Chapter 687


    Everett mumbled an apologetic "I''m sorry" as he drifted off to sleep.


    He must have been exhausted. Clutching Dorothy’s hand seemed to be the only thing that gave him


    a moment''s peace.


    The eerie calm before the storm set his nerves on edge, but at least they could hold hands,


    wrapped in each other''s arms, sharing a bed and pillow – that in itself was a blessing.


    ...


    In the morning, Jeffrey woke up, cuddled with Karen for a while, and then went to brush his teeth


    and freshen up, shirtless.


    She had nagged him several times about wearing pajamas or a robe, but Jeffrey just wouldn’t listen.


    Sure, he''d had his fair share of girlfriends, but he''d never cohabited. Dates were for hotels. At


    home, it had always been just him, so wearing clothes to bed wasn’t his thing.


    Now that he knew Karen liked his abs, he was even less inclined to cover up.


    "Got a lot on at the office today?"


    "Two meetings. Tech stuff. Everett doesn’t trust anyone else with it, so I’ve got to step in," Jeffrey


    said with a grimace, electric toothbrush in hand as he turned to look at her. "What about you? Any


    ns?"


    Karen shook her head, "Nope, just wondering when you’ll be home."


    "Should be back around two or three. Then I’ll pick you up, and we’ll go for some grub."


    "You sound like you''re bribing a kid," Karen muttered, following him into the bathroom.


    Seeing her enter, Jeffrey, with his toothbrush mped between his teeth, hurried to squeeze out


    some toothpaste for her.


    "Being extra sweet, huh?"


    "You know it." Jeffrey grinned, almost dropping his toothbrush in the process.


    "I read online that men are at their kindest and most tender when they feel guilty. You hiding


    something?"


    Thud—


    Jeffrey''s toothbrush finally fell.


    He bent down quickly to pick it up, his mind racing with how to exin his panic.


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    But standing up, he saw Karen was just joking, not pressing him on why his toothbrush had taken a


    dive.


    Jeffrey let out a sigh of relief.


    After freshening up, Karen grabbed herptop and settled into the living room.


    Her job didn’t require her to clock in at an office, so she made herselffortable in the spacious


    living room of Jeffrey’s vi, with a small desk in ce. Working there gave her the feeling of being


    the boss of her own time.


    That day, Jeffrey donned a suit, all in ck, tailored to perfection, making him look tall and lean.


    Karen ran over, barefoot, to help him with his tie.


    "Bend down a bit. You''re too tall, I can''t reach."


    Jeffreyughed, both helplessly and fondly, squatting slightly and leaning against the back of the


    sofa to let her fiddle with his tie.


    Her hands were small, soft, and fair, like those of an infant.


    Fumbling over his chest, it was hard for him to focus.


    "Done yet, Karen?"


    "Almost there."


    Jeffrey clenched his teeth, "If you don''t hurry up, I''m going to be distracted by other thoughts."


    Karen let go immediately, "You do it. I can’t."


    "Why didn’t you say so sooner."


    Jeffrey took a few deep breaths, then grabbed his car keys, "I''m off. Call me if you need anything."


    "Sure. Bye." Karen waved at him, then watched as Jeffrey walked to the entrance and closed the


    door behind him.


    She was about to settle back on the sofa when the doorbell rang.


    Huh?


    Was that Jeffrey forgetting something?