Max glanced in the rear view mirror at Zoe. She had her eyes shut, but he could see the mark of a frown on her forehead. They'd left her parents half an hour earlier to drop them at the airport, and she was yet to have any coffee. When they reached a red light, Max pulled out his phone and typed a quick message, then watched as Zoe's frown deepened and she reached into her pocket to pull out her phone.
Right side of the seat pocket.
Zoe glanced up at Max in the mirror and then reached into the pocket in front of herself, smiling when her hand found the familiar shape of her favourite chocolate.
I love you Zoe mouthed before resting back in her seat to unwrap the chocolate.
"Zoe! You know you need to be in proper health to get preg-" Zoe's mother began, but Max cut her off as he pointed out a billboard.
"Look at that! What a disgrace. Why do they think it's appropriate to plaster half naked women all over the freeway?"
"That's what I keep saying!"
As his mother-in-law began her favourite rant, Max glanced at Zoe in the mirror again and wriggled his eyebrows.
Zoe smiled at him and bit into her chocolate once more.
A week later and Zoe was even grumpier. She'd worked a double shift followed by a 4 hour sleep in the on call room, plus she'd forgotten her make up and was feeling decidedly frumpy. Matters were not helped by the introduction of a new registrar, ten years younger than Zoe with a similar penchant for tight dresses and heels.
Everyone was currently stood in the staffroom as Isabelle introduced herself, and Zoe's eyes were flicking between the males in the room with annoyance. Their eyes were either on the woman's legs or chest, and she was sure none of them could have repeated Isabelle's name let alone the big list of previous achievements she seemed to be going through.
Folding her arms, Zoe tried to focus on Isabelle but her thoughts soon drifted away again, this time for a better reason. Max had entered the room silently behind her, his breath tickling her ear as he whispered, "My office, a.s.a.p."
"I'm busy." Zoe whispered back.
"We'll see."
….
Three minutes later, Zoe hesitated outside Max's cupboard before she opened the door. "I'm still busy."
"Yet you found the time to visit me. Shut the door."
Zoe did as he asked and rested back against the door with folded arms. "What is it? Because I've hardly had any sleep, and I-"
Max's lips descending on hers, his hands resting firmly on her bum to pull her closer, cut off Zoe's words. She was silently pleased that at least one man's eyes were still firmly focused on her.
…
"What do you think of the new girl?" Zoe asked as Max zipped up her dress and she fixed her hair.
"What new girl?" Max dropped a kiss to Zoe's neck and then reached out to get his own top.
"Blonde, endless legs, tight dress, heels, laughs at everyone's jokes."
"I can't say I've noticed her."
Zoe smiled to herself and turned around to kiss Max. "I'll see you later, and don't make any plans for after our shift."
"Why?" Max grinned.
"It's a secret." Zoe offered a coy smile before slipping from the room.
…
"Is that the one you asked me about?"
An hour later, Zoe glanced up at Max and then followed his eyes to Isabelle where she was talking to Rita.
"Mm-hmm."
"...Well, she does have blonde hair, long legs, a tight dress and heels, but she's not a patch on the blonde I met the other weekend. The things she could do with her tongue."
"Shh. Shh!"Zoe hissed, finally hitting Max's chest. "Shut up!"
Max smiled and leant forward to whisper in his wife's ear. "You have no reason to be jealous of her, Zo. When you're in a room no one else stands a chance."
Zoe glanced at Max as he walked away, a smile pulling at her lips.
...
"Can I take the blindfold off yet?" Max asked.
"No." Zoe led him from behind, her hands on his hips.
"If you're trying to turn me on, it's working."
Zoe smiled at Max's words and hit his bum gently. "Almost there. Ok, stop."
Max frowned when he heard other people's voices. "Are we at a swingers club?"
"Is that all you think about?!" Zoe asked as she pulled the blindfold off.
Max grew silent, a smile spreading over his face. "Is this you being romantic?"
"I was hoping this might make up for me not being home much this week."
"I think what happened earlier in my office more than made up for it, but this is the cherry on top of a very delicious cake. What made you decide?"
"What you did today."
When Max grinned, Zoe rolled her eyes. "Not that. Well, not just that. Something just... clicked for me. I don't need to be on my guard around you, I don't need any walls up, because no matter which Zoe I am, you still love me. You're not like anyone else I've ever met, Max. So, I'm ready to do this with you."
Max smiled down at his wife and pulled her close to kiss her.
"Not now! We don't want to be late!" Zoe grabbed Max's hand and pulled him towards the building.
As they walked into the large open room, Zoe whispered to Max, "Do you think this is number ten?"
"This is definitely number ten. Look!" He grabbed Zoe's hand and pulled her towards a pen of puppies inside the pet adoption festival.