Chapter Eighteen

Owen

HE HAD FUCKED UP.

One day had turned into two and then three.

All for nothing.

Reconstructing Paul’s patient’s face had been far more complicated than either one of them could have seen or expected. All for nothing, since the patient had passed away while recovering from the second surgery. He had gone into cardiac arrest, and no matter what they’d tried, it hadn’t worked. They had lost him.

Parking his car in the driveway, finally back in Santa Barbara, he realized the small house was quickly starting to feel more like home than the huge place they called home that was only a twenty-minute drive from the hospital and was currently sitting empty.

Folding out of his car, he looked at the front door, and his heart lightened and skipped a beat as he took in the sight of his beautiful wife standing at the door waiting for him with a smile on her face so bright he didn’t see the need for moonlight.

“Hey,” Nadia said as they met halfway. He took her in his arms and wanted to apologize for having left. Instead, he held her close.

“Hey, baby,” he muttered before his lips touched hers.

“Hey, you okay?” she asked looking up at him, her dark eyes pools of warm chocolate he wanted to let himself drown in.

“Yeah. I’m sorry…” he told her, but his words stopped when she tilted her head and looked at him with such open eyes it blew him away.

“For?” she asked, clearly confused. He didn’t know what he had done to deserve her.

“I shouldn’t have left, Nadia.” He could hear the raw emotion and regret in his voice.

“Did you help Paul?” she asked gently, without judgement in her voice. He swallowed hard.

“I tried,” he admitted. “But it didn’t matter. The patient—” She knew what had happened and placed an open palm on his chest.

“Life happens, Owen,” she whispered softly, her hands holding his face. He leaned into her touch.

“I should have stayed,” he told her, his voice strained. “You and me, the way we are—”

“You’re back,” she pointed out.

“It took three days.”

“I know, Owen. But you’re back and you’re here and we are fine,” she assured him. He couldn’t stop himself. Kissing her started hot and heavy, her small body holding on to his tightly. He slowed the kiss until it turned into gently playful nips and licks before she pulled away.

“How was your drive?” she asked, slightly breathless after their sweet kiss ended, and just like that, she helped him without knowing it. He had been bracing for a cold shoulder from her and had been prepared to grovel. But this was her showing him they were going to be okay.

“Not too bad.” He squeezed her tightly, enjoying the feel of her in his arms before letting her go so they could walk inside. Traffic had been lighter than he’d expected; he was simply thankful to be back with his girls.

“Good. The girls knocked out about twenty minutes ago, but they wanted me to tell you they missed you.”

“I missed them,” he murmured, feeling even more tired as he looked around. A wall was now missing, giving the home what would be an open concept. Though, currently, it looked like what it was. A construction zone.

“It’s coming together, right?” She grinned so brightly she radiated excitement; and fuck him, it was contagious. Taking in his silence, she kept talking. “I know the house is a mess, but it’s going to look so good once it’s done. They added the support beam yesterday.” She pointed toward the ceiling. “I told them not to worry about staining it; I would do it.” He turned his neck to the side and down to look at her so quickly he was surprised he didn’t pull anything.

“You?”

“Yeah.” She simply grinned, almost bouncing with joy.

“When have you ever stained wood before?” he asked, his lips twitching, finding the idea of her up on a ladder staining the exposed support beam more than a little amusing.

“I’ve watched tons of how-to videos and picked up a dresser at that little thrift store by the coffee shop. I can practice on it before working on the beam.”

“As long as I’m here when you do it, that’s fine,” he ordered, smirking at the sass that single raised eyebrow of hers implied. God, I’ve missed her.

“Fridge has the essentials and I have the pantry stuff boxed, but it’s easily accessible. David said this should only take about two weeks, since they are only re-painting the old cabinets. It’s not like we have to wait for custom cabinetry or anything.” She chose to ignore him, and he couldn’t help but bring her in close, his arms around her waist, his hands stroking her back.

“Okay,” he murmured, taking in the maroon tank top she was wearing and how much nicer it would look… say, on the floor.

“You okay?” she asked, not shying away from him, pressing her front into him. He knew there was no hiding the rigid hardness that was coming to life in her presence behind his dress slacks. Her hands slid up his torso. He shivered, his skin covered with goose bumps underneath his clothing. “Tired?”

“Nadia,” he warned. Need rushed through him as his dick hardened.

“Hmm?” she breathed as her fingers toyed with the top button of his dress shirt.

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing.” Her dark eyes sparkled. He knew exactly what she was up to; he had no problems with it whatsoever.

Picking her up, her legs holding on tightly as they wrapped up around his waist, he took them to their bedroom and straight into the shower, where the sounds of their lovemaking could be muffled. Because he knew the way he was feeling, making love to his wife was going to remind him of exactly how alive he was.

***

It was a little after two in the morning when he woke startled and in a cold sweat. He had lost patients in the past, but this one had hit him hard. The helplessness he’d felt had been too familiar to how he felt when Nadia had opened his eyes, showing him how messed up their relationship really had been. Usually, he shut down emotionally when he lost a patient; instead, he found himself calling her the moment he stepped into his office, immediately feeling better at the sound of her voice. Even thinking about it now, he felt relief at the sight of the sleeping angel facing him, her small hand on his chest, her face at the side of it.

Stroking her cheek, he thought about the fact they had missed three days of their challenge. He didn’t like it. He shouldn’t have left for one day, much less three. She hadn’t said anything or had even brought it up. But that was Nadia. She tried to make things easier for him, even when he didn’t deserve it. Not that they hadn’t talked. They had. Every morning and night, they’d checked in with each other and touched base. Hearing his girl’s voice had been the highlight of his days.

In the past, when it came to life and death matters and realizing that not every case he dealt with was a cake walk, focusing on things that were in his control had helped. Things he could somehow fix or work on. That sparked an idea in his mind. Something that would help both Nadia and him. Something that would help her know that even though he’d left, he had not stopped thinking about them and the effort they were putting into their relationship. Carefully and as quietly as he could, Owen slipped out of bed, leaning over to give his beautiful wife a whisper-soft kiss on her cheek before leaving their bedroom. His plan came together with every step he took.

Nadia

Opening my eyes, I blinked a couple of times, waiting for everything to come into focus, and felt him close in front of me.

“Baby?” his deep voice called out. All I wanted to do was groan and roll over. By the darkness that engulfed our bedroom, I knew it was way too early to wake up.

“Nadia... Baby? Wake up,” Owen’s voice sounded again, and as much as I loved him, another round of sex might kill me.

“What?” I mumbled; my eyes shut on their own volition.

“Baby… wake up.”

“I’m up.” I cleared my throat and quietly soaked in the sight of him as I opened my eyes again. Sitting on the edge of the mattress right by me, his large, strong frame bent toward me, and all I could think about was how breathtakingly handsome he was. Maybe another round of sexy time wouldn’t be such a bad thing.

“Fuck,” he cursed. “You’re freaking cute.” He smiled. “Wake up.“

“I am. What’s wrong? What time is it?”

“Nothing is wrong,” he said as I sat up.

“The girls—”

“They’re fine. I have a surprise for you. Come on.”

“Surprise?” I repeated, licking my dry lips.

“We were supposed to have a date last night,” he reminded me. I tried not to feel the sting of disappointment I had felt having to cancel our sitter. Not that I didn’t understand why; I had. There was no way it could have been prevented, but I was only human.

“You were at the hospital,” I pointed out gently, not wanting to sound like I was throwing it in his face.

“But I’m not anymore.” He grinned. I got lost in his beautiful smile. His smile always made my stomach flip-flop.

Glancing at the digital clock on the old nightstand next to the mattress, I scowled. “It’s three in the morning, Owen.”

“I know. Come on. I have reservations.” He winked and I frowned.

“Baby, that’s sweet, but its three in the morning,” I felt the need to point out again, but he simply smiled brighter.

“I know exactly what time it is, Shorty. But we gotta go. We can’t miss it,” he hurried me, and my frown grew deeper, confusion and sleepiness not letting me understand.

“Miss it? Owen, where would we even go at three a.m.? We can’t leave the girls. We don’t have a sitter—”

“Shhh... come on.” He stood up off the mattress and held his hand out to mine. “Trust me,” he said. I took his hand. “Let me surprise you.” Excitement started to bubble up slowly as I stretched once I stood up.

We walked together, hand in hand. I followed him through the house and through the mess that was our under-construction kitchen then through the back door, where we stopped before he opened it.

“Close your eyes,” he abruptly ordered, and I tilted my head in confusion, wondering if I was sleepier than I felt. Maybe I’m still dreaming? “Close them,” he prompted again a little softer this time, and with a deep breath, I did as he asked.

“Closed,” I answered, feeling a little silly at standing in the middle of the night in a messy kitchen, barefoot and slightly sleepy.

Suddenly, he picked me up in his arms like he had on our wedding night; my arms wrapped around his neck.

“Keep them closed, baby,” he whispered into my hair. I didn’t even peek.

Trusting him completely, I just enjoyed the moment. His body radiated heat, warm and strong. I simply relaxed into his hold. Not saying a word. Not when he stopped and not even when he sat us down, my body on his lap. I felt his lips at my forehead moving to my hairline before his deep voice rumbled.

“Open them,” he ordered. The darkness washed away as I opened my eyes slowly, taking in the view, my breath almost gone.

“What?” I whispered in surprise before turning to look at him and then back in front of me.

Soft twinkle lights blinked on and off, tracing the grass around the big blanket and what looked like every extra pillow from inside the house sitting beside us. The night had a slight chill to the air but nothing bad, especially not in Owen’s arms.

“Owen…” I couldn’t say anything else as I spotted a tray of food to the side. Nothing fancy. A couple of granola bars on a plate and some cut-up fruit and two water bottles.

“I know the spread leaves something to be desired, but—”

“It’s perfect.”

“It’s our date night.”

“I got that.” I stared into his eyes, holding his face in my hands. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” He shifted us slightly so he could pick up his phone, and I watched as he one-handedly brought up a playlist.

An acoustic version of the first song we’d ever danced to played into the cool night air. I leaned into him, no longer hoping but knowing everything would be okay.