by Jayne Castle
"As long as you don't explain how we got here!" Reva grinned.
He laughed softly, richly. "Personally, I'm going to treasure the thought for years."
"You mean you're going to have a good laugh over it for years!" she accused.
"Well, you've got to admit, it is rather humorous that the great manager with the solid background in computers couldn't handle the little lines and dots on a road map!"
"I had an excuse," Reva told him tranquilly. "It was my wedding day. Brides are always nervous on their wedding days." She turned and stretched, tugging at the old army blanket they had discovered in a closet. Josh watched her pull it up to her chin and then he casually reached down and yanked it to a point below her feet. Reva pouted laughingly up at him.
"Tell me again how much you love me," he commanded, lowering himself once more to the couch beside her. He reached down and pulled the blanket up over both of them, cradling her close against him beneath it. He waited for her response, his chin in her hair. She could sense the catlike contentment in him.
"You're the greatest cure for nightmares I have ever
known," she murmured obediently. "Having you so close keeps all the nasties at bay."
"A man likes to feel needed," he retorted on a smothered laugh. "Sure you won't mind having me loafing about the place until I get another job?"
Reva started a bit. "Of course not," she said quickly, surprised. "I'm only hoping you won't get too bored or ... or restless while you look for one."
"I intend to take my time. Who knows, I might like the career of a househusband!"
"You'll have to learn to fix something besides stew," Reva warned conversationally, yawning again.
"I've always done a pretty good job of seeing that you ate well, haven't I?" he mused complacently, sounding sleepy and happy. "Just think; no more secret dieting!"
"Don't remind me!" Reva groaned. "I shall probably put on twenty pounds the first month of our marriage. Every night will be an excuse to indulge!"
"I'll make sure you get enough exercise to keep you in reasonable trim," Josh promised.
There was a contented silence. And then Reva asked softly, "Are you quite sure you won't mind not having a job for a while?"
"Positive. I've earned a rest. No man has worked harder than I have during the past few days!" She could feel him smiling behind her ear. "And as I keep telling you, Reva Corbett, you married a man who's old enough to be sure Of his own mind. I'm not particularly career oriented. I've always done whatever comes to hand. Fortunately, enough of what has come to hand has paid very well over the years. That dowry I mentioned has reached the point where it earns a fair amount on its own. Neither of us would starve if you lost your job tomorrow," he added dryly.
He sounded certain and Reva relaxed. Josh was adaptable. And he always knew what he wanted.
Like a cat, she told herself as her lashes closed in sleep, convinced she could almost hear him purring as she curled into his warmth. Like a battle-scarred and clever alley cat who has found a home at last. Which was precisely the case.