Harrison got hit by a vase, shards of it scattering all over the floor.
Instead of checking his arm for injury, he looked over at a stunned Roxanne.
"Why did you use a vase as a weapon?"
He quickly took the broken vase from her hands and then checked her over.
"Are you alright?"
"I’m okay." Roxanne shook her head. "Harrison, why are you here? You scared the hell out of me. I thought there was a burglar."
"In this ritzy neighborhood? Seriously?"
Once Roxanne made sure Harrison was okay, she shot him a look. "You still haven't told me why you're here."
"Didn't you say you wanted to see me, that you wanted me around?"
After hearing those words, he naturally had to make an appearance.
Gently poking her nose, he asked, "Or did you not really want to see me? Were you just tricking me when you said you wanted me around?"
"No, I really did miss you. But how did you manage to show up here in just half an hour?"
Harrison started to spin a tale. "Right after you got on your plane, the company told me to come to Warmville for a business trip. What a coincidence."
"Really?"
"Why would I lie? There's nothing in it for me."
"Fine, but next time, give me a heads up. I almost killed you with that vase."
"I'm not that klutzy."
He does have reflexes and of course he would be able to dodge such attack.
He poked her nose again. "Next time, can you use something a bit more sharp for self-defence? If it's a real bad guy, a vase won't do anything."
"Now you're complaining I didn't hit you hard enough?"
If it hadn't been him, she might have stabbed him with those shards.
If it had been a real bad guy, would her tough-cookie personality let him walk?
"Alright, since you're here, go rest up. I'm flying back to Seraphim Haven tomorrow morning. Are you done with your business? Want to come back with me?"
"I wrapped up my stuff too, let's go back together tomorrow."
"Okay, I'll book the tickets in a bit."
As she spoke, she picked up a trash can and squatted down to pick up the broken pieces of the vase.
Harrison pulled her up. "Didn't you say you missed me?"
"Yes."
Harrison opened his arms, inviting her into a hug. "Don't I get a hug?"
Roxanne furrowed her brows.
"Guess you don't miss me that much."
Harrison touched the back of her head, pulling her into his arms.
"You little liar."
"Who says missing someone means you have to say it out loud, or give them a hug?"
You can just keep it in your heart.
"Harrison, you're squeezing too tight."
Roxanne looked up at his handsome and tall figure.
His gaze was deep.
So deep it felt like a giant whirlpool, ready to pull her in.
Roxanne was an adult.
She knew what the heat in a grown man's eyes meant.
She also knew the responsibility she had as a wife.
She leaned into Harrison, her head slowly dropping onto his shoulder.
Her hand on his chest, she could feel his heart pounding, it came clearly through the layers of his suit and shirt.
Then she chuckled softly. "Harrison, your heart is racing."
Harrison's heart beat faster.
His mind and rationale seemed to be held in a tight grip.
He wanted to rip off Roxanne's clothes and take her right there and then.
Roxanne looked up, grinning sweetly at him. "Harrison, do you want me?"
In response, a wave of heat washed over her from Harrison, hitting her cheeks.
She closed her eyes, planting a gentle kiss on his cheek. "Harrison, let's make love tonight."
After all, they were married.
As his wife, she should meet his physical needs.
And at the moment, Harrison was obviously yearning.
But Harrison suddenly pushed her away. "I think I'll sleep in the next room."
"Why?" Roxanne frowned at him. "Don't you want me?"
She wasn't being too forward.
She was just trying to fulfill her duties as a wife, to meet his physical needs.
He was 32, it wasn't really reasonable for her to keep him from her bed.
But...
Was Harrison this self-controlled, this composed?
After pushing her away, he seemed to be suppressing himself.
He cleared his throat and said, "I'm a bit tired today, I'll sleep next door."
"Are you really tired?"
Roxanne's gaze travelled down his suit.
Her hand mischievously landed on his belt.
"But it doesn't seem like it wants to sleep."
Harrison chuckled. "Stop messing around."
Roxanne can be quite the tease.
Harrison pinched her nose and grabbed her hand. "Don't play with fire, it can burn you."
"You're the one who didn't want it." Roxanne smirked again. "I was just trying to do my duty, to satisfy your needs. But if you don't want it, I'm gonna hit the showers and go to bed then."
She slipped out of his grasp and turned around.
But then, Harrison grabbed her wrist.
"You just said it was your duty as a wife?"
"As a wife, isn't it my duty? But you said you didn't need it, so I'm gonna shower now."
Harrison frowned.
His brow was filled with discontent.
"Not because you miss me?"
Roxanne asked, "What do you mean?"
"Answer me." Harrison looked at her.
She candidly said, "Actually, I have needs too. For a moment there, I wanted to know what it's like to make love with you. I've never been with a man, I'm a bit curious."
"So you would want to try with any man?"
"Harrison!" Roxanne almost burst out laughing at Harrison. "Since you're my lawful husband, I wanted to try with you. Don't always misunderstand me, do you think I'm that casual?"
Harrison was silent.
"Why are you frowning, what are you mad about now?"
Harrison's face darkened. "I think you're quite rational. Your physical needs seem to outstrip your emotional ones."
Roxanne laughed at him again.
"Harrison, we're not young anymore, we gotta be a little more sensible."
"Did you ever fancy any guys when you were young?"
"Well, not really. Even with my ex-boyfriends, the most I felt was that they were suitable, that I could give the relationship a shot."
"So, you’ve never fallen for a guy?"
Roxanne finally understood why Harrison was wearing that sour look, why his brows were furrowed.
"Are you angry that I didn't look all pleased when I suggested we have sex?"
"You're not as dumb as you look."
Harrison playfully pinched her nose.
Roxanne chuckled.
He was already 32, well past the age of puppy love.
Why is he acting like a teenager with raging hormones?
"Alright, I'll pretend to be smitten with you, will that make you happy?"
She opened her eyes wide, only him in her sight.
Still unsatisfied, he pinched her nose again, "That's not falling for me, that's just staring."
"I've done my best, what more do you want?"
"Don't worry." This time, he affectionately ruffled her hair, "One day, I'll make you understand what it feels like to fall for someone."
Roxanne laughed sweetly, "Harrison, are you trying to seduce me?"
"Well then." Harrison coolly admitted, "Did I succeed?"
Roxanne laughed.
Harrison furrowed his brows, pinched her nose again, "Answer me."
Roxanne became serious, nodded, then shook her head.
"Harrison, I won't lie to you. I don't have that girlish heart-fluttering feeling, nor that head-over-heels feeling where you're all I think about. But I can promise you this, as long as you don't leave me, the rest of my life is yours."
Even though Harrison wasn't thrilled with her logical approach, he understood her completely.
Someone like her, who was abandoned by her closest family at a young age, would always remain logical, never letting her heart get carried away.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Windfalls of Love