He made it to the kitchen and stared at the mess for a long pause. He glanced at me and lifted an eyebrow. "Was the bear in the kitchen?"
"This is all me. I just wanted a cookie. And then I found the Oreos. Then this happened." I gritted my teeth, hoping like hell he wouldn't be angry. "This is what tests an accidental marriage, you know? But don't think too much about it. It'll be perfect when I'm done." I pushed my knuckles against my mouth.
Now was a good time to stop talking.
"I have Oreos?" he asked, frowning. "Where?"
"I tossed 'em." I pointed to a bag of expired food. There were two big garbage bags full of expired pantry items. "They'd gone stale."
He blinked hard at the trash sacks.
"But the, uh, bear. He's right out there by the… you know." I handed him his binoculars, nudging him toward the window.
He took a peek. Looked around thoroughly.
"Nothin' is out there," he said, finally.
"No, he's there." I crossed my heart. "Promise."
"Okay." He set down his binoculars and promptly walked into the edge of the table. "Ow."
"I know. I did the same thing," I said. "You'll get used to the new placement."
He paused, rubbing his thigh. I should motor on back to bed and pretend none of this had happened. I didn't. Instead, I simply watched my husband.
"Whatever it was, it's gone," he assured, handing me the binoculars to see for myself.
I took the binoculars and peeked.
He was right, though the trash can with the bushes right behind it and that branch right there looked a whole lot like a… bear.
"I think I saw the trash cans," I said, deflated, setting the binoculars down and glancing sheepishly at him.
"I don't know what I'm supposed to do right now to protect you from the trash cans." He fixed his eyes only on me, not the wreck of a mess I'd left behind.
"Well, don't leave me here alone. There could be all sorts of animals that show up." I didn't have a lot of requests, just that one.
He stepped forward, tracing his fingertip along my arm. "Nothing's getting in the house."
I actually believed him. I was safe here. I pressed my palms to his chest and stepped into his embrace.
"I'm going to kiss you. You good with that?" he asked.
"Uh, yes?" I sort of said, sort of asked. Then leaned back and gestured to my mouth.
He did as he promised, kissing me until I wasn't thinking at all about the wildlife. Somehow, he had backed me up the stairs, and oh, yes, yes, yes, Maybe I didn't need midnight organization when I could have… this.
But then he lifted me up. I was in his arms, his mouth was against mine, and finally, I was in the bed, and he was… tucking me in?
What the hell just happened?
I peeled open my eyes as he tucked the bedding around me.
"You need sleep, baby," he said against my mouth before he climbed into bed next to me. "It's been a long day."
That's how I found myself once again in his bed, thinking about his sheets. I had to stop thinking about Sloan's bedding.
Unfortunately, my brain would shut none of that off.
