Learning to Move Forward: Novella #3.5 by Cynthia P. O'Neill Read Free Book Online Page B

attention and you didn’t answer, so I stepped up to see you scribbling away in your journal.” He stepped back and turned the chair around, while squatting down to my eye level. “Is everything all right? You’ve hardly eaten.”
    I glanced over at my half eaten plate of cold chicken piccata. I took a deep breath in and just shook my head. His hands came up to hold my face and wipe a couple of tears that managed to escape.
    “You look exhausted. Are you ready to go home and maybe take a nice warm bath and jump into bed?” I looked into his eyes and saw the same exhaustion reflected in him.
    He’s one to talk. He looks like he’s barely functioning. “What happened to wanting dessert?”
    “An unexpected crowd, a couple of emergencies with the staff, and working a full shift at work and then a full one here…that’s what happened.” He gave the tip of my nose a kiss. “I want to be buried deep inside you and let today melt away, but it’s late and all I need to be content is to hold you close to me.”
    He always knew the right words to say. I half smiled at him as I turned toward the clock in his office. “When the hell did it get to be 1 a.m.?”
    He stood, holding his hand out to help me up. “Hell if I know. One minute it’s almost seven and the next…” He turned back toward the kitchen. “Tommy, can you wrap us up two of whatever you have left to take home to nibble on?”
    I grabbed my plate, walking it into the kitchen to discard the uneaten food and put the plate into the pile of dishes to be cleaned. I watched as Jonathan reached for my notebook. I held my breath, hoping he wouldn’t look at the pages and was relieved when he closed the book and handed it to me.
    “Here you go, boss. There are a couple servings of veal parmesan, a large antipasto salad, and a couple of extra cannoli.” I watched as he handed the takeout bag to Jonathan before thanking us both for sticking around.
    When we reached Jonathan’s, or rather our place, he put the food in the fridge and headed toward the bathroom to draw us up a nice bath. I decided to light a few candles in the bathroom and bedroom for aroma and relaxation purposes.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 5
     
     
    The bath was more soothing than I’d dreamed. Jonathan washed me thoroughly and massaged some of the kinks out of my shoulders. I’d offered to return the favor, since he’d had a much worse day than mine, but he declined, stating that just touching me melted his stress and anxieties away.
    The last thing I remembered was lying back against his chest, feeling the warmth of his embrace as he turned on the jets to the tub. It felt so heavenly I soon felt myself drift.
    My body seemed to float before coming in contact with a soft surface. Something soft and warm enveloped me, but was quickly pushed aside. A chill ran across my skin before sliding into the smoothness of sheets. I felt myself being pulled tight against another body as sheets covered us. A soft kiss was placed on my cheek. “Sleep well, my sweet Grace. I love you.”
    I could feel my lips move, but I can’t recount what I said. Hopefully, I managed to utter words of endearment, since I have never loved someone as much as I love Jonathan.
    Blackness surrounded me and I replayed what I’d begun to write earlier. How the pain of being used and mocked by Barry had sliced through my heart. I remembered my plan to go out with him again and then reject him, so he could feel what it was like to be used.
    A brief memory flashed in my mind and sent a chill racing down my spine. I found myself subconsciously huddling closer to Jonathan in my sleep. I saw memories of that night. How did I forget this? Why is he laughing at me? Please make the pain stop!
    “ Nooo !” Jonathan was quick to hold me tighter, but I needed space. I pushed myself from him and bolted upright in bed, breathing erratically and feeling the need to move.
    His face was filled with dejection, but I’m