Dawson
Going back to work after a weekend on the boat with Mickie sucked.
But I did so with a smile on my face because life was pretty damn good.
We’d lain in bed all day Saturday, doing nothing but…each other. It was like our second honeymoon. We talked, we laughed, we cuddled. We became reacquainted with each other. On Sunday, we docked at a smaller marina, picked up some fresh seafood at a local market, and had a feast back on the boat. Then we’d spent the rest of the day sunbathing, naked.
The cherry on top had been when we’d gone back to the house Sunday night, and didn’t even have to question whether or not I was staying. We’d simply dropped our suitcases, thanked Kinley and checked on the kids, undressed, and fell into bed together.
It felt like the past two months had never happened.
The time we’d been apart had melted away with gentle kisses and whispered declarations.
My phone buzzed on my desk.
Mickie: I sure hope you’re not thinking about our shower sex this morning, Mr. Cruz. You should be working.
Oh, yeah. And we’d started the day today by fucking in the shower.
I adjusted my pants, wincing at my sudden discomfort. I was still smiling, though.
Me: Thanks to you, I’m no longer going to be productive for the rest of the day.
Mickie: Just doing my part to make sure you’re ready for tonight. ;)
The situation in my pants wasn’t getting any better. She knew I was at work, the little vixen. We’d been having sex—multiple times—every night for almost a week. We were getting pretty inventive with not only our positions, but our locations, too. We had to wait until the kids fell asleep for some of the more out-in-the-open ones, but it was totally worth it.
Me: Do you really think I wouldn’t be ready for you? I was ready the minute I left the house.
True statement.
Mickie: Then I’m just giving you something to look forward to.
Coming home to her and the kids was always something to look forward to. It eased my stress, calmed my nerves, and reminded me of everything I had to be grateful for.
Me: Trust me, I’m constantly thinking about you. You don’t have to remind me.
Another true statement. In fact, I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her. Of course, that had been true even before our weekend boat excursion. I looked at the clock and realized it was time for my meeting with Lieutenant Allen.
Me: See you tonight, baby.
I set my phone to silent and straightened my tie. I was going to talk to the Lieutenant about accepting the position of Captain.
Mickie and I had discussed it in detail over the last few days. She was supportive of my moving up the ranks, and I couldn’t deny that it appealed to me greatly. She actually acted very excited for me.
She’d assured me that this was the next phase of our lives, and that we would work through it together. Take it one day at a time. We’d be in it together, every step of the way. And if things ever became too overwhelming at any point, we would just take a step back and get some perspective.
I bumped into Kyle on the way to the Allen’s office. “Hey, you free for lunch?” he asked.
I shook my head. “Raincheck. Got a meeting with the Lieutenant.”
He assessed my clothing with narrowed eyes. “And you broke out the good suit,” he mused. “I’m guessing this is a pretty important meeting.”
“You could say that.”
He pulled me in for a one-arm hug. “I’m happy for you. Congratulations, man. Or should I say Captain?”
I returned his slap on the back, muttering my gratitude. “I wouldn’t start spreading the word just yet. There will probably be an announcement at some point.”
He squinted his eyes at me even harder, as if I were a lab rat he was studying. “You seem extra giddy today. But I know Lieutenant Allen doesn’t get your motor running like that.”
“Giddy, you say? Hm. I haven’t noticed.”
His eyes widened. “You got laid,” he hissed. “Holy shit, Cruz. Are you having an affair…with your wife?”
I rolled my eyes. “Real mature.”
“Hot damn,” he said cheerily, rocking back and forth on his feet. “I knew that boat was a chick magnet.”
I snorted. “What do you care? You have a girl.”
He waved me off. “Yeah, but she has really bad motion sickness. I’m just glad it was good for something.”
I patted him on the back before sidling past him. “And I owe you for that,” I told him. “Remind me to take you out for steak and beer.”
“You better save up, because I’m not a cheap date,” he called out as I walked away.
I steeled myself before knocking on the door, which was followed by a gruff “come in.” The Lieutenant was sat at his desk, pouring over stacks of papers when I opened the door, raising his eyes at my entrance. He dropped the papers and sat back in his chair with a pleased expression.
“I’m guessing by that goofy look on your face you’re accepting my offer,” he said.
“And I’m guessing by your satisfied tone that you’re happy with my decision,” I replied as I sat down.
“Can’t deny that.” He scrutinized me for a few seconds, a skill he had perfected over decades of working on the force. “Got to admit, though. You scared me for a second there.”
I frowned. “How so?”
His expression went blank. Another cop trait. “You seemed hesitant about it for a while,” he answered. “And with things being complicated between you and Mickie, you were acting unsure of your future. It worried me a little.”
I rubbed my chin in thought. I was pretty sure I was still smiling, though. “We had some issues we needed to work through. But we took some time to get away, and now we’re in a much better place.”
“Ah, yes, the anniversary,” he said. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks.”
He eyed me specutively. “She’s onboard with this, then?”
“One hundred percent.”
“Good, good,” he said approvingly. “Because I would hate to see your potential in this department being wasted.” He must have noticed my confused reaction because he continued. “You’re a leader, Cruz. The other guys around here look up to you. They’ll respect you as their boss, and I know you’ll do a damn fine job as their Captain.”
My voice grew thick with emotion. “I appreciate that, sir. Thank you.”
We spoke for a few minutes about the logistics—when I’d start my new role, what the exact pay scale would be, and so on. He shook my hand when we concluded our business, expressing his support.
The meeting had reinvigorated me, and I walked out of there with an extra pep in my step.
I had a lot of work to do, but all I really wanted to do was see Mickie and share my good mood.
I checked my watch. It was still close to lunchtime. I could swing by the hospital, and see if she could sneak away for a quick bite. I’d pick up some flowers on the way first.
Stopping by a florist’s shop down the street reminded me that I needed to call my mother, and schedule a day to bring the kids up for a visit. Maybe we could even invite her over to the house for Christmas this year, since she was supposed to complete her program by November.
By the time I walked through the doors of the ER ward, I felt fucking invincible. Like nothing was going to penetrate this shield of positivity I’d suddenly formed around myself.
But, of course, the universe was once again out to prove me wrong.
I passed the break room on my way to the nurses’ station, where I could usually find Mickie, and stopped cold when I heard her voice. My feet were about to propel me into the room, so I could scoop her up and kiss her crazy, when I heard a male voice in there with her.
I pressed myself up against the wall and tried to listen to their conversation, even though I knew it was a dick move. And completely creepy.
That’s when I distinctly heard her refer to the man as Dr. Stein.
Stein. That fucker.
I’d sensed him creeping in on my territory from the moment I’d met him. And I wasn’t about to stand for it.
But something prevented me from storming in there, getting up in the bastard’s face, and laying my claim. The tone in Mickie’s voice kept me frozen to that spot in the hallway, listening to every word she spoke. As the conversation progressed, I became enraged beyond words at Stein. Hell, I was three seconds away from bursting in and pummeling the guy to the ground.
But I became even more proud of Mickie as I listened.
That was my wife in there. And shit if she wasn’t tearing him a new one, all by herself.
However, my delight was brief. Because what Stein said next threw me for a complete fucking loop. Absolutely turned my entire world upside down.
Mickie had a job offer…in New Jersey?
What the fuck?
Frankly, I didn’t have a clue what he was talking about. And that scared me more than anything else. My mind was spinning with the implications of what it meant. But when I heard Stein’s angry voice reverberate out into the hallway, I decided I’d heard enough.
I stepped into the doorway of the room, glaring hard at the other man. Their conversation paused, and although I wouldn’t look at her, I knew Mickie’s eyes were wide with shock and fear.
I clenched my hands into fists. “You want to back the fuck off my wife, asshole?”