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Monday cao back to work and she would be at home alone He woke before the alaret back to the clinic She made the bed and went into the kitchen to fix breakfast By the time he arrived, she had the table set and his plate filled with food Marriage was exactly what she expected and thought she would want – and yet there was so on Alex

He ca handsoo jeans and a western shirt He winked at her and dropped into his chair

"Looks delicious," he said

"So do you," she said instantly, and then felt a blush working its way up her neck again

His expression was first surprised and then a to miss you today"

"Good," he replied as he picked up his fork "That will ht even gs and started eating

She sat down and reached for her coffee cup Even more special? What was special about today Was she supposed to re? His birthday wasn’t until the end of September, so it wasn’t that She sipped her coffee a few tiave up

"What is special about today?"

He stared at her blankly for a second and then sht is special e’re together Don’t you think?"

The flush grearmer "Of course So are the days" She held her coffee cup with both hands and sipped the hot brew

He sed a bite and chuckled "Teeks of loveand suddenly you’re e sudden about her embarrassment What was different was his casual reference to their intihts were special Only a person who had spent many of them alone would realize how special it was to have a partner next to thehts alone She tucked the exceptions to the back of her one for hihts together were special

With Alex gone all day, she turned her attention to deep cleaning the house She s she would need and a separate list of things she wanted to retrieve from the old house Her mother’s dishes were on that list Alex had some nice ironstone dishes, but only a set of four That was enough for the two of theht not appreciate the china the way she did, but he would understand and support her desire towas another issue In a few ain Most of her bedding orn andsized – overkill, since they usually slept cuddled together It was a beautiful bed, though, and the bedrooet too cold, because he didn’t havethe day, that e returned Each time she pushed it away Surely it was norot ho and she had a list for shopping the following day Supper was on the table and she had showered and put on a dress

He walked through the door and stopped, sniffing

"Is that peach cobbler?"

Not exactly the reaction she had expected, but certainly not a negative one She sighed and affiraze ca appreciatively, he took a step toward her and captured her by the waist, drawing her into his arms

Now that washer lips to his Sliding her hand inside his shirt collar, she worked it around to the back of his neck, pulling his lips down hard on hers

He released her and chuckled

"Who would have guessed I’d be co?"

A hot flush shot up her neck She turned away froht her, drawing her back into his arms

"I’m sorry, sweetheart I didn’t mean to embarrass you It’s just that you’ve always been so reserved"

His fingers lifted her chin so that she was forced to look at his face

"I wasn’t laughing at you"

Her face still hot, she aze

"I didn’t mean to attack you the minute you came home"

His eyes hen he smiled

"Attack me all you want"

He punctuated it with a quick kiss and then released her again

"I don’t mean to be insensitive, but I was so busy today that I didn’t eat lunch"

"Oh!" she gasped "Supper is on the table You should have said so – or packed a lunch"

"I’ll go wash up," he said, rolling up his sleeves as he headed for the wash roo down at the table opposite her

"I thought about getting soured you’d have supper ready"

Alex ate the same way he approached any task – with enthusiass, like not eating too fast or taking large bites, not talking with thehow many people did them – in public, even Yet even at home, Alex always minded his manners He kept his mouth wiped and never belched at the table It was a pleasure sihtful things about hiined – and yetShe focused on her food Only in her dreams had she ever considered such a life possible for her In fact, sometimes it seemed a dream now Other tie of their e

After supper she put leftovers away and washed dishes while Alex browsed through the paper