Tumult (TSS Series Book 1) by Lea Hart (25)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Thursday, November 23^rd

Audrey sat next to Carrick on a blue velvet couch in the corner of the Beekman Hotel and asked herself again how she could manage to move in. They had just enjoyed a beautiful Thanksgiving meal and were now enjoying a drink in the lobby as they people watched. “Dinner was delicious. Thank you for spoiling me and giving me a lovely day.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“How long have you had the nightmares?”

Moving away from him, she folded her hands and wished he hadn’t brought it up. “Hard to say.”

“That means you’ve been having them since you got home and you’re hoping they go away on their own.”

“I’m sure they’ll disappear before too long.”

“You were in the middle of a firefight and that’s not something people get over easily. Ignoring it won’t help, so I want you to find someone to talk to. Clearly, it isn’t me since you haven’t brought it up, but know you have to deal with it.”

“I’ve had them every night since I’ve gotten home and most nights I can’t get back to sleep. Last night was the first night I fell back to sleep.”

“Because I held you and kept reminding you that it was over and you were safe.”

Sighing, she unfolded her hands. “Probably.”

“You can talk to me about it, Audrey, whenever you’re ready. I’ve got a lot of experience with processing experiences and I’d be happy to help you in any way I can.”

“Thank you and I’ll think about what you’ve said.”

“Please do.”

“I’m happy you decided we should spend Thanksgiving together.”

“Are you kidding me, babe? There’s no place I’d rather be. If I hadn’t come, I’d probably be stuck at my folk’s house while my mother paraded a bunch of eligible women in front of me.”

Cringing, she sunk deeper into the sofa. “That sounds like torture.”

He tipped his head and then raised an eyebrow. “I consider my mother’s machinations to get me married off worse than anything I ever experienced as a SEAL.”

“Is it the women she’s got on offer or is it the idea of settling down that makes it so awful?”

Lifting his glass of scotch, he took a drag and shrugged. “If you would’ve asked me a couple of months ago, I would’ve said both, but now I’m not so sure.”

As she looked up at the atrium, she recalled his comments about his friends who were married and figured he wasn’t much interested in the institution. It wasn’t for everyone and fewer people seemed to be doing it just because it seemed to be the next step in life.

“What about you?” Carrick asked as he traced her hand with his finger.

“Are you asking if I see myself getting married someday?”

“Yes. Are a husband and kids in your future?”

“Well…kids definitely are, but I’m not sure about the husband part.” Seeing him frown made her wonder what part of her answer was distasteful. Maybe he was old fashioned and thought you couldn’t have one without the other. She certainly didn’t think that and knew that if there wasn’t a love story in her future, it didn’t mean she couldn’t have a family. Resting her head against the cushion, she wondered how the conversation had veered down the marriage and kids path.

“Any particular reason you’re not sure about the whole husband thing or do you have some objection to the idea of marriage in general?”

“Leading question, Carrick.”

“Maybe, but you can answer it anyway.”

Turning her head, she gazed at him and saw something vulnerable in his eyes. “I don’t know if I want a husband because they seem like a lot of work. Most of the women I know who are married are not only employed outside the home but also carry all the responsibility of taking care of the home too. That’s not appealing to me. Why would I want to marry someone and have more work?”

“That’s not always how it works out.”

Sitting up, she slid her eyes over and laughed. “How many of your friends share the household chores and responsibilities?”

“I’m not sure, but if I had to guess, I’d say at least half.”

Snorting, Audrey slapped her leg. “I doubt half your friends even know where the vacuum is located in their house.”

“So, you want to marry a man who knows how to vacuum?”

“Damn right or at least be really good at cleaning bathrooms. I know it sounds like a small thing, but I’ve seen bright reasonable women lose their minds when they’ve been doing the heavy lifting in their marriages while their husband only manages to go to work and put gas in the car. What sounds silly can be the thing that causes you to need bail money down the road.”

“Damn, woman, remind me not to piss you off. How you went from not helping out to committing a crime is a little scary.”

“I think it’s best to know what you want up front, so you don’t end up on the wrong side of the law.”

“I guess so.”

“Why are we talking about this anyway?”

“We’re getting to know one another and finding out if we’re compatible.”

Lifting her drink, she looked into the glass and swirled the liquid around. “Then you’re serious about trying to have something together?”

“Did you not hear me claim you as mine about a hundred times over the last twenty-four hours?”

“Uh…I guess.” Taking a sip of her bourbon, she felt the burn and welcomed the heat sliding down her throat. “I thought it might just be a dominant sex thing and not an indication of actual desire for me to be…”

“Mine.” He let out a frustrated growl and pulled her tighter. “If I wasn’t interested, I wouldn’t have called you every night since we parted and come out here so that we could be together. I may not be great with words like you are, but my actions are screaming it loud and clear that I want us to be together.”

“But…”

“I know how to vacuum, Audrey, in case that’s what you’re worried about. I also happen to make a hell of a bed and can fold laundry with a precision that will have your panties wet with desire. There isn’t much that I’m not willing to do see that we have a chance.”

“You can fold laundry that well?”

“You’ll be dripping by the time I’m done with the first basket.”

Throwing back her head, she let out a laugh and then curled into his side. “I think that’s the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to me.”

He nodded with satisfaction and wound his arm around her shoulder. “I’m just getting started; wait until you hear me talk about the way I can scrub a toilet.”

Flapping her hand against her chest, she fluttered her eyes. “You better stop, Carrick, or I’ll be proposing to you before you know it.” Falling into a fit of laughter, she fell over. When she didn’t hear him join her, she looked up. “It was a joke, Carrick; don’t worry, you’re safe from me.”

He lifted her up and into his arms. “I’ve got no interest in being safe and you can pretty much guarantee that my answer is yes to whatever you ask.”

Feeling the sincerity of his words made her heart beat faster and she hoped that he wouldn’t change his mind when they were further down the road.

If they got that far.