Chapter 3
Chapter three
“Good morning, sweetheart,” Lee says with a smile as he cuddles me from behind.
I can’t see his smile, but I know it’s there. That happens when you’ve been married to the love of your life for years. You know them without having to ask.
I’m so incredibly thankful that Lee isn’t like Josh. I can’t imagine how much Teagan must force herself to smile while enduring Josh’s selfishness.
“I don’t want to turn and dragon breath you,” I tell him with a snort. “But I do want to thank you for being so supportive of the podcast and my friends. Even when I don’t make it home for dinner on time most nights.”
Lee rubs his nose against my ear before squeezing me tighter to him. “I love how passionate you are about your work and the way you glow when you talk about it. I’d never want to stomp that light out of you,” he whispers. “But what brought this topic on?”
This is what I love most about my husband. He sees me for who I am and loves all my bad habits as much as my good ones.
“Josh and Teagan almost broke up last night,” I sigh.
“He got upset that she forgot their anniversary, and he practically dumped her because he said she spends too much time with us, and on the podcast.” Lee raises an eyebrow, but doesn’t interrupt.
“They didn’t actually break up, though. Teagan promised him she’d start spending less time on the podcast and with us, and I don’t know.
It makes me so happy that you’ve never given me an ultimatum like that. It makes me love you more.”
Lee lets out a low whistle. “Wow,” he says. “I really thought they were in it for the long haul.” He pinches his lips and shakes his head. “I don’t know if any of you ladies would give up on each other the way he’s expecting. He asked me for advice on picking out an engagement ring last month.”
Dragon breath be damned. I roll over and stare into my husband’s hazel eyes.
“He did WHAT?” I gasp. “You never told me that!”
The deep rumble of Lee’s laugh loosens the tension in my chest as I stare at him in shock.
His fingers skate across my cheek, and he tucks my hair behind my ear with a soft smile.
“I didn’t tell you because it was supposed to be a secret.
” Lee lifts an eyebrow as I narrow my eyes at him.
“And I knew if I told you, then Teagan would know within five minutes. You’re the worst secret keeper on the planet, babe. ”
I can’t help the grin that creeps over my face. “Dammit, I hate it when you’re right.”
“Yeah, but you love me.”
I lean in and kiss him softly. “I sure freaking do. Now let’s go brush our teeth so you can apologize for keeping such juicy gossip from me.” I wink at him and slap his scrumptious behind before I hop out of bed as quickly as I can and race into the bathroom.
Lee chases me into the bathroom. I squeal as I try to shut the door behind me.
“Capri, you know that never works.” Lee laughs as he pushes himself into the room with me.
He presses me against the bathroom sink and reaches to grab our brushes and the toothpaste with the most devilish smirk on his lips.
We stare at each other as we brush our teeth, taunting and teasing each other with a silent agreement not to touch. As soon as I rinse and dry my mouth, Lee’s lips are on mine, and his hands tug my sleep shorts off.
We never make it back to bed.
“Hey, babe,” Lee calls from the kitchen. “Did you happen to grab the mail last night? You know I’m still waiting on my official offer from the hospital.”
Lee was just offered a position as the lead pediatric surgeon at the children’s hospital in town.
It means more on-call hours, but he’s worked so hard to get here that I won’t complain.
Hopefully, I’ll be working alongside him at the hospital soon.
He’s on paid leave until the official offer letter arrives, which is a significant perk since we hardly see each other with all our obligations.
I have the podcast with the girls as I tackle the next step of nursing school, and Lee is about to start his dream job.
Our marriage stays solid as long as he comes home to me at night.
“No, I didn’t grab it last night!” I shout back from the bedroom. “Let me get some pants on, and I’ll hop out and fetch it!”
Lee saunters back into the room, carrying a plate of my favorite breakfast: scrambled eggs, extra-crispy bacon, and buttered toast. He hands it to me and places a chaste kiss on my forehead. “You eat, I’ll grab the mail. Your coffee is on the table.”
This man is something special.
I’m munching on a slice of bacon as I make my way down the hall. Lee rushes back into the house with the biggest, dorkiest grin on his face.
“Is it your offer?” I ask with a mouth full.
Lee rolls his eyes like he always does when I talk while chewing. “No Baconator. It’s actually something for you.”
“For me?” I furrow my brows in confusion. “I didn’t apply for anything.”
“No, you didn’t,” Lee says hesitantly. “Now don’t be mad, okay?” I narrow my eyes at him and wait for him to elaborate. “So you know how you and the girls are always talking about that thriller author? The recluse one?”
“Mhmm. A. M. Pierce.”
“Well, a friend of mine heard about this once-in-a-lifetime meet and greet that the author is hosting,” Lee explains as he hands me a dark, heavy envelope.
“They’re inviting journalists, influencers, readers, anyone who knows anything about their books. Basically, anyone who can help document this unique experience—and I might have entered you girls with the help of a friend.”
I look down at the envelope in my hands and gasp when I see the sender. Holy crap, it’s A. M. Pierce.
“Lee,” I say shakily. “Is this real?”
“Why don’t we open it up and find out?” His words are soft as he comes to stand beside me. “I can’t imagine they’d be cruel enough to send a rejection letter. An email would have sufficed.”
I shove my thumb under the lip of the envelope and tug it open, giving myself a rather nasty papercut in my haste. I gently pull the letter out and sigh when I see that my finger is bleeding all over it.
“Can you grab me a napkin?” I ask Lee, unable to look away from the letter in my hands. The paper is some type of thick cardstock, and my heart feels like it’s going to rip out of my chest as I unfold it.
Dear Lee Kim,
Thank you for your interest in this special event hosted by Author A. M. Pierce!
We are happy to announce that you and your party are officially invited to this once-in-a-lifetime meet-and-greet. As stated in your entry form, the host will cover all expenses. We ask that you and your party help document Pierce’s special event.
The event will take place in two weeks, at Pierce’s estate off the coast of Scotland.
Our travel agent will contact you shortly to help you and your party prepare.
Please let us know if you can come, and how many plus-one tickets you require. Each member is allowed one complimentary companion ticket.
We look forward to hosting you here in Scotland.
Safe travels,
Patricia Willis
Assistant to A. M. Pierce
Lee returns with our first-aid kit and tends to my finger as I read the letter from start to finish again.
I can’t believe this is happening. We are going to meet the author who brought our friend group together. Besides Lee, Pierce is responsible for all the happiness in my life.
“All fixed,” Lee muses. “What does it say?”
Hugging the letter to my chest, I turn and flash Lee the biggest smile. “It says that I have the world’s greatest husband, and I think he might just get lucky with a round two this morning.”
Lee’s laugh echoes throughout our living room as he wraps me in his arms.
“Thank you, babe. This is amazing. I can’t wait to tell the girls. You make all my dreams come true, you know that?”
His eyes twinkle as he stares down into mine. “You are my dream, Capri. Only you.”
I kiss him softly as he strokes my cheek.
“I’ll miss you while you’re gone, though. The house will be so empty without you blasting your saucy audiobooks all the time,” he says with a laugh.
“The term is spicy, not saucy, you dork,” I tease. “And you won’t have to worry about the house being silent,” I smirk at him.
Lee raises an eyebrow at me.
“This invitation says we all get to bring a plus one. So get ready, babe. We’re going to Scotland in two weeks!”