A Cold Wife, Sweet Husband

―Modern times. It's a typical 19th-century bedroom. She softly chuckled. ―I should have known. He watched her. Her smile reached her eyes and made them sparkle, and her laughter was the sound of wind chimes blowing in the breeze. He sensed that she was a lot of fun to be around once she overcame her shyness.

―I will get to the task at hand, she stated as she stood up. ―Are you coming into the house?

―Not yet. He wanted to stay out there for a few moments so he could replay their kiss in his mind. She nodded and left. He watched her as she walked past him in her gown. She was so beautiful that his body responded to her. He longed to take her in his arms and act on the many thoughts that raced through his mind. She was his wife but he had to keep his distance. He loved her and ached for her. He almost felt like a starving man who was invited to a feast but not allowed to eat anything. One month.

One month from now I'll either be the happiest man in the world or... He couldn't bring himself to end the thought. When dealing with a client, failure was not an option. And it wasn't an option with her either. It wasn't a matter of if they consummated the marriage. It was a question of when.

***

Leo had no experience with courting women.

Since his uncle introduced him to the investment business as soon as he turned eighteen, his life had been one business meeting after another. When he wasn't dealing with clients, he was researching current investment trends, talking with other investors around the nation, or preparing and maintaining the clients' portfolios.

Many times he worked at least six days a week but even on his day off, which was Sunday, he would relax by doing more research. He attended and held dinner parties after normal business hours to learn about the clients and establish relationsh.i.p.s with them. When it came to his love life, he hadn't given it much thought.

He didn't have much time to think of anything but the next business meeting. He just went from one day to another and did what needed to be done with little thought to the future. Occasionally, he would be envious when he saw other men with their wives. Sometimes, late at night, he would lie in bed and contemplate his life.

Though he had a relationship with God, it didn't seem to be enough. Something was missing, and all the work in the world didn't satisfy his craving for more. There has to be more to life than business meetings and clients. Lord, what is it that will make my life have meaning?

He prayed that often, and when the news came of the engagement, he understood what it was that God was showing him all along. He needed a wife, and there was no one he wanted more than Jessica Allen. Once again, he was in bed, staring at the ceiling and alone.

Of all nights, he was alone on his wedding night. He looked at the empty spot next to him in his bed and sighed. Images of what he wanted to do to his wife played themselves over and over again in his mind. How was a man to sleep under the strain of longing for something he couldn't have?

The answer was simple: he didn't. He bathed, got dressed and went to the small den off to the side of the kitchen so he could do some work. It was three o'clock and everyone was asleep. Despite the paperwork in front of him, his thoughts kept drifting to the woman who was sleeping upstairs. His uncle said that he should romance her. What exactly did that entail?

Sure, he knew of her. He knew she visited the nursing home and helped with the church functions. But who was she? What were her interests?