A Cold Wife, Sweet Husband

When she was ready to come down the steps the next morning, she noticed him. ―Do you intend to greet me every morning this way?

she asked. He took in the breathtaking sight of her in her pink shirt and black skirt. ―I will greet you this way until I wake up in bed next to you. Then I shall kiss you to wish you a good morning and hold you in my arms. He paused and smiled at her.

―I don't know how you do it, but you manage to look more and more beautiful every time I see you. She hesitated. Why was she trying so hard to fight him?

If her response to his kisses were true indicators of how she felt about him, he was assured that beneath her cool exterior, she was beginning to care for him as he cared for her.

His ultimate goal, of course, was for her to love him. He wanted all of her. He wanted her friendship, her body, and her love. It was his oversight that he hadn't attempted to court her before they got engaged. Had he thought he had any chance that she would respond to him as she did, he would have had the courage to do so.

He was acutely aware that he had a little under four weeks to get her to agree to stay married to him. He wondered if that was enough time since she was surprisingly stubborn. As she made her way down the stairs, he forced his thoughts back to her. ―Good morning, Jessica.

―Good morning, she replied. Leo. My name is Leo. He sighed. Would she never say his first name without him having to prompt her to?

Patience, he told himself. We were only married on Saturday. Give her time to adjust to the idea of being my wife. Though his mind was willing to wait as long as necessary, his body wasn't. Each time he got near her to touch or kiss her only notified him that being patient wasn't very fun.

This time when he extended his arm to her, she took it. He was relieved. At least, they were making progress. Once again he led her to the dining room and pulled out her chair for her. After Constance brought their meals to them, he asked her what she planned to do that day. She shrugged.

―I haven't made any real plans. I thought I would visit with Mary and Helen and see if they wanted to take a walk in the park. Beyond that, I haven't anything in mind. A thought came to him. ―Would you like to have lunch with me? Perhaps going out and doing something as a couple would ease her into the marriage.

―You can pick the restaurant. She seemed to consider it. He inwardly sighed. Why was this such a difficult decision?

―Did you want to eat lunch with Mary and Helen?

―No, she slowly responded. He waited for her to continue. By the worried expression on her face, he knew that she was trying to think of a way to tell him no as gently as possible.

He had seen the look before when clients decided to close their accounts. Deciding to save her the struggle, he quickly made up a lie. ―Oh, you know what?