Lead On (Complete)

~ Chapter 23 ~

Rose finally broke the kiss, her arms still wrapped around him, and she grinned. His hands ran over her back before they grazed her ass and he lifted her, her legs wrapping around his hips. Her eyes locked with his and once more, her head moved as she pressed her lips against his. This time her only excuse was that she wanted to do that, that she really enjoyed his kisses.

After a few moments, he broke the kiss and walked to the shore, although he didn't put her down or let her go. He pulled back and looked her over. She ducked her head, all of a sudden feeling self-conscious, and tried to pull her arms in to cover herself but he grabbed them and shook his head.

"I'm just admiring you, Rose. You are a beautiful woman and I feel so lucky to have you in my arms." She played with his hair that had grown a bit on his neck.

"Jeff," she started but he stopped her with a finger on her lips.

"I know what you will say. That I don't have you, and I don't. I'm working on it and I know I got a long way to go. But I don't say this to win you back; I'm telling you because it's the truth. You have always been gorgeous to me, you know this, but it just seems like the bits of aging you've done over the years have made you more gorgeous. Your eyes pop a bit more with those little wrinkles and your smile shines more with the laugh lines; you're just so much more stunning and I need you to know it."

She ducked her head at that, a faint heat creeping up her neck and cheeks. She hadn't been told that in a long while and even if he was just saying it, it felt good to hear. "Thank you," she mumbled and he smiled.

"If I was an evil man too, I would use this gorgeous moonlight and try to ravage this beauty I'm holding. But since I'm not that type," he said, walking out of the water with ease while holding her still, "I'm going to grab your towel and send you off with a goodnight." He put her on her feet and bent down to grab her towel, wrapping it around her shoulders.

If she allowed him, he could be a great guy for her, he really could. And there was no denying that she wasn't as angry as before. She slipped her flip-flops on and then watched as he grabbed his own towel and wrapped it around his hips. He wrapped his arm around her waist and led her back to the house, locking the door behind them.

"Good night, Jeff," she whispered and he winked at her.

"Good night, Rose." She walked up to her room, a smile on her face.

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Rose leaned on the counter the following morning as she watched Jeff as he feed Henry, making both the faces and the noises and she couldn't fight the smile even if she wanted to. Jeff had a different vibe about him when he was like this, an innocence almost and she really enjoyed it. He was helping his cause and he didn't even know it and that was the best part. She giggled to herself and finally stood up as Suzie walked into the room and pulled up the chair by Jeff. She nodded to the man and Jeff smiled back before turning back to Henry.

"What do you want for breakfast sweetie? Mom had gotten your favorite cereal, want that?"

"Yeah!" Jeff smiled and glanced over at Rose.

"In the cupboard above the sink where little girls can't climb is some Lucky Charms, can you grab those, please? And ease out the squishy things." Rose bit back her laughter as she grabbed the box and poured Suzie a bowl, making sure the marshmallows were limited.

"Here you go, sweetie." Rose poured the milk for her and Suzie beamed at Jeff.

"She's a keeper Uncle Jeff, I like her."

"I'll tell you a secret munchkin, I like her too." Rose just shook her head at these two and laughed as Henry grunted with the delay in food. "Okay, okay little man, I got to make sure my ladies are okay, dang." Rose put the milk away and turned back to the trio.