by Lynn Story
He reluctantly took a chair opposite me and for good measures spun it around, so he was leaning on the back of the it.
“Listen,” I started. “I know things didn’t go exactly to plan but what you did was amazing. You risked your life to protect me. I can’t even think of enough ways to thank you for that. I am so glad that you are okay.”
He blinked and just stared at me. “I didn’t protect you or save you.” His hands were in tight fists.
“Yes, you did because you delayed them taking me long enough that Mac was able to follow them and bring Ethan and the rest of the team to me before things went too far.” I paused and reached across the table. I didn’t touch him instead I laid my hand open and up turned in front of him.
“You made it possible for me to be saved.” I tried to reassure him.
He looked at me and then at my hand. He slowly released the grip he had on the back of the chair and put his hand in mine. He had strong hands.
I smiled at him. “I baked you some brownies.” I stated the obvious.
He smiled then, a small smile. “I like brownies.”
“Great!” I took my hand back and unwrapped the plate and pushed it towards him.
He carefully selected one and bit into it.
I waited for his appraisal.
“These are pretty good,” he said around a mouthful of brownie.
“Are you surprised?”
“A little.” He smiled.
I nodded. “Don’t blame you, I was surprised too.” I laughed.
Jared popped his head in, “Can I come in and get coffee or is this a private party? Whoa! Brownies!”
Jared started for the table.
“Paws off, these are mine!” Logan growled.
“Not to worry.” I pulled a second plate of brownies from the bag, “I brought some for you and Stephanie too.”
“Thanks!” Jared smiled and accepted the plate.
I turned back Logan. “I mean it, you’re my hero.” I whispered.
Logan stared at me and if I didn’t know better, I believe he blushed a little.
He simply nodded.
I stood up and he did as well. I walked over and gave him a hug. I expected him to stand there with his arms at his side, he surprised me by gently wrapping his arms around my shoulders and leaning down to whisper in my ear.
“I’m glad you’re alright.” I stepped back and nodded. “Me too.” Then I turned to leave.
Ethan winked at me on my way out.
“Hey Ethan, Logan is putting moves on your girl.” Jared called out.
“Shut up or I’ll punch your lights out.” Logan threatened.
I heard Jared laughing as I closed the door behind me.
Next stop my office.
I hadn’t mentioned to Ethan that I planned to stop by the office today. I wasn’t going to work all day although I did feel the need to check in with everyone. Especially, Sherry.
“Kay, what are you doing here? You should be resting at home.” Sherry greeted me.
“If I do anymore ‘resting’ I’m going to lose my mind.” I smiled back at Sherry.
She fell in step behind me as I walked into my office. “How’s everything going?” I asked surveying my desk for mail or papers to sign.
“Well, it’s been a little odd, not having you around and I just can’t get over Michael.”
“I know, me either. I trusted him so completely.” I said sinking into my desk chair.
“What are you going to do?” she asked.
“Well, we have to have a corporate attorney and you can bet I am going to vet the heck out of them before I bring them on board.”
Sherry nodded.
“Does Ethan know you’re here?” Sherry blurted out.
“No, why. Should he?” I looked at her directly.
“No, I guess not.” She blushed. “I just worry you’re doing too much.”
“I’m not staying all day. I just need to get back into control of this company before anyone else tries to take it over.”
“Okay, well, let me get you the mail,” she offered.
Sherry left and came back with a small box.
“What is all of this?”
“I think just about every employee sent you a get-well card. I didn’t want to overwhelm you, so I was holding them until you felt better.” Sherry explained.
I looked inside the box. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah”
“Holy cow! There are a lot of envelopes in here.”
Sherry nodded smiling. “I know.”
“Well, I guess I better start opening them.”
“I’ll leave you to it.” She returned to her desk.
I reached in the box and pulled out a handful of envelopes. I was so touched by the outpouring of well wishes by the employees that I was brought to tears a few times. Some of the letters were from the children of employees who had benefited from a scholarship program. It was nearly eight o’clock when I got to the last one. Tomorrow I would start replying to them all.
“Kay?” I heard Sherry shuffling things at her desk.
“Yes?”
“It’s getting late so we should probably call it a day.” Sherry called out.
“Okay, you’re right.” I began tidying up the cards and letters.
Just then my phone buzzed with a text from Ethan.
“Leaving work, up for company?”
Crap.
“Um, sure. How long before you can come over?” I clicked.
“About fifteen minutes,” came his reply.
“Can we make it thirty?” I countered.
“Sure. Everything okay?”
“Yep, everything is fine.” I gathered my things and Sherry and I walked out together. “See you tomorrow.” I said to Sherry
“Are you sure that is a good idea? You’re not supposed to be back until next week.” She reminded me.
“I’m just going to start replying to all the cards and well wishes.” I told her.
“I can do that for you,” she offered.
“I know but it wouldn’t be personal then.”
Sherry looked at me dejected.
“You can help, how about that?” I suggested.
“Okay, I don’t like it, but okay.” She scowled.
I was tempted to break a few traffic laws to get home before Ethan got there but better judgement prevailed. It probably wouldn’t have mattered. When I pulled into the driveway, Ethan was already there leaning against his car waiting for me.
“Hi!” I said walking towards him from the garage.
“Hi.” He straightened to walk to the house with me. “Where’ve you been?”
I was glad it was dusk and hoped the shadows would hide my cheeks reddening. “I stopped by the office.”
“And what time did you go in today?” He held the door for me as we stepped into the mud room and then the kitchen.
“Uh, when I left your office.”
My back was to him, but I could imagine the look on his face. He caught my arm gently.
“Kay, please tell me you haven’t been working all this time?” The pleading look on his face stabbed me right in the heart.
“Well, I wasn’t actually working.” I said turning to face him.
He put his other hand on my shoulder. “Kay, you have to take care of yourself. I don’t want anything else happening to you, do you understand?” His eyes were warm and gentle, and I wanted to kiss him.
“I was just talking to Sherry and reading some get well cards.”
“This whole time?” he said, disbelieving.
“Well it was quite a few cards.” I blushed again.
“And that is all?” He gave me a sideways glance.
“Yes.”
“Okay.” He pulled me to him and rested his chin on top of my head. “I worry about you.”
I wrapped my arms around his chest. “I know, and I am glad that you care about me like that.”
He squeezed me slightly before relea
sing me.
I looked up and he looked like he wanted to say something more but didn’t.
“Would you like something to drink? Have you had dinner?”
“Yes, and no.” He laughed.
“Me, too.”
I fixed us a dinner of fried chicken and collards with fresh sweet corn.
“Do you cook like this all the time?” Ethan asked.
“Well, when I have a reason to but not if I’m having dinner alone.”
“Well, that was excellent,” he said, wiping his mouth with is napkin, and setting it next to his plate.
“Thank you, shall we sit on the porch?” I suggested.
“Sure, after I do the dishes,” he offered.
“They can wait,” I said definitively.
“Yeah, and if they wait then you’ll have to do them alone.”
I sighed knowing there was no arguing with him. “Can I at least help with the dishes?”
“Absolutely not.” He frowned.
I stood leaning against the counter as he cleared the table and washed up everything.
“So, I think Logan liked the brownies.” I said once we were seated on the porch next to each other.
“Yeah, I think so.”
“Now, what can I do for you to relieve of this guilt you are carrying around about not being the one to pull me off the barge.”
“Who told you that?”
I only smiled.
“Tell me I’m wrong.”
“No, I can’t tell you that,” he admitted.
“So, what can I do?”
“Nothing.” He looked away and I realized just how deeply he felt about the situation.
“Ethan.” I kept my voice low. “You did find me because if it hadn’t been for you the Coast Guard wouldn’t have known where to look. You brought them to me and for that I love you.”
He looked at me. His eyes were moist. “I love you, Kay.”
His voice was low and deep like he was using the tone to convey the meaning of his words.
I blinked. I knew he cared for me. He had certainly told me as much and his actions reflected his concern. He was talking about more than that right now.
I knew how much he had mourned the loss of his marriage after the divorce. I certainly hadn’t expected that sort of commitment from him. I was realizing that I might have been wrong, and Ethan had the capacity to love again.
I was speechless not only by his declaration but the way his forefinger was tracing my jawline from my ear to my chin. I knew he was going to kiss me, and I knew this time when he did, I would be lost to him forever. I also knew as he held my hand and led me upstairs it didn’t matter if his broken ribs were still sore. We would make sweet, passionate love tonight. My heart and soul would forever belong to Ethan.
The End
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About The Author
Lynn Story
Lynn lives in southeast Virginia along the Chesapeake Bay with her husband and three cats. She enjoys the outdoors and being near the water with her, working in the garden, and knitting.