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“We don’t have time. Do we?”
Casey’s deep laugh rumbled against me, and he smacked a final kiss to my lips before he set me on the ground. “I could make it quick, but I’d rather take my time.”
A shiver slid down my spine and I smiled. “Me too.”
“Coffee?”
“Yes, please.” I grabbed his oat milk and my skim milk from the fridge and set them on the table beside the brown sugar before grabbing spoons. “I’m debuting rhubarb and lemon cheesecake bites today. I left some in the fridge for you.”
He groaned. “Sounds delicious.”
“Let’s hope it tastes as good as it sounds.”
New items usually went over well, but Jackson’s Ridge was a small town—no one would hesitate to tell me if I missed the mark.
“I’ll let you know how delicious they tasted when I wake up.” He winked when he took the seat across from me and I fought the urge to climb over the table and settle in his lap, fuse our mouths together and forget our responsibilities and obligations to the outside world. “We don’t have time,” he laughed and pointed at me as if he knew just what I was thinking.
“I know,” I groaned and took a sip from the mug. “Too bad.”
“Soon,” he promised.
“Hopefully,” I added with a sigh because it had been too long, weeks, since I’d gotten my hands on his naked body, tasted his skin. “Our anniversary is soon, maybe we could do a sexy staycation?”
“Maybe,” he said vaguely. I ignored the sting of his noncommittal attitude and took another gulp of hot coffee.
After practically chugging my coffee, I set the mug down and stood. “I guess I’d better get going. I have a busy day today. Thank you for the coffee.” I dropped my cup in the sink and went back to my husband for a long kiss goodbye since he would be fast asleep by the time I finished my shower. “Love you.”
“Love you more.”
It was impossible for Casey to love me more. He showed me in every way possible, at least once a day. I loved him just as much, had waited for him to come back to me, not always sure that he would. When he did come back and slid his ring on my finger, it was the happiest day of my life. Our love was strong and true and real, which made it easy to ignore how disconnected we were from one another lately.
I tried not to let it bother me as I got to the bakery, unlocked the large back door, and got started on the big sellers for the day. The citizens of Jackson’s Ridge couldn’t get enough bread or cookies, but muffins and cupcakes flew off the shelves as well, not to mention the daily specials. The specials kept people coming in everyday, which was job security for me.
That was the problem with being a baker—working gave you too much time to think about the problems in your life, big or small. It was hard not to feel something over feeling disconnected from my husband, especially now that we only got to spend a few minutes together each day thanks to our schedules. He was just coming in after a long shift when I woke up to start my own.
One more week and our lives can get back to normal.
Our anniversary was coming up, but more important than that, Casey would be on a normal shift, which meant only a long surgery would keep him at the medical center later than usual.
One more week.
After putting bread in two ovens and cookies in the other two, I set a reminder on my phone and labeled it “Anniversary Shopping.’ It was time to reconnect with Casey, and our anniversary was the perfect opportunity.
Maybe we could even use the special day to get started on expanding our family.
Casey
I stood at the side of Mrs. Caperton’s bed with a friendly scowl on my face. “I am well aware that your granddaughter is the lead in the high school’s production of Rent, Mrs. C, but you’re only thirty-six hours out of surgery. You need to rest.”
The older woman jutted her chin out defiantly, and her light brown eyes said she wouldn’t make it easy. “All I have to do is sit there and watch her perform. And clap loudly at the end.”
I sighed and gave her my best glare. “Wrong. You have to get there, deal with big crowds and the anxiety of being related to the star of the show. That’s too much stress this soon after surgery, unless you want to fall down again?”
She sucked in a breath. “You know I don’t.”
“I don’t think you do, but you’re not acting like you don’t, Mrs. C.”
She huffed but her shoulders fell in resignation, and she pointed two fingers at me. “You’re lucky you’re handsome, Casey Jackson, or else I’d take you over my knee.”
