Page 47 of Wanted

“Hmmmm…” I mumbled, gently stretching out my limbs. Lying on mystomach, I gathered the pillow in my hands as I pressed my face into the softcloud of goose feather. It took me a little while to realize it wasn’t rainingat all, that the tapping sound I thought I heard was coming from someonelightly smacking my ass. Over and over again.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

“What?” I whined, wanting nothing more than to fall back asleep.

“Wake up, sleepyhead.”Tap.Tap. Tap.

The only reason Alek would have to wake me from a sound sleepwould be because he was hungry again. For me. Although the thought wastempting, I hadn’t been asleep for long, the night’s activities surely goinginto the late hour.

Against my protests, he tried to rouse me again.

“Hmmmmm. What are you doing?” I said in my sleepiest voice.

“Come on, baby, you have to wake up now.” Alek’s voice was but awhisper, almost as if he was trying not to alarm me, but instead to wake mevery slowly.

I twisted my body toward him, still half-asleep. Stretching out,I draped my arm around him, pulling my body so close I was able to wrap my legaround his waist.

He laughed as he kissed my temple.

“Make love to me, Alek,” I murmured before clutching him evencloser.

“For as much as I would love to, sweetheart, you’re going to belate. You have to wake up. Now.” His warm breath tickled my ear, making methink naughty thoughts.

Wait…what does he mean I’mgoing to be late?

I tried to rub myself against him one more time, butsurprisingly, he unhitched my leg from his waist and hopped out of bed.

Hmph!Well, if hedidn’t want to give me some lovin’, then I was going back to sleep. I rolledover on my side and closed my eyes, but not before catching a glimpse of thetime glaring at me from my alarm clock. My eyes snapped open as I threw thecovers off me. Hurrying toward the bathroom, I shouted over my shoulder, “Whydidn’t you wake me up, Alek?” I never heard his answer as I slammed the doorand turned on the water.

Taking the fastest shower known to man, I ran back into mybedroom, threw on some clothes and gathered my hair into a messy bun. The wholewhile, Alek lazed across my bed, resting on his elbows as he watched me runaround like a crazy person. His eyes never left me, the corners of his lipsturned up as if he was privy to his own inside joke.“What’s so amusing? Do you like seeing me runaround like a nut job?”

“No, of course not. It’s just I’m the happiest man alive today.” Therewas such sincerity and love laced in his sentiment, it made me stop for asecond and take it all in. I never thought I would ever see him again, yetthere he was, back in my life. It was all a little surreal. We still had a longroad ahead of us, but I was willing to try again.

I sidled up next to him, rested my hands on his thighs and leanedin close to give him a kiss. “I’m going to be late for work.”

He followed me outside where we said our goodbyes, making plansfor dinner later that evening. A huge smile was plastered on my face as I headedto the shop. I knew I should enjoy every second of it because if life had taughtme anything, it was that happiness was fleeting. There was always somethingunexpected lurking around the corner.

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I muddled through my normal routine at work, the only differencebeing I was smiling and laughing more, and apparently people took notice.

“My, my, my. Aren’t we in a good mood today?” Megan commented. It’dbeen over three months since I’d hired her on a temporary basis. She wasworking out well, so I’d taken her on permanently as a part-time employee. Herpersonality really jived with not only mine and Matt’s, but the otherpart-timers, as well. She was a good fit.

“What’s the occasion?” she asked, looking me over as if theanswer was somewhere on my person.

“Let’s just say my love life is back to where it should be.” Ifound I was almost giddy with excitement.

“Ohhhh, you met someone,” she cooed. Cradling her head in herhands, she leaned forward on the counter. “Tell me all about him. Where did youmeet?” Before I could answer, she blurted out, “Wait, is it the guy your friendset you up with last night?”I forgot Ieven mentioned my plans to her.

“No, not exactly. It’s an ex-boyfriend I’ve re-connected withrecently.”Recently as in last night.“Everything happened so fast, but it’s official.” I was smiling so big I didn’teven notice her face at first.

“Tell me it’s not the jerk who came in here the first day Istarted.” Her lip curled up in disgust at the mere thought of him, whichinstantly put me on the offensive. I think she realized what she’d said becauseshe tried to smooth things over. Well…sort of. “Sorry, I don’t like him. Herubs me the wrong way, Sara.”

“Well, Megan,” I started, reminding myself everyone was entitledto their own opinion, even if it was the opposite of every other red-bloodedwoman out there who ever came in contact with the man. “Yes, Alek and I areback together. I’m simply curious. Why don’t you like him? Was he rude to youor something?”

“Not per se. I don’t know. I have a bad feeling about him, that’sall.”

“Well, I can assure you he’s a good man. A bit intense sometimes,but a good man nonetheless.”

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