Part 32 (2/2)
Jessica glances from Frances back to me. ”So can I ask what's going on with the World Heritage position?”
”They made an offer.” I drag a hand down my face. ”But I'm not actively pursuing it, Jessica. I can't leave King's or Mirror Lake.”
A flash of disappointment crosses her face. ”I figured you'd say that. Did you and Hans talk about the Youth Experts program?”
”I told him the WHC should get it up and running again,” I say. ”And, Jessica, if you want to spearhead the organization of the program, I'd be more than happy to put in a good word for you.”
”Me?” Jessica's eyebrows lift. ”I don't want to organize the program.”
”Why not? You're the one who's been advocating for it. You'd be great at directing and organizing.”
”No way.” Jessica shakes her head. ”I'm trying to finish my book, teach cla.s.ses, apply for jobs. Now that my father is gone, my mom really needs me. I want to help with the Youth Experts program as much as I can, but I can't take full responsibility for it right now. I was hoping you would.”
”How could I?”
”As a.s.sistant director, you'd be in charge of a bunch of different programs,” Jessica explains. ”You could make the Youth Experts a priority.”
It's an idea I've found intriguing since she first mentioned it a few weeks ago. Working with students has always been one of the most rewarding parts of my career, and the idea of collaborating with young people around the world to protect historic sites is highly appealing.
But...
”As a.s.sistant director, I might be able to help the Youth Experts,” I tell Jessica. ”But you know the job is highly political and involves a ton of negotiations and bureaucracy. Chances are slim I could even get the Youth program funded, let alone involved in specific projects.”
Jessica shrugs, not looking convinced. ”You're the only one who cares enough to try. Certainly you're the only one with enough influence to make a difference.”
”It would be right in your wheelhouse, Dean,” Frances adds.
”You saw the a.s.sistant director job description,” I tell her. ”I don't know how I'd get all that done in a day, much less have time to organize the Youth program.”
”So there's no way you would take the job?” Jessica asks.
I shake my head, aware of Frances's gaze. ”I can't.”
That's not a phrase I often use, and they both know it. Jessica and Frances exchange glances and turn to leave. I watch them go, hating the sense that I've somehow deeply disappointed them both.
I stop in the kitchen doorway and look at my wife. She's was.h.i.+ng dishes, her head bent as she rinses one of Nicholas's cups. Her hair is tied up into a ponytail that exposes the graceful curve of her neck. A few strands are loose, drifting around her face and shoulders. I let myself gaze at her for a good long time-the shape of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and hips, the length of her legs beneath her skirt, the pretty curve of her rear.
I move into the kitchen and come up behind her, sliding my arms around her waist. She startles before giving a little laugh.
”I didn't even know you were there.”
”Nicholas just fell asleep.” I press my lips to her warm nape and spread my hands over her torso. ”And you look so good doing the dishes.”
”Mmm. You should watch me when I'm vacuuming. I'm hotter than a firecracker the way I s.h.i.+mmy my hips around.”
”Maybe you could do a private show for me one night.” I move my hands around to squeeze her gorgeous a.s.s. ”Maybe you could do one right now.”
Liv flicks soap bubbles over her shoulder at me. ”I need to finish these dishes and then work on some festival reports for the town council. I also want to get started on thank-you notes to all the people who painted chairs for the auction.”
Clearly this is a challenge. I reach around her to turn off the water and push my groin up against her. Ah, d.a.m.n, so soft and yielding. There are few things more perfect in the world than my wife's a.s.s.
”Dean.” Liv squirms a little and nudges me with her elbow. ”I have to work.”
”Me too. I have to work my c.o.c.k in and out of your sweet, tight p.u.s.s.y.”
”Dean!” Liv gasps, her breath catching with that little noise that makes me hot in two seconds flat-as if I weren't already getting hot just pressing my d.i.c.k against her.
”Come on, beauty.” I work my hands underneath her ap.r.o.n and slide them into the waistband of her skirt. l.u.s.t fires through me at the sensation of her soft, warm belly against my palms. ”Let's f.u.c.k.”
She gives another breathless laugh and shakes her head, her ponytail swis.h.i.+ng against my chest like a swath of silk.
”Later,” she promises.
I groan. ”I have a conference call in twenty minutes. No idea how long it will take.”
”Well, now that I know you wanted a quickie, you can darned well wait until you have time to service me properly,” Liv remarks.
”Don't I always?”
”Yeah, you do all right.” She turns in my arms, her expression amused. ”Go take your call, professor. Who are you talking to?”
”A couple of the medievalists who were at the UN a.s.sembly. They're interested in working with me on conservation techniques.”
Liv studies me, her eyebrows pulling together. ”You know, with all that's been going on, I've neglected to tell you how proud I am of you.”
”You don't have to-”
She shakes her head to stop my words. ”Really, Dean. It's incredible, what you've done. What you're doing. I've been so caught up in how all the changes would affect me-us-that I haven't even told you how extraordinary your work is. The impact you're having on both history and the present... it's beyond impressive. I'm so proud of you.”
I brush a stray eyelash off Liv's cheek, thinking that her praise means more to me than anything the World Heritage Center-or anyone else on the planet-could offer.
”Thanks,” I say, aware of the painful inadequacy of the word.
But all Liv has to do is look at me to see right into my heart.
”You're welcome.” She smiles. ”Go take your call, hotshot.”
I tug her ponytail, tilting her head back and pressing my lips against hers. ”Be ready for me.”
”Don't take too long.” She brushes her hand over my chest and turns back to the sink.
I head to my office and dial in to the conference call. It's lengthy and detailed, covering conservation techniques for several different sites in Europe and South America. After the call, I check my email, which includes a message from Hans Klasen confirming our phone appointment on Monday.
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