“You're too cute.” I reached over and tapped the end of her nose. She smiled then looked back at her screen, fingers moving over the keyboard as she worked. She worked for the rest of the morning, concentrating on her report. I leaned over her a few times to see what she was doing, but she swatted me away.
“Don't distract me.”
I laid a sandwich beside her and watched as she picked it up and took a bite. She nodded in appreciation and then went straight back to work. I finished my plans, called Ryan, and started dinner while she did. I’d seen people that could ignore everything around them, but she was a pro.
“You hear anything I just said to you?” I asked.
“Yes. Salad. Tuna steaks. Ready in fifteen minutes,” she repeated, never looking at me, but I saw her smile as she continued to work.
I pulled the last piece of tuna off the grill and turned to find her sitting in the chair, watching me.
“You really should wear a shirt more often.” She stuck her tongue out at me.
“I haven't had one on all day.”
“I know, and that's why I have had to completely ignore you.” She smirked before standing and taking the plate from my hands.
“So, if I don't wear a shirt, it increases my chances of getting laid?” I crowded her against the countertop, and she giggled.
“Your chances are always in the very high nineties, shirt or no shirt. Just flash those baby blues and drag that beard across my skin, and I'm done.” She laughed.
“Noted
,” I laughed and nuzzled her neck.
She plated the food while I poured us wine, and we met at the table sitting down and chatting about nothing.
“I should have this done in the next day or so. It is amazing to me that this research didn't take longer than it did. I had enough grant money to keep me going for another four months.”
“So, you are almost done?”
“For the most part.” She smiled. “I have plenty of time on the lease, so I think I am going to try and do some work from here for a while. Granddad will be back in the office more now that the doctor cleared him for full-time work, but he did tell me that January first, the company is mine to do what I want to with,” she said nonchalantly.
“That's great.” I wanted to be excited, but a time stamp being placed on us made me a little weary.
“I think so.” She looked up from her plate, cocked her head to the side, and studied me.
“We can make this work, Luke. I know that long distance isn't necessarily something that you want or I want for that matter, but I don't see flushing this when it's only an hour or so. It's not like I'm moving back to Maine.” She sat her fork down and lifted her wine glass. “We’ll figure it out.”
“I hope so.” I smiled then tipped my wine glass toward hers.
We cleaned the kitchen, and then went out on the porch, drank coffee, and just enjoyed the sound of the soft rain as it fell. There were moments that I knew I would always remember, and this was one.
***
I was yanked from sleep by a crash outside. I jumped from the bed and rushed down the stairs. Grabbing my shotgun that was perched by the door. The door to my workshop was swinging open by one hinge and the garage door was pushed in. I slowly made my way over to the door poking my head in to make sure it wasn't a bear. I didn't see anything, so I flipped the light. The table that I had been working on was broken, my ax was on the floor with most of my other tools. I looked around but didn't see anything that was scratched like a bear had broken the door. It looked as if someone had done this.
“Luke?” I jerked as Emmy walked into the shop, her hand covering her mouth. “What happened?” She asked as her hand slid to her throat.
“I don't know, maybe a bear?” I didn't want to scare her, but I needed to figure out what had happened. “Let's go back inside. It may still be close.” I pushed her out of the shop and across the yard toward the door. “Stay here.” I said as I walked out the front and jumped in my truck. I backed it as close to the building as I could, trying to block off the door. I didn't want anyone taking anything out of there if I could help it. The machinery was expensive, and with me giving Ryan all of my winnings from the season to buy the other half of the house, I didn't have the money to replace any of it. I pulled Emmy close to me when I finally got back in the bed, and she snuggled in close. I kissed her neck and then laid there trying to figure out what had happened.
***
“Can you come out here today?” I asked Ryan when he answered the phone.
“Good morning, honey.” His voice was gravely with sleep.
“Someone broke into the shop last night.”