AllFreeNovel
Share Us
But it wasn’t just that he wanted to replay the noises Mina had made when she came over and over and over in his head; his feelings for her were intense in a way he didn’t understand. Not yet. They hadn’t known each other that long. She was funny and light and interesting and had this really cool side job that he didn’t think real people actually did, so he knew why he dug her.
But he more than dug her. Thinking about her stopped him short, and he had to catch his breath.
The curds in the eggs grew larger and a paler yellow. Done enough for him, but... “How do you like your eggs?”
“A little runny is okay.”
“Then breakfast is ready. Can you put some toast in?”
“Sure.” She shuffled around him as he plopped eggs on plates and set the bacon aside to drain.
Once everything was finished, he handed her both plates of food, then refilled their coffee cups and sat at the table.
He was being stupid again. If there was one thing he’d learned after ten years of marriage to Kimmie, it was that there was a right time to say things. And usually that right time was now, because you didn’t always know when you’d get another chance. Trapped in the mine shaft for forty-eight hours, he’d thought of all the things he had wanted to say to his beautiful wife but had been waiting for the right time. For her to be in the right mood. For him to be in the right mood. He’d made a long list in his head, and as soon as the hospital had declared him fit to be released, he’d bolted to the door, for home and the chance to say those things.
Only his rescue hadn’t actually given him the chance he’d thought it had.
Before he picked up his fork, he cleared his throat. Mina looked up. “It was stupid because the moment would have been perfect, no matter what. Because all the moments with you are going to be perfect.”
He was about to look back down at his breakfast when her face melted into soft pleasure, and she breathed out a soft “Oh.” Then she blinked several times. “You really don’t say much, but when you do, you always say the right thing.”
“Yeah,” he said, knowing he was going to ruin the moment and feeling like he didn’t have a choice. “That’s not going to be true all the time.”
“Hmm. Well, probably like I’ll ruin many a perfect moment. But it’s a nice thing to say right now.”
Had it been last night that they had stopped talking like they were dating, and plans couldn’t be assumed, and started talking like there was a long-term future that involved them both? Maybe it had been earlier, and he just hadn’t noticed it. Whenever it had happened, it was nice. He liked the solidness of a relationship much more than the strange fluid rules of dating. This, this was good. And it was better with Mina.
They spent the rest of their breakfast talking about their plans for the day and what time they would be able to see each other tonight. Some scholar from Russia was visiting the university, and Mina was part of a group having lunch with her. Then she was taking a walk with Echo and that yappy little dog. All of which would give him a chance to draw up some estimates for several clients. Everyone in Missoula seemed to want to redo their bathroom right now.
When they finished eating, Mina helped him clean up the kitchen. Then they shared a brief but intense kiss at the front door, and he watched her walk to her own house, a deep sense of satisfaction swelling in his body because she was in his life.
His profound satisfaction only grew when he got to his bedroom and saw her underwear from last night lying on the floor. Then he hopped in the shower and got ready for a Saturday of work. Only when he was walking out the door did he realize that he’d not looked at his or Kimmie’s horoscope today, for the first time in thirteen years.
* * *
MINA COULD BARELY keep her eyes open during lunch and Hellie’s talk afterward. Unfortunately, it wasn’t last night’s energetic activities that were wearing her down. Honestly, after Levi had come, she hadn’t been able to keep her eyes open, so calling herself “energetic” last night was a bit of a misnomer. This morning, while eating breakfast, she’d fought to be witty and fun. Levi had been telling her important things about their relationship and its future, and she wanted to be present for those.
