Free Storm Shells (The Wishes Series #3) by GJ Walker-Smith

could considering she was still whaling at me.
    I flicked on the light and stared at my beautiful, crazy wife.
    “Adam!” She rushed out my name. “I thought you were a burglar.”
    “So what was your plan, Charlotte?” I asked. “Beat me to death with a plastic spatula?”
    She looked at the utensil in her hand and dropped it. “What are you doing here?”
    “I’m here to see you.”
    Charli took a long time to process my words before jumping up and leaping at me. The hold I had on her kept her feet off the floor. Her hands held my face in place while she kissed me over and over. The reunion was going well until she stopped kissing me, leaned her head back and pinched my cheek, Grandma Nellie style.
    “Ow! What was that for?”
    “I was just checking that I’m awake. It’d suck if I was dreaming right now.”
    I dropped my head, smiling into the curve of her shoulder. “You’re supposed to pinch yourself, not me.”
    “Oh.”
    I lifted my head and was met by the gorgeous smile I’d missed so much. “I want to tell you why I’m here,” I murmured.
    “You chased me,” she said smugly. “That’s why you’re here.”
    I needed to set the record straight. She needed to know that nothing had changed. I hadn’t figured a way out of the mess we were in. We were still stuck in limbo and I was still a selfish ass. I was just a selfish ass who couldn’t stay away from her.
    I lowered her to her feet. If flee-itis kicked in, she’d thank me for it.
    “I just needed to see you. I have a few weeks off so I –”
    She put a finger to my lips. “I’m not stupid, Adam. There’s no Disney movie playing in my head. You’re on Christmas break, right?”
    I nodded and she dropped her hand. “I’ve got two weeks.”
    “Okay. Two weeks.” She calculated. “We’ll just have to make the most of it.”
    I grabbed her waist and jerked her forward. “Do you have something in mind?”
    Before I’d even got the question out, she was unbuttoning my shirt.
    “No,” she mumbled. “Nothing.”
    I gripped her T-shirt, yanked it over her head and dropped it to the floor. I then dropped Charlotte to the floor, impatient to feel her body against mine. “Disney would never approve of this,” I murmured, closing my eyes as my lips touched her warm skin.
    I felt her hold on me tighten as she shuddered. “I never liked the Disney version anyway,” she breathed.
    * * *
    I woke early the next morning feeling cold and disoriented. Even in summer, Tasmanian mornings are cold. My neck was stiff and I regretted the decision to fall asleep on the living room floor. The rug did nothing to cushion us.
    Charli looked completely content. She was beside me, covered by the throw from the couch, sleeping like the dead. I stroked her cheek. She didn’t stir.
    “Charli,” I whispered. I kissed her shoulder, marvelling at how incredibly warm she felt. “Time for bed.”
    She groaned but didn’t move. Somehow I got her off the floor and down to the bedroom. I laid her on the bed, covered her up and swept her hair off her face. She was asleep again in seconds.
    * * *
    It was really early. I stood at the back windows watching the first hint of daylight crack above the horizon. The dark ocean lightened as daylight took hold, revealing pounding waves that raged against the shore. It truly was a beautiful place. The only thing that would’ve made the setting more perfect was a decent cup of coffee. I wasn’t going to get one in the cottage – I couldn’t even find a jar of instant coffee. Plenty of cereal though.
    Gabrielle made great coffee. As soon as I thought it was a respectable enough hour to be visiting, I left Charli a note and slipped out the door.
    I didn’t make it as far as the house. Alex was in the shed. Sneaking past was impossible. He would’ve seen me coming the second I pulled onto the long driveway. I had no choice but to front him. All I could do was hope that Gabrielle had also seen me arrive as I was probably