Winter’s Favorite Giveaway Day~~28

Romance Valley by Kaye Spencer

Last week he’d had an epiphany: Wife-napping was the solution to his dilemma. She’d never agree to his plan anyway, so for him, it was a reasonable strategy, especially since he wasn’t willing to begin another new year—only three days away—with the same regrets that had followed him into the current year.

He watched the main road from his sofa in his second story den, his attention fixed on the car coming slowly up the half-mile, winding private driveway. The antique clock in the hallway chimed a reminder that she was later than usual. Naturally—Murphy’s Law. Tonight of all nights, when he didn’t have time to spare, she’d stayed even longer at the office…again. For the past month, he’d worked in collusion with her administrative assistant and paralegal team to rearrange her schedule so they could cover her work until the end of January—if it took that long. He’d encouraged and supported her on her way to the full partnership she’d earned, but on Thanksgiving when her workaholic schedule had found her at the office and not at the family dinner, he knew he had to do something.

It was the proverbial now or never moment. Standing, he shrugged into his heavy coat then made his way in the dark to the balcony doors and onto the wooden deck. He paused to breathe in the cold December air as he looked up at the blue-white brilliance of the stars shining in a moonless sky. They used to take walks together on nights like this. Sadly, they’d lost that connection somehow, and he wanted it back.

Slipping down the stairs to ground level, he took his predetermined position in the shadows at the corner of the garage. The automatic doors rolled up, and she coasted into the garage. He was already on the move when she turned off the motor then was standing beside her door when she opened it and stepped out.

“Hello, babe. I’ve got a surprise for you.”

“What—?”

Before she could grab her purse—and more importantly—her cell phone, he snatched her from behind and heaved her over his shoulder with enough force that it broke off her gasping protest for a few seconds—but only for a few.

In a half-dozen long strides, he made it to the rear of his pickup truck with the garage door lowering behind them. With their nearest neighbor a mile away, he wasn’t concerned that anyone would hear her railing outrage and come to investigate, and he dumped her literally kicking and screaming onto the foam mattress he’d laid out in the back of his pickup. He’d practiced closing the tailgate and slamming the camper shell door down until he could do it in one fluid motion, so he smoothly locked her in before she had the opportunity to escape.

Sliding behind the wheel, he started the engine, put it in gear, and headed toward the main road. He adjusted the rearview mirror in the center of the windshield until he had a clear view through the back window and into the pickup bed. The cab light gave off an adequate glow to see her sitting amidst their luggage, her back against the tailgate, arms folded across her chest, and glaring daggers at him. He chuckled. At least she’d settled down and wasn’t cussing and calling him names anymore.

Glancing at the speedometer, he backed off. Granted, he was on a little-traveled back road, but he couldn’t afford the delay of being pulled over. As it was, they’d barely arrive at the rendezvous location on time. Besides, he didn’t doubt for a minute she’d pitch a fit to be set free, and he knew her influence with the local police trumped his ability to fast-talk his way out of what would likely appear as a suspicious situation.

All things considered, his plan was unfolding with proverbial clockwork precision. In a few hours, he’d have her to himself. No phone calls, no text messages, no computers. No interruptions at all. That’s when they’d begin negotiations. He’d already determined his bottom-line, so the outcome of this excursion really depended upon her. It was long past time to reassess their priorities. Not so many years ago, they’d talked of having children, but somewhere along the way, life and ambition had interfered, and they’d lost sight of that part of their lives.

Satisfied and just a little smug, he patted the brochure on the seat beside him. He knew the content by heart.

It was a drastic move, but their marriage was teetering on the ragged edge of death-by-neglect, and one or both of them would likely succumb to infidelity-out-of-loneliness if something didn’t change soon. In his mind, there was no way to repair a relationship once the cheating line was crossed. Broken trust was a wound that would never truly heal, but only fester.

With a quick check on the time and another glance in the mirror at his disgruntled captive, he pressed his foot on the accelerator. The optimistic hope of rekindled love arriving with the New Year welled in his heart. For better or worse…Romance Valley, here we come.

Romance Valley © 2011 by Kaye Spencer

Find Kaye here:

Website: http://www.kayespencer.com

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