Behind Closed Doors Read Free

couldn’t settle, and after tossing
and turning, I sat up. Turning the light back on, I sighed heavily
and got out of bed.
    Looking
for my husband, I found him once again. I hated myself for saying it,
but I was lonely. “Harry, do you want to sleep in my room
tonight?” It was my polite invitation to spend some time
together as a couple. Our love was fleeting, but I wanted to be held.
    “ Not
tonight, Elle. I have an important meeting in the morning,” he
said, barely looking up.
    The
chill in the air came from his gaze, not the actual temperature.
    “ Of
course,” I said and turned. A hot tear rolled down my cheek.
It’s not like I expected him to join me, but I had to ask. I
hadn’t felt arms around me in way too long.
    I
can’t keep doing this. It was killing me a little bit at a
time. How many more years would I be able to live this way?
    With
the rising of the sun, I woke and went to shower. Standing under the
spray of the water, I stared at the wall, my lack of emotions eating
me up. I want to feel again – and right now the only thing I
could feel was disappointment and frustration.
    Harry
was rummaging through the fridge when I joined him in the kitchen.
“Good luck at your meeting,” I said, trying not to spit
out my words.
    “ What
meeting?” He asked oblivious that was the blow off he gave me
last night.
    I
bit my lip and left the room with a cup of tea.
    With
the change of guards, Alex was back by my side. Hunter followed me to
my office and stood patiently as I pushed through papers. I had a
charity event to finish planning and a lunch with some ladies that
wanted my husband to speak at one of their meetings. They were going
to kiss up to me, hoping I’d put in a good word for them. I
hated the transparency of these things – but went along with
them anyway.
    “ Hunter,”
I called out, and waited for him to enter the room.
    He
turned and looked through the doorway, “Yes, Ma’am?”
    “ Please
call me Elle,” I reminded. “Would you sit with me for a
bit?” He was in dark slacks with a black leather belt, highly
polished shoes, and a crisp white button down shirt.
    I
wondered what he looked like in more casual clothing.
    Hunter’s
dark hair highlighted his face. His eyes were often hidden beneath
sunglasses, but inside I got to see the crystal blue of his eyes. He
was a handsome man, and the lonelier I got, the more I noticed.
    His
frame was broad and sturdy, and when he was near, I knew he’d
take care of me. At least somebody would. With his military training,
I knew I was safe, but it’s not like anyone had interest in the
Governor’s wife, it was more for show. My life wasn’t in
jeopardy.
    Hunter
sat in one of the leather chairs, his posture still alert. He did as
he was told, but I could sense he was uncomfortable.
    “ Tell
me more about you,” I said, desperate for conversation that
went in both directions. It seemed that when I talked to Harry, it
was one sided most of the time.
    “ I’m
not much for conversation,” he said.
    “ Could
you try for me?” I felt pathetic asking him to have a
conversation with me, almost pleading, but I needed a connection, any
connection.
    He
took a deep breath, “When I was in training, and back in my
military days, I never expected to be here.”
    “ Are
you disappointed?” I asked, not thinking about what his other
goals might have been.
    “ No,
not disappointed, just realizing my life took a different path,”
he said. “What about you?”
    “ I
like how you steered it back to me,” I smiled. “Since
you’re obviously not going to fill in more details, I’ll
go.” I laughed lightly. “I’m on the path I
expected, but it’s not as joyful as I’d intended. I
thought I’d like it more and I thought my husband would…”
she trailed off. “Never mind,”
    “ Mrs.
Michaels, would you like me to stay?”
    I
nodded silently. “I’m lonely, Alex. May I call you Alex?”
    “ Yes,
Ma’am, you may call me whatever you’d