Chapter Thirty Six

For the first time since he signed the contract with Packard Enterprises, he put the news out of his mind and headed towards the kitchen. He peered in and saw that he was right. Christina stood in the kitchen cutting up some veggies. His eyes drifted to the stove, which had a steaming pot on it. He wasn't crazy... His wife was making dinner....For the first time since they lost their baby. He was surprised, but also very happy. Finally, a little progress. This day was turning out to be one of the best days of his life.

She had her back to him, so she didn't see him come in.

"Tina," Evan called.

Her shoulders tensed and she turned quickly, dropping the knife she was holding in the process.

"Oh my God, Evan. Don't scare me like that" she said as she placed her hand on her chest. "You almost gave me a fucking heart attack!"

She bent to pick up the knife and rinsed it in the sink, then she turned back to cutting up the carrots.

Evan stared at her tense shoulders for a while. He could almost feel the excitement in him fading away and he wanted to punch something. But what good would that do?

"I didn't mean to scare you, honey" he said softly as he lowered his eyes to the ground. "I guess you didn't hear me come in, but I had some great news about work and I just wanted to share it with you. Guess that was a bad idea. I'm sorry"

He turned around to leave. Every time, he thought. Every time he tried to do something to cheer her up, it turned out this way. Everytime he tried to do something to make her let go of the past so they could move forward as a couple, she held back. She refused to let go. Refused to get help when he suggested it. Sometimes he wondered why he even kept trying.

"Evan... "

He stopped, but didn't turn around to look at her. He heard her move towards him and felt his body tense, anticipating her touch... He was disappointed when she didn't touch him, instead she said softly: "I'm sorry"

"It's fine," Evan lied.

"No it's not. I'm sorry." said Christina. "I shouldn't have yelled at you like that... What did you want to tell me about work?"

He turned around then. How could he not? Christina was the love of his life. The one person he had shared every part of his life with for years. He needed her to be that person for him again.

"I got Packard Enterprises, honey" he said, the excitement returning to his voice. "Can you believe that, baby. This is such a big deal for me and the agency... That's what I wanted to tell you"

Christina gave him a small smile, then leaned over to kiss him on his cheek. He would have preferred more enthusiasm from her, but considering the way their relationship had been lately, he would take the little she offered.

"Congratulations. I'm really happy for you" Christina said. "I know how much you have wanted this. You have worked real hard for it and you deserve it"

He smiled proudly, glad that at least he could get a reaction from her, no matter how little. "We were out celebrating tonight, but there's gonna be a proper party to celebrate....And I want you to come with me, Tina. This is a big deal for me and I want you to share every part of it with me." He reached out and took her hand. "This could be good for us. We haven't done anything together in a while... Maybe we can use this opportunity to... You know... Talk..Het closer…work on our marriage"

Christina slowly withdrew her hand from his. She shook her head. "I don't think I want that, Evan. I think it's a great idea, don't get me wrong. But I just don't think I would like to come with you."

Evan stared at her with hurt in his eyes. The excitement fading away again.

"Sometimes I wonder why I even try," he said as he left the kitchen and headed for the bedroom.

__________

It was the heat that woke Chloe up.

The air conditioner must be on the fritz again. That sucked. She had to get that fixed, she thought. Although she always told herself that and ended up either forgetting or postponing it.

Other than the AC problem, Chloe's place was nice. It was a fabulous flat—a one-bedroom apartment with a great kitchen and real hardwood floors. Reluctant to leave—both the apartment and the bed—Chloe moaned and stretched. The erotic novel she had been reading before she slept off the previous night was still on the bed next to her, open to page one-twenty-three. She trailed her finger over the page, then closed her eyes, remembering the way the delicious, decadent words had played over her body, with a little help from her fingers, of course....while thinking about Timothy. She stretched like a cat, tempted to stay in bed and spend a few more wonderful hours with the book and her fantasies.

Naked, she twisted her body, trying to find a cool spot on the bed. No luck. She sighed. Just as well. She’d already lazed away an entire Sunday, reading the book, watching television, sipping wine, and then reading some more. Now, it was the wee hours of Monday morning and time to get up.

She was sure Evan wouldn't mind her missing work for a while, but she had been away for quite some time and she had some things to handle. With a little groan, she sat up, pushing the curls out of her eyes before sliding off the bed and padding barefoot to the kitchen. She pulled the door open and stood there, letting the cool air dance over her skin. She shivered, a little chill racing up her spine as the thin film of sweat that covered her body started to disappear.

Her stomach rumbled, and she scoped out the inside of the refrigerator. Not much in there except Diet Coke and slightly limp carrots. She made a face, then grabbed a soda. At least it would fill her up and cool her off.

She closed the fridge and pressed the cool can to her forehead, closing her eyes and leaning against the stove. Who would have guessed she’d find heaven in an ice-cold aluminum can? Especially when she’d already found it in the hot, sultry prose of the nineteenth-century book.

Slowly, she trailed the can down over her nose, her chin, down her neck to her cleavage. It felt wonderful, and she was just so damn hot.