Packed and Ready to Go by Jacki Kelly Page A

I crossed my legs while she punched in the codes.
    She listened.
    I watched.
    Disappointment washed over me for the pain I was causing her. At least a small portion of my story was true.
    She placed the headset on the couch between us. “Well,” she started, then stopped. In a more gentle voice she said, “I was so upset this morning I left the office before nine and never went back.
    Tears streamed down her cheeks. Her lips puckered. “You are such a bastard. The last few years everything in this marriage has revolved around you and what you wanted or needed. You can’t begin to imagine what the last twenty-four hours have been like for me. All because your company is having a crisis. Well, Walter, I’m having a crisis too.” Her hands went to her hair and she ran her fingers through her short curls.
    I gathered her in my arms, pushing my nose against the tender part of her neck. She smelled like lavender. I ran my hand across her back and down to her butt. The thin fabric did nothing to shield her soft flesh from my touch.
    My body warmed up. Even the discomfort in my chest melted away as she wrapped her arms around me, teasing tension out of my shoulders with her fingertip.
    With my lips pressed against her ear, I whispered. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for you to worry,” I kissed her several times before moving to her neck. “I called you as soon as I could. We were in a strategy session. No phones, no computers. I was probably the only one standing in the bathroom stall leaving a message for his wife. All the other wives understand. You’ve got to trust me, Tracy. We’ve been down this road before and you said that was behind us.” I tried to soften the look in my eyes to get her to give a little, too.
    When I released her, we sat in silence listening to the music. I pulled her back against the cushions and rubbed her thigh to placate her. Inching closer to the thick patch of hair between her legs.
    Without saying a word she loosened my tie. No matter how much she wanted to, I wouldn’t make love to Tracy tonight.
    “ Tray, I’ve been in a seventeen hour meeting that started yesterday afternoon. The only thing they fed us was dry sandwiches and weak coffee. I’m starving and so exhausted I barely made it home this evening. Please, let’s have dinner first.”
    She looked disappointed. “I cooked my favorites, tonight.” She uncoiled her legs and stood up. “Lamb chops, roasted potatoes and broccoli. I even made dessert—walnut cake.”
    “ Can I have some of your favorites?” I followed her into the kitchen. She tugged on the camisole to pull it lower over her hips. She was so conscious of hiding what she believed didn’t look good. But the view was perfect. I loved her curves.
    Dinner was delicious. Tracy hated to cook, but she worked wonders in the kitchen. I even went back for seconds and polished the succulent lamb bones. I smacked my lips, quite pleased with being able to deceive my wife.
    “ Where did you think I was?” I asked between bites.
    “ I don’t know what I thought.” She hunched her shoulders.
    “ Yeah, you do,” I chuckled with a mouth full of food, but I didn’t dare say it.
    She laughed. “Yes, that’s what I thought.” She placed her elbow on the table and placed her chin in her palm. “Maybe we need to set up some kind of signal for when this stuff happens.”
    “ Like what?”
    “ I don’t know. But—”
    “ It’s going to be pretty bad, Tracy. I’m talking about a massive layoff.”
    “ How many?”
    “ We’re going to close the plants in Rhode Island and Florida. Most of those people will lose their job. A few will be transferred to other plant sites. My staff will be cut in half and—”
    She reached across the table and ran her hand along my cheek. “Are you going to be okay?”
    “ I’ll be fine, but I don’t trust Joe. Remember the promotion he promised me that I haven’t seen yet?”
    “ Do you think you could lose your job?” Worry