Thanks to You by Maggie Blackbird

Author:Maggie Blackbird
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, multicultural, adult, contemporary
Publisher: eXtasy Books Inc

* * * *

Tripp finished the last of his pie. He reached for his coffee containing two teaspoons of sugar and a serving of real cream. Screw that milk stuff or whitener. He sipped the steaming brew, and the last of the tension in his chest vanished. Just what the medicine man had ordered—something to relax him, since he had a beautiful Anishinaabe-kwe seated at his kitchen table.

Considering the many women who’d patronized the casino after Michelle had passed, someone should have grabbed his attention, but no woman had, until today. Sure, if he’d found another lady stranded in the parking lot, he would’ve offered to help. But his own home? His own spare bedroom? He couldn’t see himself making the same offer. Instead, he would’ve gallantly driven the woman to a hotel in Duluth.

“Good?” he asked. There’d been a lull.

Paulina hadn’t seemed to mind the smidgen of silence, because there wasn’t any tension on her face. Her elbows rested on the kitchen table while she sipped her coffee. She gazed about, taking in his furnishings. Even Shaman sat on her side of the table.

“Your wife did an excellent job. It’s very homey.”

“She liked to... knit. Crochet... I think. I’m not sure what most of it’s called.” He should’ve asked.

“The covers on the couch and armchairs are crochet.”

“They are?”

“The blanket, from here, looks like she knitted it.”

A glow filled Tripp’s chest. Most people avoided talking about Michelle. “Thanks.”

“Why are you thanking me? I should be thanking you. Most people... well, they would’ve pointed me to a cab or kept walking. You... stopped. Stopped and helped.”

“I’d help anyone. It’s just how I am.”

“So what do you do in the evening after your shift is finished?”

“I...” He hadn’t done much but bury himself in more work. Or agreeing to another shift if someone called in sick or needed time off.

“Do you take him for a walk?” Paulina reached down and patted Shaman.

“Sometimes. He’s free to roam. It’s why I got him a doggie door.”

Paulina nodded. “Is he doing his job?”

“His job?” He peered.

“Keeping you company.” Her voice had dropped an octave.

If he didn’t know better, he’d swear she was concerned.

“Yeah, he is.” Tripp palmed his mug. “He sleeps with me. I needed...” He forced the words from his mouth. He hadn’t talked to anyone about how Michelle’s death had affected him. “I needed a warm body next to me. I missed... missed my wife.”

Paulina’s dark eyes softened at the corners. “I’m glad he’s doing that for you.”

“Me, too. It got lonely. I work a lot. I feel guilty for not being here as often as I should be. He gets lonely, too. But my neighbor down the road has a dog, so that’s where Shaman goes when I’m at work. Or when I get home, I find him sitting on the couch waiting for me.”

His saliva thickened. He had to stop this insane thinking of maybe there’d be someone new waiting for him. They’d only met this morning. And the best way to stop crazy thinking was to.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.