Middle of a Memory

Chapter 1

Late March 2014

Delilah was loading the dishwasher when the doorbell rang. Bailey lifted his head. "I'll get it." She smiled at the dog. "Don't get up."

She opened the door to see a delivery man standing on the porch. "Can I help you?"

"Lila Swindell?"

"That's me."

"Flowers." He handed her the bouquet of carnations. "Thanks."

She smiled and shut the door. "Who in the world?" She pulled the card from the leaves. "Just because I love you. I miss you. Be home soon. Love, Cole."

Tears filled her eyes as she filled the vase with water. He was good to her. The best husband. He never let her forget how much he loved her. She arranged the flowers on the counter and picked up her phone. She snapped a picture. "Best husband ever. Just because flowers. How I adore him. @cswindell2. I love you more."

She sent him a text. "I love you. Thank you for the flowers. They are beautiful. See you soon."

"Hope they made u smile. I'll be home tomorrow. I love u." came the reply a couple of seconds later.

"Yes they did. Can't wait." Cole had been on the road non stop since the album had dropped the month before. She hadn't seen him in a couple of weeks. She missed him so much it hurt.

The next afternoon she was out to lunch with Heather when her phone went off. "Be home in a couple of hours."

She glanced at her cousin. "Cole's almost home."

"You want to head back?"

"Yea. It's been hard not havin him here the past couple of weeks."

She went up to shower and dressed in a sexy black nightie and piled her hair onto her head. She lit candles all around the bedroom and placed an order of his favorite take out. She went downstairs and made sure the fridge had beer cooling. Her feet were bare and she pulled a robe on as the doorbell rang. The food smelled incredible and she put it in the oven to stay warm. She heard the bus pull into the driveway and smiled. He was in for a treat.

Cole sighed as he stepped off the bus. Home. He had missed his wife and bed. Luckily the radio tour was almost over and he would be able to take some time off before heading back out. He opened the door to the house. It was quiet. "Lils? Baby, I'm home."

"Kitchen." She called back.

He tossed his duffle bag onto the floor and slipped off his jacket. His mouth fell open when he entered the kitchen to see his wife in a sexy as hell nightie sitting on the counter holding a beer in her hand. Instantly his body was on fire.

"Welcome home, Mr. Swindell." She smiled.

He quickly crossed the room and took the beer from her. "That's not what I want." He crushed his mouth to hers and lifted her off the counter. "Holy shit, Lila."

"What?" She asked as his mouth found the spot on her neck that made her weak in the knees.

"That's one hell of a way to welcome someone home."

"Glad you like it. Dinner's in the oven." She closed her eyes.

"Don't care. I'm not hungry for food." He scooped her up into his arms and headed for the stairs. "I want you in our bed."

He carried her into their bedroom, noticing she lit candles. The room smelled like honey and it only turned him on even more. He set her down on the bed and stripped off his shirt as he kicked out of his boots. She unsnapped his jeans. "I love you." She whispered.