Stormy Surrender - By Nicole Andrews Moore Page 0,83
of a storm. We always do. And I figured that with you right across the road, there was a good chance that we would be spending it together. I just had no idea we’d be spending it together like that.” With the charm attached, he kissed her wrist.
“Wow.” She just studied the bracelet that had come to mean so much to her so soon. While she looked at it, he sat down with her and wrapped an arm around her waist. “I wish I didn’t have to leave in the morning. I wish I could stay here with you, help you.”
“There’s nothing for you to do. I’ll call my insurance company in the morning. The fire chief will submit a report. A claims adjuster will come out and look at the place. Sometimes homeowners luck out and get a check that same day. Other times, it takes longer, bids have to be submitted by contractors, that kind of thing. We’ll see what happens. Just know that I really appreciate you letting me stay here, both with and without you.”
“Well, I want you to be well rested before you touch any power tools,” she joked. “I mean, clearly you are an insurance nightmare and I don’t know if my homeowner’s policy covers self-inflicted injuries.” She smirked at him.
“I have my own insurance to cover that, actually. And you’re right. I don’t think they insure against stupid.” He chuckled.
Soon they had climbed into bed. It was a new experience for both of them. As a philandering surgeon’s wife, she was unused to going to bed with anyone. And as a confirmed bachelor, he never allowed women to spend the night. This was the second time he had broken that rule with her in as many nights.
“Will you be staying all night?” He asked with a smirk.
“It’s my room. Where would I go?” She rolled onto her side and waited while he took the hint and wrapped himself around her. She sighed happily. “I could get used to this.”
As much as he wanted to, Joey was afraid of surrendering so quickly. He was afraid of giving up the principles that had kept him safe for the last three years. He worried that if he gave in, if her let her in, if he loved her, like he had once loved Finn, he’d lose her. Life had taught him that loss was inevitable and that those you love tend to disappoint you. Only there was something in her that he believed, something about her he wanted to trust, and a life that he could very nearly grasp. Maybe the fire was telling him to let go of his house, in order to have his dream house and dream life with Marti. It could happen. If he could only let go and believe.
At six in the morning, Marti was gently nudging him. “Hey, handsome. Ready to get up and introduce me to your crew? I’d love to not drive sixteen hours trapped in a vehicle with complete strangers.” He didn’t move. There was no indication that he had heard her. She sighed. “Never mind. I’ll just introduce myself. Guys love a damsel in distress.” She hopped out of bed and opened her closet door. “Gee, I hope I have a shirt that is cut low enough for this trip…”
He sat up in bed. “I’m up. You’re going north so you probably need to wear a turtleneck…a nice big baggy turtleneck.”
Laughing, she walked into the bathroom. “Well, it looks like I’ll be wearing a turtleneck anyway. Look at this neck!” She studied the bruised marks he had left all over her neck and upper arms. “I swear. I didn’t even have these when I was a teenager.”
Coming up behind her, he pressed against her while putting a hand on either side of her at the sink. “That’s some of my finest work,” he argued. “It’s like a seal of approval. It says, ‘Joe was here.’” And then he acted like he was going to dive in and create another one while Marti giggled and pushed him away.
It felt good. She really was living again. It was a good look for her. And that’s when she remembered. “Okay, let’s put aside for a moment the fact that you have staked your claim…or sucked your claim even. Let’s think about making Blaine eat his heart out.”
He frowned for a moment. “Are you over him? Are you using me to make him jealous? I have been in that position