Chapter Six: Daddy Is Back!

“Is everything alright?” Benjamin asked.

“Ye..yeah,” she quickly replied, forcing a smile, as she picked up her phone and slipped it back into her bag.

Emily's heart wouldn't stop racing. The words kept echoing in her head.

“I'm coming for you both.”

Who is coming for them? Why were they coming for them? Or was it Edward? No, this man wants nothing to do with her.

But who could have sent that message? Different thoughts ran through her head, but she remained calm.

As much as she tried to hide her fear, Benjamin knew something was off about her. He decided to make the hangout worthwhile to cheer her up. They spent the rest of the day with Benjamin, who took them to different fun places, successfully making Ethan like him more than he'd planned. This brightened Emily's mood, easing her fears. At the end of the day, Emily saw herself falling more for Benjamin than she'd intended. Seeing how well he bonded with her son made her like him more.

Emily couldn't believe that a time in her life would come when she would be at peace with herself.

Choosing to have Benjamin in her life was truly the best decision she had made in a while.

-----

It was a Friday afternoon and they'd closed early from work. Benjamin had driven with Emily intending to spend the rest of the day with her and Ethan.

Since Ethan was in school they decided to have some alone time before the toddler arrived.

They stepped into the house together.

“What do you wanna do?” Benjamin asked as he wrapped his arms around Emily's waist.

“Not sure, do you have something in mind?” She questioned, glancing up at him.

He reached for a stray strand of her luscious hair and tucked it behind her ear, staring into her eyes lovingly.

“I'm content with just holding you, my love,” as he gently pulled her against him.

He gently brushed his lips against her temples, making her blush.

“You look so beautiful,” he whispered.

Emily blushed harder.

“So what would you like to do?” Benjamin asked, bringing her mind back to the conversation.

“Are you good with cooking?”

She wiggled her brows, and a smirk curved her lips.

“Well, I would leave you to judge by putting up a simple dish,”

“Let's make lunch together then,”

“I'd love that, but I will have to change into something simple,”

“Suit yourself, my love,” he said, releasing her from his hold.

Emily moved towards her bedroom to change.

A few minutes later, she returned to see Benjamin without his suit jacket, and his dress shirt rolled up ready to hit the Kitchen. She grabbed his arm and led him to the kitchen, as they both wore Aprons.

As soon as they both decided on what to make for lunch, they began, with Emily asking him to chop the veggies.

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

“Meaning?” He quirked his brow in question.

She bobbed her head in response, making him chuckle.

Her musical laughter still rings in the kitchen.

“Teach me how to be your personal chef,” he winked at her, leaning over, as he quickly stole a kiss from her.

Emily didn't expect it, still stunned by his actions. Her eyes locked on his, as she felt her heart leaping inside her.

“We have a meal to prepare, sweetheart,” he spoke after a while breaking their trance.

“Yeah?” She asked with an innocent expression etched on her face.

Then she threw an egg at him that broke on his chest. That slimy liquid is running on his white shirt.

“Oops!” She blurted out, turning on her heels to escape Benjamin.

Benjamin immediately caught her, wrapping an arm around her waist, as he pinned her to the nearest wall. He grabbed a few eggs from the crate and broke them on her face.

Emily let out a string of giggles, as she struggled to get free of his grasp.

“Now, we are even,” he spat, with his eyes glinting and a smile on his face.

Emily raised her hands in surrender.

Benjamin grabbed her hands, pinning them above her, just to stare into her grey orbs that were shining with so much happiness and filled with joy.

Emily's heart raced wildly, the more they leaned into each other subconsciously, the more it raced. Deep down, she knew something she wasn't ready for was coming. She's been so scared of truly going all in with Benjamin but now, she doesn't want to hold back anymore.

Benjamin 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 said,

“Can I kiss you?”

Emily closed the distance between them by sealing her lips to his in a soft passionate kiss. As quickly as their lips had met, they parted, with Emily heaving. It felt as though she'd just crossed a hurdle.

“Are we still cooking?” She asked quickly, not wanting things to become awkward as a result of her, suddenly ending the kiss.

He gave her a tight hug, rubbing her back.

“We don't have to rush things, my love, we'll get there,” he whispered into her ear.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

“Come on, let's get on with lunch preparation, don't forget we still have to pick Ethan up from school,”

Emily couldn't help but smile at the fact that he still recalled Ethan's closing hour. Putting the kiss aside, they worked together to make lunch in about an hour.

Emily's eyes darted to the fancy wall clock, as they stepped into the living room

“Oh my God, we are late. I just hope he isn't worried already,” Emily Lamented.

“The faster we get out of here the quicker we'll get to him,”

“Let me quickly get my purse,” Emily said.

The moment she turned on her heels, the doorbell rang.

A frown of displeasure etched on her face, she wondered who it was that had come to delay them.

“Are you expecting anyone?”

“No…”

The words left her mouth as she stepped towards the door, but as soon as she opened it, she wasn't ready for the sight that greeted her.

Her eyes landed on a familiar dark brown orb that froze her in her tracks on the spot.

Her lips parted in shock.

“Mommy, Daddy is back, he brought me home from school.”

Ethan's excited voice broke through her trance, causing her gaze to fall on where the toddler and her worst nightmare hands were clutched together.