Wren looked up into Kate’s warm regard. “What, you don’t want me here?”
“Are you nuts?” Kate scoffed. “You will always have a job here, but I think we both know that toting coffee isn’t your real passion. We’re all just waiting for you to take the leap and do it.”
“Huh?”
“Okay.” Kate rubbed her forehead with her free hand and then gently pushed Wren toward a free table. “This is going to take a couple of minutes. Emily, are you okay for a while?”
“Yup.” Emily nodded. “Go do your thing.”
Kate turned back to Wren. “Sit.” She pointed at a chair. Taking the seat opposite, Kate leaned forward with her elbows on the table. “Wren, I’ve watched your design style get better and better. You’ve got to do something about it.”
“Have you been talking to David?” Wren asked with slightly narrowed eyes.
“No, but it’s good to know he and I are of the same opinion,” Kate replied. “Wren, I believe with my whole heart that you are destined for greater things, and what I’m trying to say here is that I’m going to support you however you want to do it.”
Wren opened her mouth to protest but then paused. “What do you think I should do?”
“I think we both know I don’t know enough about fashion to advise, but maybe you could talk to Paul about the financial side of things. As for getting it all made, you can cut your hours back here, so you’ve got more time to work at home.”
“Cut my hours? But you’re just getting busy now that you’ve been reviewed.”
“Then I’ll hire another worker.” Kate shrugged. “And you can help screen whoever it is, unless you know another Emily.” Kate smiled at Wren’s dumbfounded look. “You don’t have to decide now. Take your time and let me know when you think you might feel brave enough to do it.” Kate stood up from the table and walked around it to give Wren a quick kiss on the cheek. “In the meantime, let’s get the Christmas party organized.”
Wren gave Kate a grateful smile. “You know, you’re a great boss.”
Kate grinned. “Wren, don’t call me boss.”
“Sorry, boss.”
Wren sat at the table a moment longer, and then looked up as some customers began to filter into the store. Glancing up at the wall clock, she saw that it was nearly lunchtime, and she had a feeling they were going to be very busy indeed.
~~~
David looked at his wristwatch as he waited to cross the street. It was the end of the day, and he was on his way to meet Wren at the bakery to walk her back to his place. He got out his cell phone and sent her a text.
Nearly there. C U in 5 xD
He kept his phone in his hand until he heard a quiet cheep and checked the screen.
V.busy day. Look for the tired zombie xW
They got home to David’s apartment where he made them a quick dinner while Wren luxuriated under a warm shower. The meal was enjoyed on the sofa in front of the television, and David leaned back and flicked through cable channels as Wren gathered their dishes and gave them a quick wash. Retrieving some notes from his rucksack, he began to flick through some lessons, listening to a news station with half an ear. Twenty minutes later, he realized that Wren was pacing aimlessly around his apartment.
“You okay, sweetheart?” he asked as he looked over the back of the sofa.
“Hmm? Yeah, I’m fine,” Wren replied in an absent tone as she flicked through the newspaper. “I just feeling like doing something is all.”
“I thought you were going to have an early night?” David commented from his position on the sofa. He was a little surprised to see her looking so alert. She had all but sleepwalked home under his guidance, but now that she had eaten, she seemed to have a new rush of energy.
“So did I,” Wren said in an absent voice as she read the local cinema offerings, “but I feel too wired to sleep. Let’s go see a movie.”
“O-kay,” David said in a dubious tone. “Whatever you want is fine by me.”
“Well, what do you feel like seeing?” Wren asked, her gaze not moving from the screen.
“Whatever you feel like.” David shrugged as he scratched his chest through his T-shirt and went back to his lesson plan for the rest of the week.
“C’mon, there must be something you want to see.”
“Nope, I’m easy,” David said as he kept reading.
“Look, just pick one and we’ll go,” Wren said in exasperation.
“And I’ve already told you, I don’t care what we see.” He looked up to see Wren standing in front of the table, casually flicking through the movie listing.
“David.” Wren stamped her foot. “I’m telling you to pick one.” She thrust the newspaper into his lap and headed into the bathroom.
“What are you doing?” David called after her.
“I’m getting ready to go out,” she called back. “Assuming you make a decision.”
David watched her go with a slight smile. He honestly didn’t care which movie they went to see, but it amused him to see her so bothered by his easy-going approach to the situation. For someone that was used to being in control, she didn’t respond to uncertainty very well at all, but she needed to relax a bit. He pushed his glasses up his nose and looked at the movie offerings again.
“Okay,” he said as he pitched his voice so that she would be able to hear him from the bathroom, “we’ll go see the French one.”
“Fine,” Wren said. “But I’m choosing the snacks.”
“Done,” David answered. He got to his feet and looked around for some shoes. “Walk or cab?”
“You’re just not able to make decisions today, are you?” Wren said as she breezed past him and reappeared holding his Doc Martin boots. “Here.” She handed them over along with a pair of socks.
“How did you know I wanted those?” David said as he accepted the boots.
“Because I know you better than you think I do, and don’t think—” she tapped a finger on his chest, “—that I don’t know that you’re pushing my buttons.”
“Aw, c’mon,” David tried to protest, but his grin gave him away.
“I knew it.” Wren threw her hands up in disgust and went to collect her coat and scarf while David pulled on his boots. “Just tell me why?”
“Because it does you good to get all riled up sometimes.” David finished lacing up and then strolled over to accept the coat that Wren held waiting.
“Can’t think why,” Wren muttered as she pulled her scarf on and around her neck with quick, angry movements.
“Well, for one thing …” David stepped closer so that he could slide his hands around her waist and pull her back against his hips, “… you’re really hot when you’re mad.”
“Am not,” Wren retorted as she ducked her chin to hide her smile.
“Yes, you are,” David whispered, giving her earlobe a gentle nip before sliding his hands up to cup her breasts. “You are the sexiest, most exasperating woman I’ve ever met.”
Wren’s eyes fluttered closed, and she wavered between annoyance and arousal.
“Damn you, Watson,” she growled. “Get your coat and let’s get out of here before we miss the movie.”
“Yes’m.” David grinned before he made a soft growling noise and sank his teeth into her neck, backing away with a laugh as Wren wriggled and squirmed out of his grasp.
“That’s just cost you some Junior Mints, smart guy,” Wren said, although the smile on her face completely undermined her threat.
“Totally worth it,” David said with an unrepentant grin as he finished pulling on his coat and followed Wren toward the door. He looked at her clothing and realized that they were going to have to pay a visit to her apartment soon to retrieve some more clothes. They clumped down the stairs together hand in hand, and David held the door open for her as she stepped outside with a wince into the cold night air.
“Oh.” Wren turned to David suddenly and put a hand on his chest. “I can’t believe I didn’t tell you
the news.”
“Which is?” he asked, amused at the delighted smile on her face.
“Michael and Kate are going to live together.” She grinned.
“Really?” David’s eyebrows went up at this. Michael hadn’t mentioned it to him, although he knew that Michael had been keen to finish his manuscript as soon as possible. The weather had kept them both from jogging, and he immediately made a mental note to call his friend soon to catch up. “Sounds like things are getting serious.”
“Has he gotten serious like this before?” Wren asked as they walked and David scanned the traffic for a vacant cab.
“Not that I recall,” David said, “although the opportunity has certainly been there.” He glanced down at Wren. “How about Kate?”
“Dunno.” She shrugged. “I don’t think she’s lived with another guy since Tom.”
“Ah.” David gave a sage nod. Wren had filled him in on that aspect of Kate’s history. “Interesting.”
“You could say that,” Wren replied after they had walked on in a thoughtful silence. “Do you think they can do it?”
“Why not?” Now it was David’s turn to shrug. “They’ve got as much chance as anyone.” He gave her a sidelong look. “Even us.”
“Yeah, right,” Wren scoffed, and then looked up to see that David was still regarding her with a thoughtful air. “You’re serious?”
“Sure, you know we’ve talked about this.”
“Well, yeah,” Wren said, floundering now. She had gone from introducing what she thought was a hot new piece of gossip to finding herself in uncharted territory. She had mapped out her life well enough so far but found, when it came to matters of the heart, she was completely lost.
“And?” David gently guided her back to the conversation. “What’s your snappy comeback this time?”
“I can’t believe we’re talking about this again,” Wren muttered. She withdrew her hand from David’s arm and stuffed her hands into her coat pockets, hunching her shoulders against the chill.
“C’mon,” David cajoled as he put an affectionate arm around her.
“I’ve told you before,” Wren huffed in irritation. “I grew up getting told not to get married and not to have kids, and here I am.”
“Mmm.” David nodded. Wren’s childhood was a touchy subject. “And you know I’m not going to push, but …” He paused to make sure he had her attention. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“So I see,” Wren replied as her hand crept out of its pocket to reach out for David’s. He immediately clasped her hand in his own and gave it a gentle squeeze. The rest of the conversation remained unspoken and yet they walked on in perfect understanding.
~~~
“I just don’t get it.” Kate sighed, flopping onto the bed and gazing at Michael as he shucked off his jeans and pulled on a pair of track pants.
She felt exhausted; every muscle in her body ached and she felt a hundred years old. Now that she was home, instead of resting, all she could think of was how much she had to do. That and how good Michael looked, of course. She was distracted from her thoughts of packing as she admired the play of muscles in Michael’s legs as he pulled on his change of clothes. She had called him to suggest they meet at her apartment, but instead he’d surprised her by arriving at the bakery not long after closing time, in a cab that he had kept waiting with the meter running until she was ready to go. She had bundled up the day’s takings, which had exceeded her expectations, and stashed them in the store safe before locking up and stumbling into the cab and Michael’s open arms.
“You don’t get what?” He walked over to the bed and crawled toward her.
“How I can have regular culls and yet still end up with so much stuff that has to move.” She rolled onto her side and propped herself up on one elbow. “I’m having my doubts, Forrester.”
“About moving?” Michael frowned as he turned his head to gaze at her.
“Not about moving,” she assured him, and he managed to hide his relief. “Just the logistics.” She waved her free hand at the room. “I mean, I work six days a week. I just don’t see how I’m going to get this done.”
Michael stared up at the ceiling for a moment, gathering his thoughts before looking back at Kate. “Well, I know one thing you could deal with so that you don’t have to take it with you.”
“Oh?” Kate was miles away as she tried to think of where she could get some more packing boxes. “What’s that?”
“The elephant in the room,” Michael said simply, and held his breath as she turned to look at him. “I’ve finished the manuscript. Why won’t you read it?”
Michael held her gaze until she blinked and looked away. The silence stretched between them, and he found himself counting their breaths, wondering about the argon flowing between them. Such a simple thing: an inert gas that was used in fluorescent lighting. And yet it had been there in the vows and sighs of ancient lovers and the battle cries of Waterloo. Now it was floating between himself and Kate, and he watched her take a deep breath as she blinked and looked at him with worried eyes.
“What if …” She licked her lips and started again. “I’m scared that …” She blinked and cleared her throat. “It’s just that …” Her hands twisted the hem of her shirt until Michael reached over and covered her hand with his. The warm of his hand seeped into her skin and soothed her.
“Say it,” he urged her.
And suddenly it was that easy.
“I’m scared that I won’t like it,” she confessed.
~~~
“There,” Wren said as she dropped down into her seat and set her soda down in the cup holder. “That wasn’t so hard, was it.”
“No,” David sighed as he sank down into his seat. He stowed his soda and rested his candy on his lap before reaching over to pull Wren closer. She took the opportunity to snuggle against him and open his box of Junior Mints at the same time.
“So,” Wren began in an off-hand tone, “Kate sat me down and told me that I need to start doing something about my fashion.”
“Really?” David glanced down at Wren, who kept her gaze firmly on the screen. “What did she say?”
“Just that I ought to take a chance and make something of it.” Wren shrugged, holding the box of candy to David who shook some into his hand.
“Like I’ve been saying,” David commented.
“Yup.” Wren nodded. “She had some good ideas.”
David waited, but it seemed she wasn’t going to elaborate unless prodded.
“And?” he prompted. “What sort of ideas?”
“About how I could go part-time so that I’d have time to design. You know, supportive stuff like that.”
“How did you feel about it?”
“I don’t know,” Wren admitted. “Flattered, scared, all that stuff.” She frowned. “But I don’t know if I can afford to go part-time. Until I start selling, my income can’t really take a hit, not with rent to pay.”
“You know we’ve talked about that,” David said as he nudged her shoulder.
“I know.” Wren looked up at him and wrinkled her nose. “I just …” She broke off and sighed. “It’s a lot to take in. Can you give a girl time to think things through?”
“Sure.” David nodded.
Wren blinked up at him for a moment, and then offered a hesitant smile. “So, this could all be really happening?”
“If you let it.” David smiled.
“Wow.” Wren blinked as a wave of excitement and fatigue washed over her. Rousing herself, she reached over and plucked a Junior Mint out of David’s hand and popped it into her mouth. “Mmm,” she said as the chocolate began to melt on her tongue. “Now I’m starting to feel relaxed.”
“Right,” David said with amusement. “We just had to go outside into the freezing cold to catch a cab downtown to a cinema so you could tell me your big news of the day and I could buy you exorbitantly priced candy.”
“But it’s making me feel better,” Wren s
aid in a small voice.
David looked down to see Wren peering up at him from where she had her head resting on his shoulder, and sighed.
“Then it’s a good thing,” he said in a gentle voice, and Wren smiled before snuggling against him with a quiet sigh as David rubbed his hand up and down her shoulder in a soothing rhythm.
The lights dimmed as the trailers began to screen, and Wren was asleep before the film’s opening credits had even finished. David noticed this with a mild sigh and shifted slightly to get comfortable, resigning himself to watching a movie that he knew nothing about while his girl slept soundly against his shoulder.
~~~
Michael blinked at Kate and felt himself relax. At last they were finally talking about the subject that they had been skirting for months, and it wasn’t as bad as he thought it would be.
“That’s what had you worried all this time?” He reached out and brushed some hair off Kate’s face with a gentle hand.
Kate sighed and leaned into his touch before blinking sleepily at him.
She gave him a wry smile. “Well, that and the fact that Alistair told me a bit of what you were writing about.”
“Right.” Michael’s lips tightened.
“Are you mad that I found out that way?” Kate ventured as she watched his expression.
“Yeah, a little,” Michael admitted. “I wanted to show you myself without someone blurting it out, but somehow it just never happened. I wanted to,” he went on, wanting to reassure her now. “I never wanted to hide it, but I was just waiting for the right time, and for some reason it just never came.”
“Life’s funny like that.” Kate nodded. “Jack used to tell Paul and me not to wait because life isn’t a dress rehearsal.”
“Good advice.” Michael nodded. “He was a smart man.”
“He never thought so.” Kate’s smile was sleepier now. “He always said it was common sense, but have you ever noticed that common sense isn’t common?”
Michael nodded as he ran his hand down Kate’s arm and settled it on her hip as he pulled himself closer to her.
“Hmm.” He ran his nose along Kate’s jaw and nuzzled her neck, making her give a slow but delighted squirm.
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