Page 29 of Cold as (N)ice

Irene couldn’t say how long she stood there, waiting, the memories of everything that had happened or occurred in the last few weeks rolling through her head. Every text, every brief conversation, every discussion… and swallowed.

He was right.

She was being given the answer to all of her prayers, even if they weren’t quite the answers she’d been expecting. Marriage brought security, health insurance, comfort, and most unexpectedly – friendship if she chose to accept it. He wasn’t pressing her for anything except his companionship and treated her son like gold. No man in the world had done that for her son except him – and he’d done it from day one without being prompted.

Walking slowly toward the living room, she draped the quilt over Stephen and kissed his brow. She drifted to the kitchen, turned off the coffeemaker, and ignored the cup she’d poured, leaving it untouched. Grabbing a piece of paper, she wrote a quick note for her son in case he woke up, wondering where they were.

We slept here tonight – just come wake me up when you get this.

Love,

Mommy

Placing it next to the couch, she drew in a deep breath and rose to her feet, steeling herself for whatever was coming next. Turning slightly, she saw Barrett watching her. He was standingin the hallway, wearing a white tank top and running shorts… holding a toothbrush in its carton.

“I see we have extras?” he said softly, smiling, as he extended it toward her. “It’s my peace offering to a friend.”

She took a step forward, looking at him.

“I accept your peace offering,” she whispered quietly. “I’m not ready for anything – and I hope you understand that. I keep having my feet knocked out from under me, and I’d like to find my place.”

“I’m not pressuring you for anything – except snoring,” he smirked. “Tell me you don’t snore like Stephen does.”

“I don’t,” she chucked, giving him a wary smile. “So, you’re really okay with this?”

“I can hide my nympho-tendencies,” he mocked, rolling his eyes as she swatted him with the toothbrush. “Ow! What happened to my peace offering? I mean, if you’re into weird stuff like spanking then…Owwww!”

“Knock it off, Barrett.”

“I’m done – I swear,” he said playfully, walking backward down the hallway, watching her. “I don’t want to end up in the ER stabbed with an Oral B toothbrush. What would the media say – ‘Here lies Barrett Coeur, who is currently between teams – died from oral…”

“Ya know,” she blurted out, raising a hand in a ‘stop’ motion, closing her eyes in dismay as she frowned heavily at him. “Whatever you’re about to say should be polite, kind, and child-friendly.”

He stood there, grinning.

“Well?”

“It’s not child-friendly,” he laughed – and then winked at her before turning away. “C’mon. I’ll even let you have the new pillows. I’m kinda addicted to my old feather one – and no hogging the blankets.”

Minutes later, she had kicked off her shoes, tucked her socks in them, and gingerly removed her bra, sleeping in her T-shirt and jeans. The moment she lay down, she yanked the quilt over her for decency… and heard his chuckle in the darkness.

“I’m not even facing you, Irene.”

“You might roll over.”

“Nope.”

“You could.”

“But I won’t.”

“How do you know?”

“I know.”

“You don’t know everything.”

“I know some things – and I know I’m not touching you.”

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