Reed snorts. “My love, there isn’t enough time in this day, maybe not even in this year, for me to get into that hornet’s nest of a question. But the short answer is that there’s an on-call room where I can crash for a few hours at a time so I don’t end up delirious. But I can assure you, I’ll be fucking exhausted when I get home.”
“Okay,” I say.
“Anyway, I know we planned for me to spend tonight at your place, but I think I’m going to go to bed here at about 7:00 p.m. so I can at least start out the shift well rested. I’m sorry, baby.”
“Reed, honey, you’re a doctor—that’s what you do. We’ll be even happier than usual to see each other when you get home.” I love when Reed uses little terms of endearment with me, so I give it a try. It feels a little strange, but I think I can get used to it.
I smile as an idea takes hold in my head. When Reed gets home after that long shift, I’m going to make sure he gets pampered and loved on so much he won’t know what hit him. I’m going to take such good care of him he’ll sleep for three solid days. “So, you’ll be home on Thursday, then?” I ask.
“Yup. I won’t be of much use to you though,” he says. “Not until I’ve slept a few hours at least.” He chuckles, his tone dropping a few decibels lower.
“It’s okay, Reed. I’ll take care of you when you get home.” I can almost hear him smile.
“That sounds amazing, love. I can’t wait.”
The little spark in my chest turns into a warm glow, spreading out and settling low in my belly.
“I love you, Dyl,” he says. “Have a good rest of the day, and I’ll see you on Thursday afternoon, baby.”
As always, those words light me up. I can’t wait for him to get home so I can show him exactly how well I’m going to take care of him, hopefully for the rest of our lives. “I love you too, Reed. I’ll see you in a couple of days.”
Chapter 35
DYLAN
Thenextdayanda half fly past in a blur as I try to get the en suite bathroom of Reed’s house completely finished and ready to use. We were getting close anyway, but it’s a push to get it looking like it belongs in a magazine in time for what I have planned. But with help from the amazing guys at HDH, we get it finished, and it’s perfect. My man is going to be completely blown away.
By noon on Thursday, everything’s finished, so I send my two employees home early. After making sure everything is sparkling clean, I take a moment to admire our work. The freestanding white bathtub with the stunning rectangular gas fireplace set into the wall beside it is the focus of the room. The oversized shower is equipped with multiple showerheads, and there’s a small water closet for the toilet. I selected the softest, fluffiest white bath towels I could get my hands on, which are rolled up and neatly displayed on the open shelving under the sink. The look is completed with a stunning modern chandelier. Standing in the beautiful space, I’m so proud of the work we do at Hot Dam Homes. This bathroom is beautiful enough to appear in any magazine, and I know Reed’s going to love it.
I set out all the goodies I’ve gathered together over the last couple of days: scented candles, luxurious white bathrobes, and a few other small touches.
Glancing at the time, I realize I’ve only got a couple more hours before Reed will be home, so I finish the bathroom and change the sheets on Reed’s bed to the new ones that match the gray-and-white color scheme, somehow resisting the urge to crawl into bed myself and snuggle into the decadently soft sheets.
Then I head to the kitchen to start dinner so he can eat as soon as he gets home, and then I can take him to the bath and put him to bed.
Sure enough, he walks through the door right when he said he would.
REED
Walking into my house, I have to fight the urge to immediately lie down on the couch since it’s the closest soft surface. But as I’m toeing off my shoes, Dylan comes out of the kitchen wearing a frilly pink apron. I burst into laughter as he saunters toward me.
“Honey, I’m home,” I say, shrugging out of my coat.
He doesn’t say anything, just walks up to me with a huge smile, and before I know it, he’s enveloped me in his arms, gathering me into his chest, where I get a lungful of his scent I love so much.
“One day, I want you to greet me at the door wearing this frilly apron and nothing else,” I murmur into his neck as I melt into his warmth.
I feel his chuckle rather than hearing it. “Deal,” he says.
Resting my head against his shoulder, I start to feel better immediately, but I’m still so exhausted there’s a good chance I’ll fall asleep on my feet if we keep standing like this, so I pull back.
Dylan moves a hand to the back of my neck, guiding me gently into a soft kiss. “Welcome home, love,” he whispers, and even with my exhaustion, I swoon. After another kiss, he reaches for my hand and leads me into the incredible-smelling kitchen. The overhead lights are dimmed, and the table is set with candles.
“I made risotto. You should eat a little bit before you go to sleep,” he says, going to the new gas cooktop, returning a moment later with two servings of the delicious-smelling dish.
“God, Dyl, this is so sweet. Usually when I come home this exhausted, I’m lucky if I can choke down a protein bar before crashing. Thank you, baby.”
I lean over to him and kiss his cheek gently. We eat quietly since I’m too exhausted for chatter, and I love knowing I don’t have to find something to talk about just to fill the space.