Page 24 of Ruthless Love

I never knew that about her, that she worries about me while I'm on shift. We didn't really talk about it much, and I was never the type to broach the subject.

"But the way they come together after he's shot Marissa? I think you'd really like it," Char says as she thumps the book down on the table.

"I'll think about it. I have loved everything that she's written previous to that. It's definitely a thing, not the book itself." As she says those words, her eyes meet mine.

The response is everything I've wanted. It's the reaction like I used to get when we'd be in the hallway at school, and she'd see me coming through the crowd. I don't remember the last time, since then, that I've seen that smile from her. "Can I see you for a few minutes?"

Her grin spreads across her face. "Yes, y'all, I'll be right back." She jogs up to me, throwing her arms around me. I reach down, grabbing her before lifting her up, and spreading her legs so that they can circle around my waist. "What are you doing here?"

"Came to see if you wanted to get some lunch. I didn't realize you had something going on. I can go..."

"No." She shakes her head. "Char can run the rest of the group. What are you thinking of for lunch?"

"Grabbed us a few salads from Dirty Thirty. I asked Hollie what your favorite is."

"I haven't had it in a while, and it's my favorite thing to have for lunch. Thank you so much for thinking about me, and coming over here. I wanted to text you, but I didn't know what your days were looking like."

This is something the two of us will have to get better into the habit of checking in with each other. Over the past six months, we've definitely grown more independent, and have become more set in our own ways. "We need to start checking in with each other to find out what the other has going on."

"Yeah, we do. I've gotten used to my independence, but I miss you. I want you there during the day, for you to check withme when you miss me. It's okay for us to continue having a relationship," I remind her. "Is there a place we can eat, or do we need to go to your apartment?"

"There's a breakroom. Thank you for telling me it's okay to want to talk to you during the day. I was worried it would make me appear needy, and I didn't want to do that with you. Not anymore."

Reaching forward, I run my fingers under her chin, tipping it. "You've never been needy, and I've never thought that about you. It's okay for us to want to be around one another. We're married, and I love your attention. Don't think you're bothering me." I lean in, dropping a chaste kiss on her lips. "Let me go grab the salads I brought. Where's the breakroom?"

"To the back of the register, there's a door to the left behind the tapestry hanging down. I'll be there waiting on you."

"Sounds good."

It only takes me a few minutes to jog across the street, get the salads, and come back over to the bookstore. I follow the directions she gave on how to get to the breakroom, and when I walk in, she's sitting at a small table, looking forward.

"Hey." She smiles. "If you only knew how hard my heart pounds when you walk through that door? You are so hot in your uniform. I don't know when I forgot to stop looking at you like the good-looking man you are, but I'm doing it."

We're both on the same page. I'm noticing how attractive she is again. Like walking around with a perpetual hard on when I think about her. I haven't done that since we were in high school. "If you only knew what I was working with every single day, thinking about you. Do you even notice how many times I drive by here on a normal shift?"

She smirks, taking a bite of the salad. "I haven't counted, but I see you more than I probably should."

"Yeah, it's a lot," I admit. "What does the rest of your day look like?" I love hearing her talk about what she's been doing with the store. She glows in a way she never did when she was working at the bank. Although she made what I assume is a lot more money there.

"I have an order coming in later this afternoon, so I'll need to unpack and inventory it. After that, I wasn't sure. Was thinking maybe I'd see what you were doing. Going to see if I could convince you to hang out and watch a show with me, and I really do mean watch a show. I'm sore."

Taking a big bite of my food, I raise my eyebrows. "I'm fuckin' tired. We'll have to get our stamina up. Here's the question I have for you. Do you want me to come here and help you after I get off, and then go upstairs, or do you want to go to the house? I'll still help you. All that might change is where we watch TV."

She takes a drink of her water, considering me with serious eyes. "The TV I have upstairs is super small, and I almost have to squint to be able to see it. So if we're going to relax and watch a show, I'd like to do it at the house."

"Then that's where we'll go. I get off at four. I'll be here pretty soon after that to help you."

"You know you don't have to help me. Just having your company is good enough. You've already put a full day in before you get here."

"So have you." I point out. "If this is your dream, Ris, then it's mine, too. You allow me back into your life? I'll be here with you working. We'll make this something we can both be proud of. I'm realizing I failed you in that respect before, too. I knew you were unhappy at your bank job, but I ignored it, because it was good money."

Her eyes widen, and she sets her fork down. "Who are you and what have you done with my husband?"

"He's seen the error of his ways. I mean, who knows? Maybe you'll retire me."

She throws me a wink. "We'll plan on it."

NINETEEN

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