Chapter 2
"Jed, are you awake?"
"No."
"I thought so."
Jed opened his eyes to see his face reflected in the green eyes of his wife, who was leaning over him. "Abbey! It's not even light outside. What the hell do you want at this hour?"
"This hour is 5:30 in the morning. You normally would be up at this hour."
"It's Sunday, Abbey. That is unless if I have forgotten my calendar." Jed sighed. There must be something important for Abbey to wake him up out of a deep sleep, on a day that he normally would sleep for at least another hour or two. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Abbey, you wouldn't wake me up early is everything is all right. What's wrong?"
She smiled slyly. "You're keeping a secret from me, aren't you?"
Jed panicked. By god, if she knew about the trip then Leo was going to die by his own hands. "A secret? Whatever are you talking about?"
Abbey sat back on her heels, straddling his abdomen. "Don't play innocent with me. You know what I'm talking about."
"Tell me hon. I really don't know what you're talking about." Jed hoped she believed his lie.
"You know what I'm talking about. Leo let the cat out of the bag last night. You have…"
"It's not that bad. I'll be back in a ….."
"Jed! What are you talking about?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about my anniversary present. The new necklace you had especially made for me."
"Oh, that." Jed let out a relieved sigh. He had almost told Abbey about the upcoming trip.
"Yes, that. I coaxed it out of Leo last night at the state dinner. He said it was gorgeous. So where is it? I want to see it now."
"Now? Abbey, its only 6 am. Can't you wait for a more decent hour to see it?"
"No."
"Abbey, you'll have to wait a week to see it."
"No. I want to see it now."
Jed laughed at the pout on his wife's face. He always was a sucker for that face. But before he gave in, Abbey would have to pay a price for waking him up so soon.
He reached around and started to tickle her. Hopelessly ticklish, she fell to the side which Jed used to his advantage. Pinning her arms above her head with one hand, he continued to cause his wife to dissolve into a fit of laughter.
"Jed….Pleeeease stooooop."
"Say you're sorry. Say you're sorry."
"I won't."
That only increased the speed of his fingers.
"Okay! I'm sorry."
"Good." He leaned down to plant a kiss on Abbey's nose. The slight release of his hands allowed her to pull her arms away from his hold and use them to draw his face closer until their mouths sealed each other together.
Coming up for air, a grinning Abbey replied. "I'll show you just how sorry I am."
