Malibu Love Story: A Novella

Chapter 14: Heartfelt

Hello, Sweetheart,
Hope this email finds you well, and that your writing is going fine. The weather here has been hot, as you can imagine. Mom and Dad are worried because the heat makes the cows give less milk, as you'll remember, and they have taxes coming up to pay. They've been kind about not asking too much where you went or why, but I know they're looking forward to seeing you again, just like I am. September can't come soon enough for me. Maybe you taking this time off to do your thing and think things over will make our marriage stronger. Speaking of which, I told Pastor Faulkner that we want to do it in December, does that sound right to you? It's a slow time for Mom and Dad, and it's my slowest month at the bakery, too, so it seems like a good time. What do you think? Does that give you enough time to plan everything, get a dress and all that? I get so excited just thinking about being husband and wife at last, no more sneaking around when I spend the night haha. Seriously, though, Honey, won't it be nice when all this uncertainty is behind us and we can just live?
Love, Sam

Reed sighed as she closed her laptop and set it aside. She was alone, in her own bed, having returned in the night after making love in Duncan's bed. In spite of what he'd said after that first time, Reed didn't want him to feel crowded, and usually returned to her room after he fell asleep. He didn't say he'd missed her or anything, so Reed assumed it was the right thing to do.

She could feel September looming ever closer, and she felt as undecided as ever. Her writing was going well, Ruark and Esmerelda were on an adventure with some pirates at the moment, and Reed knew she'd be finished, or nearly so, by her September deadline. However, she didn't feel nearly ready to head back to Ryedale and become Mrs. Sam Rogers for the rest of her life.

"Hey there."

The voice from the darkened doorway of her bedroom made her jump. It was Duncan, looking sleepy and adorable, hair going every which way.

He approached and lay down next to her, stretching as he moved the laptop out of the way to give himself more room.

"Yes? May I help you?" Reed asked with a smile as she, too, lay down and turned into his arms.

Duncan gave a half-shrug. "Woke up and you were gone. Missed you is all."

"How sweet," Reed responded, heart soaring. "I just don't want you to feel like I'm assuming anything, you know? This is my room for the summer, and I do know that."

Duncan tightened his arms around her. "Please, assume away, darling, I love having you in my bed." He himself was surprised to hear these words coming out of his mouth. He was generally one who liked his space when actually sleeping, and frequently wished his female companions would just go away after sex was over.

Reed, though, soft, welcoming Reed was different. She almost felt like an extension of the bed, just comfort, like coming home. He hated rolling over, only to be pinned down by long, hard leg, or to feel a bony elbow in his back. He felt none of that with her, and truly did miss her when he woke up in the night only to find she'd left him.

"I hope you don't mind that I'm here?" he asked, planting a soft kiss on her forehead.

She shook her head. "I think this is the first time you've been in my room," she said with a smile. "With me in it, I mean."

"You might be right," he agreed comfortably. "This bed is nice, for all it's so small."

"Small? Are you kidding? It's the biggest bed I've ever slept in, that's for sure," Reed retorted.

 "What is it, a king?"

"Yeah, but mine's a California king," Duncan countered. "Nice and wide, plenty of room."