An Engagement in Seattle - Debbie Macomber [133]
The furniture was homey and inviting. A recliner and an overstuffed sofa, plus a rocking chair. Chase loved books, if the overflowing bookcases were any indication. Between two of them stood a rough-hewn desk that held a laptop computer.
A microwave caught her eye from the kitchen counter, which was a faded red linoleum, and she moved in that direction. The huge refrigerator and freezer stood side by side and looked new, dominating one wall. Everything else, including the dishwasher and stove, were ancient-looking. She’d make the best of it, Lesley decided, but she was putting her word in early. The kitchen was often the heart of a home and she intended to make theirs as modern and comfortable as possible. From the looks of it, she had her work cut out for her.
“Well?” Chase asked from behind her. “What do you think?”
“I think,” she said, turning and hugging him around the middle, “that I could get used to living here with you.”
Chase sighed as if she’d just removed a giant weight from his shoulders. “Good. I realized as soon as I saw Pete that I hadn’t really prepared you for Twin Creeks. It’s not what you’d call a thriving metropolis.”
“I’ve noticed. Are there neighbors?”
“Some,” he answered cryptically. He held her close, and she couldn’t read his expression.
“Nearby?”
“Not exactly. So, are you ready for bed?” he asked, changing the subject, but not smoothly enough for her not to notice.
“I’ve decided I’ll have a bath, after all.” She planned to soak out the stiffness of all those hours cooped up inside planes.
“There’s one problem,” he said, sounding chagrined. “I don’t have a tub.”
Lesley stared at him. “Pardon?”
“There’s only a shower. It’s all I’ve ever needed. At some point we can install a bathtub, if you want.”
“Okay. I’ll manage.” A shower instead of a bath was a minor inconvenience. She’d adjust.
Chase needed to make a couple of calls and while he was busy, Lesley showered and readied for bed. Her husband of four days undressed, showered and climbed into bed with her.
The sheets were cold and instinctively Lesley nestled close to Chase. He brought her into the warm alcove of his arms, gently kissing her hair.
“Good night,” Lesley whispered when he turned off the light.
“’Night.” The light was off, but the room was still bright. She’d adjust to sunlight in the middle of the night, too, Lesley reasoned. But it now seemed that she was going to have to make more adjustments than she’d realized.
She rolled onto her side and positioned the pillow to cradle her head. She was too tired to care, too tired to do anything but sleep.
Chase, however, had other ideas.…
Lesley smiled softly to herself as he whispered in her ear.
“You know what I want.”
“Yes.” She slipped onto her back and lifted her arms to him in welcome. She did know what he wanted. And tired or not, she wanted the same thing.
Chase was awakened by the alarm. His eyes burned and he felt as if he were fighting his way out of a fog before he realized what he needed to do to end the irritating noise.
Lesley didn’t so much as stir. He was pleased that the buzzer hadn’t woken her. He’d like nothing better than to stay in bed and wake his wife and linger there with her.
That wasn’t possible, though. Not this morning. There’d be plenty of other mornings when they could. He looked forward to those times with pleasure.
Chase slipped out of bed and reached for his jeans and shirt. Wandering into the bathroom, he splashed cold water onto his face in a desperate effort to wake up. He’d report in to work, do what needed to be done and leave again. It shouldn’t take more than thirty minutes, an hour at the most. There was a chance he’d be home before Lesley even woke up.
He smiled the whole time he made himself a cup of coffee. He sat in the recliner and laced his boots, put on a light jacket and let himself out the door.
Pete was just pulling into his yard when Chase walked down the two front steps. He sipped from