Page 28 of Counted

She came toward him in a series of fast, urgent steps. Almost a run but not quite.

He reached a hand out toward her, and when she kind of burrowed into him, he gathered her in with his arm. He had no idea where the wave of protectiveness came from, but he had an irrational urge to swing her up into his arms.

“I’m so sorry,” she said unevenly, her voice muffled by his shirt. “Only I could get swept away by a soccer team and then get totally trapped by them.”

“It’s my fault. I was supposed to be watching out for you.”

“That’s nice of you to say.” Her face was flushed and smiling as she finally pulled away from him. “But we both know it was my fault. I need to learn to be pushier and force my way through crowds. I’m just not loud and tough enough.”

“You don’t have to be loud and tough.” He still had his arm around her, and they were still getting jostled by all the people pushing past them. “I’m supposed to look out for you. I’ll do better. I promise.”

That made her blush even more. She rubbed her face against his sleeve and then stiffened her spine and grabbed for her suitcase handle again. “Can we please get out of here?”

“Yes.” He hesitated only a few seconds before he grabbed for her small hand. “We’ll do it this way so you won’t get away from me again.”

Jude had never been a hand-holder, but he didn’t mind it at all as they made their way out of the station and then outside to where their hired car was waiting.

It was kind of nice. Feeling like he was helping her. Knowing that she needed him. Being able to protect her even in a small way.

She’d already taken care of him repeatedly during the few days of their marriage. It was reassuring to know that he could also take care of her.

5

Eve wokeup the next morning, afraid she’d overslept.

The bed was unfamiliar, and she had a weird tension in her stomach—like something significant was happening that her sleeping mind hadn’t quite latched on to yet.

It took only a few seconds of blinking up at the ceiling for her to orient herself.

She was in the big bed in the fancy suite in an expensive Paris hotel.

On her honeymoon.

With a quick inhale, she turned her head toward the left, but the space beside her was empty.

She and Jude had agreed to stay awake all day yesterday so they could more quickly overcome their jet lag. Since they’d been tired after the flight and train ride into Paris, they’d made it an easy day, hanging out in cafés and strolling in parks. Jude had carried his small laptop so he could write, and Eve had alternated between reading and people watching. They’d eaten omelets for an early lunch and had a relaxed French provincial dinner and in between had done a lot of snacking.

She’d enjoyed the entire day.

They’d gone to bed early, and she’d been way too tired to consider suggesting sex. But they’d slept in the same bed, and it hadn’t been particularly awkward or uncomfortable. They’d stayed on their separate sides, and Jude didn’t snore or toss and turn very much.

As far as she knew, she didn’t either. She’d slept really well. It was kind of upsetting that he was gone this morning.

Just as that thought solidified in her mind, she noticed there was a piece of paper on the sheet near his pillow. She grabbed for it and then reached over to the lamp on her nightstand.

Out running. Back around 8. J.

She smiled at the big, messy sprawl of his handwriting.

There was no logical reason for his note to make her want to giggle, but it did. She folded it up without thinking and tucked it into the flap of the planner she carried everywhere but only occasionally thought to use.

It was only 7:10 now, so he’d either just left or was taking a very long run.

He was far more diligent about exercise than she was. She wouldn’t dream of bothering with a dedicated workout on vacation.

When she got up to go to the bathroom, she noticed a room service cart near the door. She got a ridiculously happy thrill when on it she found a pot of coffee, a pitcher of orange juice, and a basket of croissants.

She must have been sound asleep if she hadn’t woken up when someone came to the door. Even the coffee was still untouched, so Jude must have requested it for her.

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