Chapter Twenty
“We need to go shopping. You’re out of milk and there’s not a single fresh fruit or vegetable in this place. By the end of summer you’ll have a good case of the rickets. I swear I don’t know how men survive.” Marla loaded dishes in the dishwasher and glanced over her shoulder to see if Dwayne had been listening.
He looked up from the paper. “Yes, honey, I heard you. You’ll have to go without me. We’re hauling the trailer off your lot today so the paving and landscaping contractors can get in there.”
He put down the paper and went across the kitchen. Standing behind her with his body pressed against her, he reached around and fondled her breasts. “You are one bossy woman, Danaher.”
“You’re one horny man, Dempsey.” She pushed back with her butt. “Go then. I’ll stop at the store on my way home from the office.”
He took a small step back, but not before running a hand down her torso and resting it on her magic triangle. He gave her a squeeze. “Let’s go back to bed.”
Chuckling, she grabbed his wrist and pushed his hand away. “We’re both late. Beat it.”
“Hey, I’m the man of the house. I’ll make the decisions.”
She turned and crossed her arms. “And when, exactly, do you plan to begin?”
He pulled her into his embrace and kissed her soundly. “One of these days.” Another kiss. “Maybe.”
Marla draped her arms around his neck and smiled. “Really? We’ll see about that. Now, I really do have to get to work. I’ll see you later.”
“Your place or mine?”
“Mine.” She pointed to Skipper sitting on his haunches, studying their every move. “He’s homesick.”
Dwayne scooped Skip up and pushed his nose against the mutt’s. “You homesick, soldier? I didn’t think so.” He set him on the floor and pecked her on the cheek. “He’s not homesick, he likes it here.”
“Yes, and so do I, but we need to go home once in a while. What do you want for dinner?”
“I’ll get takeout. There’s a great Chinese place half a block from the new jobsite.” He took his heavy work shirt from the back of his chair and his keys off the hook by the door. “I’ll try and get there before eight.”
Marla waved at his retreating back then finished cleaning the sink and loading the dishwasher. Her heart tripped a happy beat, and just because she had to, she lifted Skipper to her face and kissed him right on the mouth. “You’re my real boyfriend, Skipper. Our secret.”
She dropped Skipper off at home, retrieved her briefcase, and checked to make sure she had her listings file. On the run till mid-afternoon, she cleared off her desk and peeked into her boss’s office. “Ted, I took a deposit on the Seymour property. Won’t it be great to finally get that turkey sold?”
He laughed and nodded. “Let’s keep our fingers crossed. We’ve been down this road before. You taking off?”
“Yes, I’ve got company for dinner and I still have to get to the grocery store. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She had one foot out the door when the receptionist called her name. “Marla, your sister’s on the phone.”
“Oh boy, what now?” She returned to her desk and lifted the handset. “Hey, sis, what’s up? I’m on my way out the door.”
“I know. That’s what she said. I’m glad I caught you. Want to have dinner tonight? I thought we’d go out. I’m too pooped to cook.”
“You cook? I didn’t know that.”
“Ha ha, smarty pants. Where should we go?”
“Dwayne’s coming over tonight. He’s bringing Chinese takeout.”
“Can I come?”
Marla picked up a note of distress in Char’s voice.
“Sure. If I know him, he’ll bring more than enough for three. He probably won’t be there much before eight though. I’m on my way to the store, but I’ll be home in about an hour. Come over whenever you want.”
“Thanks, sis. I’ll bring a bottle of Shiraz and we can get plastered while we’re waiting for Mr. Wonderful. See you later.” She clicked off before Marla had a chance to answer.
She wondered what Char’s problem was.
Charlene’s car sat in front of her house when Marla returned home with a trunk full of groceries. The kitchen door opened when she raised the garage door and drove inside.
“Do you need me?” Char called.
“Yes, help me carry this in and separate Dempsey’s stuff from mine.”
Charlene helped her haul in the bags then proceeded to rag her about doing Dwayne’s shopping. Marla ignored her jabs.
Char pushed her toward the table. “I’ll pour the wine. Sit down and relax. Point to what goes where, and I’ll put it away. I got off early today, and all I can do is feel sorry for myself because I won’t see Donovan for a whole month.”
“Ah, so that’s what’s bothering you. I thought you sounded frazzled about something.”
“I can’t stand it. I’m madly in love with that man. At least tonight I get to drool over his brother for a couple of hours.”
“Here, give me the bottle and the corkscrew. I’ll open the wine while you get a couple of glasses. Grab a small bowl for Skippy’s dinner.”
“I let him out in the backyard when I got here. He squirted pee in about ten places.”
“The raccoons have been around again. He’s letting them know it’s his territory. Not that they give a hoot.” She twisted the corkscrew into the odd-shaped blue bottle.
Charlene set the glasses and bowl on the table then sorted out the cold groceries and squeezed them in the fridge. “The rest can wait till I have a glass of wine. This is good stuff. Trader Joe’s started carrying it recently. Have you tried it?”
“Nope. I’m a virgin.” She poured two glasses. “This’ll be my very first time. I hope it’s good.”
“Like I said a while back: What did you do with my sister?”
Marla kicked off her shoes and put her
