“No. You didn’t answer your cell, I called the office, and they said you’d left for the day—went home?”
“You worry too much, my love. What time are you coming? We can have dinner in our bedroom.”
At her suggestive tone, I smiled. “I’m on my way.”
RAY
Smiling, I dropped my cell onto the table laid out for dinner on the terrace and hoped Jack didn’t race that speed monster car of his home.
I pressed my nose to the velvety petals of the gorgeous pink rosebuds I carried in an old, beaten pewter vase and set it on the center of the linen-covered round table. I’d be the first to admit that I wasn’t very good at cooking, but reheating leftovers and eating junk food? Yep, still ace at those. The latter, much to Jack’s dismay. Yes, I knew I had to watch my diet since Mom’s illnesses could be hereditary.
But right now, I didn’t think that would be possible, ignoring junk food.
My mouth salivating, I almost floated downstairs into the kitchen, and ransacked the cupboards for my bag of candies. Darn. Jack must have hidden them again.
I was seriously considering why I married him…rrriiight. Because I was still hopelessly in love with the rat-fink, the only thing that hadn’t changed in the five years since Jack and I had married.
But in other ways…
I scrunched my nose as I searched another cupboard in the pantry. Jack’s grandmother treated me with icy reserve whenever our paths crossed, which was fine. Marie was now single and working in an art gallery. And Vivienne had been sober for four years straight, despite still living with Margo.
Chuck, sadly, had passed away two years ago. Pops missed him dreadfully, but he’d made new friends. My parents. Yup, constant visitors here. They were coming in the morning to spend the weekend with us. Mom still had scary moments, but she persevered with a smile.
And the best yet? Max and Ila had had a little boy two months ago.
Ha-ha! “Found you!” I snagged the cherry-flavored candies stashed in the china cupboard.
Unwrapping one, I popped it into my mouth, relishing the chewy, fruity explosion in my mouth, happy as a bug in a rug—then I groaned.
Five years later, Jack still called me that silly name. I didn’t mind so much, knowing why now.
We’d had our coming-out wedding, so to speak, the year after I graduated. And before that, I got an offer from Woods and Woods Architects. At least I knew it was my own hard work that had gotten me the job and not the fact that I was married to a Griffin.
Movement at the door drew snagged my attention.
Wilbur. He still remained skinny, at least his ribs didn’t stick out now, but his unwavering stare blistered me.
“Sheesh! No need for you to also jump on Jack’s bandwagon about my bad food choices,” I muttered, wheeling away from my disapproving cat.
I selected another candy, enjoying the chewy thing. Arms snaked around me, nearly startling the heck out of me.
“What are you doing?” Jack kissed my neck, his warm body pressed against my back, a soothing balm after my day at work. The job was demanding, granted, even though I loved it, but more, I was too damn tired and needed his arms around me.
“You’re in the candies again?”
“And you need to learn to hide stuff better—no! Forget I said that.” I hastily swallowed the cherry sweet, keeping the bag tucked to my chest and away from him. “I love these things, don’t judge.” I pivoted and kissed him.
“I’m afraid you’ll lose all your teeth before you’re thirty.” He took over, sucking on my lower lip before deepening the kiss. I sighed and leaned into him, then hurriedly broke free before Jack got ideas. I had plans.
“C’mon.” I grasped his hands and dragged him upstairs to our room. Yeah, the dragging only worked because he let me.
“Kitten, you don’t have to take me to the bedroom for this,” he drawled as we entered our room, “I can love you or fuck you anywhere—”
“Of course, you can. But this is a surprise.” I couldn’t contain my smile as I left my candy bag on the bedside table.
Both his brows rose as he shrugged off his suit coat and removed his tie, tossing them on the bed-bench. “More loving? How would that be a surprise? Unless…you’re going to let me do more than tie you up?”
I rolled my eyes. Jack’s mind still went in one direction when it came to me.
