I get that greeting again?" 

She repeated the slap to the shoulder, but again there was no malice. "How long can you stay here?"

He glanced at his watch, "maybe an hour, I've got a training session later, with this new cv instructor."

Chloe leaned back on her  elbows and smiled at him, "is this you making excuses for why you fall asleep halfway into Never Been Kissed?"

Chris was already ruing the fact that he had this energy draining and loaded day this of all days. There was a certain apprehension linked with tonight and he hated the thought of being below par. But his game paid his bills. But he couldn't have imagined a greater lunch hour than that picnic, salami subs, olives and strong creamy goats cheese, all interspersed by kisses from the lovely Chloe. His idea of heaven. 

Carter woke as they were finishing their meal. And Chris chased him around and played games with him for the rest of the hour. They all made for the exit then Chloe watched him jog off to his car, a shiver of anticipation tickling up her spine. 

"And you know where the doctor's number is?"

Chloe looked at Didi with exasperation, she was hardly a teenager on her first adventure in babysitting, she'd cared for these boys for almost two weeks. "Will you just go already? We'll be fine!" As Didi smiled, she added, "and Didi...you look stunning!"

"Doesn't she just?"

Phil appeared in the doorway, handsome in his jet black tux and crisp white bow tie. They both looked at Didi who looked almost majestic in her floor length sapphire coloured gown. Her hair was coiled into a pleat, simple diamond earrings her only other adornment. 

Didi blushed as Phil held out a hand to her, "so quit worrying about inane things. We all know it's your diversionary tactic. You look divine!" He kissed her in a way that was so romantic, Chloe felt like an intruder. But it was the best display of their love that anyone could imagine, and for a moment Chloe hoped that she'd find that happiness with someone, at some point. Nothing else really mattered.

As she waved them off, Chloe nipped upstairs to check on the boys, who were both snoring softly. Closing their doors, she headed back to the lounge and switched on the BBC24 channel and caught up on some home, then World news. She was there when the doorbell rang, and she walked with much trepidation to the door.

Chris was casually lounging against the porch looking delightful in his pale denim jeans that seemed to hug him more than was fashionable, but super sexy, and a white t-shirt, mirror aviator shades over his eyes, his short dark hair ruffled from the journey in his open topped car.

"Hi!" Chloe breathed, trying to stop her eyes wandering rampantly over him. But when he removed his shades, and those chocolate brown eyes pierced hers, she could look nowhere else. If looks were electric, this one alone would light the whole city. 

Nibbling on the arm of the sunglasses, he slowly looked her up and down before meeting her eyes again, "hi!"

Chloe had taken ages to choose what to wear, and the approving smile he gave her made it all worthwhile. She knew he loved the miniskirt she'd worn the previous night, so she'd chosen a similar one in white, and coupled it with a black long sleeved top in light cotton, that hung asymmetrically off one shoulder, fortunately the love bite free side. She was enjoying the lack of effort her new short hair needed and it was sat spikey and roughly around her neck and ears. 

"You look good enough to eat," he offered in a growl as he leaned in for a kiss. And what a kiss. It took up where that hot look had left them. Their bodies molded as their tongues tangled, lips mashed and teeth nibbled. Chloe was a mess, her legs felt weak and her heart was hammering against her ribs, and she was completely uncaring that they were on the doorstep in the still bright sunshine.

"You're going to get me arrested!" he murmured against her collar bone, his breath against her flushed skin driving her wild. 

Chloe could feel him hard against her, and knew that this wasn't a one way desire, but then she'd always known that. "You'd better come in!" She breathed back, lifting his face so that he was once again meeting her eyes.

Nodding, he retrieved his sunglasses that had ended up on the floor in their melee of passion, then he followed her into the house. 

"Do you know a pizza delivery number?" she asked, getting two bottles of beer out of the fridge. 

Chris pulled his mobile phone out of his pocket and pressed a speed dial number, "can I have a large pizza delivered?" Through the medium of sign language they agreed toppings and side orders, then he hung up. All of a sudden it was awkward. There was this unwritten expectation between them, Chloe didn't know how far she anticipated things going, but she knew that him being there signaled a big change in their relationship and she was both scared and exhilarated.