Page 54 of While You're There
Rhett blew out a long breath as he started to make his way across the Green. He kept his Ray Bans in place and bowed his head slightly. There were enough people out and about today that someone would eventually recognize him and stop to chat, but right now he just wanted to get to his girl.
She had been asleep when he finally got home last night. He found her starfished in the center of his bed at his parents’ house. The tension of the day softened around the edges the moment he laid eyes on her. He had showered quickly, eager to wash away the stress of the week, before he climbed into bed. He had fallen asleep with relative ease, much to his surprise and relief. He wasn’t sure if it was the familiar bed, the proximity to his wife, or the expensive whiskey he drank at the airport sky lounge. Business class travel had its perks. Whatever the reason, the cards were in his favor last night, the Universe on his side. He felt more rested today than he had since their honeymoon.
He slept in until almost eight am, which meant Tori had already left for work by the time he got up. He let himself enjoy a slow start to the morning, going on a long run out to the bike and hike trail and back before showering and getting ready for the day. He had only spent a few minutes glancing through emails, knowing that if anything needed his immediate attention, Quinn would let him know.
He had forgotten it was Market Day until he tried to find parking in the backlot of Clinton’s and fell short. He assumed she and Jake had been stationed out here all morning. Maybe she would want to go out to lunch after her shift.
Jake spotted him first, offering a less-than-enthusiastic head nod in his direction before saying something to Tori he couldn’t hear. He watched as Jake shoved to his feet and started tearing down the table and pop-up tent with the new Oak Barrel Tavern logo on it.
“Rhett!”
There she was. He grinned from ear to ear as his wife made her way around the booth to meet him.
“Hey, beautiful,” he greeted her as he folded her into a hug. He pulled back and kissed her forehead before finding her lips. He didn’t care if they were in the middle of downtown Hampton, surrounded by dozens of families. It had been seven long days since he had last kissed his wife.
“Missed you,” she replied as she moved out of his hold. “We’re just finishing up here.” She cocked her head toward the booths. Jake and Fielding were making quick work of tearing down.
“Perfect. Can I take you out to lunch?”
“Oh, I just ate. Field brought bagels, then I had a salad, too. I’m stuffed. We can go out though, and I’ll sit with you while you eat?”
Field brought bagels.Of course he did. Guess that’s what he got for trying to enjoy a slow start to the day.
“I’m not that hungry either. I went on a long run this morning and made a huge breakfast when I got home. Why don’t we go out to dinner tonight instead? I’ll make reservations, and we can get dressed up. It is our two-week anniversary after all.”
Tori laughed and shook her head, her wavy dark blonde hair waving with the motion. “It feels a little silly to celebrate a two-week anniversary when we’ve been together for more than ten years.”
Rhett reached for her hand and gently pulled her back into his orbit. “I want to celebrate everything with you, V.” He kissed her again, needing to feel her mouth pressed against him. Needing to remind himself that he was home, and they were together. Her presence soothed his frantic mind, her body comforted his frazzled nerves.
“I love you,” she whispered before turning and walking away to help the guys clean up.
“Everhett!” a voice called out right as Tori stepped away. He inhaled, trying to savor what had just passed between them and commit the feeling of calm to memory. A hand brushed along his forearm before he had a chance to turn and see who had spoken.
He smiled at the middle-aged woman standing before him. He knew he wouldn’t last long at Market Day without running into someone he knew. He was surprised it had taken this long. “Hi, Mrs. Riviera.”
“I saw your wedding announcement in the paper last weekend and just wanted to tell you congratulations! Everyone always knew you two would end up together.”
Rhett maintained his smile, laughing to himself about how easy it all looked from the outside.
“Thanks, Mrs. R. Tell Jasper and Becks I said hello, will you?”
“Sure! They’ll be happy to hear I ran into you. Oh, is that Victoria over there? I must go tell her congratulations…”
“Ahh, I’m sure she’d love to chat, but she’s on the clock right now. I’m not even supposed to be here distracting her.” He held one finger to his mouth and winked, implying she was in on a secret. The woman’s eyes lit up knowingly.
“Oh, of course. Mum’s the word! Please pass along my congratulations.”
“I will,” he assured her, clasping his hand around hers before she walked away. He made his way over to where the gang was almost done cleaning up.
Tori met his gaze with raised eyebrows. “That looked like nosy Mrs. Riviera. Did you just run interference for me?”
He winked at her as he took a pile of papers and a bag of coloring supplies from her hands. “What are husbands for?”
“You’re my hero. We would have been stuck here for another twenty minutes if she got to talking.” Tori stretched up onto her toes to kiss him. A swell of pride rose up in his chest from her affection, especially in front of the other men.
“Wheeler. You here to help or just hold us up?” Jake clipped out as he finished cinching a pop-up tent closed into its carrying case.
“Hey, bro,” Rhett greeted his friend tentatively, stepping forward to take the tent from Jake’s hands. “What’s going on?” His best friend was obviously on edge.
