Page 6 of The Reward of You

She takes a bite and then another before sighing. “Sam… I’m not — I’m not very good at letting my defenses down.”

I nod. That matches with the ice queen image that I now know is a complete and utter lie. “What does that have to do with lounging on the sofa with a book?” I ask quietly when she doesn’t elaborate.

She flushes and stares at the middle of my chest. Finally she mutters in a small voice, “I don’t know how.”

Now it’s my turn to stare. “What do you do when you’re sick with a cold or something?”

Noelle turns her attention back to the omelet. “It honestly doesn’t happen that often and when it does, it’s usually because I’ve been working too hard and it knocks me on my ass. I’m too out of it then to lounge anywhere.”

I take all that in. “Are you open to learning?” I finally ask.

She nods emphatically. “Oh yes, but… where would I even start?”

I refill her coffee cup and set the carafe on the opposite counter. More caffeine isn’t going to help this new initiative.

“I’ll teach you. Finish your breakfast and we’ll get started,” I mutter because I’m realizing that Noelle is miles away from being ready for a relationship and that makes all of me ache with unfulfilled need.

A dimple flashes in her left cheek that I’ve never seen before. “What do you do for work, Sam? Are you like a boot camp instructor or something?”

“Naw. These days I work in satellite imagery and mapping.”

“Really? Will you tell me about that? I’m really curious how pictures turn into maps without retracing all the lines.”

It’s my turn to stare. She actually means it. Some of the tension I’ve been holding unconsciously releases, and I realize I can’t be as patient with her as I should be.

“We’re going to skip over fiancée and go straight to wife,” I inform her bluntly.

Noelle blinks. “Uh, what brought that on?”

I shake my head. “I’ve got a book for you to read that will explain better than I can. You done with your plate?”

She nods and I slide it into the dishwasher. “Come on, beautiful. Time to learn a new life skill.”

The dimple pops again as she slides off the bar stool. I lead her into the living room and rearrange the pillows on the couch before guiding her down. Lifting her legs up, I can’t help but stroke one hand down her smooth calf. Noelle stares at me with wide eyes. I cover her with a fluffy throw and move a small side table next to the couch, where she can reach it easily. “That’s for the tea I’m about to make for you. Now, here’s the book I mentioned. But if you need a break, feel free to look through my phone. I’m not sure what any of it will tell you about me, but whatever it is, you should know it.” I hand her my phone with the book I want her to read already queued up.

4

Despite Sam’s offer for me to be nosy, I still feel a little guilty immediately minimizing the book he’d selected for me to go diving through his phone apps. But I’m a lot more curious about the man currently in my kitchen than any book. And that’s saying something coming from a lifelong bookworm.

I frown, though, when there’s absolutely nothing in his photo gallery. I mean, not a single picture. Ofanything. How is that even possible? His books, on the other hand… He has not just one, but three reading apps, including two for public libraries. Maybe he doesn’t have any memory left on his phone for photos because it’s all being used by books?

My eyebrows go up when I scan the lists. Sam reads an awful lot of romance. And judging by the covers, most of it is steamy. Does that mean the book he picked for me is too?

Bringing it back to the screen, I read the first paragraph. It seems innocuous enough. Just then, Sam brings in a steaming mug of tea and sets it on the table. “How are you doing with the lounging?”

I ponder that question. “It’s too early to say yet. But it feels weird not working. I have spreadsheets that need filling in and monthly reports to run.”

Sam grins. “They’ll still be there on Monday. Now what can I help you with around the house so you don’t feel so behind there?”

I gape at him. Ed never once offered to help with anything. “Uh. I normally do the laundry on Friday evening and we get a pizza, so there aren’t any dishes to do and we can enjoy our weekend together.”

“House full of party girls, eh?” Sam’s smile is kind, but it reminds me just how sarcastic those words can be.

“No,” I sigh. “I’m crap at socializing. And as you maybe figured out, Bea is the changeling child, willing to talk to anyone and everyone. I love that about her, but it’s completely foreign to my nature. And Miranda’s.”

Sam doesn’t seem disturbed. He drops a kiss on my forehead. “I’ll go get started on the laundry then. We can pick up a pizza after we get the girls from school.”

He turns to leave, and my mouth starts talking without my permission. “Sam, why don’t you have any photos on your phone?”

---