“When did I say that? I actually would like very much to have children and be a mother, but I’m looking for the kind of guy who’ll split the chores right down the middle.”
“That’s fair,” he said.
Huh. Based on Deidre’s description of Cole’s plans, I’d would’ve guessed he wanted a little woman to cook for him—especially after the way his eyes lit up the other day when he came home to see me wearing an apron while holding a tray of cookies.
“And I think guys should be able to stay at home if they want to,” I said slowly.
“Me, too.” He turned those hazel eyes on me, and I was in danger of getting lost in them. “If a family can somehow afford to be one-income, why does it matter which parent stays home?”
Be still my heart.
We continued to drink our tea, and the chamomile slowly worked its magic. My eyelids were getting heavy when Cole asked, “And what about you? Thinking of making a career in liquor distribution?”
I spewed a little of my tea and went into a coughing jag that had him pounding on my back. I looked him in the eye and deadpanned, “It’s been my lifelong dream, Frost.”
He chuckled. “Seriously, Longfellow, why are you still at that job?”
I took in a deep, ragged breath. “Because I’m trying to prove to my parents that I am a responsible adult. I’m tired of hearing, ‘Why can’t you be more like your brother? Zach is already a Vice-President of Very Important Things.’ Step one was to keep a job for at least a year, preferably so I can get a new job lined up before leaving this one.”
“And step two?”
“To make the new job a better job?”
“But what kind of job would make you happy?”
I snorted. “All jobs are just work.”
We sat and sipped in silence until he heaved a sigh. “I know I overreacted in the mall the other day—”
“D’ya think?”
“But it just didn’t seem like something you’d want to be doing, sitting on Santa’s lap like a sexpot. Your job certainly didn’t look like what you were describing to your mom last week.”
I sighed deeply. “It wasn’t. It isn’t.”
There. You admitted it.
I played with a layer of my tulle skirt. I still couldn’t believe I’d played rooftop basketball with an NBA player while wearing a Christmas dress.
Although having to get stitches in my heel felt very much in keeping with my life in general and the spirit of the Not So Naughty list in particular.
“The truth is, my boss is an utter horndog, and my job is miserable.”
“I knew it!” Cole looked as though he wanted to punch someone. I had some suggestions. “Why don’t you quit?”
I stared at him.
“Oh, wanting to prove you can keep a job. Got it.”
“That, and I’m supposed to be up for a promotion that would transfer me to a different part of the warehouse. More moneyandI would get away from Isaac.”
“I’ll keep my fingers crossed.”
“It’s supposed to be a done deal.”
“Even better,” he said.
We sat in silence, and his eyes closed.
