Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36689 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36689 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
“Good. Looking forward to getting to know him.”
I open my mouth to tell him the real truth, that I barely know my husband. But before I can confess, his phone rings. He gives me a wink. “Duty calls. See you then if I don’t see you before.”
I watch him disappear and sigh. I’ll tell him the truth soon, but not yet. I need to wait until a good moment. Besides, he’s on call, and it’s time for me to go home. I can’t believe how much I’m looking forward to seeing Cord again.
It’s just excitement because my body has been conditioned to expect orgasms when I see him. That’s all it is, I tell myself as I step inside the townhouse. I follow the overwhelming smell of paint to find my husband in just his blue jeans and cowboy boots. He’s in a white T-shirt with a few specks of yellow paint on it, holding a paint roller in one hand. He gives me a triumphant smile. “Kitchen is done.”
“You painted my kitchen,” I exclaim as I creep toward the pet gate that he’s already put up to keep the babies from getting into the paint. Everything is clean and gleaming, the floors swept and the appliances carefully taped up. He thought of everything.
“And I got takeout for dinner too,” he says and steps around a tray of paint to grab the food. He passes the cartons and drinks before he steps over the gate with those long legs of his.
After feeding Molly and Milo, we settle on the couch together. The two of them are between us, watching eagerly as we eat with chopsticks. No doubt they’re both hoping Cord will give them a treat if they’re patient.
“How did your interview today go?” If I’d ever asked Stuart, it would have been a touchy subject. He would have accused me of nagging him or wanting to know his business. But things are different with Cord.
“Good,” he says brightly. “Worked for almost six hours and kept up with the team which means Crew is hiring me on a temporary basis.”
“What exactly do you do for Crew?”
“Logging.”
I nearly swallow a piece of shrimp the wrong way. “Like cutting down trees? Isn’t that dangerous?”
“Sure, but the money is good. Besides, I get out there in the fresh air with a group of guys on the mountain. He’s got this whole conservation and preservation thing going. We plant two trees on average for every one that gets taken, and every part of the tree is used. Nothing is wasted. It’s sustainable, good for the environment, and good for his town.” There’s no hiding the admiration in his voice. I love that he’s someone who needs to believe in the mission of where he works. It’s not enough to clock in and take a paycheck. He needs to know he’s making a difference and holy hell, it’s hot to think about him out there with a chainsaw, cutting down trees. “What about you? How did your first day back go?”
“Everyone was really nice,” I answer quietly.
“You don’t sound all that thrilled,” he presses.
“You know what you were just talking about, the passion in your voice? It’s been so long since I felt that level of passion for my company. Don’t get me wrong. I still love it, but something is different now.”
He’s quiet for a long moment, and I like this about him. I like that he pauses to think before he speaks. “Sometimes, our passion for the work disappears. When I started in the Marines, I was excited and driven. But on that final helicopter flight out, I knew I was never coming back.”
Sadness blankets me as I connect the dots. The scars on his chest, the way he mentioned the bomb blast, and the final helicopter out. “You should have said something about our tour in the helicopter. I could have changed the plan.”
He shakes his head. “I’d go to the ends of the earth for you.”
I finish my food and place it on the coffee table, tucking a leg under myself. I don’t know what to make of that statement, so I tuck it away to think about it later. “I guess I’m feeling restless. I have been for about a year. I miss the days when I spent all of my time inventing new recipes for my fur babies. Now it’s all just endless contracts, negotiations and marketing decisions.”
“Is there a way you could go back to doing that? I mean, it’s your company. You should get to do the fun part.”
I shrug. I haven’t thought about it like that, and it’s another thing to store away. “I did see my dad at work today. We normally have lunch together on Saturdays. Can you come along? You know, for appearance’s sake.”