Page 46 of An Unexpected Love

“Nine-fifteen. Are you hungry?”

He paused, as though he needed to think about it. “Yeah, I guess I am. Sorry I didn’t call. I didn’t have a clue it was this late.”

“That’s okay,” she muttered, although it really wasn’t.

He followed her into the kitchen and slid his arms around her waist while she investigated the contents of the refrigerator.

“It won’t be like this every night,” he said, his words sounding very much like a promise her father had once made to her mother.

“I know,” Jill said, desperately hoping that was true.

* * *

She couldn’t sleep that night. Perhaps it was the long nap she’d taken in the middle of the afternoon; at least that was what she tried to tell herself. More likely, though, it was the gnawing fear that Jordan’s love for her was already faltering. She tried to push the doubts aside, tried to convince herself she was overreacting. He’d been away from his office for a week. There must have been all kinds of important issues that required his attention. Was she expecting too much?

In the morning, she promised herself, she’d talk to him about it. But when she awoke, Jordan had left for the office.

Frowning, she dressed and wandered into the kitchen for a cup of coffee.

“Morning.” Jordan’s cook, Mrs. Murphy, a middle-aged woman with lively blue eyes and a wide smile,greeted her. Jill smiled back, although her cheerfulness felt a little strained.

“Hello, Mrs. Murphy, it’s nice to see you again,” she said, helping herself to coffee. “Uh, what time did Jordan leave this morning?”

“Early,” the cook said with a disappointed sigh. “I was thinking Mr. Wilcox would stop working so hard once he was married. He hasn’t even been home from his honeymoon twenty-four hours and he’s already at the office at the crack of dawn.”

Jill hated to disillusion the woman, but this wasn’t Jordan’s first trip to the office. “I’ll see what I can do about giving him some incentive to stay home,” Jill said, savoring her coffee.

Mrs. Murphy chuckled. “I’m glad to hear it. That man works too many hours. I’ve been telling my George that Mr. Wilcox needs a wife to keep him home at night.”

“I’ll do my best,” Jill said, but she had the distinct feeling her efforts would make little difference. Checking her watch, she quickly drank the rest of her coffee and hurried into the bedroom to shower.

Within half an hour she was dressed and ready for work.

“Mrs. Murphy,” she told the cook, “I’ll be at work—PayRite Pharmacy—if Jordan happens to call. Tell him I’ll be home shortly after five.” Jill wished she’d had the chance to talk to him herself; she knew he was going to be tied up in meetings and conference calls, so she was reluctant to interrupt. Still, she was more than a little distressed that within a week of their wedding she was communicating with her husband through a third party.

Despite everything, Jill enjoyed her day, which wasbusier than usual. The pharmacy staff took her out for a celebration lunch, and dozens of customers came by to wish her well. Many of the people whose prescriptions she filled regularly had become friends. In light of how her married life was working out, Jill was thankful she’d decided to keep her job.

By five she was eager to get home, eager to share her day with Jordan and hear about his. She was met by the aroma of cheese, tomato sauce and garlic, and followed it into the kitchen, where she found Mrs. Murphy untying her apron.

“Whatever you’re cooking smells absolutely delicious.”

“It’s my lasagna. Mr. Wilcox’s favorite.”

Jill opened the oven door and peeked inside. She was famished. “Did Jordan phone?” she asked, her voice rising on a note of longing.

“About fifteen minutes ago. I told him you’d be home a bit after five.”

No sooner were the words out than the phone rang. Jill saw Jordan’s office number on call display and answered immediately.

“This is Brian Macauley, Mr. Wilcox’s assistant,” a crisp male voice informed her. “He’s asked that I let you know he won’t be home for dinner.”

Nine

“Jill.”

Her name seemed to come from a long way off. Someone was calling her, but she could barely hear.

“Sweetheart.” The voice was louder now.

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