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“What is it?”
“I’ve been feeling the fool ever since I told all your colleagues that I was going to be the new head of the chamber of commerce. It was a perfectly ridiculous thing to say.
“The thing is, I don’t know how to be a secretary to anyone, let alone to someone like you. I feared I could never measure up, but I wanted you to be proud of me. So I clung to the only thing I knew how to do. However it isn’t what you need.
“What I’m trying to say is, if you’ll be patient with me, I’ll try to be a good secretary to you. But you’ll have to show me how.”
She started cleaning up the mess they’d made on the bed. “There’s no sign on the door of my new office yet. Let’s just leave it that way. I’ll report there for work every weekday morning.
“You can buzz me from your office and tell me what you’d like me to do. I’ll try to do it. In time, maybe I’ll get to the point where I’ll be able to function somewhat on my own.”
He picked up what she couldn’t carry and followed her to the kitchen.
“Let’s not make any snap decisions tonight. After breakfast in the morning when we’re both fresh, why don’t you come to my office with me and we’ll talk about everything.”
“I’ll be happy to.” She finished wiping off the counters. “You sound tired. How’s the pain in your shoulder?”
“It’s fine. I won’t need to take any pills tonight.”
“That’s because you’ve been wearing your sling.”
“With you around to remind me, I have no choice.”
“No. You don’t.”
She finally dared to look at him. “I haven’t told you what a remarkable speech you made today at the launching. You held everyone spellbound. In remembrance of it, I had a little gift made for you in Lead.”
Her mother had brought it with her. “It’s in my bedroom. I’ll be right back.” She dashed through the condo to get it, then returned to the kitchen. “Here.”
To some degree he was able to use the fingers of his other hand to help undo the paper. He lifted the lid.
It was a man’s gold ring with a black onyx face. The word Atlantis and today’s date had been artistically hammered into it with Black Hills gold. “I think the artisan did a lovely job considering the time constraints.”
There was a long period of silence. “Will you put it on for me?” he finally said in a thick-sounding voice.
She slid it on to the ring finger of his right hand. Before she could pull her hand away, he grasped it and brought it to his lips. “You’ve given me a wedding ring, and now this. Two treasures I’ll cherish forever.”
Her disappointment that he didn’t try to kiss her on the mouth devastated her. The opportunity had been there, but he’d chosen not to take advantage of it. When was she going to learn that you couldn’t force desire? It had to come from Ben of its own accord.
Averting her eyes, she eased away from him. It was time to get out of there before she fell apart.
“I don’t know about you, but the motion of the ship has made me sleepy. Good night, Ben. See you in the morning.”
She disappeared to her room. As soon as she could shut the door, she threw herself on the bed and buried her face in the pillow. It was sopping wet by the time oblivion took over.
When morning came, she was aware of the ship’s motion more strongly than the day before. They’d come into rougher seas. She sat up and peered out the window. It didn’t look that much different from yesterday, but there was definitely more wind.
One glance at her watch and she groaned. Ten after nine. She’d slept through her alarm. Why hadn’t Ben wakened her? She’d planned to get their breakfast.
What a great wife she was turning out to be!
She washed her hair and showered in record time. It didn’t take long to blow-dry it and put on lipstick. Then she donned a pair of tailored white pants and matching top over which she wore a navy blue cotton blazer.
After slipping into a pair of comfortable white cork wedgies, she dashed into the kitchen for a bite to eat before she reported to Ben’s office. To her surprise she found a note on the fridge.
Your breakfast is in the oven, sleepyhead. After so many gifts, it was the least I could do to show my appreciation. Come upstairs whenever you’re ready. Ben.
She quickly opened the oven door. He’d left a plate of sausage, scrambled eggs and cinnamon toast warming.
