Mackenzie pulled the duvet over her daughter's body and leaned in to kiss her forehead. She found herself squeezing the part of the wooden bed her hands could touch. Chase was just behind her, and she could feel his stare burn through the skin of her neck. She had felt as though she had been walking on eggshells since he arrived, yet there was a part of her overjoyed to have him there, to have him with her kids, and with her. She turned to look at him and found him staring at her, his hands tucked into his pocket. He did not wear a smile on his face, but there was something relaxed about him, an air of joy she had not sensed before. "There, they are both asleep." She spoke, a nervous chuckle escaped her lips, and he smiled as he watched them. Heavens! He was so…charming. "Yeah, they both needed it. It's been a long day." Mackenzie nodded, saying nothing. The next thirty seconds was spent in silence. Mackenzie locked her fingers together behind her back. She was suddenly aware o

Chase Axford made sure to drag himself to work the next morning, even though he had not initially planned to be there. He climbed down from his Tesla and strolled into the building with all the positive energy he could muster - every iota that flowed through his veins. There was a new and different glow about him, he could feel it, he could see it, and he sure as hell wasn't the only one. He noticed the stares from the doormen, and even the receptionist as they greeted him. He nodded in response, not with a smile, but he was certain they could tell he was more energetic than ever before. Chase smiled to himself and shook his head as the elevator doors opened up and he took the first step into his office corridor, tucking both hands into the pockets of his army green suit pants. He had barely gotten to his office door when his personal assistant, Nora, ran up to him. The sight of the young female running in stiletto heels while trying to keep her glasses on her nose bridge made him

"Hey, hey, baby." Mackenzie called out to her baby girl, squatting before her and patting the back of her head. Calista's tear filled eyes looked up at her, and Mackenzie swallowed hard. They had just finished breakfast, and Mackenzie was only half done with clearing the dishes when Calista began asking for her father. "You don't have to cry, baby." She kissed Calista's right cheek, but it did not seem to be enough. The little girl continued to stare at her with sad eyes. "I had a dream last night, and I saw daddy. Did I really see my daddy yesterday?" Mackenzie's heart twisted in her chest, a sharp and painful twist. She cupped Calista's cheeks and smiled sweetly at her. "Of course baby, you saw your daddy. He spent the whole day with you and Cameron, and even tucked you to sleep." "But he didn't sleep on Cameron's bed, so where is he?" Calista replied, stubbornly. Mackenzie heaved a sigh, and looked around the small dining room before she said anything. "Don't worry baby, o

The bartender poured her drink into a glass, picked up the glass with a professional delicacy and delivered it to her side of the table. Selene did not so much as look at him, not even to commend his effort. She reached for the glass and drowned the sour liquid down her throat with one swift gulp. She dropped the empty glass on the table before she glanced at the gold customized Rolex wristwatch that adorned her left wrist. Forty-five minutes, she hissed. Tapping her right foot on the ground, visibly restless, she continued to look at the door of the bar, then around her, just to see if the silly man had crawled into the bar while she was looking away from the door, and was currently searching for her. There were only a few people in the exquisite lounge, so he shouldn't have been so hard to find. The fact that he was, only meant he had not arrived yet, and Selene's patience was currently hanging on a thin thread, which five more minutes of his absense was sure to snap. Selene tor

Chase and Mackenzie strolled out of Richard's ward into the quiet hospital corridor. As they walked, Mackenzie found herself tucking her fingers into her coat at seconds intervals. The weather on its own was cold, but being close to Chase seemed to heat her up, causing all the cold to rush to the tip of her fingers. "Uhh. Why don't we just order a coffee?" She asked. There was a nervous edge to her voice, one she hoped Chase wouldn't notice. He did. He looked down at her and managed a small smile. Mackenzie knew she should have looked away in that moment, from his eyes that always threatened to suck her in, but she didn't. It wouldn't hurt once to let her guard down and be completely drowned in his gaze, would it? "I just wanted time alone with you." Mackenzie's eyes widened, sparkling with delight. Her stomach churned from thousands of butterflies. She turned away immediately, chuckling from the shivers that rushed down her spine. "I guess that much." She replied, digging her