CHAPTER TWENTY
My bracelet buzzed.
I shot up in bed, finding it was still dark outside. With blurry, tired eyes, I read the screen. My shoulders sagged, knowing what was coming.
I muttered, “Hey, Butch.”
I yawned wide and patted my husband’s back when he started to stir. I kept rubbing in gentle circles until he settled down, his eyes opening a sliver to watch me.
“I know. I know. I told you I wouldn’t do this, but I need your help today,” Butch grumbled. “Will you come in?”
“You suck.”
“I know. I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t need it.”
“Dammit, fine.” I peered closer at my bracelet, reading the time. “I can make it there in about thirty minutes.”
Alaric groaned his dismay.
I patted his back again.
“Thank you, kid. See you soon.”
“Bye.” I tapped on my bracelet, ending the call. My eyes turned to the grumpy bear lying next to me. “I’m sorry. I need to help him. Why don’t you go to work today too and sort through paperwork or something?”
“Because I want my wife home. With me.”
My lips twitched. “You’re adorable in the morning.”
“Stay home. We’ll do something fun today. Nothing that has to do with crazy seers.”
I chuckled as I leaned down and kissed his heated cheek. “We’ll save that for another day. If you’re not going to work, just go back to sleep.”
He sighed and closed his eyes. “Take my train. I’ll only cause a ruckus at work if I return early.”
I slid out of bed, murmuring, “I love your grizzly ass.”
Dark brown eyes popped back open. “You do?”
“I do. And I’ll see you later tonight. You can kiss me all over then for saying that, too.”
He chuckled softly. “I knew I loved you the first morning you woke up in my home. I followed you and watched your every action. The way you touched everything with innocent reverence and admired with curious eyes. I knew you were the one for me, and I started falling at that moment. I haven’t fallen every day since.”
I snapped my gaping mouth shut. “Good grief. I am not that poetic and creative. Ireallycan’t beat that, so you’re just going to have to take my word that I love you too, with no pretty rainbows attached.”
He snorted hard. “My delicate beauty.”
I winked. “Yes, I am. And I’ll smell like fish when I get home. You’ll just have to deal with that too.”
* * *
I held onto my yellow hat as the sea took the boat up, and then washed it back down. Rain fell from the gray clouds above, washing the day in gloom.
I hollered at my boss over the freezing wind, “Fuck, it’s bad out today!”
“Hell yes, it is.” He wiped salt water off his face, calling, “Are you ready for me to bring the net up?”
I rolled my gloved hand into the air. “Bring it up!”
