Behind The Proposal novel Chapter 36

"I can't do everything," she shook her head, tears leaking from her eyes.

He shook his head slowly as he looked down at her, confusion in his eyes. "I don't expect you to."

"It sure feels like it," she pouted, wishing she wasn't wearing these damn gloves at that moment. She tugged at them clumsily as the words started tumbling out of her mouth. "You get up and early and leave before breakfast, come home late, expecting dinner and your washing and ironing to be done, as well as a clean house and clean dishes. So I do it all - like I always do. Plus I work forty hours a week and do everything for Jasmine - which is fine, she's my daughter. But I didn't marry you just to add to the amount of work I do. I can't do it," she blurted, throwing her soapy pink gloves at him and stood there staring at him, shocked by her own admission.

He caught the gloves, but stood there staring at her in stunned silence. Then he blinked a couple of times. "Let me hire someone to come and do all of that then."

Seriously? Was that his solution for everything? Hire someone to fix it. She glared at him, her hands itching to pound against his chest in protest. "I don't want someone else to come into my home and go through my laundry and clean my toilet. I'm quite capable," she growled.

"I know you are," he placated and put his hands out, willing her to calm down. "And you do an amazing job." She crossed her arms across her body and he blew out a breath. "What do you want me to do? I'm just trying to help," he offered.

"Nothing," she murmured and turned away again, grabbing her gloves back as she did.

"No, don't say that after yelling at me," he said forcefully.

"It's fine. I just needed to vent," she sighed and looked back down into the soapy water in the kitchen sink.

He stepped up closer and wrapped his arms around her. "Go and sit down. I'll make you a cup of tea and do these dishes."

"You wouldn't know how," she huffed, only half seriously, but also loving the fact that he'd listened and was taking control.

"I have some idea," he murmured against her ear. His warm breath on her cheek melted her insides and took away all the anger she'd felt, leaving behind the weariness. "And I'm not taking no for an answer." Then he turned her in his arms to look in her watery eyes. He ran his fingers over her cheeks, wiping away the moisture. "Hey, I'm here to help. Please just tell me what you need, Soph."

She shook her head, "I should be able to do it all."

"Good," he said pointedly and pressed his lips to hers fleetingly. "Now go and put your feet up. Husband's orders."

That got a smile out of her and she nodded then walked in the direction of the lounge room to sit down and watch... something. She never usually had time for watching television. It was nice for change to sit there with a hot cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit and watch whatever was on TV. By the time Tom joined her, she'd become enthralled with one of the medical dramas that was on.

He sank down beside her, putting his feet up on the coffee table and his arm around her shoulders. She relaxed into his warmth, loving the fact she did have someone to turn to when things got hard. She turned her head and pressed a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you," she murmured.

His grey eyes met hers and he smiled. "Any time," he whispered before his lips landed on hers briefly. "Are you watching this?" he asked, waving his hand at the television.

"Not anymore," she shook her head, concentrating instead on him as he pressed the button to turn the TV off. He only had to look at her with that heated look he had, or touch her and her body reacted in a way it never had to anyone else.

He scooped her up in his arms and took her to bed. They always connected so well in the bedroom, no matter what happened at other times, or how often they argued, he always managed to make her smile. It did seem to be his solution to every little disagreement they had, though she wasn't complaining.