Harbor Street (Cedar Cove #5)(74)

“No mercy,” Bob teased. “For once, I have the advantage and I’m taking it.”

“Oh, so that’s how it’s going to be.” Jack laughed. It felt good to be with his friend, who was also his AA sponsor and all-around mentor.

Fifteen minutes later, the crisis at the office was forgotten as Jack stared at the cards in his hand, deciding which two to discard. He chewed on the end of a toothpick, a habit Olivia detested, and set aside the six and the three.

The phone interrupted his concentration. “Ten bucks says that’s Olivia checking to see if I’m home,” Jack muttered, glancing over the top of his cards.

Bob chuckled. “You’re on.”

Jack grabbed for the receiver. “Yes, sweetheart?”

Olivia gave a small gasp. “How’d you know it was me?”

Jack held out his palm to his friend, indicating that Bob should pay up. “Lucky guess,” he answered his wife. “I’m home, and my babysitter’s doing a fine job of looking after me.”

“Bob is not your babysitter.”

“Am I required to nap this afternoon?”

She ignored the question. “How did it go at the office?”

“Great, really great.” He dared not let her know how much he loved being back at work. The frantic pace stimulated him. Afternoon naps—even if he needed them—didn’t.

“Are you tired?”

He smothered a yawn. “No way. I’m sitting here in the middle of the day playing cutthroat cribbage with Bob Beldon. There’s nothing else I’d rather be doing.”

Not true. He’d rather be at work—or making love to his wife—but that was another area that appeared to be taboo since his surgery. The only time he’d mentioned the possibility, Olivia was the one who damn near had a heart attack. Absolutely no sex. Apparently even talking about it was off limits. As far as he could figure, he’d been cut off for the rest of his natural life. Sex wasn’t all, either. He hadn’t seen a piece of red meat in weeks.

“See how you feel after Bob leaves,” she suggested. “You sound a little cranky.”

There she went again, treating him like a five-year-old. “Shouldn’t you get back to work?” he asked, hoping to get her off the phone before he lost his temper.

“Not really—I’m on my lunch hour.”

“You’re interrupting our game,” he said. He suspected Olivia had given Bob instructions on how long he should stay. Although Olivia’s actions were prompted by love, everything she’d said and done since the surgery felt like a noose being tightened around his neck.

“Have a good afternoon, sweetheart, and I’ll be home soon after five.”

He wanted to tell her not to rush on his account, but it wouldn’t do any good. Olivia was on a mission and unfortunately that mission was to save him from himself.

Jack replaced the receiver, closed his eyes a moment in an effort to reduce his blood pressure, then picked up his cribbage hand.

“So how’d you know it was Olivia?” Bob asked, placing a ten-dollar bill on the coffee table.

“She’s smothering me with attention.”

“I don’t know,” Bob returned with a skeptical look. “I wouldn’t mind Peggy giving me a little extra TLC.”

“You’d mind this.” That was all Jack was willing to say on the subject.

True to her word, Olivia was home at twelve minutes past five. Jack knew for a fact that the drive from the courthouse to Lighthouse Road took exactly eleven minutes. That meant she was out the door at the stroke of five, in her car and racing away from the office.

Jack sat in front of the television. He found daytime TV asinine. It seemed largely populated by the stupid and the shameless. One more talk show or courtroom program and he was going to leap off a bridge.

“Hi,” she said, coming through the front door. Studying him for any signs of—what?—she removed her gloves and hung up her coat. “Did you have your nap?”

Jack clamped his jaw rather than comment.

“Is there anything I can get you?” she asked next.

“Yes.” His response was automatic. “I want a kiss. A real kiss.”

She hesitated for only a moment. “All right.”

“None of that peck-on-the-cheek stuff, either. I want—no, I need—a kiss from my wife.”

“Jack…I don’t think this is a good idea.”

“I happen to believe it’s a mighty fine one.” Slowly he got up from the chair. If she wouldn’t come to him, he’d go to her.

Olivia must have recognized the determination in his eyes because she backed away from him until she could go no farther. Pressed against the wall, her eyes wide with alarm, she whispered, “Jack…”

He didn’t allow her to finish. She stiffened when he brought his mouth to hers and kissed her for all he was worth. Her lips were soft and pliant, and it wasn’t long before he felt her relax. She sighed; soon her arms were around his neck and they were completely caught up in each other.

Jack was just beginning to wonder how difficult it would be to unfasten her blouse and free her br**sts. He loved the feel of Olivia’s br**sts; the weight of them in his hands was about as close to heaven as he figured he’d get. Suddenly the oddest thing happened.