Perfect Fit - Brenda Jackson [113]
Sage raised arched brows, surprised. “What made you decide to do that?”
Rose shrugged. “I just couldn’t see him sending his girls away. He loves them so much, and he’d be miserable the entire time without them.”
Sage nodded, knowing that was true, but still, that didn’t explain why Rose had offered her services, especially after what she’d shared with Sage a week ago.
“And besides, like you said the other day, it’s not like I have a lot to do around here every day while you’re at work. I may as well put my time to good use.”
Sage smiled. “I’m glad you’re doing it, and it will work out perfectly.”
“I think so, too, although he did tick me off today and almost made me withdraw my offer.”
Sage lifted a brow. “Really? What did he do?”
Rose’s face took on an irritated expression. “He asked me for references, which made me feel like he thought I had a criminal record or something.”
Sage laughed. “Oh, Rose, he didn’t mean it that way, and you know it. You can’t blame parents for being cautious these days, you know. And he probably wanted to make sure you were up for the job. I can imagine that two four-year-olds can be a handful.”
“Well, I’ll be able to handle them. I used to earn money baby-sitting as a teenager.”
Sage smiled. “Then, I’m sure you’ll have everything under control.”
Rose placed the dish towel on the rack. “I’m going to start in a few days. I’ll go to his house every morning before he leaves for work at six and stay until he gets home which is usually around five. Since it seems the snow days are officially over—thank goodness—I won’t have to worry about that.”
Sage shook her head, smiling. “Seems like you and Parnell have come up with a workable plan.”
“Yes, but it’ll only be for three weeks until that lady comes back.”
Sage studied Rose intently for a moment. “Why are you so uptight about it?”
Rose shrugged. “I’m not. I’ll do fine, but I plan to stay detached.”
Sage wondered how Rose would manage to remain detached from a good-looking, single man who had beautiful twin daughters. But she decided not to ask Rose that. “Do whatever you think you have to do, Rose.”
The house was completely dark, and the candles were lit. The scent of vanilla filled the room. It was pamper-yourself night, and everything was the same except the place. Gabe had convinced Sage to hold her weekly ritual at his place instead of hers, and she had readily agreed.
He lay propped up against the pillows in his bedroom with his gaze occasionally straying to the connecting bathroom door. Sage had been in there for almost an hour already. Soft music, the sound of Miles Davis, floated through the room, and he thought a few times he actually heard her humming.
He smiled. Just like his body was humming in anticipation of tonight. It had been almost two weeks since they had made love. That quickie in the elevator a week ago didn’t count. It had been that long since they had shared a bed, and he was antsy, hot with readiness. He had missed her and was glad she had agreed to spend the night.
“Gabe?”
He glanced up, and she was there in the doorway, a beautiful vision dressed in the sexiest nightgown he had ever seen. His breath caught. His pulse rate increased. The candlelight hit her at an angle that made her seem too stunning to be real. But he knew that she was real. She had planted herself so deeply in his heart, there was no way he would ever be able to get her out of there, even if he tried.
He sat up in bed. “Come here, baby.”
She seemed to float over to him and crawled into bed next to him. Her scent of vanilla made his nostrils flare with desire. She eased under the covers and snuggled close to the warmth of his body.
“I missed this,” she said softly. “This closeness, the need for you to hold me in your arms while I sleep.”
Gabe glanced down at her, smiling. “You don’t have sleep on your mind, do you?”
She shook her head, grinning. “No, sleep is the furthest thing from my mind.”
“It’s the furthest thing from my mind,