through to Chloe’s office.
“How’s your day going?” Mitch asked. His voice was soft and lacked his normal teasing tone.
“Fine. Is everything okay with you?” Chloe was concerned.
“Work stuff. I’m sure you don’t want to hear about it.”
“Really? You listen to my work stories every day. Why would you think I wouldn’t be interested in yours?”
“My wife wasn’t. I guess I assumed you wouldn’t be either.”
“To be honest, she doesn’t sound like she was a very nice person. Please don’t hold back things that are important to you.” Chloe waited for Mitch to respond.
He sighed. “There was a riot today. A couple guards were injured.”
“Are you okay? Were you hurt?” Panic seeped in as she fired questions at him.
“I’m fine, and so are the guards. You just never know how it will turn out.” Mitch sounded even more tired.
“I’m sorry. How about I make you dinner tonight? You can come over, relax, and let Max entertain you.”
“I can’t think of a more perfect night.”
“I’ll see you at six then?” Chloe confirmed.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Chloe left work early and bought a pork roast, potatoes, and a chocolate cream pie. Mitch wasn’t big on green leafy foods.
Mitch arrived as she took the roast out. She needed the drippings to make the gravy.
“Something smells wonderful.” Mitch removed his coat, gloves and hat and laid them over the back of the chair.
“I hope it tastes as good as it smells.” Chloe studied Mitch as he said hi to Max. He laughed at something Max said. His smile was like the rising sun—warm, vivid and beautiful. She melted. She cleared her throat and brushed a strand of hair back behind her ear.
He turned and walked toward her. Mitch’s strong body, arms, and magnetism overwhelmed her senses every time he fixed his gaze on her. He had magnificent lips, smooth and warm, and she could feel every dip and arc when he kissed her.
“How was the rest of your day?” Chloe asked and he stopped short of touching her.
“It was all right.” He stepped closer and stroked her arm, and then brushed a kiss over her hair. “It’s all right now that I’m here with you.” He laughed, leaned in to kiss her and bit her lightly on the bottom lip.
The oven buzzer announced the biscuits were done. Chloe reluctantly stepped out of his embrace.
“Can I help with anything?”
“Why don’t you grab a beer and relax? I’ve got this handled.”
“Sounds great.”
After dinner, Mitch rubbed his stomach. “That was amazing. Better than my mom ever made.”
Chloe loved to cook. His compliment hit home because her mom had taught her how to cook but was gone now. “ Planet of the Apes is on the Sci-Fi station if you want go sit down. I’ll only be a couple minutes.”
“Let me help and it’ll go quicker,” Mitch volunteered.
“I work faster alone. Go sit down and relax.” Chloe took his arm and pushed him toward the living room.
Twenty minutes later, Chloe found Mitch sound asleep on the couch. She covered Max’s cage and sat down to watch the apes.
When the credits wound down, Mitch’s eyes popped open and he looked around.
“I can’t believe I did that. You fed me a delicious meal and then I repaid you by falling asleep. Will you forgive me?”
“Of course. Consider my house your house. I want you to feel comfortable and relaxed when you’re here. That means when you’re tired you can lie down and take a nap.”
Mitch sat up and stretched. “Thank you for being so sweet. How was the movie I slept through?”
“Same old, same old. The apes won.” Chloe tucked her arms under and jumped around, imitating an ape.
Mitch hopped up and chased Chloe around the room while she acted like a big gorilla. He caught her and held her tight. “I’ve got to go. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
Chloe hugged him, lightly kissed him and then said, “I look forward to your calls. Drive careful.”
Chapter Eight
Every
“How’s your day going?” Mitch asked. His voice was soft and lacked his normal teasing tone.
“Fine. Is everything okay with you?” Chloe was concerned.
“Work stuff. I’m sure you don’t want to hear about it.”
“Really? You listen to my work stories every day. Why would you think I wouldn’t be interested in yours?”
“My wife wasn’t. I guess I assumed you wouldn’t be either.”
“To be honest, she doesn’t sound like she was a very nice person. Please don’t hold back things that are important to you.” Chloe waited for Mitch to respond.
He sighed. “There was a riot today. A couple guards were injured.”
“Are you okay? Were you hurt?” Panic seeped in as she fired questions at him.
“I’m fine, and so are the guards. You just never know how it will turn out.” Mitch sounded even more tired.
“I’m sorry. How about I make you dinner tonight? You can come over, relax, and let Max entertain you.”
“I can’t think of a more perfect night.”
“I’ll see you at six then?” Chloe confirmed.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Chloe left work early and bought a pork roast, potatoes, and a chocolate cream pie. Mitch wasn’t big on green leafy foods.
Mitch arrived as she took the roast out. She needed the drippings to make the gravy.
“Something smells wonderful.” Mitch removed his coat, gloves and hat and laid them over the back of the chair.
“I hope it tastes as good as it smells.” Chloe studied Mitch as he said hi to Max. He laughed at something Max said. His smile was like the rising sun—warm, vivid and beautiful. She melted. She cleared her throat and brushed a strand of hair back behind her ear.
He turned and walked toward her. Mitch’s strong body, arms, and magnetism overwhelmed her senses every time he fixed his gaze on her. He had magnificent lips, smooth and warm, and she could feel every dip and arc when he kissed her.
“How was the rest of your day?” Chloe asked and he stopped short of touching her.
“It was all right.” He stepped closer and stroked her arm, and then brushed a kiss over her hair. “It’s all right now that I’m here with you.” He laughed, leaned in to kiss her and bit her lightly on the bottom lip.
The oven buzzer announced the biscuits were done. Chloe reluctantly stepped out of his embrace.
“Can I help with anything?”
“Why don’t you grab a beer and relax? I’ve got this handled.”
“Sounds great.”
After dinner, Mitch rubbed his stomach. “That was amazing. Better than my mom ever made.”
Chloe loved to cook. His compliment hit home because her mom had taught her how to cook but was gone now. “ Planet of the Apes is on the Sci-Fi station if you want go sit down. I’ll only be a couple minutes.”
“Let me help and it’ll go quicker,” Mitch volunteered.
“I work faster alone. Go sit down and relax.” Chloe took his arm and pushed him toward the living room.
Twenty minutes later, Chloe found Mitch sound asleep on the couch. She covered Max’s cage and sat down to watch the apes.
When the credits wound down, Mitch’s eyes popped open and he looked around.
“I can’t believe I did that. You fed me a delicious meal and then I repaid you by falling asleep. Will you forgive me?”
“Of course. Consider my house your house. I want you to feel comfortable and relaxed when you’re here. That means when you’re tired you can lie down and take a nap.”
Mitch sat up and stretched. “Thank you for being so sweet. How was the movie I slept through?”
“Same old, same old. The apes won.” Chloe tucked her arms under and jumped around, imitating an ape.
Mitch hopped up and chased Chloe around the room while she acted like a big gorilla. He caught her and held her tight. “I’ve got to go. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
Chloe hugged him, lightly kissed him and then said, “I look forward to your calls. Drive careful.”
Chapter Eight
Every
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