Zombies in Paradise (Love in the Age of Zombies Book 2) Read Free

storeroom for a bottle of wine.
    While she was gone, Doc swirled his bourbon and inhaled deeply from the glass. “Mmmm  .  .  .  Iike inhaling the sweet, familiar perfume of a long-absent lover,” he murmured before taking a sip and letting it linger on his palate. “Wonderful! Very agreeable! You have good taste!” he said appreciatively.
    “You better appreciate it, we don’t give the good stuff to just anybody who shows up at our house!” Michelle quipped as she came back into the room with an unopened bottle of 45 North 2014 Select Harvest Riesling .
    “I consider myself a very lucky man,” Doc said graciously. “Please, allow me!” He took the corkscrew and popped the wine cork. “To answer your earlier question, Kevin, no I didn’t walk. I drove my Jeep.”
    “I didn’t see any Jeep outside! Where is it?!” Kevin protested.
    Doc held up his hand, signaling him to stop. “Ah-ah-ah! One step at a time! I drove my Jeep until I ran out of gas about fifteen miles from here. I walked the rest of the way. It took me about five hours, and I was walking at a brisk pace. I hoped to drive all the way here, but didn’t quite make it. There were a few distractions along the way and it took me longer than I’d anticipated.”
    “You guys scared the hell out of me!” Kevin said, turning to Michelle. “I saw Doc go through our side door and thought we were under attack again! And you!” he said, turning to Doc, “I’ve been trying to reach you on the radio for days! Here I was worried about you and all along you’re playing a trick on me! I might have killed you!”
    “Were you surprised?” Doc said.
    “Yes!”
    “Are you glad to see me?”
    “Of course!”
    “Then why are we talking about it?”
    Kevin’s initial surge of adrenalin subsided and he found himself very glad to meet Doc in person. He stepped in and wrapped his arms around the older man. “You crazy old coot,” he said, “you’re so ornery you remind me of Dr. McCoy. It’s no wonder they call you Bones!”
    “ They don’t.” he replied testily. “No one but you.”
    “Welcome to the new reality,” Michelle said, as she drew close and was drawn into their group hug. “He makes it up as he goes. Doc was supposed to get here in a day, two at the most. I was getting worried, too, but didn’t want to spoil the surprise.”
    “So it took you four days? Why so long?!” Kevin persisted in asking.
    “Like I said, there were a few distractions,” Doc again said vaguely. “For now, I want to enjoy a very worthy bourbon in the company of two of my favorite people in the world. To us!” Doc raised his glass in a toast.
    “Amen!” Michelle said.
    “Cheers!” Kevin added, as they clinked their glasses together.
     
    Over the next few minutes Doc gave them a bare-bones account of his trip. “When Michelle told me she was pregnant, I thought it was great news, but I could tell she was worried. When she explained why, I understood. I was going stir-crazy in the cabin by myself and offered to make the trip. There was plenty of gas for the Jeep and while I didn’t know exactly what to expect, I didn’t think the trip would take so long.” When pressed for details, he lifted his empty highball glass and said, “Please, not when I’m empty.” But by the time Michelle refilled his glass, he’d steered the conversation away from his trip by asking about their living arrangements.
    They showed him around their home. He was impressed with the hydroponic grow room and was very happy to learn he could take a hot shower; his leg muscles were stiff after his long hike. Kevin promised he’d show him the rooftop solar panel array when it was a bit warmer outside. They were glad they’d kept the extra mattress, because now Doc could use it in the living room while they continued to use the inflatable mattress in the bedroom.
    Michelle and Kevin had to change some of their lovemaking habits—not only were they not in the habit of