I used to be so annoyed with Zach that he could just seem to forget about all the ways in which our marriage was hurting, convinced that work was more important than I was. What I’ve come to realize instead is that it’s very easy to let other things interfere, particularly when you find those other things to be a refreshing change of pace to your life.
Yes, work is stressful, and yes, it’s exhausting, but it’s also rewarding and makes my brain tingle to be able to use all of my education and knowledge again. And while my love and attraction for my husband hasn’t diminished one bit, I do see how the comfort of knowing he’ll always be there for me makes it so fucking easy to put my attention on other things.
Bottom line… I think we both take each other for granted. In one way, that’s horrid, but in another, it just shows how sturdy our relationship actually is… that we can devote time to other things, knowing that when all is said and done, we are still each other’s rocks.
But I am bound and determined that I can’t let this get away from us. I’ve got my mind absolutely set that we can still find little ways to connect with each other. I want to repetitively grab onto that deep-in-your-soul connection that seems to get pushed aside time and time again because of other demands. Now, while our time together is certainly limited because of our other obligations, our sex life hasn’t been dormant. It’s been quick and hurried at times, and it’s survived, but it’s also getting a little routine.
Today’s plan is to be anything but routine.
I walk past the main lobby desk and head down a hall toward Zach’s office. Directly ahead is Lila’s office, which sits beside Zach’s, and her head raises as I approach. She gives me a smile and curiously looks at me. When I reach the end of the hall, I cut a glance to the left and see Zach’s office door is closed. I step into Lila’s open doorway.
“He in with anyone?” I ask her.
She shakes her head as she stands from behind her desk and steps around it. “No, but he told me he wasn’t to be disturbed. Let me just let him know you’re here.”
I cut her off by holding up a hand. “No need, Lila. I’ll just pop in.”
“But—” she says, her eyes wide with surprise I’d step on her turf.
“But nothing,” I assure her with a pleasant, but firm, smile. “I’ll take any heat if he gets mad at you for letting me ‘disturb’ him.”
I know my husband well. The type of way in which I will disturb him will not make him mad in the slightest. As long as I’m not barging in on a meeting, it’s all good.
“Well, okay,” she says with uncertainty and turns back toward her chair. Before she sits down, she remembers her manners and asks, “Would you like something to drink? I can get you some coffee or maybe some hot tea? It’s chilly out there today.”
“No thanks,” I tell her as I step backward into the hallway and give her a casual wave of my hand. “I’m good.”
I don’t spare Lila another glance. She’s not important, and I don’t mean that dismissively. She’s totally important to Zach and his work with the company, and I can see it on her face. She’s just very protective of her employer, and it’s probably because she sees more than most the stress of his work. I truly don’t think she’s got any other ulterior motive in trying to put me off the way Zach suspects, and I’m a pretty damn good judge of character about these things.
“Mrs. Easton,” Lila calls out, and I glance back over my shoulder.
She stares at me a moment, her face a mask of uncertainty, but then she gives me a conspiratorial dip of her head and a small smile. “I’m glad you stopped by. Zach works too hard sometimes.”
My return smile is warm and thankful. “I know, Lila. And thanks for looking out for our guy.”
“Your guy,” she corrects me with a chuckle. “But I’ve got his back here at the office.”
I nod, and then give her a stern look. “Oh, and it’s Moira, okay? You make me feel about a hundred years old with that Mrs. Easton crap.”
“Moira,” she says with a nod of her head. “Got it.”
I step out of her office and practically skip to Zach’s door. Deep breath, let it out, and I turn the knob.
His door opens quietly, and my heels whisper over the carpet as I step inside. Zach looks devastatingly handsome with his tie loosened, shirtsleeves rolled up, and his forehead supported in the palm of his hand while he bends over some documents on his desk. I shut the door, quietly turn the lock, and then I walk toward him while loosening my belt. I have no silly notions that I’m sneaking up on Zach. He may be in the corporate world now, but he’s a man who’s always on high alert and he knows someone just entered.
He just doesn’t know it’s me because without even looking from the papers before him, he says, “What’s up, Lila?”
“Hey stud,” I murmur as I undo the knot completely, and Zach’s head snaps up. His eyes immediately fill with warmth and affection as he recognizes it’s me in his office, and then they go therma-nuclear when I pull the coat open.