Page 62 of The Hero
He also hadn’t realized just how lonely he’d been until Marlowe. Maybe that was the reason he’d felt so unsettled since leaving the service, always looking for ways to stay busy. Even though his days were much the same as they’d been before he’d gone to Thailand, they felt much more fulfilling now. He was looking forward to a future he hadn’t thought possible.
Bob had asked JJ to come over when he spoke with Marlowe about the situation with Ian West, and he was making sloppy joes for lunch in preparation for his friend’s arrival. Marlowe was currently in the living room speaking with Tony on the phone. He could hear her reassuring her brother that she was fine. That no, she wasn’t bored, and everyone she’d met had been welcoming and extremely nice.
The fact that she didn’t feel the need to talk to Tony behind closed doors, didn’t mind if he overheard her side of the conversation, was just another thing that made him feel closer to her.
Eventually she hung up and wandered into the kitchen. She hopped up on one of the barstools around the small island and rested her chin in her hand. “I feel bad,” she said.
“About what?” Bob asked.
“That you’re the one who’s injured, and you’ve been doing all the cooking.”
“Do youenjoycooking?”
She looked surprised. “Um ... not particularly. You know that.”
“Then why should you?”
“Because you were hurt. Because I want to help out around here. Because I don’t want you to think I’m taking advantage of you in any way.”
Bob couldn’t help but chuckle. “I was hurt, but I’m fine now.”Finemight be a stretch, but with every day that passed, Bob felt more and more like his old self. “And youdohelp around here,” he went on. “Youfolded all our clothes yesterday, changed the sheets on our bed, and you put all the dishes away. And as far as taking advantage of me goes ... you aren’t. Not by any stretch of the imagination. I love having you here, Punky. I never thought much about living with a woman, but you make it so incredibly easy.”
“Kendric,” she complained softly. “You need to stop being so nice.”
“Why?” he asked, genuinely wanting to know. He stopped stirring the meat and turned to look at her.
“Because.”
“That’s not an answer,” he chided gently. “And I’m nevernotgoing to be nice to you. I want to spoil you. Look after you. Make your life as easy as I can make it.”
“Can I do the same for you?” she asked with a tilt of her head.
“Don’t you know? You already are. I’ve been a bachelor a long time. Done my own cooking and cleaning. Washed my own clothes. Mopped my own floors. Woke up alone, went to bed alone. Having you here? Sharing the daily chores? Lying in my arms when we sleep? It feels amazing. I’ll do whatever I have to in order to keep you happy.”
“I am,” she said without hesitation.
“Me too,” he agreed. Then he walked around the island and stood in front of her chair. Thanks to the high stool, her head was just about level with his own. He took her face in his hands and leaned in. “It’s been more than a week. How are you feeling? And be honest. You had that nightmare last night ... Want to talk about it?”
Marlowe took his wrists in her hands and met his gaze. “I’m good, Kendric. I mean, yeah, I have moments where it feels surreal that I’m here. Safe, free. But honestly, I feel more settled and secure than I have in a very long time. I used to stress about what job I would be assigned to next. Where in the world I’d be. But knowing that next week I’ll wake up in the same place I am now ... it’s a relief.”
Her words settled in Bob’s soul. “Good.”
“What about you?” she asked. “Have you been dreaming? I mean, I’ve been sleeping hard most nights, and I don’t want you to hide your nightmares from me. I want to help you if you’re having them.”
He hadn’t thought about it until right this moment, but Bob was amazed to realize that he couldn’t remember having one nightmare since he’d gotten home. Oh, he’d had dreams, but they involved either Marlowe and him naked together, pleasing each other, or faceless children running amok as he and his friends watched with tolerant and loving glances.
“I’m not,” he said in awe.
“You aren’t what?” Marlowe asked with a frown.
“Having nightmares. I haven’t dreamed about being a captive since we got home.”
She stared at him with wide eyes. “Really? You aren’t lying about that to try to make me feel better?”
“Yes. And no, I’m not lying.”
“That’s awesome,” she said with a huge smile.
“It’s you,” Bob told her. “Something about holding you in my arms, having you by my side, seems to calm the demons in my head.”
